PDA

View Full Version : Question for Dr K.


JJJ
November 28th 2005, 08:32 AM
My question is concerning your seminar. I've just sat for FM and am confident that I scored an 18 (though I'm not confident that's a passing mark, I'll assume and hope that it is)

The material on M is pretty foreign to me. What kind of prep work would you expect students at your seminar to have gotten through prior to attending? Also, are the study manuals provided sufficient or do I need to get the texts listed in the syllabus? I see some manuals claim they are a replacement for the texts. (BPP)

Thanks for any advice.
krzysio
November 30th 2005, 02:56 PM
My question is concerning your seminar. I've just sat for FM and am confident that I scored an 18 (though I'm not confident that's a passing mark, I'll assume and hope that it is)
The material on M is pretty foreign to me. What kind of prep work would you expect students at your seminar to have gotten through prior to attending? Also, are the study manuals provided sufficient or do I need to get the texts listed in the syllabus? I see some manuals claim they are a replacement for the texts. (BPP)
Thanks for any advice.

The study manual we provide with the Course M seminar at Illinois State University covers everything that is on the exam, in detail, and yes, it is a replacement for other materials. You will get the life contingencies portion as soon as you register for the seminar, and the p/c portion probably at the seminar or just before it.

It is possible to come to the seminar without any prep work, but then we would want you to study intensely at the seminar and in all of the time following it until the exam. Realistically, you need 400 hours or maybe even more to pass. M is the Mother of All Exams. On the other hand, it will increase in difficulty sharply in May 2007, with significant amount of material added, especially difficult stochastic investment models. It will become a Super Mommy of All Exams. Pass it in 2006, avoid the Moster coming in 2007. Whatever it takes.

Course M is, if I may say so, a big bag of tricks. Our seminar will teach you all of them. It is your absolute duty to carry the bag with you (in your brain) to the exam site. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Yours,
Krzys'
PatrickP
November 30th 2005, 10:54 PM
mmm... i was planning taking C before M but since you are telling me its going to be more difficult i think i will go with M.Where did you see the change they were going to make ( again ) ?


thanks

Pat.
.Godspeed.
December 1st 2005, 02:00 AM
mmm... i was planning taking C before M but since you are telling me its going to be more difficult i think i will go with M.Where did you see the change they were going to make ( again ) ?


thanks

Pat.

Perhaps this will help, from the SOA website:

http://www.soa.org/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset?asset_id=12596071&g11n
bv12
December 1st 2005, 02:47 PM
5 hours of intense testing is somewhat overwhelming. If time is as much a constraint on exam M as it was on P and FM I am going to need a week off after taking the exam. I hope I pass this year so I can avoid the extra hour; 4 is bad enough.
PatrickP
December 1st 2005, 05:42 PM
Why cutting off material to throw it a year after on exam 3 ?and 5 hours is too much .
Ken
December 1st 2005, 06:52 PM
Can't we stop complaining and spend that time studying?
PhillyP
December 1st 2005, 07:31 PM
Can't we stop complaining and spend that time studying?

But complaining is so much easier.
bork
December 8th 2005, 06:37 PM
The study manual we provide with the Course M seminar at Illinois State University covers everything that is on the exam, in detail, and yes, it is a replacement for other materials. You will get the life contingencies portion as soon as you register for the seminar, and the p/c portion probably at the seminar or just before it.

It is possible to come to the seminar without any prep work, but then we would want you to study intensely at the seminar and in all of the time following it until the exam. Realistically, you need 400 hours or maybe even more to pass. M is the Mother of All Exams. On the other hand, it will increase in difficulty sharply in May 2007, with significant amount of material added, especially difficult stochastic investment models. It will become a Super Mommy of All Exams. Pass it in 2006, avoid the Moster coming in 2007. Whatever it takes.

Course M is, if I may say so, a big bag of tricks. Our seminar will teach you all of them. It is your absolute duty to carry the bag with you (in your brain) to the exam site. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Yours,
Krzys'

I looked at some sample pages from your manual and it seems to jump into the topic without any fundamental explanation of the basics. For example, not introducing the notation and a kind of general impression that the reader was introduced to these topics beforehand. Maybe the samples from New England start from the middle? Anyway, is this guide reader friendly?
krzysio
December 10th 2005, 09:42 PM
I looked at some sample pages from your manual and it seems to jump into the topic without any fundamental explanation of the basics. For example, not introducing the notation and a kind of general impression that the reader was introduced to these topics beforehand. Maybe the samples from New England start from the middle? Anyway, is this guide reader friendly?

I am not quite sure what you mean by fundamentals. But our manual explains all concepts. It is intense, because exam M is intense. It requires very intense, detailed study, I agree. But everything is explained.
Yours,
Krzys'