In Chapter 1 on page 11, the course notes make some suggestions of papers that you might like to read to prepare for the SA1 exam. The profession has recently deleted their guide to the specialist applications exams that is mentioned here, so the link in the course notes doesn't work any more. The profession intends to release a new guide (although that may not be for some time) and I will post the link to the new guide on this thread once it is available. I think the profession's guide was useful as Subject SA1 is rather different to the earlier exams and needs to be tackled in a different way. This is my summary of the guide that I discuss in tutorials: "SA1 tests the higher level skills of analysis, synthesis and critical judgement. You will be used to using your analysis and synthesis skills in the earlier subjects. However, the need to display critical judgement is crucial in SA1 - so you need to discuss a wide range of points, but these should be structured so that the most important points are discussed first and in most detail. To assist in this you need to plan your answer before you start writing it so that you are clear what the question is about and which issues should be discussed first. The guide says that you can be asked in the exam to apply the principles of the Core Reading to less familiar circumstances. So don't be surprised if you are asked about something that is not covered in the course. The actuarial world is always changing and the examiners want to make sure that you can react to these changes. But don't panic, the examiners won't expect a perfect answer, but are looking for a good discussion of some possible approaches. The guide says you need a deep understanding of the subject, so you need to know both the ST1 and SA1 Core Reading very well. Be aware that there can be 1, 2, 3 or 4 questions on the exam, but most usually 2 or 3. So you will have relatively few questions on the paper, but they will go into a lot of depth on a particular topic. The guide also says that you must do the additional reading in Chapter 1. This will help enormously with the questions on less familiar circumstances mentioned above. Also check out the topical issues thread on this forum. When the examiners are looking for inspiration to write the exam questions they will be reading through these papers and looking at current healthcare issues to try to generate ideas." I hope the information above is useful. Good luck with your study of SA1. Mark
