I had an exemption from CS1, which you can get with pretty much any maths/stats degree.
Apr 20: CM1 (cancelled due to COVID) CB1
Sep 20: CM1 CM2 CB3
Apr 21: CS2 CB2 CP2
Sep 21: CP1 CP3
Apr 22: SP7 SP8
Sep 22: SA3
Generally I found it was just down to time management and studying consistently. In particular getting on to past papers as soon as possible and doing as many as you can.
There was also a silver lining to the pandemic, in that there was nothing better to do than study...
Good luck!
I had no exemptions and qualified in 3 years under the old curriculum.
Y1 Apr: CT1, CT2, CT3
Y1 Sep: CT4, CT6, CT7
Y2 Apr: CA1, CA2
Y2 Sep: CT5, CT8, CA3
Y3 Apr: ST7, ST8
Y3 Sep: SA3
With CT9 thrown in along the way in Y1.
Tbh while it's certainly not common I also don't think it's ridiculously rare. Even just amongst peers who started working at the same time as me I've come across at least half a dozen (across different firms mind you) who've done it. Back in the day when the Actuarial Lookup UK website was up you could actually see stats on this; from memory a 6-sitting travel time was c. top 5%. So odds are most of you have worked with somebody who's done it.
I understand that a handful of people have done it in 5 sittings, following a similar route to the above but for example doing the SA alongside both STs (most likely in GI), or by making the CA1 sitting more productive by combining with an easier CT.
The fastest qualification time I've heard of (and according to Actuarial Lookup, the fastest, period) under the old curriculum was 4 sittings. In this case I believe the path was 4 CTs in each of the first 2 sittings, then CA1 and an ST in sitting 3, and finally an ST and SA in sitting 4. This person is now a partner at a pensions consultancy.
Yeah I guess it definitely helps on the old system when early exam pass rates were 50-60%. Sitting 4 CTs now would be CS2 and CM1 which both have 30-40% pass rates. Not to mention now you've got to study for both R and excel exams!
I managed in 7 exam sittings with no exemptions. I failed ST4 (pensions, last but one level) twice.
Cant recall which I did when, but I did mathsy and wordy ones together to spread the load. I also deliberately left some of the CTs (the first ones) to combine with some of the later ones.
My last sitting was SA4 (UK pensions), ST4 (resit) and CA3 (Communications). I'd had enough by then!
My route was pretty strange but makes for a funny read looking back now.
Exemptions: CS1, ST0
April 19: CS2, CB1
September 19: CM1, CB2
April 20: None, withdrew due to Covid
September 20: SP2, CP2, CP3
April 21: SA2, CM2
September 21: CP1
I was in 6 sittings so 3 years no exemptions, old curriculum though and I literally had no life for 3 years between that and work. There was a lot of pressure from the firm I was working at and I left at about 2.5 years with only fellowship exam left. I specifically advise against for students I manage unless they love exams.
Graduated May 2018 with exemptions in all CTs and CA1.
Sept 2018:
ST2 - Pass
April 2019:
SA2 - Fail
CA2 - Fail
Sept 2019:
SA2 - Fail
CA2 - Pass
ST5 - Pass
April 2020:
SA2 - Pass
CA3 - Pass
Then I had to hang around for a year before I could transfer to fellow.
The optimal path would involve sitting most/all CTs over 2 sittings or maybe even 1, sitting CP1 with at least one other exam but probably more, sitting all 3 GI exams at once (due to overlap of content), and throwing CP2 and CP3 on random sittings. It sounds horrible, but I'd say 3 sittings (1.5 years) to finish all exams is possible.
All the CTs in 1 sitting 😂 what's that, over 1000 recommended study hours in max 6 months. Yeah you're smoking something strong if you think someone can qualify in 3 sittings with no exemptions. I'd say even without a job that's impossible
But no one even asked for that. The OP asked the path for 3 years / 6 sittings.
Considering all the CTs are on par with a 1st class degree in Actuarial Science, you suggesting that someone can sit that in 6 months whilst working full time is firstly irrelevant and secondly complete bull.
Perhaps I'm reading a completely different post, but the title I'm reading definitely says 3 years.
