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Can I get into actuarial profession with a Music degree...

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Reply 500
Original post by GilbertLam
Thanks Johnny,

If I have like 2 minutes left of the test and say I had 10 more questions to answer, is it best to leave them out so the average of questions answered is higher or do I quickly guess them all so that there's more chance of my overall mark to be higher?

I phoned up Towers Watson to ask them how they mark it but they won't tell me lol; it makes a huge difference to your exam strategy...:redface:


Accuracy is irrelevant. Otherwise you could spend 20 minutes on the first 10 questions and get 100%. If you find yourself running out of time guess them. I've taken so many SHL tests that I've unconsciously memorised the answers.

Which office and role did you apply for? I have an interview in Pensions coming up. Anxious!

Btw the outlook for pensions isn't great. My plan is too jump ship to insurance after qualifying or apply for straight insurance next recruitment cycle if I can't land an actuarial job this year.
Original post by Regent
Accuracy is irrelevant. Otherwise you could spend 20 minutes on the first 10 questions and get 100%. If you find yourself running out of time guess them. I've taken so many SHL tests that I've unconsciously memorised the answers.

Which office and role did you apply for? I have an interview in Pensions coming up. Anxious!

Btw the outlook for pensions isn't great. My plan is too jump ship to insurance after qualifying or apply for straight insurance next recruitment cycle if I can't land an actuarial job this year.


"Accuracy is irrelevant"? Do you not think that is a key attribute? Employers don't want someone who can speed through spreadsheets but all the formulas return errors.

Have to find the right balance between speed and accuracy, same as any other test. Imo completing 60-80% of these sort of tests accurately is enough to get through. You're usually given such a short amount of time, it's difficult to complete correctly unless you practise tests religiously online, which is a waste of time. Better off researching the role and company.
Reply 502
Original post by Tokyoround
"Accuracy is irrelevant"? Do you not think that is a key attribute? Employers don't want someone who can speed through spreadsheets but all the formulas return errors.

Have to find the right balance between speed and accuracy, same as any other test. Imo completing 60-80% of these sort of tests accurately is enough to get through. You're usually given such a short amount of time, it's difficult to complete correctly unless you practise tests religiously online, which is a waste of time. Better off researching the role and company.


By irrelevant I mean it will not save you from being axed at the first round if you fail to answer enough questions. There's enough time to answer 60-75% correct and finish the paper. For all you know the last 10 questions could be much easier. Slow and steady is risky for that very reason.
what is the day to day work of an actuary?

very general question i know, but hard to find a good answer anywhere
Original post by made_of_fail

Original post by made_of_fail
what is the day to day work of an actuary?

very general question i know, but hard to find a good answer anywhere


Insurance or HR consultancy?
Original post by GilbertLam

Original post by GilbertLam
Hey everyone,

Well I failed the test and consequently got rejected fromm Towers Watson :frown:. They only gave us two days to prepare so I'm going to blame it on lack of preparation as well as having a very rusty mathematical mind from writing countless essays :tongue:.

The bright side is that at least my application got through to the second stage despite not doing a mathematical degree i.e. what this whole thread is ultimately about.

One day, I will bring a conclusion to this thread by proving to everyone that the OP can fulfil his own ambition :wink:

But for now, more blood, sweat and tears still await...


:frown:

All the best in the future. It would be worth preparing to face those SHL tests again (and the questions repeat themselves more often than you think) since quite a few firms use them in their selection process. For Numerical, revising percentages (especially percentage multipliers) and ratios (for currency, other questions) is a great help.

I'm in the same boat as you but with Verbal! About to sit one for the Towers Watson internship, fingers crossed!
Original post by Regent
Accuracy is irrelevant. Otherwise you could spend 20 minutes on the first 10 questions and get 100%. If you find yourself running out of time guess them. I've taken so many SHL tests that I've unconsciously memorised the answers.

Which office and role did you apply for? I have an interview in Pensions coming up. Anxious!

Btw the outlook for pensions isn't great. My plan is too jump ship to insurance after qualifying or apply for straight insurance next recruitment cycle if I can't land an actuarial job this year.


Why not just try primarily for insurance now? You can always still try for pensions on the side too...

I think you're right, btw, pensions isn't looking great, but at grad level a job's a job. Just bear in mind that you pigeonhole yourself into a specialism remarkably quickly (I've been in GI three years and i'm starting to feel that way already), so if you plan to jump ship then do it quickly (probably before taking the ST exams).
Reply 507
Original post by GilbertLam
Hey everyone,

Well I failed the test and consequently got rejected fromm Towers Watson :frown:. They only gave us two days to prepare so I'm going to blame it on lack of preparation as well as having a very rusty mathematical mind from writing countless essays :tongue:.

The bright side is that at least my application got through to the second stage despite not doing a mathematical degree i.e. what this whole thread is ultimately about.

One day, I will bring a conclusion to this thread by proving to everyone that the OP can fulfil his own ambition :wink:

But for now, more blood, sweat and tears still await...


