January - March Progress Thread

[PR_Actuary]

just started yesterday... so far the subsets of assignments are not as long as OC 1

[crabber]

Been going for a couple of weeks, but not even halfway done. I wanted to take the test as soon as the window opened up so I could move on to studying for 9, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

[Vorian Atreides]

Sitting Jan 26.

[Y2A]

Trying to sit ASAP. Just started assignment 11.

[PR_Actuary]

I'm sitting on the 23rd and starting assignment 4 tonight. Trying to get this out the way to start studying for 4.

[crabber]

I'm having a helluva time planning for this exam. Any idea how many hours for review are needed after completion of the lessons?

[Vorian Atreides]

I'm having a helluva time planning for this exam. Any idea how many hours for review are needed after completion of the lessons?
Did you sit for old Exam 5 with any of the CPCU material on it?

[spencerhs5]

Doing my second read through of the material now, already did the online quizzes, but I stupidly did it back in October and didn't take the exam so it's almost like starting fresh. Accounting in section 1 makes me want to :exams:

[crabber]

Did you sit for old Exam 5 with any of the CPCU material on it?

Yes, I sat for and passed it.

[Vorian Atreides]

Yes, I sat for and passed it.
I would offer a two week, intensive review before your sitting. Looking primarily at the pdf notes provided and going through the quizzes. (This is my plan, anyway.)

10-12 hours this week, 10-12 hours next week, 8-10 hours the week of Jan 23.

[crabber]

I would offer a two week, intensive review before your sitting. Looking primarily at the pdf notes provided and going through the quizzes. (This is my plan, anyway.)

10-12 hours this week, 10-12 hours next week, 8-10 hours the week of Jan 23.

So 30 hours? I guess that sounds about right. I was thinking of doing it over the course of 3-4 days though, similar to the period right before an actuarial exam.

[Vorian Atreides]

So 30 hours? I guess that sounds about right. I was thinking of doing it over the course of 3-4 days though, similar to the period right before an actuarial exam.
That's the plan for the week of Jan 23.

The other two weeks is simply going over all of the material and checking for the "small" stuff (like, remembering to check for the policy limits when calculating loss payment when coinsurance applies).

[PR_Actuary]

Ugh... friggin HO-3 sublimits...

[MashiMaro]

so I signed up for the Jan-March window, does that mean I have to take the test before 3/15? I thought I heard someone here say that I can actually take it anytime in 2012? Is that true? can someone confirm?

I just haven't had a chance to study for it yet, not sure if I can get through before 3/15.

[PR_Actuary]

According to http://casact.org/admissions/syllabus/Online_Course_2.pdf on page 1 it says,

"Then make an appointment with Prometric for a specific date and time during the testing window. Early registration for the exam is strongly encouraged as seats fill quickly. There is a $105 fee for changing testing windows."

[MashiMaro]

shoot, i just called to ask... so I have to take it before 3/15.......
do you guys think there is still enough time to start now????
I also have to take exam 9 in May.......... i guess I didn't plan this very well.

[Vorian Atreides]

If you purchased the course on, say, 1/15/2012, you have until 1/14/2013 to schedule taking the Exam itself with Prometric/AICPCU; even if you selected the Jan-Mar 2012 window.

I purchased Course 2 last May, selecting the Jul-Sep "window". All this means is that I'll be tested on the material on the syllabus during that window if there's a change in the material after that window and before I actually take the Exam.

I'm taking this Exam next week. And I didn't have to pay any "change fees".

(Now, if I get sick on the day I'm scheduled to take the Exam, then I'll have to pay a change fee.)

So, unless you have a concrete day in which you've scheduled to take the Exam, there's nothing to worry about.

[crabber]

Do the sections on insurance law do a terrible job preparing one for the quizzes, or am I just a complete and total idiot?

[kaskomm]

Passed today, after failing a sitting in December.

I was definitely more prepared this time around, but the exam was still difficult. It's definitely a step up from OC1 and worth noting that the pass rates have fallen sitting by sitting (from 90+ to 85 to 75, I believe).

[Peterson28]

how do you study for this thing???? :-?

[kaskomm]

how do you study for this thing???? :-?

My advice:
- Go through every online module
- Perform the quiz after each module until you get 100% on each
- Print out the chapter review notes and go through those, making note of areas of weakness or improvement
- Take the quizzes again on any areas of weakness/improvement and the case problems
- Take the practice exam offered through the course
- Perform any last minute studying and notes review on more difficult concepts

I'd say that will take roughly 50-60 hours. Note that the practice exam provided is loads easier than the real exam and also includes recycled questions from the quizzes after each lesson. You should be getting 85-90% on this exam to be feeling like you're in a good place prior to heading into the real thing.

That's just my opinion. I failed once (60-69%) and then passed and was a ton more prepared the second time around. I may have been lulled by the relative ease of OC1.

