Findings from the 2011 student education survey

Key highlights

The response rate was 8% of which three quarters were in the UK. The largest group answering had been students for 1-3 years.

For finding out information, the majority of students use the website although there were several comments about the difficulty in navigating around the pages. Many found the recent developments such as Facebook and Twitter not really useful to them.

Most students seem satisfied with the exam centres for the April 2011 and September 2010 sessions.

The recent outcry about a lack of availability of practical exams (CT9, CA2 and CA3) seems to have dissipated with most students able to book onto an exam within the 6 month time frame.

Whilst students seem to prefer to use Core Reading rather then textbooks, it was felt that if the text book was focused and there was only one (rather then the 3 for ST9 for example) students may be happy to study from textbooks.

As the Profession looks to move some of the exams online the opportunity was taken to ask about current students’ experiences. Some 34% of respondents had used a computer in exams prior to taking the Profession’s exams, and the majority had sat multiple choice exams this way. It was interesting that there was not much difference between those that thought it was a better experience and those that thought it was the same experience as a written exam.

To supplement the work being carried out on publishing exam pass marks, a question was asked in the survey and unsurprisingly most of the respondents, 73% of those who responded, felt that pass marks should be published. The comments received about the reasons why pass marks should be published included:

• transparency
• it would help plan study and aid revision of past papers
• it would help them decide how much effort needed to be put into the subject to get the required number of marks to pass.

Other students felt the current system was fair and it identified those that had reached a ‘professional standard’. One recurring theme throughout was the fact that some students were also looking for their own individual marks to be provided.

Most of the students had read the examiners’ reports and felt that they were helpful in exam preparation.

Developments for the future

The Profession continues to consider the publishing of pass marks and more on this will be available over the forthcoming months.

The Profession continues to look at the development of online examining and will be engaging with student focus groups (such as a recent group on CA3) as well as the student consultative forum to ensure that this method of examining is both easy to use and fit for purpose.

The Profession is reviewing our current formats of communication and thinking about how to engage students on Facebook as well as the possibility of developing a student twitter account.

If you have any thoughts on these findings, or you have ideas on improving the communication to students then please get in contact karen.brocklesby@actuaries.org.uk