See my PM.
Reply 508
Original post by JohnnySPal
Why not just try primarily for insurance now? You can always still try for pensions on the side too...

I think you're right, btw, pensions isn't looking great, but at grad level a job's a job. Just bear in mind that you pigeonhole yourself into a specialism remarkably quickly (I've been in GI three years and i'm starting to feel that way already), so if you plan to jump ship then do it quickly (probably before taking the ST exams).


By the time I started getting interested in insurance from doing modules in Risk, Game Theory and Microeconomics (which covered really interesting topics like asymmetric information and modelling moral hazard and adverse selection) it was already too late. Most of the insurance schemes close quite early.

Apart from Aviva. I'm not sure there are any insurance schemes still left open. Do you know of any?
Original post by Regent
By the time I started getting interested in insurance from doing modules in Risk, Game Theory and Microeconomics (which covered really interesting topics like asymmetric information and modelling moral hazard and adverse selection) it was already too late. Most of the insurance schemes close quite early.

Apart from Aviva. I'm not sure there are any insurance schemes still left open. Do you know of any?


I think Aon's general insurance scheme is still open.
I was at an insight day in Deloitte and one of those that attended studies Music at Cambridge. I did Accounting and Finance at first was thinking wow what a big jump but then maybe the uni does have a contribution maybe
Original post by Regent
By the time I started getting interested in insurance from doing modules in Risk, Game Theory and Microeconomics (which covered really interesting topics like asymmetric information and modelling moral hazard and adverse selection) it was already too late. Most of the insurance schemes close quite early.

Apart from Aviva. I'm not sure there are any insurance schemes still left open. Do you know of any?


Internship or graduate position? If the latter, why not send your CV to recruitment agencies in addition to applying to these here new fangled grad schemes? That's how I got my first job...
Reply 512
Original post by JohnnySPal
Internship or graduate position? If the latter, why not send your CV to recruitment agencies in addition to applying to these here new fangled grad schemes? That's how I got my first job...


I don't know of any recruitment agencies that specialise in actuarial recruitment.
(edited 12 years ago)
Original post by Regent
I don't know of any recruitment agencies that specialise in actuarial recruitment.


See Tokyo's post above. (Tokyo: 'Please rate other members...' etc.)

Alternatively, get your hands on the latest copy of The Actuary magazine, flick to second half.

Alternatively, http://lmgtfy.com/?q=actuarial+recruitment+agency
Reply 515
Hi Everyone,

I'm currently doing my A-levels and have applied to study Actuarial Science at university. Has anyone got any opinion on the best course? I applied to City, Kent, UEA, Heriot Watt and Southampton, and recieved all my offers back virtually immediately. I think I'm going to go for Kent as it seems to offer quite a well regarded course and a year in industry. Would this be wise?
I'm starting to think I should have maybe chosen a maths/stats course, but I was struggling to find a combination of course/university that I felt comfortable with - I'd have loved Oxford or Wawick's MORSE but both of those were realistically distant dreams (I got into gear too late for Oxford, and I don't do Further Maths - and STEP is out of the question for me due to family issues causing time constraints).
On a more positive side, I really do think Actuarial is a more suitable course for me - it seems heavily based in the type of maths I enjoy. And its getting me into the career I've been waiting to do since I was 13..

Anyway, my main questions:
1) Is there anywhere that offers pre-university work experience? I've had a look, but not really got any conclusive answers?
2) Is it worth me going through further maths modules before September, during my summer, just to get a head start, or are these unnecessary?
3) See above on my query of which universities?

Thanks for taking the time to read this :smile:
Original post by CloClo7
Hi Everyone,

I'm currently doing my A-levels and have applied to study Actuarial Science at university. Has anyone got any opinion on the best course? I applied to City, Kent, UEA, Heriot Watt and Southampton, and recieved all my offers back virtually immediately. I think I'm going to go for Kent as it seems to offer quite a well regarded course and a year in industry. Would this be wise?
I'm starting to think I should have maybe chosen a maths/stats course, but I was struggling to find a combination of course/university that I felt comfortable with - I'd have loved Oxford or Wawick's MORSE but both of those were realistically distant dreams (I got into gear too late for Oxford, and I don't do Further Maths - and STEP is out of the question for me due to family issues causing time constraints).
On a more positive side, I really do think Actuarial is a more suitable course for me - it seems heavily based in the type of maths I enjoy. And its getting me into the career I've been waiting to do since I was 13..

Anyway, my main questions:
1) Is there anywhere that offers pre-university work experience? I've had a look, but not really got any conclusive answers?
2) Is it worth me going through further maths modules before September, during my summer, just to get a head start, or are these unnecessary?
3) See above on my query of which universities?

