Exam 7 difficulty

[Warren Schmidt]

For those of you who have taken Exam 7 before, how would you compare the difficulty of the exam (in terms of the amount and complexity of the material) to Exams 5 and 6?

[3tac]

The material isn't any more difficult than Parts 5 or 6, it's just there is quite a bit more material. The 1st time I took this exam it was tough figuring out how I should get started.

[Polka-Dot]

IMO, all things considered, this is the toughest exam I have taken. Others could voice their opinion how it compares to 8 & 9, but in terms of volume and detail of material, Exam 7 is by far the worst. Also, it terms of lack of interesting material, Exam 7 is also by far the worst--all of that accouting! I just can't seem to stay awake while studying this stuff. :sleep:

[Examinator]

I am finding this out, regarding the boring comments. I'm starting with the background law stuff, just to get a feel for how some of this garbage works.

[nixon]

I agree with Polka-dot. Exam 7 is another step up in difficulty from 5 and 6.

I think it is because people are gung-ho to get their ACAS so they study harder and that makes the exam commitee respond by making a harder test.

So to all you hard chargers out there:
QUIT BLOWING THE (nonexistent) CURVE!

[charlie]

By far the most difficult and boring one. a lot of uninteresting details to remember, and absolutely no links between all parts of this exam

[jk]

By far the most difficult and boring one. a lot of uninteresting details to remember, and absolutely no links between all parts of this exam
Exam 7 is another step up in difficulty from 5 and 6.
IMO, all things considered, this is the toughest exam I have taken.
This is so not what we wanted to hear.

Man, that IASA stuff is brutal. I can't read more than five pages at a time without my pulse dropping to zero.

[The Sad Man]

Does anyone know if there are plans to remove Exam 7 or greatly modify it in the near future? I'm not here yet, but if something like this is possibly on the horizon, I'll do everything I can to postpone this nightmare. I simply cannot imagine studying an entire exam of accounting, taxes, etc.

[Roomba]

Doesn't look like it. Some posted this in another thread.


http://www.casact.org/members/BoD/111305ES.pdf

[GefilteFish144]

Does anyone know if there are plans to remove Exam 7 or greatly modify it in the near future? I'm not here yet, but if something like this is possibly on the horizon, I'll do everything I can to postpone this nightmare. I simply cannot imagine studying an entire exam of accounting, taxes, etc.

Since ACAS is required to sign a Statement of Actuarial Opinion, a thorough knowledge of the Annual Statement is required. While there's a small chance the CAS may cool off on some of the readings, I wouldn't postpone getting an ACAS.

[GefilteFish144]

So to all you hard chargers out there:
QUIT BLOWING THE (nonexistent) CURVE!

I've been trying to say it for the past several sittings, but to no avail. Students are studying harder than they were in the past, pass marks are getting higher, yet the CAS still doesn't change the passing percentages.

[nixon]

Maybe we could pool our monies and pay for a bunch of mullinski writers to pull the pass mark down. Since there is no curve we won't be doing anything wrong.

Who else loves "Welcome to Collinwood"?

[Polka-Dot]

Maybe we could pool our monies and pay for a bunch of mullinski writers to pull the pass mark down. Since there is no curve we won't be doing anything wrong.
They have to at least get a 1 to be considered "effective."

[GefilteFish144]

Would be a good strategy if they used a straight pass ratio, but it's the "effective pass ratio" that they look for. We'd never be able to afford to pay someone to study 200 hours to get a 1....

[Maine-iac]

Do not confuse difficult with boring. The material on 7 is not generally as difficult as that on 5 or 6. I can't remember a single concept that required me to go over it multiple times to get the drift.

The material is very disjointed, and often boring. It is a challenge to keep your attention focused and to organize the material in such a way that you can retain it. Self-discipline is called for here probably more than any other exam.

But there is nothing on it that you can't grasp. You can pass on one try. I did, and I was no exam taking whiz kid.

[Wesley_Willis]

Maybe we could pool our monies and pay for a bunch of mullinski writers to pull the pass mark down. Since there is no curve we won't be doing anything wrong.

Who else loves "Welcome to Collinwood"?

Perhaps the ongoing dumbing-down of the exam process will encourage more slackers to take higher-level exams. Either that or you can take one for the team this time so I won't have to study so much.

[GefilteFish144]

Perhaps the ongoing dumbing-down of the exam process will encourage more slackers to take higher-level exams. Either that or you can take one for the team this time so I won't have to study so much.

Not sure what dumbing down you are talking about. They still pass roughly the same percent of candidates.

[Colymbosathon ecplecticos]

Not sure what dumbing down you are talking about. Roughly the same percent of candidates pass.

IFYQ

[GefilteFish144]

I'm a total geek -- just wanted you to know that.

IFYQ

[Wesley_Willis]

Not sure what dumbing down you are talking about. They still pass roughly the same percent of candidates.

one glaring example of what i'm talking about is the "60% rule/guideline" for the joint exams.

FWIW, I'm glad CAS exam 7 is eztremely difficult. Ideally I'll pass it the first time, but I'd rather fail it a few times myself than have the path to FCAS devolve into a cakewalk.

[GefilteFish144]

one glaring example of what i'm talking about is the "60% rule/guideline" for the joint exams.

FWIW, I'm glad CAS exam 7 is eztremely difficult. Ideally I'll pass it the first time, but I'd rather fail it a few times myself than have the path to FCAS devolve into a cakewalk.

I don't see the CAS going that route of the set passmark. If they ever did, they would make the exams so difficult that even the 75th percentile would not reach 60%. On the contrary, their pass marks have gotten higher for some of the exams.

[Wesley_Willis]

I don't see the CAS going that route of the set passmark. If they ever did, they would make the exams so difficult that even the 75th percentile would not reach 60%. On the contrary, their pass marks have gotten higher for some of the exams.

While you are correct, I just want to stress that this wasn't the point of my previous message. Are we in agreement that the 60% rule/guideline is an example of dumbing down the exam process?

[MNBridge]

7 was IMO the hardest exam BY FAR. 8 and 9 were easier. (& 5 and 6 were MUCH easier)

I do not agree with the folks who think there is a 'curve' or whatever other excuses they make for not passing. I never failed an exam where I felt I honestly knew the material.

You choose a profession that is often regarded to as 'smart people', you should have figured out right there that it wasn't going to be easy. there is no conspiracy theory out to get anyone.

People passed the exams in the past and are still passing them now, how anyone has any proof that people are studying harder (or are smarter now than they were before) I have no idea.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I find it ironic that people who haven't even passed course one have 'proof' that the people who passed all 9 (or 10) exams don't know what they are doing when it comes to properly statistically evaluating what an appropriate way to set the pass mark is.