Guidance on posting queries

In order to encourage other students (and tutors where necessary) to answer your queries more efficiently, we recommend that you consider the following guidelines when posting.

• Before you post a new query, use the search facility within the forums (or Google) to see whether your query has been asked before. We find that the majority of questions have indeed been asked before!
• Think about the level of detail in your post. Try to be succinct, but give enough information to avoid the reader having to research the question more fully to make it comprehensible. For example, just saying “how do I do 2011’s exam question about XYZ” is unlikely to encourage a response. If relevant, make specific references to ActEd materials, for example the chapter number, page number, etc.
• Don’t post too many queries in one go (either in one thread, or as many different threads). The forums are free but you’ll find that responses are more forthcoming if you only post queries once you’ve made every effort to solve them yourself!
• Don’t make unreasonable demands for a response, for example by asking for an immediate or lengthy detailed response. Replies are much more likely to be forthcoming if they don’t require a huge amount of effort on the responder’s part.
• Be prepared for a concise response. Responders are much more likely to give you hints on a solution (for example, references to Course Notes or other ActEd materials) rather than a lengthy detailed one. You’ll find that if you can take the hint and develop the solution yourself, you’re much more likely to understand it, which in turn will help with your revision.
• If you need considerable help, consider booking onto a tutorial, or see whether there are other ActEd materials that can help you, such as the Online Classroom. The ActEd website gives details of many products that can help you in different ways.
• Avoid antagonising other forum users. Keep your posts professional and avoid personal comments. The forums are monitored by ActEd and abuse is not tolerated.
• Avoid manipulating threads to a different topic and try to avoid repeating discussions or points made elsewhere on the forum.
• Respect the anonymity of others.
• Advertising is not allowed.
• Please read the terms and conditions of the site: https://www.acted.co.uk/forums/index.php?help/terms.
• Don't forget to thank your fellow members and tutors for their help. A little thanks goes a long way!
• The forum is not the place to initiate complaints about ActEd or any of its staff. Please refer to ActEd's website for its complaints policy.

Members who persistently breach these guidelines or the terms and conditions of the site may be subject to a temporary or permanent ban from the forums.

Finally, this forum platform has primarily been provided to allow students and other members to provide support and advice to help each other through their actuarial exams. Whilst discussions about other actuarial issues and off-topics are welcome, they should not detract from the main purpose of this forum. Members who repeatedly look to take over threads to make points not directly related to the original post, or who repeatedly post similar content about any topic, will be deemed to be breaching these forum guidelines.

Whilst we want to give everyone the opportunity to make their point, this should not be done in a way that upsets and antagonises the wider forum community.

Many thanks
Admin