Thanks for taking the time to read this :smile:

I attended Kent on the Act Sci course for a while so can give a little insight on that. It is a decent course, fairly difficult but a relaxed atmosphere. Majority of my peers were chinese, indian/pakistani, a few matures/black/whites/everything else. Have you been to visit anywhere yet? Kent is a lovely university, I enjoyed my time there a little too much... There are a few modules which you might feel are easy and a waste of time but don't let this fool you, work still needs to be put in. Prospects-wise, I know people who failed and repeated or had to go on the financial maths course instead, and I also know people who graduated and have excellent jobs now. It's up to you whether you succeed or not.

A year in industry is always a good thing as it seems to me jobs these days require more than just qualifications. Have you tried maybe emailing companies directly for a summer internship? I know it might seem daunting emailing companies at your age but its worth a shot especially if it's somewhere small.

I wouldn't think you'd need to go over further maths before starting, if i remember right at Kent we started rather slowly. There are mature and gap year students who may not have done maths in a while so they start everyone slow. Will stop you being complacent as well if you don't over-prepare.

Which uni to choose depends what kind of person you are, personally I wish I chose Cass/City as I realise now that I am a proper londoner and love being in the thick of it. At Kent, because it's a campus uni, I found it very easy to get trapped in the "university bubble" and forget about the greater goal. Southampton is also nice and I hear Heriot-Watt have an excellent course but it's in Scotland. In terms of history, Kent, Heriott-Watt and Cass have been at it the longest. Don't know much about UEA tbh.
Reply 517
Original post by Tokyoround
I attended Kent on the Act Sci course for a while so can give a little insight on that. It is a decent course, fairly difficult but a relaxed atmosphere. Majority of my peers were chinese, indian/pakistani, a few matures/black/whites/everything else. Have you been to visit anywhere yet? Kent is a lovely university, I enjoyed my time there a little too much... There are a few modules which you might feel are easy and a waste of time but don't let this fool you, work still needs to be put in. Prospects-wise, I know people who failed and repeated or had to go on the financial maths course instead, and I also know people who graduated and have excellent jobs now. It's up to you whether you succeed or not.

A year in industry is always a good thing as it seems to me jobs these days require more than just qualifications. Have you tried maybe emailing companies directly for a summer internship? I know it might seem daunting emailing companies at your age but its worth a shot especially if it's somewhere small.

I wouldn't think you'd need to go over further maths before starting, if i remember right at Kent we started rather slowly. There are mature and gap year students who may not have done maths in a while so they start everyone slow. Will stop you being complacent as well if you don't over-prepare.

Which uni to choose depends what kind of person you are, personally I wish I chose Cass/City as I realise now that I am a proper londoner and love being in the thick of it. At Kent, because it's a campus uni, I found it very easy to get trapped in the "university bubble" and forget about the greater goal. Southampton is also nice and I hear Heriot-Watt have an excellent course but it's in Scotland. In terms of history, Kent, Heriott-Watt and Cass have been at it the longest. Don't know much about UEA tbh.


Thanks for replying - nice to hear from someone who went to Kent!
I've visited Kent, UEA, Southampton and Keele. Kent and UEA are my favourites out of the ones I have visited - I definitely want a campus base so I'm probably not even going to visit City. Southampton was lovely until the accomodation, which I felt really let it down. Defintely think I will firm Kent though, will fully decide after I visit it again next month :smile: I definitely want to do my best on this course, its what I've wanted to do since I was 13 :tongue:

I'm not really sure about getting a summer internship, mainly because there is no where near me, and I can't afford travel or accomodation - I'm going to basically be supporting myself ontop of the minimum loan so I need all my savings!

Thanks again, can't wait to get started! Out of interest, are you still in actuarial based employment/study? :smile:
Original post by CloClo7
Thanks for replying - nice to hear from someone who went to Kent!
I've visited Kent, UEA, Southampton and Keele. Kent and UEA are my favourites out of the ones I have visited - I definitely want a campus base so I'm probably not even going to visit City. Southampton was lovely until the accomodation, which I felt really let it down. Defintely think I will firm Kent though, will fully decide after I visit it again next month :smile: I definitely want to do my best on this course, its what I've wanted to do since I was 13 :tongue:

I'm not really sure about getting a summer internship, mainly because there is no where near me, and I can't afford travel or accomodation - I'm going to basically be supporting myself ontop of the minimum loan so I need all my savings!

Thanks again, can't wait to get started! Out of interest, are you still in actuarial based employment/study? :smile:

Good luck, enthusiasm is important, try not to get distracted at uni like I did :tongue:

How are your A-Levels going? I work as a Risk analyst for a mid-tier bank and study CFA and Actuarial exams (only sat one of each so far though :colondollar:).
Reply 519
Original post by Tokyoround
Good luck, enthusiasm is important, try not to get distracted at uni like I did :tongue:

How are your A-Levels going? I work as a Risk analyst for a mid-tier bank and study CFA and Actuarial exams (only sat one of each so far though :colondollar:).


Did you start at the bank? I'm hoping to potentially move into risk management in banking but want to start out at an actuarial/investment consultancy for the client exposure.

Also did you ask to sit the CFA or was that part of the training contract?

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