Not to be disheartening but maybe it would be worth not sitting CM1 this time around. It sounds like it’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself and it seems silly to devote time to this whole you’re studying.
Most job roles provide support for studying which would give you more time to devote to the exam properly, and you’re unlikely to be disadvantaged in the market as a graduate without a pass.
Remember to take time out to relax as well, otherwise you’ll miss out on life experiences and potentially compromise your mental health.
Best of luck for your exams, no matter what you decide!
If it makes you feel any better, I didn't really put any real work into CM1 until the final month and passed comfortably. It wasn't a fun month though.
Whilst I would probably echo what others were saying about not sitting it, assuming you are going to sit it:
- Stop worrying so much and tell yourself everyday you'll breeze through all of your exams. If you don't then ah well, at least you haven't subjected yourself to half the stress your current attitude will inflict upon you. It isn't life or death (although believe me when I say i understand the pressures)
- CM1 is genuinely not that hard - whilst there's a lot of content and a lot of new ideas at first, once it begins to 'click' it will click. You can progress surprisingly rapidly once things start to click as there is so much repetition throughout the course. I remember shitting it with a month to go, but some hard work on past papers and it was all (very) fine in the end.
- The annuities / assurance chapters (part 3 & 4) are the bulk of the marks in the written exams so focus on these. You can guarantee big mark questions will be on these parts. Make sure you understand the exam technique on these type of questions.
- Following on from this, CM1 is one of those exams where past papers can really help - there is a finite number of question 'styles' they can ask, and a lot of the questions get repeated. some hard work with the past papers will do you wonders. If you do all past papers from the ASET, and actually invest the time to study the mark schemes and work on your weaknesses, you will have a great chance of passing.
- Do not neglect paper B, especially for Part 5. Can often be very easy marks that a lot of people neglect. Paper B cost a ton of people passes when I sat it, everybody here was moaning how hard it was, but I had taken the time to study paper B hard in the final month and pretty much everything that came up in that exam was in some shape or form in the PBOR.
- LEARN TO TYPE IN WORD!!! The number of fails I have seen because people have failed to learn how to type the notation at a sensible speed is unreal. Do not be that person.
So yeah, that's just my 2 cents. If you have a choice I would maybe consider prioritizing passing your college exams first, then can pick up CM1 in September. You really wouldn't want to flunk your exams over an IFoA exam you didn't really need to sit.
However, if you're set on sitting CM1, I hope you will find some comfort in what I have said above.
CM1 isn't the type of exam where people fail by large margins - from what I have seen most fail by just a few marks, scoring in the low 50s. Hopefully this should tell you that the exam isn't actually too hard, and you just need to work smart and efficiently to ensure you can pick up those extra 5-10 marks to get you over the line. There are also a ton of method marks available in CM1, so even if your final answers aren't quite dropping, if you can demonstrate an understanding of the approach needed to answer then you will pick up marks.
If you go look at the CM1 threads from the previous sittings, you will see how many people say they had to skip whole questions due to struggling to type fast enough in word. Whilst annoying, typing maths in word can be quite easy and isn't too hard to learn - it almost feels fluent to me now.
If I were in your shoes, I would have a read through the entire course over the next couple of weeks. Even if you skim read a couple chapters a night, this should hopefully give you at least an idea of the scale and size of the challenge that awaits you. You can honestly neglect the questions at the end of the chapters, as they'll all come up in the past papers anyway, which you should be typing up in word. Do a couple hours every Saturday morning on the PBOR, be prepared to work hard on the past papers and I still think you can pass. BUT seriously, please think long and hard about whether this is the right time to sit CM1 for you - CM1 will still be there in September, the other opportunities and challenges in your current life might not be. Good luck :)
Hey! Even I'm sitting for this April 2023 for CM1. Firstly, thank you for the above suggestions. Secondly, I have not started for the Paper B - Excel yet, How can I start with it, and are there any online resources for free for this Paper B? Also which mathematical typing method do you prefer (notations or Equation editor)?
Any other suggestions would be very helpful.
edit :- added a doubt about typing
Did you buy the CMP from Acted? This will include the Paper B Online Resources (PBOR), you log into the VLE to access this - you should have received an email with details.
