EA-2A November 2012 Progress

[silentassassin]

Originally Posted by jpm56

I'm in the same boat as you. Just knocked off 2B, and barely failed 2A last year. Speed was my primary issue with both exams when I took them last year; I couldn't finish either one even though I knew the material. So I focused on speed with the 2B and finished with 10 minutes to spare, and will again with the 2A.

Originally Posted by tpshortstop

Looks like there are a lot of us that think the passing score in November should have been 109!

Agreed.

I finished 2B with 15 minutes to spare. I had A marked for #25 (I had done the problem wrong), but I went back to it since it was the big 5 pointer. I was able to correct my mistake and switched my answer to D. Ending up saving my ass, I finished with a 69. Speed was my friend.

[jpm56]

Originally Posted by silentassassin

Agreed.

I finished 2B with 15 minutes to spare. I had A marked for #25 (I had done the problem wrong), but I went back to it since it was the big 5 pointer. I was able to correct my mistake and switched my answer to D. Ending up saving my ass, I finished with a 69. Speed was my friend.

I went back to #25 too, but stuck with A. Finished with 68 points. I think the 2B is definitely harder than the 2A Exam; though some of those 2A questions are just so time consuming.

We have the advantage of having just studied 414(l), 415, 416, 417(e) for the EA 2B. Granted we don't know how difficult the questions will be for the 2A, especially for 415. The 415 questions on this years 2B were fairly straightforward, not too difficult, granted I botched one of the post age 65 ones.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how extensive they test those topics.

[lg3]

yeah, i just started studying for 2A and i had in my mind that it would be so much easier than 2B. not the case so far! although i'm focusing first on all the stuff i DON'T do at work. so that's definitely skewing my perception.

[NerdAlert]

Will be finishing up my first pass through the study manual Monday or Tuesday of next week. Then it's lots of reading through the notes, followed by a seminar in mid-September. Practice exams after that.

I unexpectedly took a week off, but I have my motivation back. I made up for the lost time and am chugging away.

My biggest motivator at this point would be not having to study for this exam more than once.

[NerdAlert]

Done with the first pass through the manual. I'm recording all my notes, then taking a week and a half long vacation. It will be a nice break.

[silentassassin]

I'm a few days into studying for EA-2A the second time around. Using Dave's manual, I hope to get through by mid to late September, and then use the remaining time for as many problems that I can get my hands on.

[jpm56]

I've gone through Rick's online seminar for the single employer plans, except sections 415 and 416, which I'm going to cover this weekend. Like you, I will be trying to get my hands on as many practice problems as possible. Especially the 430 "smallest amount that satisfies the minimum funding standard" problems, since they can be so time consuming.

Will start the multiemployer cost methods in about a week; I especially want to nail down EAN method problems since they seem to ask those more often than others. (Besides UC or PUC of course)

[davefarber]

Originally Posted by jpm56

Will start the multiemployer cost methods in about a week; I especially want to nail down EAN method problems since they seem to ask those more often than others. (Besides UC or PUC of course)

The most likely cost methods to be tested (other than unit credit) are EAN, FIL, and Aggregate. The other methods have not yet been tested under PPA.

[NerdAlert]

Alright, I admit, I brought my study manual with me on vacation. It's a fine way to spend a few hours in the airport or on the train. Just reading, though...no practice problems. I have a lot yet to understand on multiemployer plans, but I'm getting there.

[NerdAlert]

It's pretty quiet around here! I'm mid-seminar right now with Farber. It's been very helpful so far, especially some of the multiemployer 404 stuff. I'll be focusing on practice exams when I get home.