October 2024 - Final Review

- 9 Syllabus Section Tests - Compiled from Past CAS Ratemaking Questions

- 12 Syllabus Section Tests - Complied from Past CAS Reserving Questions

CAS Exam 5: October 23, 2024 - October 30, 2024

 The challenge: Achieving a passing score, as evidenced by the low effective pass ratios, shown below.

CAS Effective Pass Ratios:
  • Spring 2023:      49.5%
  • Fall 2022:          36.8%
  • Spring 2022:     40.6%
  • Fall 2021:           33.6%
  • Spring 2021:     50.9%

    • How best to prepare for the exam
    The best way to determine "what you know and what you don't know" before sitting for the CAS exam is to take practice tests 7 to 8 weeks before the actual exam.

    What others are saying

    "I’m super excited to use this study tool - I have been using XXX but having all of the excel sample problems is a game changer!"

    Why Syllabus Section Practice Tests.
  • Syllabus Section tests provide numerous questions to work on from a limited number of chapters

  • Your test results identify what concepts you know and what concepts you need to work on within a given chapter.

  • Past CAS questions are the best questions to practice on


    • Solutions are hosted on Google Drive and are view only. To view the Solutions in Google Sheets you must have a Gmail account. If you do not have one, the sign up process is simple.

    Click here to create a gmail account.

    Click the Free Preview button above to download a sample test.

    How the Syllabus Section Tests are Constructed

  • Three tests from a select number of chapters were developed.

  • Each test comprises past CAS questions selected from the 2011 to 2019 CAS Exams

  • Multiple tests with questions confined to concepts from the same chapters allows you to reinforce your understanding of the material

    • Questions, Solutions,
    Examiner Reports

    QUESTIONS
    The questions on these tests are actual CAS questions randomly selected from CAS exams administered between 2011 and 2019.

    SOLUTIONS
    Solutions to computational questions incorporate "Instructional" solutions.

    Why?
  • CAS model solutions to computational questions do not provide a “step by step” solution approach nor the rationale for why a particular calculation was performed.

  • "Instructional solutions" fully explain each step in the solution process.

  • "When working hundreds of questions, these solutions help you quickly identify errors in your responses or next steps when you are stuck answering a question.

    • Solutions to short answer questions are most often CAS model solutions, which are "Efficient/Sufficient Solutions".

    EXAMINER REPORT COMMENTS
    Solutions include CAS Examiner Report comments to:

    1. Identify what CAS examiner's were looking for in candidate responses.

    2. Cite common errors found in candidate responses.

    3. Assist you in self-grading your exam.

    Self Grading, Questions Worked, Time to Complete

    Your preparedness for the exam will be based largely on Questions Worked, your Answers, and Time to Complete

    1. Questions Worked
     Record the date you worked the problem to:
  • retrospectively assess your ability to answer questions
  • flag questions you struggle answering

    • 2. Self Grading
  • Compare your answer to the solution provided and review the examiner's comments.
  • Record your score
  • View your overall test score in the Point Grid tab.

    3. Time to Complete
    Record how long it takes you to answer questions to retrospectively assess:
  • how long it takes you to answer questions
  • questions you answer quickly and correctly
  • questions you answer slowly or incompletely

    • Practice Tests - Question and Solution Overview

    • Questions
      (in Excel)
      Over 340 in total

      Working on questions in MS Excel on a consistent basis over the weeks leading up to the exam maximizes your familiarity with, and mastery of, the types of questions likely to appear on CAS Exam 5.

    • Solutions
      (in Google Sheets)

      Comparing your solutions to ours that include Introductory Comments, Enhanced CAS Model Solutions and Examiner's Reports identifies areas that you know well and those that you need to work on.

    • Downloadable Questions and
      View Only Solutions

      Download all questions in Excel or work on them in your google drive.

      Access view only solutions in google drive to see short answer responses and excel calculations used to solve computational questions.

      To view the Solutions in Google Sheets you must have a Gmail account. If you do not have one, the sign up process is simple.

      Click here to create a gmail account.