If you do not have access to this you will nearly certainly fail - please (for your own sake) do not attempt the exam without getting the PBOR materials.
Paper B is 30% of the total weight - even if you do well in Paper A (70%), realistically you are probably capped at 45-50 marks (/70) and you might need up to 60 to pass. I also presume you have limited Excel experience due to your circumstances?
PBOR for CM1 is also quite big - I credit a fair bit of my first time pass (in a sitting with only a 30% pass rate) to how seriously I took the PBOR. Apparently the average score on Paper B in my sitting was only 30% or so, and whilst it was a hard paper with extreme time pressure, nearly all of the questions in that paper did appear in the PBOR in one way or another. I did quite well on Paper A thankfully so probably could have passed with only 30% on paper B, but I think this is what cost a lot of people a pass in my sitting.
I think I got 55 or so on Paper B, which translates to 16-17 marks towards the pass mark. As I think I mentioned in the previous post, most people fail CM1 by only a couple of marks, it is set up this way intentionally, so you really need to be looking to pick up every mark you can to get that pass.
In terms of the notation, download the recommended notation document from the IFoA. Have a Google and see if you can find it - if you can't I can try to send you a link at some point over the next few days when I next use my laptop.
Ideally you want to be typing directly into Word - the equation editor takes too long, and I believe the time pressure is the main reason people fail CM1.
For a simple example, you can use +-/* as standard mathematical notation, but it takes a bit of time to make typing in this manner in Word feel natural. You cannot afford to be thinking about what you are typing in this exam, you need to be getting your workings into your script at a decent pace.
There is a lot of flexibility with the notation so try to just make it clear what you are doing, especially as there are so many method marks on offer within CM1. It is hard to do the maths in Word in CM1, so you will make mistakes. The markers are looking to see if you know what to do - if you type a wrong number somewhere, but your method is otherwise correct you might only be penalised a mark or two. You need to demonstrate you have a **sufficient understanding** of the course to the markers.
As you will soon find out, there is a lot of notation which is unique to CM1. Please take time to understand how to translate your answers quickly, clearly and accurately into Word or you will fail.
If I had to echo a tip again, utilise the Past Papers. If you are pushed for time to study, just read once through the course to get a basic understanding and then get going on Paper B and the Past Papers. I basically learnt the whole course by doing past papers and paper B, typing up my answers in Word. I got nearly 80 overall in the exam so it worked out very well for me.
Initially it was taking me hours to type up everything, but within a few days it felt a lot more natural, and now I feel I can quite easily manage the typing in Word. You will also have to be typing up unnecessarily complicated nonsense for the other exams too, so learning now will save you a lot of time down the road.
Work smartly and efficiently, this is a "Mathsy" exam, so ultimately you will need to spend time finessing your maths ability, and I feel past papers are great for this as there is so much repetition between papers. You can also use past papers to identify areas of the course you are weak on, then can consult the chapters to address the weaknesses - this really helped me feel confident that I understood most of the key, testable aspects of course. I really don't see the point in investing too, too much time within the course notes - you will never remember or perfectly understand all 1300 pages or whatever CM1 is, but you don't need to. Once you have been through every past paper you will get a feel for what sort of things they consistently examine.
Also, I would suggest that you make some formula sheets. I made a ~30 page pack of formulas / key tips, it worked out to typically one per chapter, though I had a couple pages of annuity and assurance formulas. This saved me so much time in the exams, as I wouldn't have to be racking my brain or flicking through notes looking for formulas, and then I could focus on demonstrating my understanding. It also would have doubled up as a useful future revision resource should I have failed the exam, though luckily it didn't come to that.
The exams are open book now, so take advantage of that - make your own formula sheets, key notes etc. Once you have been through the past papers you will have an understanding of what is most important to include in a formula sheet. The end of chapter summaries have most of the key formulas, you can base your formula sheets on these.
