My Thoughts on the Spring 2012 Exam

[mkr2]

Originally Posted by ItsATrap

I don't think that there is a more respected author in this industry than Abe. I fully intend on riding the Abe train to my ASA.

Agreed. I most likely did not pass, and I only blame myself for getting stressed and angry during the exam. Sticking with Abe to the end.

[jone2219]

Is anyone currently FAPing???

[sooner82]

[actuarygirl22]

Originally Posted by georgestouma

Do you have the ASM last edition ?!!

No, I don't. I was mainly commenting on the reaction to the exam that rubbed me the wrong way. I know Abe is a very respected author in the field and I meant no disrespect, I was just commenting that I much more appreciated James' response to the outcry and released exam in this case. I know Abe is also a very capable and bright author able to produce some great study materials.

[georgestouma]

Originally Posted by actuarygirl22

No, I don't. I was mainly commenting on the reaction to the exam that rubbed me the wrong way. I know Abe is a very respected author in the field and I meant no disrespect, I was just commenting that I much more appreciated James' response to the outcry and released exam in this case. I know Abe is also a very capable and bright author able to produce some great study materials.

[Nanook]

Does the SOA follow this forum? Will they read the feedback from the students, and more importantly, the instructors and make adjustments to the exam accordingly? The outcry on this forum has been pretty remarkable.

[bigb]

Originally Posted by Nanook

Does the SOA follow this forum? Will they read the feedback from the students, and more importantly, the instructors and make adjustments to the exam accordingly? The outcry on this forum has been pretty remarkable.

I envision the SOA exam committee as a bunch of older bald fellows, sitting around in a room (maybe having a few drinks, maybe not, maybe some brandy or cigars) and them laughing their rear ends off at us for not passing.

(This I know is not what goes on, but this is what I envision nonetheless).

[ldk]

Originally Posted by bigb

I envision the SOA exam committee as a bunch of older bald fellows, sitting around in a room (maybe having a few drinks, maybe not, maybe some brandy or cigars) and them laughing their rear ends off at us for not passing.

(This I know is not what goes on, but this is what I envision nonetheless).

I don't envision that at all. I don't envision that because if the committee is really comprised of 'older bald fellows' then those 'older bald fellows' probably took exams when there were no calculators to use on exams. They used slide rules instead. As a result those exams were probably a lot easier because of the limitations in the tools available to calculate anything complex in the given time frame. Would they have the hubris to laugh at us when the exams test much more complex concepts and calculations than they had to? I think not. ...then again, maybe they are.

[campbell]

Originally Posted by Nanook

Does the SOA follow this forum? Will they read the feedback from the students, and more importantly, the instructors and make adjustments to the exam accordingly? The outcry on this forum has been pretty remarkable.

Yes, some SOA people do read the AO forums (and pick up chatter from a variety of places), but there is no guarantee that they do. If you contact the SOA through official channels, they will see your comments. I have been sending comments to the SOA directly for years, both when I was taking exams and now that I teach seminars.


Contact the SOA directly: education@soa.org

(Also, there are some relatively new fellows on some of these E&E committees. I decided to check out the MLC committee, and I found at least 5 of the members became FSAs since 2000. At least 3 became FSAs in 2010.)

[Money]

This thread along with Abe and Jim's comments are pretty GREAT. I wish that Angelo and Ken would have taken the time to post their thoughts on how much of a joke the CAS EC has become in testing/administering/the pass mark for exams has been over the last 3 years.

I feel that it could be a big conflict of interest to have access to any test before it has been released while working as a college professor in the actuarial science program at a university.