    Question Spreadsheet Features

    Downloadable In Excel

    Point Grid

    For each question, this tab shows:

    • The season, year and question number the question was drawn from.
    • The number of points for each question (in total and by sub-question within question)
    • 1st Attempt Self-Grading section


    Self Grading

    Self grade your responses using Model solutions and Examiner Reports comments.

    • Compare your answer to the model solution provided. 
    • For past CAS questions, review CAS Examiner’s comments on what information was sought in each sub question and then determine if this was included in your response.
      CAS Examiner’s comments are included for all questions beginning with the Fall 2012 Exam 5. 
    • Enter your score in the area to the right of the question. Your cumulative scores are recorded in the point grid tab.
      Your cumulative scores are a good indicator or what you know and what you need to work on during the final weeks before your exam.

    Tracking your progress

    Each question contains a status indicator allowing you to flag questions as Incomplete, Finished, or Review.

    Quickly identifying the number of questions as Incomplete or needs further Review is key during your final weeks of exam preparation.

    Course curriculum

    1. 1

      • Free Preview

        FREE PREVIEW

      • Syllabus Section Test 1 - Chapters 1 to 8 – 20 Questions, 61.5 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2 - Chapters 1 to 8 - 20 Questions, 42.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3 - Chapters 1 to 8– 20 Questions, 48 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 1 - Chapters 9 to 12– 20 Questions, 43.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2 - Chapters 9 to 12– 20 Questions, 40.5 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3 - Chapters 9 to 12– 20 Questions, 41.5 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 1 - Chapters 13 to Appendix– 14 Questions, 31.75 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2 - Chapters 13 to Appendix– 14 Questions, 31.5 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3 - Chapters 13 to Appendix– 12 Questions, 29.25 points
    2. 2

      • Syllabus Section Test 1 - Chapters 1 to 6 – 9 Questions, 16.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2 - Chapters 1 to 6 – 9 Questions, 17 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3- Chapters 1 to 6 – 9 Questions, 17.75 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 1- Chapters 7 to 10 – 16 Questions, 35 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2- Chapters 7 to 10 – 14 Questions, 33.75 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3- Chapters 7 to 10 – 14 Questions, 36.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 1- Chapters 11 to 13 – 15 Questions, 36.75 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2- Chapters 11 to 13 – 15 Questions, 38.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3- Chapters 11 to 13 – 17 Questions, 43.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 1- Chapters 14 to 17 – 21 Questions, 46.25 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 2- Chapters 14 to 17 – 21 Questions, 46 points

      • Syllabus Section Test 3 - Chapters 14 to 17 – 21 Questions, 43.75 points

    Solution Spreadsheet Features

    View Only In Google Sheets

    Introductory Comments 

    Formulating a clear path to problem solving is the biggest stumbling block for candidates when solving high point value computational questions.

    To circumvent this, our solutions include:

    • introductory comments which reference key excerpts from the syllabus readings to initiate your thought process on how to frame your solution, and then transitions into a,
    • a step by step approach to arrive at the final answer.

     

    Questions and Model Solutions 

    CAS solutions can be vague, lacking in detail, and difficult to follow at times.

    To circumvent this, our solutions include an instructional approach to computational questions, comprehensive enough to fully explain each and every step in the solution process. 

    This problem solving approach:

    • is comprehensive as it fully explains each step in the solution process.
    • provides clarifying comments to CAS model solutions making them easier to understand.
    • provides a logical framework to implement when solving similar computational problems.
    • allows you to adopt a blended problem solving process that streamlines our approach with your problem solving methods to provide Examiners with what they seek; that being “enough support on [your] answer sheet to follow the calculations performed.”

     

    Examiner’s Reports 

    Our solutions include CAS Examiner’s Reports dating back to the Fall 2012 Exam.

    These are critical to review to accurately self grade your solutions. They provide question specific comments on:

    • the overall difficulty level in total and by question part.
    • what candidate’s were expected to know on how to calculate specific ratios, tests, statutory balance sheet and income statement values, surplus thresholds, solvency metrics, etc.
    • whether candidates were able to:
    1. justify all selections when prompted to do so
    2. provide appropriate responses to a “briefly describe” question
    3. defend their responses given in prior sub questions
    4. demonstrate knowledge of the purpose, components, similarities and differences of the question at hand.
    • common errors included in candidate responses