Examination News

Examination dates for 2007

April: 11 to 24 April
September: 24 September to 5 October

Examination papers published on the website

Please note that for future examination sessions, including April 2006, examination papers will be published on the website after all examinations have been sat.

Examinations appeals policy and procedure

Information regarding the examinations appeals policy and procedure is now available.

Specialist Applications examination papers

From September 2006 the Specialist Applications examination papers can obtain up to a maximum of four questions rather than the current two.  This is not a major change in policy, but it was an area of concern for the examiners and they have asked us to clarify the situation.

Business Awareness Module (CT9) and Modelling Module (CA2)

Business Awareness Module course dates

The dates of courses for the rest of 2006 are as follows:

Students are reminded that they are expected to take the Module within 18 months of joining the Faculty or Institute.

Further information is available. If this does not answer your query, please e-mail bam@actuaries.org.uk

Modelling Module course dates

The dates of courses for the rest of 2006 are as follows:

Students are encouraged to apply, with the approval of their employer, when they have seriously attempted – gaining a pass, FA or FB – in:

• CT1–CT8
• CA1
• CA3

or their earlier equivalents, and have worked through the sample projects and considered the other relevant material on the website.

Further information is available. If this does not answer your query, please e-mail modelling@actuaries.org.uk

Preparation for the Business Awareness Module and the Modelling Module

The two modules were introduced because employers and users of actuarial services wanted the actuarial qualification expanded to create more “rounded" actuaries with improved:

• communication skills
• business understanding, and
• teamworking skills

to complement the highly valued technical skills.

This was reconfirmed in the Profession’s recent research for the current Strategy Review.

Both modules involve the need for students to prepare well, before attending the course so that they are ready to participate fully in the discussions and group exercises, applying what they have learned and developing their “softer skills" in communication, business understanding and teamworking. In particular, the courses involve interactive sessions, team tasks and group discussion followed by presentation of results and ideas to the wider audience. These softer skills form an important and integral part of the learning experience in conjunction with the more formal assessment at the end of the course.

Specific focus of the Modelling Module

Students are reminded that the emphasis of this module is on the appropriate communication of the audit trail and summary of approach and results. Students are expected to come to the course competent in spreadsheet modelling and word processing, building on their audit and communication skills during the course.

To be successful, students need to:

• be practised in basic modelling techniques
• have studied the material on the website
• have worked through the sample projects (which indicate the general scope of projects; the audit and communication aspects will be developed during the course)
• be ready to work on the audit process and summary aspects, in particular, and
• be ready to share their ideas and work with others on the course

Work-based Skills

Student Consultative Committee

E-mail addresses

One example of this is examination entry acknowledgements. We are now able to e-mail students with confirmation of the examinations they have entered for.

Please ensure that your e-mail details are correct and that you have specified either your home or work e-mail address for communications from us, by logging in to the members’ area.