Infinite Actuary

[brandond]

Ok, another question for those who have taken FM recently if you don't mind. I have been using TIA for studying, as well as the ASM manual. I missed my registration deadline for February sitting like an idiot so now I have time to kill.

Anyways, can anyone tell me how well prepared they were for FM from using TIA? I am going to end up going through both TIA and ASM before its said and done but was just wondering how well prepared you though you were from the TIA practice problems and sample tests.

Has the FM exam changed much from the examples problems James uses on TIA?

Thanks

[jprep]

I used TIA and it felt okay. You should eventually do all of the problems - yes, I know there are a lot of Interest Theory problems.

Also, do Dr. O's problems at the top of this forum, but don't worry much about the "shorting a stock" big word problems, or the "currency/swap" problems, just know the basics of those concepts.

However, you need to do more than just the TIA problems, and TIA only has 2 exams, so try to find some more sample exams on top of the TIA and ASM sample exams.

Edit: Again, for anyone reading this: You might be able to calculate things faster using the Multiview. Get a TI Multiview or something like that, it makes calculation so much faster. Bring both calculators, and use the BA-II as a backup, and for the questions where you need to compute an interest rate or whatever else. Obviously, you need the BA-II Plus absolutely.

[Force of Interest]

Originally Posted by jprep

Edit: Again, for anyone reading this: DO NOT USE THE BA-II PLUS ALONE. YOU WILL LIKELY FAIL.

Easy drama queen. There is no reason you should need anything but the BA II Plus. The multiview is overall a better calculator but you need the TVM functions on the BA II.

I agree you should bring both if you have both but come on, this is nowhere near the difference between pass and fail.

[GuineaPig]

Originally Posted by Force of Interest

Easy drama queen. There is no reason you should need anything but the BA II Plus. The multiview is overall a better calculator but you need the TVM functions on the BA II.

I agree you should bring both if you have both but come on, this is nowhere near the difference between pass and fail.

im pretty sure a huge number of people passed fm in one attempt and only used the ba-II.

[dmbfan41]

Originally Posted by GuineaPig

im pretty sure a huge number of people passed fm in one attempt and only used the ba-II.

no doubt.

and i know numerous people who are passing exams past FM and only using the BA II

[dmbfan41]

Originally Posted by jprep

Edit: Again, for anyone reading this: DO NOT USE THE BA-II PLUS ALONE. YOU WILL LIKELY FAIL. Get a TI Multiview or something like that, it makes calculation so much faster. Bring both calculators, and use the BA-II as a backup, and for the questions where you need to compute an interest rate or whatever else.

this is highly inaccurate

[jprep]

Originally Posted by Force of Interest

Easy drama queen. There is no reason you should need anything but the BA II Plus. The multiview is overall a better calculator but you need the TVM functions on the BA II.

I agree you should bring both if you have both but come on, this is nowhere near the difference between pass and fail.

Originally Posted by dmbfan41

this is highly inaccurate

True, but most people aren't as smart as you two.

Many of the people who would barely pass using the Multiview would instead fail if they used just the BA-II Plus. I know someone who increased their speed and accuracy greatly by using the Multiview.

Of course you don't really need anything but the BA-II Plus, but the Multiview makes it very easy, especially with the table functions for Exam C from what I hear (but that's a side topic).

If you are very prepared, it won't make a difference. But to anyone using only the BA-II Plus, the Multiview is only $15. Please consider getting one. It's so cool to type one big calculation in one line, instead of having to store variables and such every time.

[dramaqueen]And I am NOT A DRAMA QUEEN. STOP SAYING THAT STUFF! [/dramaqueen] lol j/k. I just wanted to add emphasis to make people reconsider bringing only the BA-II Plus.

[dmbfan41]

Originally Posted by jprep

True, but most people aren't as smart as you two.

Many of the people who would barely pass using the Multiview would instead fail if they used just the BA-II Plus. I know someone who increased their speed and accuracy greatly by using the Multiview

Of course you don't really need anything but the BA-II Plus, but the Multiview makes it very easy, especially with the table functions for Exam C from what I hear (but that's a side topic).

If you are very prepared, it won't make a difference. But to anyone using only the BA-II Plus, the Multiview is only $15. Please consider getting one. It's so cool to type one big calculation in one line, instead of having to store variables and such every time.

[dramaqueen]And I am NOT A DRAMA QUEEN. STOP SAYING THAT STUFF! [/dramaqueen] lol j/k. I just wanted to add emphasis to make people reconsider bringing only the BA-II Plus.

i'm calling BS on this. many people would fail instead of pass based on the calculator that use? come on.

i think you would probably save more time if you mastered one calculator than if you had to switch back and forth throughout the exam (and potentially switching multiple times during a single problem).

obviously, bring more than one calculator. but i'd highly recommend not switching calculators during the exam.

[jprep]

Originally Posted by dmbfan41

i'm calling BS on this. many people would fail instead of pass based on the calculator that use? come on.

i think you would probably save more time if you mastered one calculator than if you had to switch back and forth throughout the exam (and potentially switching multiple times during a single problem).

obviously, bring more than one calculator. but i'd highly recommend not switching calculators during the exam.

I'm only talking about people who are on the fence and get a 6, possibly because they run out of time. Speed and accuracy are important. Mastering both calculators is better. But I see what you're saying - it won't matter in the end as long as you actually master the BA-II Plus.

Yes, there are plenty of people who pass using the BA-II Plus alone. I'm talking about people who might be slow with that calculator. I think they could do things somewhat faster using the Multiview.

But for the purposes of this thread, listen to them. You can pass with only the BA-II Plus if you are super smart and prepared. But please please consider using both.

[bcm16]

I used pretty much only TIA and felt very very prepared. There was only 1 question on the exam that I didn't automatically know. I also worked through the questions posted on the SOA and did the first few couple of practice exams from Dr. O's manual for extra practice. TIA might only have two exams but if you do them multiple times over the course of your studying they're a good way to mark your progress.

I also disagree with the calculator claim. I love the BA II Plus and as long as you get comfortable with it, it's easy to go very quickly without any mistakes. I didn't touch my multiview.