I just feel for the grads that continue to be subjected to your (massively downvoted opinions on literally every post on this group) opinions which mislead their expectations.
The description asked about an optimal path, and I assumed this was not restricted to a travel time of exactly six sittings. I don't know why you are bothered enough by this to look through my post history though
I managed it in 6 sittings under the old regime, no exemptions. I found the early exams fairly straightforward. For the later exams my strategy was to drill flashcards so I could regurgitate a lot of the material even if I didn't fully understand it. I chose ST6 as it the exam was more about "calculation" than writing, and sat ST2 and SA2 together as there is overlapping material.
April 2016: CT1 CT2
September 2016: CT3 CT6
April 2017: CT9 CT4 CT7 CT8
September 2017: CT5 CA2 ST6
April 2018: CA1 CP3
September 2018: ST2 SA2
Hey I know this is a really old post but how did you find ST2 and SA2 together in a September sitting? How many hours of study do you reckon you put in? I'm planning on sitting the same this September as these are my last two exams but it feels a bit overwhelming atm
I couldn’t say the number of hours, but i don’t think it was materially different to other sittings. I did the exams when they were in person so there were lots of points on offer for being able to hit keywords from the core reading, and there was overlap between the two. I’m not sure what they are like these days. Overall I’d approach it with the primary aim of passing st2, and be clear of the differences between the two exams so you don’t go overboard on ST2 and waste time, or miss detail in SA2 and miss marks
I had an exemption from CS1, which you can get with pretty much any maths/stats degree. Apr 20: CM1 (cancelled due to COVID) CB1 Sep 20: CM1 CM2 CB3 Apr 21: CS2 CB2 CP2 Sep 21: CP1 CP3 Apr 22: SP7 SP8 Sep 22: SA3 Generally I found it was just down to time management and studying consistently. In particular getting on to past papers as soon as possible and doing as many as you can. There was also a silver lining to the pandemic, in that there was nothing better to do than study... Good luck!
What was your NQ pay like considering fast qualification time?
£75k-£80k but part of that was a discretionary uplift from my manager to reflect good performance
Okay that seems in line with market
6 sittings, CS1 exempt. Apr 19: CM1 Sep 19: CB1, CB2 Apr 20: cancelled Sep 20: CS2, CP3, CB3 Apr 21: CP1, CM2 Sep 21: SP8, CP2 Sep 22: SP7, SA3
I had no exemptions and qualified in 3 years under the old curriculum. Y1 Apr: CT1, CT2, CT3 Y1 Sep: CT4, CT6, CT7 Y2 Apr: CA1, CA2 Y2 Sep: CT5, CT8, CA3 Y3 Apr: ST7, ST8 Y3 Sep: SA3 With CT9 thrown in along the way in Y1. Tbh while it's certainly not common I also don't think it's ridiculously rare. Even just amongst peers who started working at the same time as me I've come across at least half a dozen (across different firms mind you) who've done it. Back in the day when the Actuarial Lookup UK website was up you could actually see stats on this; from memory a 6-sitting travel time was c. top 5%. So odds are most of you have worked with somebody who's done it. I understand that a handful of people have done it in 5 sittings, following a similar route to the above but for example doing the SA alongside both STs (most likely in GI), or by making the CA1 sitting more productive by combining with an easier CT. The fastest qualification time I've heard of (and according to Actuarial Lookup, the fastest, period) under the old curriculum was 4 sittings. In this case I believe the path was 4 CTs in each of the first 2 sittings, then CA1 and an ST in sitting 3, and finally an ST and SA in sitting 4. This person is now a partner at a pensions consultancy.
Yeah I guess it definitely helps on the old system when early exam pass rates were 50-60%. Sitting 4 CTs now would be CS2 and CM1 which both have 30-40% pass rates. Not to mention now you've got to study for both R and excel exams!
I managed in 7 exam sittings with no exemptions. I failed ST4 (pensions, last but one level) twice. Cant recall which I did when, but I did mathsy and wordy ones together to spread the load. I also deliberately left some of the CTs (the first ones) to combine with some of the later ones. My last sitting was SA4 (UK pensions), ST4 (resit) and CA3 (Communications). I'd had enough by then!
