JAM Study Schedule

[Animals Are Delicious]

I've been following Carmody's study schedule pretty closely thus far. Is anyone else doing this? Can anyone comment on whether this is a good or bad idea? This is my first time taking this exam so most of the material is new to me.

[hamstrman]

I've been following Carmody's study schedule pretty closely thus far. Is anyone else doing this? Can anyone comment on whether this is a good or bad idea? This is my first time taking this exam so most of the material is new to me.

I took APMV last year and then FETE. I passed FETE. I usually try to beat his schedule by 1 full month. But I make flash cards, so I need more time for that.

[Animals Are Delicious]

I took APMV last year and then FETE. I passed FETE. I usually try to beat his schedule by 1 full month. But I make flash cards, so I need more time for that.

What did you do differently for FETE after taking APMV? I read before that you tried to get a "great understanding" of the APMV material...does that mean you memorized more for FETE?

[modog814]

I've been following Carmody's study schedule pretty closely thus far. Is anyone else doing this? Can anyone comment on whether this is a good or bad idea? This is my first time taking this exam so most of the material is new to me.

I took the same approach as hamstrman. I basically followed it but shifted it up about a month for 3 reasons:

1) Extra review time at the end to memorize lists and what not.

2) His plan assumes that you'll have sufficient time to study every day to meet the plan. For me this was difficult, things come up (birthdays, weddings holidays ect) and sometimes even if you have the time your brain just needs a break and I might be able to continue to "read" but I know I would be more or less just flipping through the pages. Also sometimes work things come up that prevent from adequate study time.

3) Personally I like to take a couple days off about 3 weeks to a month prior to exam day and not do anything exam related. I like to take a short trip somewhere where I know I won't be thinking about the exam. This helps my brain decompress and is also a good test for when you start reviewing again what topics you actually understand and which you don't.

I feel like if I don't start earlier than what carmody suggests I wouldn't be able to do any of the above 3.

Edit: By the way, I passed FETE in fall doing the above and am taking APM this spring.

[Size17]

I am also a first-timer for APM and am right on pace with the Carmody guide...although I started about 2.5 weeks behind, so effectively it's accelerated about a month.

I'll be reviewing like mad in April. I have budgeted more time for more review at the end (time-off of work, etc.) I did the same for FETE and passed. Although I went to Carmody's seminar for FETE, and being that there is no LIVE seminar, I am holding my own personal one at the end of the month.

[Animals Are Delicious]

One last thing - there are no "practice problems" in the readings, right? There are a few really simple questions in the CFA book and the ones at the end of the JAM manual, but I don't see anything else. Carmody's manual suggests that you're supposed to go back and re-work problems...I'm assuming this is from an old exam when Hull was on the syllabus.

[Size17]

i was planning on making a few of my own, there were some pretty straightfoward examples that I want to be able to duplicate. I'll share if I have any successs.

[examwritter]

You guys really scare me.....i m feeling so behind now..

In terms of review, what exactly do you guys do other than re-reading the notes and memorization?

ps: it seems like not too many ppl are writing the exam this yr....how come?

[Animals Are Delicious]

ps: it seems like not too many ppl are writing the exam this yr....how come?

My guess would be the 2600+ page syllabus. Also I'd imagine that the CERA designation is attracting a few people to the AFE exam.

[modog814]

One last thing - there are no "practice problems" in the readings, right? There are a few really simple questions in the CFA book and the ones at the end of the JAM manual, but I don't see anything else. Carmody's manual suggests that you're supposed to go back and re-work problems...I'm assuming this is from an old exam when Hull was on the syllabus.

If you have Carmody's Online seminar, he usually gives a few sample questions when going through the material. Also for FET he created a practice exam available to download, although I'm not sure if he's doing the same for APM. Other than that, yes past exam questions (the online seminar seems to also have a section where he goes through all the past relevant exam questions, i haven't looked at it yet though).

One thing you might want to look at is any examples and not necessary practice problems in the readings. If a reading goes through an example and you don't need a computer to come up with the answer there's a chance they could make a similar question to that on the exam

[modog814]

You guys really scare me.....i m feeling so behind now..

In terms of review, what exactly do you guys do other than re-reading the notes and memorization?

ps: it seems like not too many ppl are writing the exam this yr....how come?

Personally this is what I did for FETE and what I'm planning on doing for APM. It worked for FETE so why mess with it?

After the first readthrough of the source material I,:

1) re-read Carmody's outline (not the condensed one) as many times as I can, marking up a copy of the formula sheet so I know exactly what formula is for what.

