Many people think this course is too long. But if you were writing this course (either the Core Reading or the ActEd notes), what topics would you cut out?
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Cut it out
- Thread starter Anna Bishop
- Start date
L
lin
Member
Hi Anna!
Before I answer your question, I want to say to everyone else reading this that Anna is a BRILLIANT tutorial presenter! I was fortunate enough to attend the CA12 tutorial that she presented in Cape Town for the September sitting this year, and if I do pass (let's hope...
) I owe her big-time!
I only studied CA12 so can't really answer the question regarding the CA11 material. But I do think some of risk content is just too much - the risk process planning and all that doesn't really add value, doesn't enhance my understanding of risks or how to deal with them and just end up taking up valuable space in my brain that I could use better!
Before I answer your question, I want to say to everyone else reading this that Anna is a BRILLIANT tutorial presenter! I was fortunate enough to attend the CA12 tutorial that she presented in Cape Town for the September sitting this year, and if I do pass (let's hope...
) I owe her big-time!I only studied CA12 so can't really answer the question regarding the CA11 material. But I do think some of risk content is just too much - the risk process planning and all that doesn't really add value, doesn't enhance my understanding of risks or how to deal with them and just end up taking up valuable space in my brain that I could use better!
I
Irn Bru 4 Hangovers
Member
Not got far enough through yet.
Have just read section one.
There does seem to be loads of lists of ideas/ points that require some brief elaboration. Gets a bit dull- but it does seem to be mainly core reading in this section.
I guess if this is what the exam requires then it needs to be in there.
Some of my colleagues tell me that a few of the later chapters tend to double up a bit on the bumf and even the core reading to some extent.... mmmm can't wait for those
I guess I'll be in a better position to give my tuppence worth once I've got past section zillion and one, or whatever.
In the mean time- does anyone have any ideas how to 'liven up' studying the course. I'm finding it a bit intimidating at the mo!
Thinking of drawing some pretty spider diagrams of the main themes...
...but perhaps a role play or even an ITV dramatisation of the course's content.
Hmm maybe not.
Finally, is it actually possible to carry the course home from the office in one go?
ps. Thanks Anna- Great Tutor. Your tutorial really helped me with CT6 in April!!
Have just read section one.
There does seem to be loads of lists of ideas/ points that require some brief elaboration. Gets a bit dull- but it does seem to be mainly core reading in this section.
I guess if this is what the exam requires then it needs to be in there.
Some of my colleagues tell me that a few of the later chapters tend to double up a bit on the bumf and even the core reading to some extent.... mmmm can't wait for those
I guess I'll be in a better position to give my tuppence worth once I've got past section zillion and one, or whatever.
In the mean time- does anyone have any ideas how to 'liven up' studying the course. I'm finding it a bit intimidating at the mo!
Thinking of drawing some pretty spider diagrams of the main themes...
...but perhaps a role play or even an ITV dramatisation of the course's content.
Hmm maybe not.
Finally, is it actually possible to carry the course home from the office in one go?
ps. Thanks Anna- Great Tutor. Your tutorial really helped me with CT6 in April!!
Last edited by a moderator:
C
Cardano
Member
When I look to prepare exams I'm looking for an exam with lots of history. ie loads of past papers. I think it is a great shame that the 301,302,303 and 304 were not left alone with 305 and an extra exam for health insurance. My feeling is the best tactical way of approaching CA1, since there is little CA12 history might be to do ST2 and ST4 (orST3) first
L
lebeezle
Member
Extra information is often too much
Does anyone else think that lots of the material in the core reading could be chopped out without making it less understandable?
e.g. explaining the difference between bonds and equities in chapter 4, does anyone need to be reminded of this??
Does anyone else think that lots of the material in the core reading could be chopped out without making it less understandable?
e.g. explaining the difference between bonds and equities in chapter 4, does anyone need to be reminded of this??
E
examstudent
Member
Yeah I Suppose You Could Chop Pointless Sections Like That Out About Bonds Vs Equities
But Consider This
If You Already Know The Stuff On Boonds Vs Equities That Extra Chapter Should Take Up A Minute Amount Of Study Timne And Memory Storage
And The Advantage Of Leaving It In
Is If Some Generous Examiner Wants To Ask A Bookie Question On Bonds Vs Equities, U Get A Few Free Marks For Limited Study
But Consider This
If You Already Know The Stuff On Boonds Vs Equities That Extra Chapter Should Take Up A Minute Amount Of Study Timne And Memory Storage
And The Advantage Of Leaving It In
Is If Some Generous Examiner Wants To Ask A Bookie Question On Bonds Vs Equities, U Get A Few Free Marks For Limited Study
S
SJP
Member
CA1 - what to remove
Well I have just finished the first two parts of the course and only when reading the last chapter did I learn anything new. The rest of the material seems to be extracts from ST4, CT5 and CT6. In some cases it looks like a direct copy and paste. While in some sense this is a good thing in that it is all familiar to me, I question the objectives of the Institute, making us learn this information twice. How can there be any merit in learning about marine insurance in two subjects?
