Pass rates unfair!

[bambi]

Did you know that the pass rate for Course 4 people was 60.3%? I think I remember when I took 160, the pass rate was something in the order of the upper 30's. What is the SOA thinking?

Of course, 8M pass rate sucked (when I'm taking the exam). It's all a conspiracy!

[pokemon]

I agree that course 4 pass rate was way too high. Since that exam was so easy, SOA should've set the pass mark even higher than 26 to keep the passing ratio around 50%, if not lower.

For 8G/M, I think 45.8% was in line with historical pass rates.

[Me]

Oh, please! Are you peolpe already slipping into curmudgeony old actuary mode? Personally, I'm overjoyed that there was an unheard of pass rate at nearly 60%. I think there's something royally screwed up about an exam system that only passes 1 in 3 intelligent and motivated exam takers. I'm hoping this is a sign that they are finally figuring out how to use these exams to EDUCATE people instead of just using them as a barrier to entry.

[Not Mike]

Oh, please! Are you peolpe already slipping into curmudgeony old actuary mode? Personally, I'm overjoyed that there was an unheard of pass rate at nearly 60%. I think there's something royally screwed up about an exam system that only passes 1 in 3 intelligent and motivated exam takers. I'm hoping this is a sign that they are finally figuring out how to use these exams to EDUCATE people instead of just using them as a barrier to entry.

Note: This is NOT a complaint...

Doesn't it seem kind of weird, though, that lower level pass rates are the same, and sometimes higher than pass rates for Course 8? There is NO WAY that the average C4 taker is more motivated and prepared than the average C8 taker. Isn't the average C8 taker a better exam taker (after all, they've already made it that far, so they've already passed a lot of exams)?

Just thinking logically, it doesn't make sense that C8 pass rates aren't, on average, higher than lower level exams...

[chica]

Maybe the SOA just thought 26 was a good pass mark - isn't that 65% right? Maybe it was one of those things where they could set the pass mark at 26 and let 60% pass or set it at 25 and let 30% pass. Who knows. Moreover, who cares!

Also, don't forget that the economy is slow, so more people have more time to study (ie consultants).

[Me]

In general, I think they have been, Not Mike. But, if we want to look for reasons the course 4 pass rates could make sense... They have a lot of quality study manuals and there's diddly squat available for most course 8s. There are also more actual practice exams out there since 4 has been given 6 times while the 8s have only been given 3 times each. Also, it's the last multiple choice math exam. By Course 4 the candidates are probably at their best as far as study tactics and exam-taking techniques. That whole process starts over again with exam 5. It takes some people until exam 8 to figure out how to effectively study for and take the essay exams.

I think exam 8 percentages should generally be higher than for 5 & 6. And in general I would expect them to be higher than for 4. But maybe when this crop gets up to taking 8 we'll have 60% passing rates for almost all the exams? Just speculating idly.

[bambi]

bottom line, the SOA doesn't want too many FSAs so they would never have an unheard of pass rate like 60%.

I would agree the low pass rates for 8 have to do with the terribly written study guides. I think this time I will read the books more with less dependence on the actex.

[JO]

Actex sucks, I buried it after the poor job they did with Course 4 back at the time of conversion.

[dumber]

Looking at the C4 exam, it was not that easy.

I think you are getting to the point in the new system that many people have sat for an exam multiple times. Maybe everyone was just that prepared.

Name any other exam that you had to get 65% right to pass. Even the old Operations Research exam probably wasn't that high.