Has anyone written the CSPA exams who can comment on whether or not the estimated study time iCAS suggests is accurate? For reference, the estimated study times are in a table at the bottom of this page Frequently Asked Questions – iCAS
I’m considering pursuing this designation. In addition to the project, I’ll have to write CSPA Exam 2 (Data Concepts and Visualization) and CSPA Exam 3 (Predictive Modeling – Methods and Techniques), the latter because I received credit for one of the MAS exams from another exam so I don’t qualify for the exemption unfortunately.
I have someone working through it now, so I can’t fully answer, but based on some discussion of the material and questions that have come up, it feels like the latter at least should be treated with the respect of an actuarial exam from a study perspective. Again this is from a relatively removed perspective though.
I’m working through Exam 3 now . . . and had to do Exam 2 as well.
I’d say that those hours are reasonable with the understanding that it might be on the lower end if you have considerable experience with rating and reserving (as is the case for me).
I’d also say that it might be more than that time if you’re not very familiar with R (as is the case for me).
I appreciate the replies! I do have experience using R at work. I’m trying to determine if I can adequately prepare for Exam 2 by June or not.
Exam 2, IMO, wasn’t that difficult. I think 2.5 months is more than enough to get through all of the material with 3 weeks (give or take) for review and “practice”. Not a lot of R knowledge needed there (IIRC).
I’ve attempted Exam 3 before, and it was a lack of adequate knowledge of R that kicked my butt.
Fortunately, Exam 3 was revamped a couple of years ago, and it’s content has been trimmed down quite a bit.