[Peterson28]

My advice:
- Go through every online module
- Perform the quiz after each module until you get 100% on each
- Print out the chapter review notes and go through those, making note of areas of weakness or improvement
- Take the quizzes again on any areas of weakness/improvement and the case problems
- Take the practice exam offered through the course
- Perform any last minute studying and notes review on more difficult concepts

I'd say that will take roughly 50-60 hours. Note that the practice exam provided is loads easier than the real exam and also includes recycled questions from the quizzes after each lesson. You should be getting 85-90% on this exam to be feeling like you're in a good place prior to heading into the real thing.

That's just my opinion. I failed once (60-69%) and then passed and was a ton more prepared the second time around. I may have been lulled by the relative ease of OC1.

thanks...very helpful. :tup:

[MashiMaro]

If you purchased the course on, say, 1/15/2012, you have until 1/14/2013 to schedule taking the Exam itself with Prometric/AICPCU; even if you selected the Jan-Mar 2012 window.

I purchased Course 2 last May, selecting the Jul-Sep "window". All this means is that I'll be tested on the material on the syllabus during that window if there's a change in the material after that window and before I actually take the Exam.

I'm taking this Exam next week. And I didn't have to pay any "change fees".

(Now, if I get sick on the day I'm scheduled to take the Exam, then I'll have to pay a change fee.)

So, unless you have a concrete day in which you've scheduled to take the Exam, there's nothing to worry about.

really? I called them yesterday, and was told that I have to take it in the Jan-March window, and if I change it, I will have to pay the fee.

[Vorian Atreides]

really? I called them yesterday, and was told that I have to take it in the Jan-March window, and if I change it, I will have to pay the fee.
I wonder if there's a disconnect in understanding the terminology. (Not a negative on your part, BTW--just that their terminology isn't quite as clear as they think it might be.)

Or that they changed how things are.

I would suggest calling AICPCU and ask them what is the latest date you can schedule your Exam.

If I get time on Friday (tomorrow doesn't look good at the moment), I'll make a call as well as ask about it, as well.

[crabber]

Passed today, after failing a sitting in December.

I was definitely more prepared this time around, but the exam was still difficult. It's definitely a step up from OC1 and worth noting that the pass rates have fallen sitting by sitting (from 90+ to 85 to 75, I believe).

I passed today. Took a hair under an hour.

[Peterson28]

I passed today. Took a hair under an hour.

:clap:

[crabber]

:clap:

I will say that all I did as final preparation was to go back through all the quizzes, and re-take them until I got 100%. If it became clear through that process that there were areas for which I was very unprepared, I would go back through that individual lesson and retake the quiz. I probably did this on 3 or 4 lessons. I did not review the end of assignment notes, as I felt that would be overkill.

[crabber]

I got my grade report from my account at the Institutes website today. 90-100%

[FastAsATurtle]

Passed both CAS1 and CAS2 today. Oddly enough, I thought 2 seemed easier than 1.

Of course, I also read through the material for 2 more recently, and studied harder for it thanks to the reports in this thread and others.

So...YMMV. Overall, neither seemed particularly difficult for test-takers with a good handle on the material.

[Vorian Atreides]

Sitting Jan 26.
Pass.

:woot:

[FastAsATurtle]

Passed both CAS1 and CAS2 today. Oddly enough, I thought 2 seemed easier than 1.

Of course, I also read through the material for 2 more recently, and studied harder for it thanks to the reports in this thread and others.

So...YMMV. Overall, neither seemed particularly difficult for test-takers with a good handle on the material.

Disclaimer: Ended up scoring higher on 1 than 2, despite my initial impressions.

[PR_Actuary]

I also scored higher on 1 than 2... there's less material but way much more detail you need to know.

[herr blau]

Holy crap! I failed it!!! What a joke!
I had scored 71/75 in the practice exam...wow...that was unreliable

Does anyone know if I can retake it in the same testing window?

[Vorian Atreides]

For a fee, I believe you can sign up for a retake.

I don't think that there are any restrictions apart from finding an open slot with Prometric.

[herr blau]

For a fee, I believe you can sign up for a retake.

I don't think that there are any restrictions apart from finding an open slot with Prometric.

Thanks...I'll give that a try and see what happens...

[herr blau]

Just a follow-up to my own question, yes, it is possible to retake the exam during the same window. I just re-registered and am sitting again on February 13th.

[Vorian Atreides]

Good luck! :toast:

[Agamemnon]

I just took this exam today and I passed. I signed up for the course on January 24th.

The following was my plan of attack for this exam and it worked for me and I hope it can be helpful for others as well:
1) Go through all of the Online Assignments and do the practice questions after each topic
2) Review the Summary Notes posted at the end of each Assignment
3) Attempt the practice exam in a timed exam environment. I set up an excel sheet with a vlookup with the answers so I could assess how I did on the exam.
4) Go back and re-attempt all of the Practice Questions but this time, retake the sample questions at least twice. The questions are not the same so multiple attempts will ensure you can cycle through the sample questions bank.
5) On the day of the exam, review all of the definitions at the end of the Summary Note for each Assignment.

