TIA’s Exam 6 Blog

I have Blanchard notes and some problems ready. I will add more problems tonight. Tomorrow I will finish Conger. I’ve been working on these, but ran into some issues this week with being sick.

Day is out of town until Wednesday. I hope to have everything to him by Tuesday night, so he can post when he returns.

Keep studying hard.

Ken

I now have everything from 2007 updated.  The manuals are posted by week following my study schedule.  The two missing items are the new articles.  I am writing practice problems for Conger and still need to put together notes for the new Blanchard.  After this, I will add and update videos.  I really hope to be done with this, and post my solutions to the 2007 exam by August 16.  Until then, I will keep trying to get to my emails as quickly as possible.

If you printed the manuals out before the updates, it is no big deal.  The biggest changes were to Bornhuetter/Ferguson, Teng/Perkins/Feldblum, and FAS113/VFIC.  I did fix a few things in the notes for Clark and Patrik also.  I would at least download all of the new manuals so you have them in case you ever do need to print again.

I will be out of town for a couple of days, but will try to get to all of my emails while on the road. 

For those attending the live seminar, please note that we will start at 8am on Friday and end no later than 1pm on Tuesday. 

Keep studying hard.

Week 4 minus Conger plus Bouska is complete and should be posted by tomorrow.  I should have weeks 5 & 6 ready by Wednesday and 7-9 by Friday.  I had been waiting to post week 4 to complete Conger (which is almost there) but it makes no since to hold up the stuff that is ready.  Conger should be done this week and Blanchard next.  I truly want everything ready by August 1 (including videos).  I will be catching up on emails tonight.  I was out of town this weekend.

 Good luck studying.

I have posted a suggested study schedule under Before You Begin, Study Material.  It is also included in the Week 1 - Reserves 2008 study manual pdf.  Below is how I would approach the CAS 6.

1. I always suggest reading the article first. I typically like to mark on the reading (yellow highlighter, notes in the margin). Remember, you don’t have to understand everything on your first pass through, so don’t spend too much time on any one article.

2. I like going through the past exam problems just to see the kind of problems I’m looking at. I work them if I can, but again, I don’t spend too much time on any one problem. I usually don’t look at the most recent problems, saving them for later, unless there just aren’t any other questions. I like to mark the text where I find the answers with a blue highlighter. Anything in blue or green (because it was marked in yellow from 1.) has been asked before. I just need to understand the past exam questions. Anything that remains in yellow is something I thought looked important during my first pass but hasn’t been asked yet. I liked writing my own problems from this material and saving them for my second pass. You could also make notecards and/or mark the study manual if you prefer.

3. Here is where the videos come in for some people. Some students like using them during their first pass. I would have probably used them on my second pass. I liked getting through all the readings as quickly as possible on the first pass.

4. I would always start July 5 and plan to be through my first pass by about September 1. The second pass is where I think the videos work really well. On the second pass, I would watch the videos, work the problems with the videos, and then go through all of the problems (past, new, and ones that you write). Now you can work on understanding the material. However, note that you need to cover the material twice as quickly on your second pass. I like to be through this pass by about October 1. You should really feel comfortable with the material after this.

5. In October, this is where you need to log the hours. Make sure you can work every problem/question from the past and new problems section. Rewatch videos for sections that are still giving you trouble. Finally - memorize. October can make the difference between a 5 and a 6.

6. I usually want you to feel good about the material before dipping into the quizzes. It is most effective to take these under test type conditions. I usually take the past exams and practice exam starting about 1-2 weeks before. Again, it is important to use exam like conditions. If you haven’t worked the 2007 exam problems, it is a good indication of how you can expect to feel when taking the exam. Timing is crucial when taking an exam. Work on timing on the quizzes and practice exams. I have seen many students get 5s because they didn’t get to the last 3 or 4 questions. Write thorough answers, but don’t fail because you spent half an hour on a problem. I usually target about 2 - 3 mins per point when practicing problems.

7. The audio files fit in wherever you find them most effective (driving/riding into work, cleaning the house, at work). I use October as a massive memorization month.

I’m sure I forgot a few things. Please note - the method to use is what works best for you. I would usually target about 15 hours per week in July and August, 15-20 in September, and 20-25 in October. Of course, it is less important how long you studied, and more important how well you studied. When I took part 10, I was not ready two weeks before the exam and was forced into about 120 or so hours in the last two weeks (it killed me). Never give up. Study until that last day.

One more note - do not miss questions written from past questions. You should know all of the past exam questions well. Don’t give away free points.

Good luck.

FAS 113 and VFIC is complete and will be posted today.  All of the study manuals should now be posted.  I will now finish Barnett and begin Harrison lessons.  I am in Chicago the next 6 days, but will be taping every night.  I will try to address all outstanding emails today on my trip to Chicago.

Thanks,

Ken

I am finishing the reinsurance manuals and FAS113/VFIC over the next two days.  I have begun taping Barnett, but still have a bit to go.  I will begin recording the reinsurance lessons when the manuals are all out.

Thanks,

Ken

Today, I will work on the ULAE videos and tomorrow Barnett.  That will leave only Bouska for reserving, which I will save for the end.  Also today, I will be working on the manuals.  The plan is to begin taping the reinsurance lessons Saturday.

Thanks and keep studying hard.

Ken

I was in Philadelphia teaching from Thursday - Sunday.  I will update my blog more often to keep you guys informed.  Today will bill be posting reinsurance problems and taping Siewert and Pinto/Gogol.  Videos and manuals will be coming this week.

 Ken

I am working on the Harrison outlines.  I decided to go ahead and post the past exam problems (there are a lot of them).  These questions cover the material fairly well.  I think reading the chapters and going through these problems will really give you a good feel for the reinsurance material.  I tried to give the page number where the material comes from for each question.

With the outlines, I will also have new questions for each chapter.  These should be good for your second pass through the material.

Last year’s exam was quite interesting.  You could have almost gotten through the reinsurance section with just knowing Harrison.  There were also a lot of written problems.  They say this is the direction the exams or headed.

After I finish the Harrison outlines and new questions, I will begin Clark.  It is important that you know these two readings well.

Just a quick note - I’m working hard to get out the Harrison and Clark manuals.  These are monsters.  After these, I will hit Patrik, Ludwig, and Steeneck.  The last manual will be FASB 113/VFIC.

Also, I will be answering emails Tuesday and Wednesday.  I have been spending a fair amount of time answering emails, so I think today and tomorrow, I will just focus on the manuals.  Thank you for your patience.

 Ken