2) Copy Carmody's condensed outline (writing helps me memorize better so this is the sole reason I do this)

3) Go through Carmody's online seminar, taking notes.

4) Go through Carmody's flash cards:
a) Placing each card into a category:
i) List's (must be memorized)
ii) Formula's
A) Not on Formula Sheet (must be memorized)
B) On Formula Sheet (just know what it is)
iii) Concepts (I dont' try to memorize these, but rather as I go through them make sure I can come up with a sentence or two about what it is.

5) Go through practice problems. Using these I find is tricky because 1) you have a limited supply of them and it's easier to do a problem once you've seen it already, 2) Some of them involve regurgitating lists that you may not have memorized yet. But at the same time it's nice to do some problems so you're certain you'd be able to handle it on exam day. Personally I try to save them for about 10 days prior to the exam and use them to work on a) sitting there for 3 hours at a time working non-stop, b) locating formula's on the formula sheet, c) dealing with questions you haven't seen before. I think 10 days out is a good starting point because it'll give you a few days of "exam-like" conditions but still leave you enough time to review any lists/formula/concepts you didn't remember but appeared on a question or review how to do a certain problem.

Hope this helps

[examwritter]

Thanks a lot guys .....almost done the first read-through although i forget most of the material already:(

[modog814]

Thanks a lot guys .....almost done the first read-through although i forget most of the material already:(

Don't worry, just keep at it. I finished my first read through last week and started re-reading the study guide and my notes and it comes back pretty quickly. Are you doing the online seminar? I started doing that too and I feel like it's definitely helpful (I thought it was helpful for FETE but I also think I'm getting about 10x more out of it for APM that I did for FETE)

[examwritter]

Don't worry, just keep at it. I finished my first read through last week and started re-reading the study guide and my notes and it comes back pretty quickly. Are you doing the online seminar? I started doing that too and I feel like it's definitely helpful (I thought it was helpful for FETE but I also think I'm getting about 10x more out of it for APM that I did for FETE)

I am taking the online seminar. Do you take all the classes at once or section by section? I find the material is easier comparing to FET but there is a lot more memeroization req'd. How fast is ur 2nd read-through?

[modog814]

I am taking the online seminar. Do you take all the classes at once or section by section? I find the material is easier comparing to FET but there is a lot more memeroization req'd. How fast is ur 2nd read-through?

Personally I've been doing a couple lessons at a time, then go back to study guide and re-read. I wouldn't be able to sit there and do a whole section or the entire seminar at once.

I agree that there seems to be more memorization required in the sense that the lists have a lot more details than FET.

I started my second read through/seminar last wednesday and I'm just about through the first 2 sections. I'm probably going slower than I should be and will try to pick up the pace a bit this week.

[examwritter]

Personally I've been doing a couple lessons at a time, then go back to study guide and re-read. I wouldn't be able to sit there and do a whole section or the entire seminar at once.

I agree that there seems to be more memorization required in the sense that the lists have a lot more details than FET.

I started my second read through/seminar last wednesday and I'm just about through the first 2 sections. I'm probably going slower than I should be and will try to pick up the pace a bit this week.

Thanks for ur suggestion. I will be doing the same thing. I cannot concentrate after an hour listening to the online seminar.

[Jy88]

Regarding the Carmody's online seminar:

1) Does it go through the different section of the objectives outline? Highlight important points?
2) Any worked practice problems?
3) How can I get access to it, is it separate payment from the Carmody's manual?
4) How does it work? Do you need to have special software to listen? Is it online? Can we download and listen?

Thanks a lot !!

[hamstrman]

I think I'm FINALLY going to finish my flash cards by early tomorrow. Then I have to spend an entire day printing them... But now with 5 weeks to go I can finally start memorizing and doing problems. I've never appreciated this being my second attempt until just now. Because I certainly need it being so far behind.

[modog814]

Regarding the Carmody's online seminar:

1) Does it go through the different section of the objectives outline? Highlight important points?
2) Any worked practice problems?
3) How can I get access to it, is it separate payment from the Carmody's manual?
4) How does it work? Do you need to have special software to listen? Is it online? Can we download and listen?

Thanks a lot !!

1) Yes, it goes through reading by reading highlighting important points. He makes it very clear in the first video that it's intended to help you pass the exam not necessarily get a full understanding of the material.

2) Yes, he works several practice problems and includes videos of him going over past exam questions.

3) Yes it's a separate payment from the manual. You can get it from several places that sell exam manuals online and I believe you can but it directly from The Infinite Actuary. It is pricy (~$1000) but personally I think it's worth it, but then again, my job paid for it not me.