My suspicion is that someone has wrote CA1 hoping to cover all financial products and they have obviously done that. But why duplicate material? Maybe if they recognised what had already been done in the CTs and referred back to it, CA1 would be a manageable size.
Well I have just finished the first two parts of the course and only when reading the last chapter did I learn anything new. The rest of the material seems to be extracts from ST4, CT5 and CT6. In some cases it looks like a direct copy and paste. While in some sense this is a good thing in that it is all familiar to me, I question the objectives of the Institute, making us learn this information twice. How can there be any merit in learning about marine insurance in two subjects?
My suspicion is that someone has wrote CA1 hoping to cover all financial products and they have obviously done that. But why duplicate material? Maybe if they recognised what had already been done in the CTs and referred back to it, CA1 would be a manageable size.
The problem is, not everyone has done all the CTs. Many people attempt CA1 without the full set of the early subjects. So, unfortunately there is an argument for containing this background material. At least if you have seen some of it before, it takes less long to read and be absorbed into your memory!
S
Squibbles
Member
I just sat CA1, and think there is an awful lot of repitition within the CA1 course itself.
For example in the first half Reinsurance products are introduced and then later on... the Risk management chapter? (50 odd) they are covered again in more detail.
Chapters such as Introduction... and then later on are disscussed again are a complete wast of time. Why not write a condensed chapter covering both chapters?
For example in the first half Reinsurance products are introduced and then later on... the Risk management chapter? (50 odd) they are covered again in more detail.
Chapters such as Introduction... and then later on are disscussed again are a complete wast of time. Why not write a condensed chapter covering both chapters?
Changes afoot for 2007
Believe you me Squibbles, we've wanted to do some condensing for some time!
ActEd have just received the Core Reading for 2007 and we're in the process of making some changes to the course notes. For example, we're combining:
- the 2 chapters on Contract Design
- the 2 chapters on Reinsurance
- the 2 chapters on Capital
- the various chapters on Risk
- the 2 chapters on Valuing benefits.
I wouldn't say the 2007 students are necessarily getting a better deal. Still a similar content, just structured differently.
The original (old) structure was based on the Core Reading and the Core Reading was written around the control cycle. So, for example, you'd get a chapter on reinsurance products (part of knowing the general commercial environment) and a chapter on using reinsurance to manage risk (part of develop the solution). There was some logic to it and you could argue that a bit of repetition of ideas was good for reinforcing learning.
However, it did make the course unnecesarily long, and in some cases there was too much duplication and even contradiction. We've been working with the Institute/Faculty staff actuary to rectify a lot of this. It's still going to be a big course, but remember it is the equivalent of two old world 300-series exams.
Why wasn't it done before? Well, really an issue of timing. The priority for 2005/6 was to have a course for students to study, some learning aids and to provide tuition. It's only now that the tutors are not teaching for a couple of months that have a significant chunk of time to reappraise/rewrite.
All the best for the exam results.
Believe you me Squibbles, we've wanted to do some condensing for some time!
ActEd have just received the Core Reading for 2007 and we're in the process of making some changes to the course notes. For example, we're combining:
- the 2 chapters on Contract Design
- the 2 chapters on Reinsurance
- the 2 chapters on Capital
- the various chapters on Risk
- the 2 chapters on Valuing benefits.
I wouldn't say the 2007 students are necessarily getting a better deal. Still a similar content, just structured differently.
The original (old) structure was based on the Core Reading and the Core Reading was written around the control cycle. So, for example, you'd get a chapter on reinsurance products (part of knowing the general commercial environment) and a chapter on using reinsurance to manage risk (part of develop the solution). There was some logic to it and you could argue that a bit of repetition of ideas was good for reinforcing learning.
However, it did make the course unnecesarily long, and in some cases there was too much duplication and even contradiction. We've been working with the Institute/Faculty staff actuary to rectify a lot of this. It's still going to be a big course, but remember it is the equivalent of two old world 300-series exams.
Why wasn't it done before? Well, really an issue of timing. The priority for 2005/6 was to have a course for students to study, some learning aids and to provide tuition. It's only now that the tutors are not teaching for a couple of months that have a significant chunk of time to reappraise/rewrite.
All the best for the exam results.