CFE Fall 2018 Discussion

[PaulP]

The exam is over, which means it's time to start looking forward to the next one! Let's kick this thing off.

If you are starting (I know some people have gotten an early jump, even without the syllabus being final), welcome to the fight!
If you are planning on starting later, know that it is still two months until the "real" start of study season.
If you just took the exams, we would all love to hear any real-world advice from those in the trenches!

And if you have any questions at all, please let me!

[BobSaccamano]

Looks like they released the new syllabus, anyone know when they make the new study notes available?

[PaulP]

Here's the new syllabus, as Bob said! I would expect the notes to be available in the next couple of weeks.

https://www.soa.org/Files/Edu/2018/f...fd-syllabi.pdf

We've got two new books, Superforecasting and Algorithms to Live By. They look very good! Although I, for one, am DEVASTATED* that we lost Monte Carlo Methods and Stochastic Simulations.



*not, those books were not fun

[110PercentWahoo]

Originally Posted by PaulP

We've got two new books, Superforecasting and Algorithms to Live By. They look very good! Although I, for one, am DEVASTATED* that we lost Monte Carlo Methods and Stochastic Simulations.

*not, those books were not fun

The new books actually do sound interesting! They might help take the edge off having to re-take this exam!* The removal of Monte Carlo Methods and Stochastic Simulations also explains why the exam committee hit those readings hard on the exam this go around as well.

Honestly, the best exam syllabus just got better**

* Nothing takes the edge off having to re-take an exam
** But not by enough that I want to take it again though

[BobSaccamano]

I just finished the introductory study note and they recommended reading the case study before the study materials. Since this is still up from last sitting, is it a worthwhile read or should I look at the study materials available now? I can only really look at the online ones, since I can’t order study notes and I’d like to get all the textbooks at once. Is the case study likely to change significantly for the next sitting?

[PaulP]

Originally Posted by BobSaccamano

I just finished the introductory study note and they recommended reading the case study before the study materials. Since this is still up from last sitting, is it a worthwhile read or should I look at the study materials available now? I can only really look at the online ones, since I can’t order study notes and I’d like to get all the textbooks at once. Is the case study likely to change significantly for the next sitting?

Let me answer your last one quick, since we won't get that update for a couple of months. In general, the case study is pretty stable over time, with relatively minor structures. I'd put it at probably a 98% probability that we still have the same overall structure, with some sections cut out and placed back in. So, you can probably give it a look over now to get familiar with it.

That said...one of these sittings the SOA is going to pull a curveball on us, so be appropriately warned

[PaulP]

Less than one month to go until results come up!

[PaulP]

Exam season is official upon us now!

One thing I like to recommend that EVERYONE do early on in the process is go check out the SOA's Guide to Written Exams. There is a nice overview there, as well as some decent videos that will give you some pointers on how to think about the exam.

Along those lines, I'm pleased to announce that this year, in addition to the Online Seminars usual videos discussing tips for the the exam, I will be doing a deeper dive into what the SOA is looking for in their questions, what are some common mistakes, and how to maximize your points. I will put this out in a month or so, once students start working on our many Mock Exams. Stay tuned!

Good luck as everyone gets going! Stay focused, work hard, and study smart. You can do this!

[xpactuarial]

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The new books on the syllabus are much more qualitative than the past. "Algorithms to Live By" and "Superforecasting" are both very interesting reads. I don't know about you, but dropping that Stochastic Modelling textbook makes the material much more manageable.

Thanks and good luck studying!

[PaulP]

It sounds like Spring 2018 by-questions results have been released! Would anyone who is joining us again for Fall 2018 like to share their results? It can be useful to take a look at these to try to identify where you might be able to improve - whether a certain type of reading is tripping you up, or a certain type of question. One of the best things you can do in the aftermath of the exam is examine how you did and get some advice on how to improve!