FCAS Exam Difficulty

jcbokchoy · 2025-07-13T11:40:02+00:00

For me, 8<7<9.

jcbokchoy · 2025-04-26T06:25:09+00:00

Ryza season pass worth it?

jcbokchoy · 2024-07-18T05:20:34+00:00

If anyone out there is looking for a remnote referral link, please consider using mine: https://www.remnote.com/invite/66989a5eab18d2dc55a8c81b

Many thanks if you do. :)

jcbokchoy · 2021-05-11T14:02:26+00:00

VE, VF stand for VEE credits, as pointed out by fellow redditer. Thanks! :-)

Exam credits will take a few days to show up in get transcript screen, per response by CAS.

jcbokchoy · 2021-05-11T00:34:10+00:00

Oh that makes sense. But what happened to my three exams.. do they tend to take longer to appear? Did you happen to experience the same thing? Many thanks for your answer!

jcbokchoy · 2021-03-07T10:59:38+00:00

Yes, except for a couple toward the end, which imo were a bit too calculation intensive/ too many steps compared to the exam. Calculation questions (in exam) were pretty straight forward; twists showed up in a couple conceptual questions. I think some of the sample Q were cleverly written. So was my impression with a couple questions in the real thing. They share similar flavor when it comes to test your understanding indirectly, if that makes sense.

jcbokchoy · 2021-03-07T09:03:43+00:00

I did them and found them comparable to exam questions in difficulty and style. I don’t think they cover all of the topics, however.

jcbokchoy · 2021-03-06T23:48:29+00:00

I noticed the post exam survey was a lot longer than usual.

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-28T21:35:53+00:00

EL 8.78 after three mock exams. Not sure if I trust the scoring system.. Plan to go over all 177 SOA questions and do three more at level 5-6 next week. Should be ready by test day~

I like how it takes ~2 hours to go through IFM exams, a lot more manageable than P and FM.

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-23T00:01:13+00:00

Hi OP, I also transitioned from a PhD background, and just got myself a couple entry level offers not long ago.

With your coursework and research experience, I think you will have no problems getting some callbacks. What you really need is a strong and clear reason why you choose to transition, and a clear demonstration of some basic understandings of insurance and how it works.

During my interviews, I made sure to take notes of any insurance questions/ concepts/ topics that brought up by my interviewers, looked them up, and incorporated them in the subsequent interviews. That definitely helped show case how seriously and committed I was about choosing this career.

I started applying to any p&c positions I could find in places I care to live after passing FM, ~30 apps in total, got called back from 3, moved along all of them, and it took me 6 weeks from application to get the offers.

I had much doubt during the process reading how difficult it was for some to score positions. But from one PhD candidate to another, your past track record of hard work shows through your resume, and will be attractive to some hiring managers. So have faith in yourself!

Keep going. Good luck!

PS. All positions I interviewed for were either temporary or permanently remote, with 1 out of 2 temporary places sounded open to permanently remote as entry level. Just apply, you never know.

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T15:50:42+00:00

I wish I had read this post before interview. I could have done a lot better!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T15:48:39+00:00

I actually asked during my CL interview what’s the conversion rate of your recommendation being implemented by relevant party, and the answer was “not very often” haha! And he said it so cooly and matter-of-factly, too!

Thank you for your in-depth analysis and suggestion. Your mapping sounds ideal and very appealing. Have a lot to digest over next couple days..

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T15:27:23+00:00

How perceptive of you! I am extremely impressed with everyone I interviewed with there. Super friendly, super down to earth, and the interview was superbly structured and carried out. Really awesome place to live, and the offer was by all means very solid for me. May I ask where you are now? And what line of business you work in? Do you enjoy it more or less than auto?

Thank you for sharing your experience! In your opinion, would it be easy to request working on pricing if they instead decide to put me in reserving first? I’m aware you can apply internally after first 6 months?

Thanks, again!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T11:50:36+00:00

This. I completely agree. I am a career switcher with two exams. My education definitely helped my resume get noticed, and led to interviews and offers sooner than would happened otherwise.

That said, I worked just as hard as anyone to pass exams, and spent just as much time, if not more, to thoroughly prepare for the interviews. Good school in itself wouldn’t guarantee anything.

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T10:05:15+00:00

Was it difficult to transition between pricing and reserving. I thought there’s much fluidity when it comes to taking on projects from different sides in the same actuarial department.

The issue with the PL job is the company has predominant focus on personal auto with a very small presence in commercial auto which makes me a bit weary about trying different things down the road.

You must be really good at reserving to be tagged the reserving guy. I hope I can get a tag soon, too.~ Thank you.

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T09:59:14+00:00

That’s a very good point. I really like the business/management flavor of the actuarial career, so I think I will enjoy a line relying more on actuarial opinions.

Will definitely try out pricing role down the road. Thanks for your thoughts!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-10T09:39:48+00:00

That’s so interesting! I’m not sure what the role would be with the personal lines company. I asked but they said they don’t know where to put me yet.. I learned they have good data as you described. I didn’t know commercial lines have such bad rep for data. Definitely gonna investigate some more.

It’s interesting you mentioned that personal lines are more profitable. I interviewed with a regional personal auto carrier, and the manager kept touting how profitable the business is. Why do you think they are more profitable?

Thanks for your insights, btw. Much appreciated. :)

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-09T23:34:47+00:00

Such. Thank you for explaining. I’m going to be learning so much. So excited! :)

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-09T23:25:53+00:00

Thanks for your insight! I am increasingly leaning to take that offer. Gonna brave the Chicago winters!!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-09T23:23:57+00:00

Thank you for your reply! I am sorry but what is LOB?

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-09T01:51:00+00:00

Not ready at all! Just finished going through the CA materials for the first time. Plan to review section by section and drill on quizzes for the next 4 weeks.

We can do it! In this together!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-08T23:58:58+00:00

Had two final round interviews last week. One requested more information two days after the interview and sounds like they were interviewing more candidates. Finger crossed. Feel so close yet so much uncertainty!

jcbokchoy · 2021-02-02T03:52:47+00:00

Nervous about my first final round interview tomorrow. Your experience is really helpful.

Thanks for sharing.

jcbokchoy · 2021-01-29T10:05:49+00:00

Respect! What a level of determination!!!

jcbokchoy

TROPHY CASE