How to answer question about exam score

[mike2266]

I passed Exam P/1 with a 6. What do I say to an interviewer when they ask me what score I got on my exam?

[Trojan_Horse]

You say you got a 6, that simple. Might I suggest, when interviewing, tell the truth, be direct and confident.

[maryland]

Most employers don't care exactly what grade you got although yes, a 10 is best. You can just right "Passed mm/yyyy" on your resume. Be honest if they actually ask for a grade but good work on the pass.

[Sherylian]

yep, no need to put your score on your resume, just indicate that you passed it. And there's no need bring up the score you got, unless the employer/interviewer ask you directly, then answer with honesty.

[cpowell]

I'm going to sit for P in May 2007, so this question interests me. I think I may be psyching myself out a bit. I'm a career changer living in a city with very few actuarial positions. I'm prepared to move for my new job. However, I'm also concerned about the score. At this point, I feel I'm on track to pass, and with consistent study over the next few months, raise myself past a 6, but not by much. I think I'm afraid that a potential employer would look at me, and think, huh, a 6? And why should we hire you? Too much trouble. Am I overanalyzing this?

[wat]

I'm going to sit for P in May 2007, so this question interests me. I think I may be psyching myself out a bit. I'm a career changer living in a city with very few actuarial positions. I'm prepared to move for my new job. However, I'm also concerned about the score. At this point, I feel I'm on track to pass, and with consistent study over the next few months, raise myself past a 6, but not by much. I think I'm afraid that a potential employer would look at me, and think, huh, a 6? And why should we hire you? Too much trouble. Am I overanalyzing this?

A pass is a pass. Any company that tells you differently has their priorities in the wrong place.

[cpowell]

Hmm. That's pretty much what I read everywhere, but I suppose that having been exposed to scoring in my current job, I'm coming from a mindset of higher scores are ALWAYS better.

I must say I have never studied so hard for anything in my life. I suppose at the same time, I've been getting myself too preoccupied by the prospect of passing and no one being interested at all.

[wat]

Hmm. That's pretty much what I read everywhere, but I suppose that having been exposed to scoring in my current job, I'm coming from a mindset of higher scores are ALWAYS better.

I must say I have never studied so hard for anything in my life. I suppose at the same time, I've been getting myself too preoccupied by the prospect of passing and no one being interested at all.

Well, there is some truth in higher scores being better. Otherwise, what's the purpose of assigning a higher number?

However, the difference between a 6 and a 10 can be about 4-5 questions. That's not a very large margin for error. And I have not heard of any program thus far that awards larger increases for higher grades (i.e., Person A gets a $X/yr raise for getting a 6, but Person B gets a 1.05 * $X/yr raise because they got a 10 on the same exam).

[cpowell]

That makes sense. I suppose the point is to first aim for the pass, then aim for the higher score. Thanks for your opinion, I think you've brought me back into line with the reality of the industry.

[TimDH]

That makes sense. I suppose the point is to first aim for the pass, then aim for the higher score. Thanks for your opinion, I think you've brought me back into line with the reality of the industry.

Someone--from this board, I think--once pointed out: "What do you call the actuary who passes all of his or her exams with the lowest possible passing score? A fellow."

I suspect that if the actuarial industry works much the same way as many other industries, then once you get your ASA or FSA no potential employer will much care what your scores were on P/1 or FM/2.

But maybe I'm wrong.

[Trojan_Horse]

TimDH, you are exactly right.

[cpowell]

I feel much better. Thanks for these confirmations that the pass is what matters. I'm taking a practice test in a few hours; here's hoping I get above a 21/30. :)

[Sherylian]

completely agree with above, passing is the goal! Seriously, if you can pass all, that's all it matters. Of course it's nice to get a high scores, but the effort of that is called overstudying. As an actuary, we care about efficiency ;)

[Irish Blues]

Only on the SOA exams will you get a number if you pass. On the CAS exams (3 and 5-9), if you pass you get a grade slip that says "PASS". That's it - regardless if you got exactly the pass mark or a perfect score, it's reported the same way. If you do not pass a CAS exam, then you get a number from 0-5.

Your first goal? Pass the test, period. Do however much studying you need to pass the exam, and let the score fall where it may. Don't obsess with getting all 10s - I don't know of a company (though I'm sure there's one out there) where you get a bigger exam raise for having higher scores on an exam.

[cpowell]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It's good to get a reality check. I had a sobering time of it today -- I didn't do so good on the practice problems. I've decided to change my approach a bit from here on out -- more practice on actual problems in test-like settings, followed up by review of the solution to tweak my weak points. I think I was spending too much time reviewing topics. Anyway, I'm soldiering on. :Unsure:

[Ken]

I'm pretty sure my company would rather I spend as little time as possible getting a six rather than going overkill and getting a perfect score. There's so much more to learn than what's on the test.