Some people will find the Sample Exam not that helpful but I think it is important to not attempt the sample exam the same day as the practice questions because the questions are recycled. It is better if you are not able to recall the answer from the previous studying to make sure you are analyzing each question and not just recalling an answer.

I agree with others that the exam is harder than the practice questions but this is the strategy I followed for Online Course 1 and 2 and it worked both times.

[Vorian Atreides]

Just a follow-up to my own question, yes, it is possible to retake the exam during the same window. I just re-registered and am sitting again on February 13th.
:popcorn:

[Gareth Keenan]

Premilimary result was pass. Official result several weeks down the road. I found the experience unsatisfying, as I miss having extra practice problems like old CAS or preliminary exams. I would say the degree of difficulty on the sample exam and the actual exam were comprable, but it would be nice to know what the actual required passing score is.

I suppose maybe this is not published so that it can change across the two month windows. Whatev's, up next, Micro Econ VEE in a few weeks.

[PR_Actuary]

Premilimary result was pass. Official result several weeks down the road. I found the experience unsatisfying, as I miss having extra practice problems like old CAS or preliminary exams. I would say the degree of difficulty on the sample exam and the actual exam were comprable, but it would be nice to know what the actual required passing score is.

I suppose maybe this is not published so that it can change across the two month windows. Whatev's, up next, Micro Econ VEE in a few weeks.

You can usually access your official results within a few days. Also, the required passing score is 70%.

[Gareth Keenan]

You can usually access your official results within a few days. Also, the required passing score is 70%.

I've heard the 70% as well, but didn't see where that was published formally. It's not on the syllabus for the module on the CAS/Admissions/Syllabus page, how do you know this?

Kind Regards,

Gareth Keenan

[Vorian Atreides]

I've heard the 70% as well, but didn't see where that was published formally. It's not on the syllabus for the module on the CAS/Admissions/Syllabus page, how do you know this?

Kind Regards,

Gareth Keenan
I believe that the AICPCU publishes this.

[PR_Actuary]

I've heard the 70% as well, but didn't see where that was published formally. It's not on the syllabus for the module on the CAS/Admissions/Syllabus page, how do you know this?

Kind Regards,

Gareth Keenan

http://casact.org/admissions/studytools/course2/Pass_Mark_Online_Course_2.pdf

[Vorian Atreides]

http://casact.org/admissions/studytools/course2/Pass_Mark_Online_Course_2.pdf
The only thing about that document is the acknowledgement that the pass mark will be "around 70%"; I know that I've seen an AICPCU page where it states that 70% is the pass mark.

[casact921]

Premilimary result was pass.

Congrats! I took the test yesterday, and also got a preliminary pass. Back to actuarial exams now!

[herr blau]

:popcorn:

Oops!
I was sure I'd posted about that. I passed this time around. Done with modules!

[Vorian Atreides]

Oops!
I was sure I'd posted about that. I passed this time around. Done with modules!
I'm sure that you did . . . but likely in another thread. :-D

Congrats!! :toast:

[casact921]

I passed today. Took a hair under an hour.

I got my grade report from my account at the Institutes website today. 90-100%

I got the preliminary pass on Feb. 16, still no grade report on the Institutes website. :-?

[herr blau]

I got the preliminary pass on Feb. 16, still no grade report on the Institutes website. :-?

Same here...I got in touch with them and they said it'd be released something like 2 weeks after the close of the window (March 15th)

[casact921]

Same here...I got in touch with them and they said it'd be released something like 2 weeks after the close of the window (March 15th)

You beat me to the punch! I just got off the phone with customer service as well. They (The Institutes) said they initially had a policy of releasing the official grade reports as soon as they received the test results, which was usually a couple of days after the test. However, the CAS requested that they discontinue this practice, and instead hold all official grade reports until the close of the testing window. The woman I spoke to didn't say anything about "2 weeks after the close of the window", however. I'm hoping they post the grades immediately after the close of the window, on March 16th.

For those of you who are also waiting for CA1 results, those will also be posted after the close of the testing window from now on.

[spencerhs5]

Didn't pass. Calculation questions were easy, many conceptual questions seemed pretty ambiguous/poorly worded.

Dont know if it was just my testing center or if prometric has changed software but the interface was very different this time- not difficult to use or anything but definiitely worse than it used to be.

[cjm18]

how much is the retake fee? although it looks like the retake has to be in the same 3 month window...

[jessicacha]

shoot, i just called to ask... so I have to take it before 3/15.......
do you guys think there is still enough time to start now????
I also have to take exam 9 in May.......... i guess I didn't plan this very well.

are you sure? whenever I sign up (cas1/2) I have to call aicpcu to sign up for a sitting and they ASK me which sitting I want to write the exam in, regardless of the choice I made when purchasing the online course and the exam.
I just purchased the course and signed up for prometric sitting over the phone and the person asked me which sitting I want even though I had picked apr-june online