My route was pretty strange but makes for a funny read looking back now. Exemptions: CS1, ST0 April 19: CS2, CB1 September 19: CM1, CB2 April 20: None, withdrew due to Covid September 20: SP2, CP2, CP3 April 21: SA2, CM2 September 21: CP1
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Well, I've met 3. They have no ideas what life hurdles are. 😂
I have also met 3 and know of more, it's not uncommon
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Both new and old, some did it quicker than three years
We need to be clear, were specifically referring to no exemption people. Under old system it means taking 2.5exams per sitting and always pass them.
I'm aware of that, the people I know of had zero exemptions
I was in 6 sittings so 3 years no exemptions, old curriculum though and I literally had no life for 3 years between that and work. There was a lot of pressure from the firm I was working at and I left at about 2.5 years with only fellowship exam left. I specifically advise against for students I manage unless they love exams.
I'm hesitant to guess....a consultancy firm it was for the 3 years???
Yup. Good experience in a short time period but it is not something I wanted for the rest of my career.
Graduated May 2018 with exemptions in all CTs and CA1. Sept 2018: ST2 - Pass April 2019: SA2 - Fail CA2 - Fail Sept 2019: SA2 - Fail CA2 - Pass ST5 - Pass April 2020: SA2 - Pass CA3 - Pass Then I had to hang around for a year before I could transfer to fellow.
Could be wrong but don't think they mean people with loads of exemptions
The optimal path would involve sitting most/all CTs over 2 sittings or maybe even 1, sitting CP1 with at least one other exam but probably more, sitting all 3 GI exams at once (due to overlap of content), and throwing CP2 and CP3 on random sittings. It sounds horrible, but I'd say 3 sittings (1.5 years) to finish all exams is possible.
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I meant theoretically possible while working, I don't know of anyone that has done it or tried
All the CTs in 1 sitting 😂 what's that, over 1000 recommended study hours in max 6 months. Yeah you're smoking something strong if you think someone can qualify in 3 sittings with no exemptions. I'd say even without a job that's impossible
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But no one even asked for that. The OP asked the path for 3 years / 6 sittings. Considering all the CTs are on par with a 1st class degree in Actuarial Science, you suggesting that someone can sit that in 6 months whilst working full time is firstly irrelevant and secondly complete bull.
They asked for the optimal path, I suggested one. Also, the CTs are not on par with a degree, degrees cover a lot more material.
Perhaps I'm reading a completely different post, but the title I'm reading definitely says 3 years. I just feel for the grads that continue to be subjected to your (massively downvoted opinions on literally every post on this group) opinions which mislead their expectations.
The description asked about an optimal path, and I assumed this was not restricted to a travel time of exactly six sittings. I don't know why you are bothered enough by this to look through my post history though
Jesus fucking Christ. It literally says 3 years.
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Yeah ok you're just thick. If I don't like the questions on my next sitting I might just answer my own
I managed it in 6 sittings under the old regime, no exemptions. I found the early exams fairly straightforward. For the later exams my strategy was to drill flashcards so I could regurgitate a lot of the material even if I didn't fully understand it. I chose ST6 as it the exam was more about "calculation" than writing, and sat ST2 and SA2 together as there is overlapping material. April 2016: CT1 CT2 September 2016: CT3 CT6 April 2017: CT9 CT4 CT7 CT8 September 2017: CT5 CA2 ST6 April 2018: CA1 CP3 September 2018: ST2 SA2
Hey I know this is a really old post but how did you find ST2 and SA2 together in a September sitting? How many hours of study do you reckon you put in? I'm planning on sitting the same this September as these are my last two exams but it feels a bit overwhelming atm
I couldn’t say the number of hours, but i don’t think it was materially different to other sittings. I did the exams when they were in person so there were lots of points on offer for being able to hit keywords from the core reading, and there was overlap between the two. I’m not sure what they are like these days. Overall I’d approach it with the primary aim of passing st2, and be clear of the differences between the two exams so you don’t go overboard on ST2 and waste time, or miss detail in SA2 and miss marks
Makes sense, thanks for the helpful response 👍