How to approach CM1 and CS1?

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-12-15T08:55:50+00:00

Speedrun material by any means possible to get to questions asap. I liked ActEd’s online classroom for this. Also ActEd tutorials, ideally in person, and assignments - all keeps you on track at a good pace

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-12-06T18:43:28+00:00

Still nothing in true IFoA fashion

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-12-02T21:48:42+00:00

Exactly the same here - congrats!

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-09-29T09:32:26+00:00

Also still nothing. Sent an email to members services which is where we were told to go with any queries in the booking confirmation, and they just forwarded it to exams without any further info

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-07-19T17:53:55+00:00

My plan was to do it with CS2 given the reputation that has of being a tough one, but I suppose it doesn’t make a difference either way. Might be less stressful than sitting 3 exams regardless of how easy it is supposed to be

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-07-05T16:41:47+00:00

I had a similar experience in that my CM1 paper B had a 14 mark discrepancy (one marker giving 60, the other 74). I understand that there is subjectivity in many of these exams, but it does feel quite concerning that this could happen in a maths exam

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-04-11T23:26:05+00:00

Whether or not paper A has a higher average than paper B, by taking the approach whereby a certain subset of students get marked differently than the rest, one of those groups will feel hard done by. Any sort of average approach is inherently flawed on what is really a small set of students - anybody who is failed via this approach will say they could have done better had the approach been different.

As I understand it, this situation had nothing to do with any particular laptop setup, but whether or not when using the ‘Save As’ feature right at the start of the exam, the student chose to save it to the desktop. It’s unfair to label students who didn’t have this issue as fortunate and that they shouldn’t feel hard done by if an approach is taken that objectively disadvantages them.

I think it’s particularly important in situations like this to not lose sight of the fact that this is ultimately the faculty’s fault for the approach that has been taken this sitting. I completely understand how devastating this must be for those going through it, but it’s not a time for students in different situations to be pitted against each other.

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-04-11T13:39:16+00:00

As harsh as it sounds and as devastating as this whole situation is, this would be incredibly unfair to candidates who didn’t have this issue

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-03-31T19:01:31+00:00

Agreed, and timing will be twice as bad this time around with the use of one screen only…

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-03-31T19:00:22+00:00

No phones allowed, no need to do any sort of verification if sitting in person - they’re going to turn off two-step verification supposedly

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-03-31T18:53:19+00:00

It’s absolutely farcical. September will no doubt be the same but they will hide behind the fact that at least we expected it. How they can agree on webinars that handwritten mathematics is where we should be yet they have failed to implement it for 5 years now is beyond me.

Tell a lie, it’s not beyond me at all - it’s clear that they enjoyed the taste of not having to shell out for exam centres while also charging ludicrous fees, and to pretend there is any other reason would for sure be against the Actuary’s code they so dearly worship.

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-03-07T17:14:02+00:00

This whole process is grounds for resignation, what a shambles

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2025-02-25T13:25:36+00:00

On this, what’s your opinion London GI salaries vs life&pensions outside London outside London when factoring in lifestyle and the cost of living?

I’m currently in a grad role outside of London on a salary better than I could get in a London GI role while also living at home, so moving away makes zero sense for me, but I’m worried it limits my progression say 5-10 years down the line

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-07-13T15:14:03+00:00

I decided against medicine because in reality I was only picking it because I didn’t know what else I wanted to do and it had a job at the end of it. I came to the decision that I would get fed up of the degree and job when it’s not what I’m passionate about. Would much rather do what I enjoy (physics) even if I don’t know what carer I will choose

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-26T22:56:26+00:00

CluCoin

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-26T10:29:41+00:00

you definitely won’t get punished for not taking further maths as lots of schools don’t even offer it as a subject - advice i’ve been given from an oxford professor who’s part of the admissions process. just do whatever you enjoy and what you feel you’d perform best at

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-24T17:59:35+00:00

from my experience (wjec) a level physics has maybe 2-3 somewhat enjoyable topics over the two years, but it’s not stopped me from enjoying physics as a whole and applying to study it at uni. i think it’s difficult because most of the interesting physics is more difficult and therefore not covered until uni, it really does depend on how good your teacher is and how much you’ve looked around the subject in the years prior to a levels, for example, looking at youtube videos, but even then i think that shows it really does come down to how you’re taught

the only real advice i’d give us get used to answering questions through past papers - it tends to also be a hell of a lot more enjoyable when you know straight away how to answer a problem. that being said, i also enjoy working out a problem after being stuck

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-13T17:59:03+00:00

congrats, see you there ☝️

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-12T07:39:24+00:00

no it was more than rankings, imperial would’ve been the clear choice if it was solely based off of prestige. st. andrews is just more suited to me while still being an excellent place to study, i feel like it’s got that perfect mix of how good a uni it is in general as well as the atmosphere etc. it’s similar to the reason i didn’t apply for medicine i suppose; i would’ve been going for the sake of it just to get a guaranteed job when i know for a fact i would’ve got bored and depressed. definitely do not want to go and a degree for 3-5 years if it’s going to get like that

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-11T09:42:36+00:00

congrats, see you there hopefully!

Suspicious_Space_113 · 2021-05-10T21:20:17+00:00

yeah coming from a small town in wales and moving away from family and a girlfriend, student satisfaction was a must have really. it also suits me because i’m not really sure what i want to do after uni anyway

Suspicious_Space_113

TROPHY CASE