Even the best students can slip up during actuarial exam prep!
Here's the Top 5 mistakes you must avoid:
1. Ignoring the Official Syllabus and Examiners’ Reports:
The IFOA and IAI syllabi are your roadmap. Examiners’ reports reveal what they’re looking for — yet many students skip them.
SMONK Tip: We help decode these documents in our classes and use them to shape your study strategy.
2. Memorizing Instead of Understanding:
In actuarial science, especially in papers like CM1 and CS1, formulas are useless if you don’t understand the ‘why’ behind them.
SMONK Tip: We focus on concept-first teaching so that you can apply your knowledge to tricky, real-world problems.
3. Poor Time Management:
You might spend weeks on one chapter or panic during exams. Time mismanagement = exam disaster.
SMONK Tip: Our structured weekly targets and mock test schedules keep you on track.
4. Not Practicing Enough Under Exam Conditions:
Solving 100s of questions isn’t enough. You need exam-like pressure.
SMONK Tip: Our mock exams simulate real conditions — same format, same time limit, same pressure.
5. Skipping the Basics:
Rushing into advanced topics without building a solid foundation leads to confusion and burnout.
SMONK Tip: Our batches begin with concept clarity sessions, especially for tough basics in CM1, CS1, and CS2.