Having not touched integration and differentiation and such like since A-Level maths, nearly 7 years ago, looking at some of the material in CT1 was a little daunting. However, it's surprising how quickly it can come back to you. So if anyone else finds themselves in this situation, don't fret, perhaps just look at an old A-level pure maths text book to refresh your memory. Spending a little time on the basics, really helps you to put the focus on understanding the new concepts that CT1 is trying to put over, rather than trying desperatley to remeber how to apply the underlying mathematics. Good luck everyone! Nadeem
Nadeem, I have also started actuarial science last year after a break of 13 years of no studies and I agree with you - don't fret to much about math techniques that you can't remember. I started with CT3. After a few hectic first weeks of studying school maths and varsity maths I was well on my way again, but if I started using wikipedia earlier I would have regained my knowledge quicker. I must say I really appreciate the wikipedia web site as a knowledgebase for techniques which I have forgotten - it is so nice to have the internet available!. Good luck to all.
Dear Nadeem and Wilma, Great to hear that there are some people in the same boat as me. God - my maths were so rusty that when I was looking over the notes - exponents, logartihms etc... I was wondering - how the heck I managed to learn this while at A Levels... Hehe... Anyway, just starting my CT1 studies and would like to wish you all the best. Do keep in touch - my contact is agewisdom[at]gmail[dot]com By the way, if you want FREE REFRESHER NOTES on algebra - I found the notes by Paul Dawkins to be extremely useful and it's all free. Head over his website below. http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/ Hope to hear from you and wish you all the best in the coming exams. Rgds
Hi folks, i've just been encouraged by reading your posts. Having turned 30 this year A level Maths feels a long way away. I'm planning to sit CT1 in April and it's nice to hear i'm not the only one intimidated by the maths! Is anyone else on the forum living in N.Ireland?
You are not alone Dear Badger, Did you take the April exams? I am only taking it next year...esp. since my maths is totally gone... Hope to hear your experience studying.
That would be the Stats Pack: http://www.acted.co.uk/Html/paper_stats_pack.htm There's also an online Stats Refresher: http://www.acted.co.uk/Html/electronic_stats_refresher_online.htm But I think that's more for those who have done it and forgotten it...
It costs a BOMB! Gareth & MC, Thanks for the link. I did know about the refresher package but it really is too expensive for me [esp. in Malaysia]. So, guess I am stuck with using Schaum's and some stats books. Oh and the notes by Lamar... BTW - I am using CT1 as the basis to see where I need to refresh my Maths. Is that workable? I find it tedious to go through all the Maths again though the Lamar notes [see earlier link] were quite good. Although, I am curious. Is the Stats Pack good? Did anyone us it already [sigh]... CM
Question? Hello Guys! I would like to know, do you have to look at other textbooks when doing these courses. Because so far my maths is still OK! but I see most people are referring to other textbooks. So which one do I need for CT1 if I need one? From Fancyme
Books Based on what I was told, all you need is the CMP from ActEd. If you want an alternative, try 1. Schaum "Financial Mathematics"...it's quite old like in 1996 written by some canadian actuaries. 2. Intro to Mathematics of Finance by Scott [Heinemann]...it's on the CT1 reading list. Rgds
Mucho gracias Gareth, Thanks for your reply. Too bad the Stats Refresher package just too expensive for me. Hope things went well in the exams for you this round. Rgds
Maths Background I Agree - Stroud is an excellent all-round book aimed at 1st-year undergrads. It covers most of the maths needed for CT1 from what I can gather. Personally I'm working through ActEd's FAC Maths course before I really get stuck into CT1. The FAC is pretty well written and is a good way of revising all the maths I used at the beginning of my Physics degree but have forgotten over the last few years.
Yeah....Foundation Actuarial Course is superb...teaches you all the maths that you find nightmarish when trying to understand the CT3 notes...
No i'm planning to start with the Sept exams, so only really starting now. My maths is gone too, but i can feel it starting to come back. Slowly!
Relax! You only need the CT1 notes - the exam is based on the Core Reading only (the bold bits in the notes) - so that's all you need. However, do see my other thread in this section on how the exams differ to the Core Reading.... Cheers
Math woes! Hey guys, Thanks for breaking the ice on the degenrating-maths-skills us great-mathematicians once took for granted. Really, integration and differentiation, series formulae and statistical distributions are realllly HAIRYwhen you decide to do it whilst working hey (especially if you start your studies off with CT6:Statistical methods). But as you all mentioned, they do come back...but one things certain: doing them actuarial board exams on your own, after a hard days of work really is extremely more useful on the road to becoming an actuary as compared to cramming in tons of stuff in a short period of time! I have quite a few buddies who grabbed all of their CT's, CA's and most of their ST's after 4 years of studying!!! But when they get employed, they share the same level of thinking as their counterparts who qualified only for a few of the board exams. As time passes and the once-little-guys start passing more exams, their quality of work reallly improves and their knowledge of the actuarial techniques is astoundingly complete! So what I'm saying is that, while it may seem an attractive prospect of going to a uni that grants lotttts of exemptions, it certainly AIN'T the be-all and end-all of the aspiring actuary's career if he starts off with a few( or no) board exams when beginning his exams. I came out of uni with 4 exemptions( only 4 was offered by the way by my uni) and thus have a long road ahead of me...but its something I'm really looking forward to! However, these are just my opinions and would like to know what u guys think of what I've written. Till next time, Happy Studying!
In my opinion it is fair and fine to offer the CT series exemptions from a University but NOT the CA's or ST's. Simple as that!! How many of yo agree?!!!!!!!
