UK ST-9 April sitting

[Avi]

Anyone sitting for this exam as part of the I&FoA's syllabus this April?

[actuary_aspire]

You might like this (http://www.acted.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=79).

[Avi]

Thank you very much.

[Jon Evans]

Does anyone have any idea of the approximate number of points (out of 100 possible) that is typically required to pass ST9 ?

I know UKAP does not release the numbers, but do they run like 60 or 70 or 80 or.... ?

[tommie frazier]

Does anyone have any idea of the approximate number of points (out of 100 possible) that is typically required to pass ST9 ?

I know UKAP does not release the numbers, but do they run like 60 or 70 or 80 or.... ?

when do we start demanding transparency?

: )

[CraigLucas]

60% will get you a pass.. But for "ST" level subjects, getting 60% is alot harder than it sounds under exam conditions.

[Jon Evans]

60% will get you a pass.. But for "ST" level subjects, getting 60% is alot harder than it sounds under exam conditions.

Great. Now for the next question. How do they give out the points or "marks" ? As I read through the old exams and examiner reports they claim that they accept "any reasonable answer" but in reality it seems like they are looking for more specific things.

[GargoyleWaiting]

Great. Now for the next question. How do they give out the points or "marks" ? As I read through the old exams and examiner reports they claim that they accept "any reasonable answer" but in reality it seems like they are looking for more specific things.

A little background on what the profession says on pass marks:
http://www.actuaries.org.uk/research-and-resources/documents/exam-results-background-information


The examiner reports have a set of right answers - they tend to be from the bit(s) of the syllabus the question was intended to test. But your answers are read by someone who knows what they're doing - so if something isn't on the marking schedule, but is correct and relevant, you should get marks for it.

Unless things have changed since I did exams they'll be marked by a second person too - as the markers have some freedom to interpret answers, there needs to be a second check to limit the impact of one marker being overly harsh or too generous.


Note that this info is a few years old now, and is based on what I've been told by other people. Also, ST9 is almost certainly a law unto itself until it's been through a few more sittings. The examiners need to work out what they expect from the candidates as well...

[CraigLucas]

I don't think you have to worry about not being able to spit out exactly what the sample solution on the examiners sheet says, your paper will be marked by 2 experienced examiners. What I mean is that 60% under exam conditions can be difficult because of time pressures.. the UK exams are known for making exams long

[Jon Evans]

1. Is it permitted to write with a ballpoint pen and cross out mistakes ?
2. It appears that a student needs to buy his or her own copy of a handbook of formulae and tables and bring it to the exam. Is this correct or am I mistaken ?
3. Many words commonly used in the material have different UK and American spellings. For example, modelling versus modeling, specialise versus specialize, etc. Are American spellings acceptable ?