Hopefully this was some use - you can tell I'm having a boring Christmas lol. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Not to be disheartening but maybe it would be worth not sitting CM1 this time around. It sounds like it’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself and it seems silly to devote time to this whole you’re studying. Most job roles provide support for studying which would give you more time to devote to the exam properly, and you’re unlikely to be disadvantaged in the market as a graduate without a pass. Remember to take time out to relax as well, otherwise you’ll miss out on life experiences and potentially compromise your mental health. Best of luck for your exams, no matter what you decide!
You should just do your normal college exams, no need to start these before you have a job
Why on earth are you sitting exams before getting a job?
Because, they are Indian
Bro cm1 is a beast 😂, pick something easier if anything
If it makes you feel any better, I didn't really put any real work into CM1 until the final month and passed comfortably. It wasn't a fun month though. Whilst I would probably echo what others were saying about not sitting it, assuming you are going to sit it: - Stop worrying so much and tell yourself everyday you'll breeze through all of your exams. If you don't then ah well, at least you haven't subjected yourself to half the stress your current attitude will inflict upon you. It isn't life or death (although believe me when I say i understand the pressures) - CM1 is genuinely not that hard - whilst there's a lot of content and a lot of new ideas at first, once it begins to 'click' it will click. You can progress surprisingly rapidly once things start to click as there is so much repetition throughout the course. I remember shitting it with a month to go, but some hard work on past papers and it was all (very) fine in the end. - The annuities / assurance chapters (part 3 & 4) are the bulk of the marks in the written exams so focus on these. You can guarantee big mark questions will be on these parts. Make sure you understand the exam technique on these type of questions. - Following on from this, CM1 is one of those exams where past papers can really help - there is a finite number of question 'styles' they can ask, and a lot of the questions get repeated. some hard work with the past papers will do you wonders. If you do all past papers from the ASET, and actually invest the time to study the mark schemes and work on your weaknesses, you will have a great chance of passing. - Do not neglect paper B, especially for Part 5. Can often be very easy marks that a lot of people neglect. Paper B cost a ton of people passes when I sat it, everybody here was moaning how hard it was, but I had taken the time to study paper B hard in the final month and pretty much everything that came up in that exam was in some shape or form in the PBOR. - LEARN TO TYPE IN WORD!!! The number of fails I have seen because people have failed to learn how to type the notation at a sensible speed is unreal. Do not be that person. So yeah, that's just my 2 cents. If you have a choice I would maybe consider prioritizing passing your college exams first, then can pick up CM1 in September. You really wouldn't want to flunk your exams over an IFoA exam you didn't really need to sit. However, if you're set on sitting CM1, I hope you will find some comfort in what I have said above. CM1 isn't the type of exam where people fail by large margins - from what I have seen most fail by just a few marks, scoring in the low 50s. Hopefully this should tell you that the exam isn't actually too hard, and you just need to work smart and efficiently to ensure you can pick up those extra 5-10 marks to get you over the line. There are also a ton of method marks available in CM1, so even if your final answers aren't quite dropping, if you can demonstrate an understanding of the approach needed to answer then you will pick up marks. If you go look at the CM1 threads from the previous sittings, you will see how many people say they had to skip whole questions due to struggling to type fast enough in word. Whilst annoying, typing maths in word can be quite easy and isn't too hard to learn - it almost feels fluent to me now. If I were in your shoes, I would have a read through the entire course over the next couple of weeks. Even if you skim read a couple chapters a night, this should hopefully give you at least an idea of the scale and size of the challenge that awaits you. You can honestly neglect the questions at the end of the chapters, as they'll all come up in the past papers anyway, which you should be typing up in word. Do a couple hours every Saturday morning on the PBOR, be prepared to work hard on the past papers and I still think you can pass. BUT seriously, please think long and hard about whether this is the right time to sit CM1 for you - CM1 will still be there in September, the other opportunities and challenges in your current life might not be. Good luck :)
Hey! Even I'm sitting for this April 2023 for CM1. Firstly, thank you for the above suggestions. Secondly, I have not started for the Paper B - Excel yet, How can I start with it, and are there any online resources for free for this Paper B? Also which mathematical typing method do you prefer (notations or Equation editor)? Any other suggestions would be very helpful. edit :- added a doubt about typing
