Exam P Asm Manual
Hey all, The name's Cinnoman and I'm new to the forums. I know that there's supposed to be an unending debate as to which one of these study manuals (ACTEX, ASM) is better. So I thought I'd ask for opinions based on some of my criteria: I'm especially interested in the way the professor explains the materials via his/her solutions and/or explanations. If they speak with overly technical terms I'm not interested. I need someone who will break each concept down into small, logical chunks and not 'Read pg.
50-65, answer questions #1-10, email me your responses' or have a page worth of calculation with few notes to explain what's going on. There's noo way I will pass with that method.
Soo.in a nutshell, which manual is easier to digest/understand?? For what you are looking for TIA is best.
I had TIA, ASM, and Actex for P. ASM goes through the material much quicker. The manual portion was only like 100 pages. It would be easier to use this manual if you already had a clear understanding of the basics and a strong calculus background. Actex, goes through the material at a medium rate.
It offers more explanation/examples than ASM, but sometimes doesn't go into the material enough (i.e. The double expectation theorem was mentioned in one small paragraph in Actex and accounted for 2 of my exam questions). TIA goes into the material in depth. They give very clear and thorough responses to their examples.
All three break their material into chunks. Although everyone learns differently and different people have probably scored 10s using only one of these manuals, if you are looking solely at the depth of explanation I would say TIA is the best, Actex is medium, ASM has the shortest explanations.
For what you are looking for TIA is best. I had TIA, ASM, and Actex for P.
ASM goes through the material much quicker. The manual portion was only like 100 pages.
It would be easier to use this manual if you already had a clear understanding of the basics and a strong calculus background. Actex, goes through the material at a medium rate. It offers more explanation/examples than ASM, but sometimes doesn't go into the material enough (i.e.
The double expectation theorem was mentioned in one small paragraph in Actex and accounted for 2 of my exam questions). TIA goes into the material in depth. They give very clear and thorough responses to their examples. All three break their material into chunks. Although everyone learns differently and different people have probably scored 10s using only one of these manuals, if you are looking solely at the depth of explanation I would say TIA is the best, Actex is medium, ASM has the shortest explanations. Thanks for the insight. Previously, I used Yufeng Guo's Quick study online course and came away a little underwhelmed.
Wish I would have joined this forum sooner! I checked into TIA and was thoroughly impressed! I'm definitely more of a visual learner and the simulated classroom approach of TIA is definitely up my alley. I'm just wondering if EVERYTHING in TIA is online or do you have supplemental materials (PDFs, spreadsheets, handouts, etc.) that you download and use in tandem with the online videos. The website mentions 'formula sheets' for download, but that's it. I know I might be sounding like I want to have my cake and eat it too.
Thanks for the insight. Previously, I used Yufeng Guo's Quick study online course and came away a little underwhelmed. Wish I would have joined this forum sooner! I checked into TIA and was thoroughly impressed!
I'm definitely more of a visual learner and the simulated classroom approach of TIA is definitely up my alley. I'm just wondering if EVERYTHING in TIA is online or do you have supplemental materials (PDFs, spreadsheets, handouts, etc.) that you download and use in tandem with the online videos. The website mentions 'formula sheets' for download, but that's it. I know I might be sounding like I want to have my cake and eat it too. In my opinion TIA for learning the material via good explanations of the concepts and problem-solving methods.
ASM for mastering the material via tons of practice questions/exams. They have pdfs for all the questions/solutions for each section and for the practice exams when you get through it all (although I preferred the CBT experience). All of the formulas you will need are downloadable. They do not have anything to download that you can walk through while listening to the lesson. Unfortunately, all of that portion is online lecture, so if you have taught yourself to zone out in lecture class over the years me. I used ACTEX and the 4 TIA free exams and passed a couple weeks ago.
I pressed 'submit' and felt extremely confident that I had done very well (we'll see when the marks come out). I only had trouble with one question. There were 2 questions that were VERY similar to questions on the TIA exams, they just had different numbers. I really enjoyed the way the ACTEX manual was set-up, because it taught you a chapter (11 chapters in total I believe), and then asked 30-50ish problems on the material learned in that chapter.
Basically it just drilled it all into your brain through lots of practice so it would be impossible to forget. And then it had a bunch of practice exams (8 I think?) at the end to tie it all together.
I didn't use ASM at all for P, so I can't really compare. I just know that ACTEX was the manual that did the trick for me and fit my learning style.
I liked how for some of the solutions it showed multiple ways to go about solving problems so you can pick the way that is the best for you. (ASM may do this as well, I don't know). Bumping this thread because i have a similar question. It looks like Actex and ASM are the front-runners for 'best' study materials.
I'm wondering exactly which i should buy. Are these the two products i should be choosing between? Actex Study Manual for the SOA P / CAS 1, 2010 Ed Price: $95.00 ASM Study Manual for Exam P/ Exam 1, 14th ed Price: $99.00 which one would you recommend?
I haven't had any math classes in 6 years but im confident i can pick it up relatively quickly. I definitely want one that has a lot of practice problems.
From the above, it sounds like Actex may be slightly better. Bumping this thread because i have a similar question.
It looks like Actex and ASM are the front-runners for 'best' study materials. I'm wondering exactly which i should buy.
Are these the two products i should be choosing between? Actex Study Manual for the SOA P / CAS 1, 2010 Ed Price: $95.00 ASM Study Manual for Exam P/ Exam 1, 14th ed Price: $99.00 which one would you recommend? I haven't had any math classes in 6 years but im confident i can pick it up relatively quickly. I definitely want one that has a lot of practice problems. From the above, it sounds like Actex may be slightly better. I'm studying for the July P sitting currently and all I've been using so far has been Actex and the free TIA exams (I may purchase a short ADAPT subscription as the date gets closer if I find I need more problems).
Actex seems good so far. The explainations are good and the questions are challenging but not discouraging. You should be careful about your ability to just pick up a study guide and gain an exam-pass-like understanding of the material after not seeing math for six years. Actex is written for people who already have a basic college type probability course under their belt, which also includes knowlege of basic multivariate calculus. It doesn't do a whole lot of teaching as much as it does 'reminding' and then giving a bunch of examples. Not saying it's impossible, but probably a huge pain.
Asm Exam P Study Manual Review
There are e-courses out there that will teach you the stuff. If I were in your position I would check out theinfiniteactuary.com or coachingactuaries.com and buy one of those e-courses. Concensus seems to be that TIA is the best.