Saturday, November 12, 2011

CA2

CA2 - Model documentation, analysis and reporting aka “a 2-day course which provides free food.”

In order to pass the course, you need to produce a model in excel for a random purpose given to you on the second day. The model itself can be rubbish, since the vast majority of the marks come from documentation. You even get extra marks for pointing out why your model is rubbish and you can ask for help if you get stuck – losing a maximum of 5%. The building and documentation of the model lasts an entire day, with a compulsory break for lunch aka “FREE FOOD!!”

So, that’s the second day, what about the first? Well, the program for the first day goes a little something like this:

8:30 – Registration – FREE Coffee and Biscuits
9:00 – 11:00 Get told that Documentation is REALLY important on the second day.
11:00 – 11:15 – FREE Coffee and Biscuits
11:15 – 13:00 Get told that Documentation is REALLY important on the second day.
13:00 – 13:30 – FREE FOOD!!!
13:30 – 15:45 Get told that Documentation is REALLY important on the second day.
15:45 – 16:00 – FREE Coffee and Biscuits
16:00 – 17:30 Get told that Documentation is REALLY important on the second day.
(Admittedly, I may have got some of the times a little wrong, couldn’t find my original program.)
As I head into the final stages of my exams, getting ever closer to the wonderful land of Qualified, I will never forget what I learnt from CA2:

“If your company is willing to pay for accommodation and travel, why on Earth did you take the course just down the street from where you work?!?”


11 down – 5 to go. Next stop, CA3…

… in Oxford.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

CA1

CA1 – Actuarial Risk Management.

Two three hour exams, marked as one paper, essay based on an unbelievably wide range of topics. List after list after list. Seriously, there are 48 acronyms to help you remember them. It’s surely the hardest set-up for an exam possible without getting in trouble with Human Rights activists.

Skip ahead 3 months:

July 14th, 8pm, the results are published. I...

...didn’t check them that quick, I was out having a lovely meal with my dear friend Grace. I had pizza.

...mmmm... pizza...

Skip ahead another hour or two:

There is a time and place to accept defeat and failure with dignity.

This isn’t it.

Chesney, give me a beat!

“I AM THE ONE AND ONLY!!! NOBODY I’D RATHER BE!”

Hell yeah!

Bring on the STs!

Friday, March 11, 2011

CT9

CT9 - Business Awareness - a.k.a Dave's last CT exam, which would mean although he still had a long way to go before being a qualified Actuary they would send him the "Diploma in Actuarial Techniques" if he passed this one.

... it sounds more impressive than it is...

Anywho, in addition to being Dave's last CT exam, CT9 was also different for a number of other reasons.

Firstly, it required attendence at a two day training course during which it was COMPULSORY to eat the free food and stay in the free hotel. Seriously, they can technically make you retake the entire two days if you don't go to the meal. One may logically assume something important happened at this meal. One would be wrong.

The course involved a whole bunch of varied topics from professionalism to legal issues and a business game in which the winning team actually won £25 of vouchers each. However, none of this counted towards the pass.

The actual test was an online, multiple choice, open book exam with no time limit that could be taken at any time after two weeks from the course ending - a.k.a take as long as you want, do it whenever you want, choose from multiple choice and feel free to check the answer on the internet before you pick it - a.k.a the easiest possible layout for a test without giving you the answers.

So, how did it go for Dave?

Badly. Very Badly.

... he came second in the business game!!! And there was only a prize for first!!!!

... but he did get 100% on the exam and the diploma is in the mail.

That's something I guess.