Syllabus of Basic Education
STUDY RESOURCES
Study Notes for Exams 1/P, 2/FM, 3F/MFE, and 4/C
Official Study Notes are published to help candidates prepare for the examinations. In some instances, Study Notes are the principal materials for study; in others, they are designed to coordinate the subject for the candidate or to complement other readings. Occasionally, the course of reading for an examination may be changed after publication of the Syllabus. