To take SOA Exam 3 or not???

[number 5]

For those also registered for SOA 3 and anyone with an opinion either way:

What score (points out of 80) on the CAS exam would make you comfortable withdrawing from the SOA exam?

I have 52.5 points and am really struggling with whether or not I am confident enough that that will pass and I can withdraw from the SOA exam.

[Amphiblitz]

I am right in your boat with 52.0 points. Obviously that would have been plenty for the last few sittings, but given what I've heard here about this being an easier exam, I'm starting to wonder.

When I originally calculated my score, I figured that I would not take the SOA. While I am still leaning that way, I haven't ruled it out and have been trying to gauge from these discussions how high the pass mark could be.

Part of me still feels like it won't jump from the past high of 47.5 all the way to above 52, especially when you consider the difference in difficulty between Fall 03 and Spring 04 (night and day) and the corresponding pass marks were only 2 points different.

Sorry I didn't really help give you any guidance. I hope we both make the right choice.

[Amphiblitz]

BTW--

The poll for the raw scores isn't helping much. Although, I wish we could get a better sample size.

Currently, according to the poll, they could set the pass mark as high as 59 and still pass 9 out of 22.

[number 5]

you didn't give me much help but at least I know someone else is struggling with this decision as I am. The other thing to consider is how the SOA exam changed. I haven't paid attention to the changes and don't know whether material has been added, removed, etc. If material was added, is a week enough to learn/brush up on it? I don't know...

I also agree that I really doubt the pass mark would jump 5 points to 52.5 with one sitting, especially given the changes to the exam. But then again, look at the poll out here regarding people's scores, it looks like at least the people responding to the poll did very well..... But I would assume that the people that respond to the poll is not a very good representation of the whole group taking CAS 3.

[chay dolly]

i dont see how, if on the border, you can risk NOT taking the soa course m. good luck!

[Amphiblitz]

What is "the border"?

[number 5]

that is exactly the question, what is the border? I feel like 50 may be the upper end of the border but of course, that is a completely uneducated guess that really has no basis.

[chay dolly]

if you're wondering whether or not to take the soa one, you're on the border

[Sox34]

to be honest i've had a moment or two considering taking SOA M even though i scored >60. but that was just me being insane...

I think if I had gotten < 55 I would have strongly considered taking SOA M
If I had got <52 I would have definitely taken it. That was my original thinking because .65*80 pts = 52 points... and I thought that less than that would be cutting it too close, especially given the changes in the syllabus. (*That being said, i still don't think the pass score will be THAT much higher than it has been, but you never know with these darn exams)

In terms of SOA material - some of it is doable to learn/study in a week. Some not so much - the only problem is like all of the reserve ?s from the last soa exam came from chapter 8 which is not on the CAS syllabus - so that could be an important discrepancy in the material. Some of the other items, you might be able to just not study and skip/guess during the exam because the good news for SOA is that there is no guessing penalty

Good Luck with whatever you decide

[number 5]

Sox 34 - Given I've taken this exam a few times (I believe you have too) I am moderately comfortable with the reserve questions.

I have a feeling I won't decide for sure until the last minute. I am really struggling with whether I think I have a good chance of passing the SOA exam because I've spent most of my time on the statistics lately. I really don't think that the pass mark would be above 50, but who knows?!?!?!?

[Sox34]

This was my second for CAS 3, so I don't have any experience with the SOA exam and/or the additional material.

I did go to a seminar though, and the instructor said that the SOA reserve ?s from the last sitting were all from Chapter 8 which is not on the CAS syllabus. If I had ended up taking SOA as well, I would have had to learn/study this additional chapter, as well as Chap 15 and the other material, in the two weeks in between. If you've studied Chap 8 and already feel comfortable with the material, then you should be good with any reserve question on the SOA exam.

Good luck!