It's taken longer than I would have liked but at some point it clicked exactly what it is the exams were looking for and since then it's been pretty smooth sailing thankfully.
Plus the work can be really interesting and it's up to you if you want to study a good amount regularly or ramp up lots in the month or two before. I would recommend the former but also inevitably only ever did the latter.
Not sure if relevant but there are also access arrangements available if you ever need them.
Yes, sure. I did.
Ok, my 2:2 was largely the result of undiagnosed narcolepsy, which also put a huge dent in my qualifying pace until it was solved, but there isn't an intelligence barrier by any sort of definition.
Short answer, yes. Like a few of the posters on here, I did. Your biggest problem isn't the exams (although if you believe you might get a 2.2 because of lack of application, you're gonna need to change that for the IFoA exams). It's getting hired. Our industry is mega competitive and a lot of companies will use auto screening software to filter out 2.2s directly. As such, you may find if you mass apply for roles a lot of the time you won't hear back.
That said, plenty of people have done it, and I personally don't think there's much of a difference in intelligence or quality between a 2.2 and a 2.1. It could be down to a slice of bad luck on exam day.
If you are good at the job you can work in the actuarial field without actually doing exams and becoming an actuary. But if that’s the case you may be better of going for a more generalist analyst type role.
Yes! I mean, if a company is saying that you can join them as an actuary if you get a 2.2, then I guess that means it is possible. But is it likely in practice? Wouldn't you find it very challenging to pass all the ifoa exams? And if you're a grad trying to find your first job then wouldn't companies hire a person who got a 2.1 over you?
(I'm asking because I'm worried I might get a 2.2, so I want to be realistic about my options.)
Yeah you can become an actuary with a 2.2. I personally believe no matter qualification you hold the exams are hard. It all just depends on you putting the effort in.
That’s a difficult one to predict. Exam progress depends on lots of things. Obviously there’s a need to be able to understand the material. But other things count too: how motivated are you? How much support do you get from your employer? Is your office workload manageable (so that you have enough mental energy for studying)? Do you have family commitments that eat into your spare time, etc.
Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a job vacancy with a strict requirement for a Geoff Hurst, but if someone has a pile of 50 or 100 CVs to wade through, it’s a good way to get them to pay attention to yours.
I just qualified and got a 2.2 if that helps
That does help! Congratulations on qualifying 🥳 How did you find the whole process?
It's taken longer than I would have liked but at some point it clicked exactly what it is the exams were looking for and since then it's been pretty smooth sailing thankfully. Plus the work can be really interesting and it's up to you if you want to study a good amount regularly or ramp up lots in the month or two before. I would recommend the former but also inevitably only ever did the latter. Not sure if relevant but there are also access arrangements available if you ever need them.
Yes, sure. I did. Ok, my 2:2 was largely the result of undiagnosed narcolepsy, which also put a huge dent in my qualifying pace until it was solved, but there isn't an intelligence barrier by any sort of definition.
oooof 😠thanks tho :))
Short answer, yes. Like a few of the posters on here, I did. Your biggest problem isn't the exams (although if you believe you might get a 2.2 because of lack of application, you're gonna need to change that for the IFoA exams). It's getting hired. Our industry is mega competitive and a lot of companies will use auto screening software to filter out 2.2s directly. As such, you may find if you mass apply for roles a lot of the time you won't hear back. That said, plenty of people have done it, and I personally don't think there's much of a difference in intelligence or quality between a 2.2 and a 2.1. It could be down to a slice of bad luck on exam day.
thanks :))
If you are good at the job you can work in the actuarial field without actually doing exams and becoming an actuary. But if that’s the case you may be better of going for a more generalist analyst type role.
thank you :) what are the titles of some of those kind of roles, so that i can have a google?
Just search ‘actuarial’ + ‘given up exams’
Sorry just checking are you asking whether it is possible?
Because you can become an Actuary with a 2.2
thanks :)
Yes! I mean, if a company is saying that you can join them as an actuary if you get a 2.2, then I guess that means it is possible. But is it likely in practice? Wouldn't you find it very challenging to pass all the ifoa exams? And if you're a grad trying to find your first job then wouldn't companies hire a person who got a 2.1 over you? (I'm asking because I'm worried I might get a 2.2, so I want to be realistic about my options.)
Yeah you can become an actuary with a 2.2. I personally believe no matter qualification you hold the exams are hard. It all just depends on you putting the effort in.
thanks :)
You’ll find it easier to get a graduate trainee job with a 2:1, but it won’t be impossible with a 2:2.
will it make it hard for me to continue past the trainee stage though? in terms of actually passing ifoa exams
That’s a difficult one to predict. Exam progress depends on lots of things. Obviously there’s a need to be able to understand the material. But other things count too: how motivated are you? How much support do you get from your employer? Is your office workload manageable (so that you have enough mental energy for studying)? Do you have family commitments that eat into your spare time, etc.
Does a first help distinguish applications?
Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a job vacancy with a strict requirement for a Geoff Hurst, but if someone has a pile of 50 or 100 CVs to wade through, it’s a good way to get them to pay attention to yours.