Are TIA sample exams realistic?

[MES88]

Just took the first two TIA sample exams and passed both easily; but some of the questions on there seemed too easy to be true, especially compared to the ACTEX manual. For those who have taken both (TIA and the real thing), is TIA an accurate representation of what the real test is like?

[Kaner3339]

I haven't written it, but from people who have, yes, it is. I'm expecting the exam to have some very easy questions, and some very hard questions. Maybe 3 or 4 of each
and then in the middle will be a bunch of 4,5,6,7,8 level questions. This is just my own opinion and I have nothing to base it on, but it seems reasonable. Also, answering a hard question correctly is weighted more heavily than answering an easy question correctly. That also means getting the easy ones wrong is a big deal, I think.

[CaffeineAddict]

Originally Posted by Kaner3339

I haven't written it, but from people who have, yes, it is. I'm expecting the exam to have some very easy questions, and some very hard questions. Maybe 3 or 4 of each
and then in the middle will be a bunch of 4,5,6,7,8 level questions. This is just my own opinion and I have nothing to base it on, but it seems reasonable. Also, answering a hard question correctly is weighted more heavily than answering an easy question correctly. That also means getting the easy ones wrong is a big deal, I think.

I have never heard of the questions being weighted before. Where did you get this information?

[CaffeineAddict]

Originally Posted by Kaner3339

I haven't written it, but from people who have, yes, it is. I'm expecting the exam to have some very easy questions, and some very hard questions. Maybe 3 or 4 of each
and then in the middle will be a bunch of 4,5,6,7,8 level questions. This is just my own opinion and I have nothing to base it on, but it seems reasonable. Also, answering a hard question correctly is weighted more heavily than answering an easy question correctly. That also means getting the easy ones wrong is a big deal, I think.

The questions on the preliminary exams are not weighted.

The hardest question is worth the same as the easiest question. This fact is given by James Washer, CEO of the infinite actuary, in the video posted earlier in this section. I highly recommend the OP and other exam takers to check out the infinite actuary video on how to pass preliminary exams.

[career changer 2]

While not exactly what Kaner was saying, I think the difficulty of your exam is weighted. If you got all hard questions on your exam you need fewer correct answers than someone who got all easy questions.

[CaffeineAddict]

Originally Posted by career changer 2

While not exactly what Kaner was saying, I think the difficulty of your exam is weighted. If you got all hard questions on your exam you need fewer correct answers than someone who got all easy questions.

[ActWaryAlways]

Originally Posted by CaffeineAddict

The questions on the preliminary exams are not weighted.

The hardest question is worth the same as the easiest question. This fact is given by James Washer, CEO of the infinite actuary, in the video posted earlier in this section. I highly recommend the OP and other exam takers to check out the infinite actuary video on how to pass preliminary exams.

From what I understand, each of the exams are supposed to have the same "difficulty" level. So each person will get roughly the same number of "harder" questions and the same number of "easier" questions, which is what I believe Kaner was trying to say. Of course, each question is worth 1 mark. Of course, I could be wrong.

[atb4]

I thought my exam was slightly more difficult than the 4 free TIA exams. Very, very slightly. I just had a few questions that I had never seen anything like before is all.
For the most part though, I'd say the TIA exams were the most accurate representation of the actual exam.
If you're passing them easily, you probably have a good shot come exam day.

[Kaner3339]

I have something to base my ideas of weighting on. I read a post with Gandalf quoting SOA material. I'll find it if you want me to.

[CaffeineAddict]

Originally Posted by Kaner3339

I have something to base my ideas of weighting on. I read a post with Gandalf quoting SOA material. I'll find it if you want me to.

Let's see it...