4) Once you purchase access they offer the video's in quicktime or MediaPlayer formats. I think they also now allow for you to play it over your iphone (if you have one). I don't believe you can download it, online only.

[hamstrman]

Just wanted to come here to whine some more. Three weeks to go and I have yet to go through my first read-through of my flash cards... Also haven't done a single practice problem. I need to finish one read-through to even attempt them because, given that they're not in order by Section, to see a problem knowing I haven't read the card yet is useless in doing the problem and then wastes the problem because I will know what it is in advance. Of course I did just about every problem in existence last year, so there's barely anything new for me. Luckily I didn't buy Actex last year, but did this year, so at least those will be new to me.

This takes FOREVER! Did it take forever last year? I can't even remember! Where's everyone else?

[FrankieY18]

It takes forever to memorize everything!

[modog814]

I finished my 2nd review of the material (the detailed study manual not the actual source material) and the online seminar. I am now working on reviewing the condenseded manual and memorizing the flashcards. I've gotten the first 3 sections down pretty good I believe, but the 4th section has been giving me trouble. Some of the flash cards are just so similar that it's beginning to be hard for me to keep the lists straight, but I'm confident I'll get there.

I was hoping to finish memorizing the flash cards by the end of this week, but it looks like more realistically it'll be the beginning of next week, then I'll start some practice problems

[Animals Are Delicious]

Some of the flash cards are just so similar that it's beginning to be hard for me to keep the lists straight, but I'm confident I'll get there.


If you're talking about the JAM flash cards I agree. It seems like quite a few of the cards are redundant - like 5 or so lists that pertain to the investing strategies of hedge funds. I think I'll just memorize the most detailed version and ditch the rest. I can't imagine they'll ask us to compare and contrast the specific characterizations between the study notes.

[hamstrman]

I finished my 2nd review of the material (the detailed study manual not the actual source material) and the online seminar. I am now working on reviewing the condenseded manual and memorizing the flashcards. I've gotten the first 3 sections down pretty good I believe, but the 4th section has been giving me trouble. Some of the flash cards are just so similar that it's beginning to be hard for me to keep the lists straight, but I'm confident I'll get there.

I was hoping to finish memorizing the flash cards by the end of this week, but it looks like more realistically it'll be the beginning of next week, then I'll start some practice problems

First 3 sections... how great for you. I went through 286 self-made flash cards that came after two readthroughs of the detailed outline, adding notes to/reading the condensed outline, transcribing the condensed outline into the aforementioned flash cards and, as I began my second read-through of my flash cards today, I couldn't remember a single thing on the first 10 so far. I'd kill for 3 cards, let alone 3 sections! Oh, and this is my second sitting. Can you tell how confident I am?

[modog814]

First 3 sections... how great for you. I went through 286 self-made flash cards that came after two readthroughs of the detailed outline, adding notes to/reading the condensed outline, transcribing the condensed outline into the aforementioned flash cards and, as I began my second read-through of my flash cards today, I couldn't remember a single thing on the first 10 so far. I'd kill for 3 cards, let alone 3 sections! Oh, and this is my second sitting. Can you tell how confident I am?

Just stick with it, you'll get there. I'm getting very frustrated with these lists and it's been very slow the past few days but I'm sure it'll click one day (hopefully soon). 2 weeks to go...

[examwritter]

I wonder why SOA interested in testing our memorization so much ??

[hamstrman]

I wonder why SOA interested in testing our memorization so much ??

Fraternity hazing ritual. They had to do it so we have to do it, but they can make it worse for the next year's pledges.

[mlschop]

I wonder why SOA interested in testing our memorization so much ??

Fraternity hazing ritual. They had to do it so we have to do it, but they can make it worse for the next year's pledges.

So true :swear:

[hamstrman]

Just stick with it, you'll get there. I'm getting very frustrated with these lists and it's been very slow the past few days but I'm sure it'll click one day (hopefully soon). 2 weeks to go...

The funniest (read: saddest) part is remembering an entire list with details and finding out that it was some completely different flash card and not a word I remembered was on the card I was actually trying to recall.

Like I think I've seen the terms:
XXXXXX"Investment Policy",
XXXXXX"Portfolio Management",
XXXXXX"ALM",
XXXXXX"Hedge Fund",
XXXXXX"Fixed-Income Portfolio" and
XXXXXX"Types of Risks"

so many damn times, I could randomly pull 20 different things out of the air about them and most would not even remotely apply to any question I am attempting.