Can I pass course 6?

[Wile E. Coyote]

Opinions wanted:
I'm debating whether to register for course 6, I could probably put in 150-200 hours and have some basic knowledge of the content.
I've never written the essay exams so I don't know how big a step it is. I've passed courses 1-4 with 9s and 10s and <100 hours of study time, but had seen most of the material in school.
Any thoughts would really be appreciated.

[OT]

Go for it.

[Tim Hortons]

Can I pass course 6? Isn't that what we're all asking?
I don't think I understand the question... if you want to be an actuary then, yes, you'll have to write course 6 and you might as well do it in the next sitting. Happy Reading:)

[Wile E. Coyote]

Sorry, I guess I should have been clearer. I wanted to know if people who have experience with the exam thought I could pass course 6 with the amount of time I wanted to put in. Or if I was hopelessly underestimating the time required and should retool and try for next year.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Len Bias on 2002-02-26 17:41 ]</font>

[Dr T Non-Fan]

What would happen if you didn't pass? Would it kill you? If so, then you might want to wait.
Point: Weigh the good against the bad. In case you aren't familiar with the bad:
1. Wasting 100-200 hours, not doing other activities instead. However, it would be about 50-100 hours fewer for next Spring. (Maybe.)
2. That failing feeling. Can't quantify it, and it's different for each.
3. The money. If you have to pay for it yourself, that's some big bucks if you don't pass. Or if it's paid for once by your company but the second time isn't, well, that has to be taken into account.

Good: these are all obvious. No need to write them.

Also note that the MC exams are nothing like the 81%WA exams. Knowing a little of everything and guessing on the rest will not be a good strategy for this exam.
Starting now for next year's exam is not such a ridiculous idea. Go light for 8 months, then finish up strong.

[zapped]

to Len Bias (isn't he the guy who OD'd on cocaine & the joke about him & Rock Hudson was they both got ahold of some bad crack?)

i did the same thing last year - put in about 175 hours to go through the material once or twice. i got most of my notes set up & i am not having to work as hard this time to understand topics i have never seen before. it helped, but i had absolutely no chance to pass with only 175 hours studying. i am glad i did it b/c i started out way ahead this time. but nothing is a guarantee of a pass....not even 600 hours of studying sit, after sit, after sit. this will only be my second time :wink: ....if you count the first try....didn't study to pass, only to prepare for this time.

[FIOB]

Just take it. Some people read through the material once and pass, some people read through it three times per attempt and take three or more attempts to pass. Which one are you? How should I know? Pass or fail you will learn something by taking it. And you might pass and be done with it forever.

Why do you want to know if you can pass prior to taking the exam? No one else knows, but we're taking it anyway. Remember, failure is never as frightening as regret.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Zapped:
Good work knowing who Len Bias is, I think most people think I'm just some guy who doesn't realize the advantage of an alias.
Anyways, you said you had no chance in passing, had you seen any of the material before? Were you close? Was there a lot of depth required in the answers? I think I will probably just use Actex and Study Notes, maybe look at the text book when I'm unclear.

[WWSituation]

I always thought if Len Bias was ever ressurected, he would come back and be an actuary.

Not to get too off topic, but remember when everybody thought that his death was going to be this big lesson to people? What a farce that turned out to be.

Any Reggie Lewis sightings anywhere?