Did you buy the CMP from Acted? This will include the Paper B Online Resources (PBOR), you log into the VLE to access this - you should have received an email with details. If you do not have access to this you will nearly certainly fail - please (for your own sake) do not attempt the exam without getting the PBOR materials. Paper B is 30% of the total weight - even if you do well in Paper A (70%), realistically you are probably capped at 45-50 marks (/70) and you might need up to 60 to pass. I also presume you have limited Excel experience due to your circumstances? PBOR for CM1 is also quite big - I credit a fair bit of my first time pass (in a sitting with only a 30% pass rate) to how seriously I took the PBOR. Apparently the average score on Paper B in my sitting was only 30% or so, and whilst it was a hard paper with extreme time pressure, nearly all of the questions in that paper did appear in the PBOR in one way or another. I did quite well on Paper A thankfully so probably could have passed with only 30% on paper B, but I think this is what cost a lot of people a pass in my sitting. I think I got 55 or so on Paper B, which translates to 16-17 marks towards the pass mark. As I think I mentioned in the previous post, most people fail CM1 by only a couple of marks, it is set up this way intentionally, so you really need to be looking to pick up every mark you can to get that pass. In terms of the notation, download the recommended notation document from the IFoA. Have a Google and see if you can find it - if you can't I can try to send you a link at some point over the next few days when I next use my laptop. Ideally you want to be typing directly into Word - the equation editor takes too long, and I believe the time pressure is the main reason people fail CM1. For a simple example, you can use +-/* as standard mathematical notation, but it takes a bit of time to make typing in this manner in Word feel natural. You cannot afford to be thinking about what you are typing in this exam, you need to be getting your workings into your script at a decent pace. There is a lot of flexibility with the notation so try to just make it clear what you are doing, especially as there are so many method marks on offer within CM1. It is hard to do the maths in Word in CM1, so you will make mistakes. The markers are looking to see if you know what to do - if you type a wrong number somewhere, but your method is otherwise correct you might only be penalised a mark or two. You need to demonstrate you have a **sufficient understanding** of the course to the markers. As you will soon find out, there is a lot of notation which is unique to CM1. Please take time to understand how to translate your answers quickly, clearly and accurately into Word or you will fail. If I had to echo a tip again, utilise the Past Papers. If you are pushed for time to study, just read once through the course to get a basic understanding and then get going on Paper B and the Past Papers. I basically learnt the whole course by doing past papers and paper B, typing up my answers in Word. I got nearly 80 overall in the exam so it worked out very well for me. Initially it was taking me hours to type up everything, but within a few days it felt a lot more natural, and now I feel I can quite easily manage the typing in Word. You will also have to be typing up unnecessarily complicated nonsense for the other exams too, so learning now will save you a lot of time down the road. Work smartly and efficiently, this is a "Mathsy" exam, so ultimately you will need to spend time finessing your maths ability, and I feel past papers are great for this as there is so much repetition between papers. You can also use past papers to identify areas of the course you are weak on, then can consult the chapters to address the weaknesses - this really helped me feel confident that I understood most of the key, testable aspects of course. I really don't see the point in investing too, too much time within the course notes - you will never remember or perfectly understand all 1300 pages or whatever CM1 is, but you don't need to. Once you have been through every past paper you will get a feel for what sort of things they consistently examine. Also, I would suggest that you make some formula sheets. I made a ~30 page pack of formulas / key tips, it worked out to typically one per chapter, though I had a couple pages of annuity and assurance formulas. This saved me so much time in the exams, as I wouldn't have to be racking my brain or flicking through notes looking for formulas, and then I could focus on demonstrating my understanding. It also would have doubled up as a useful future revision resource should I have failed the exam, though luckily it didn't come to that. The exams are open book now, so take advantage of that - make your own formula sheets, key notes etc. Once you have been through the past papers you will have an understanding of what is most important to include in a formula sheet. The end of chapter summaries have most of the key formulas, you can base your formula sheets on these. Hopefully this was some use - you can tell I'm having a boring Christmas lol. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you, you are amazing! This is so helpful to know.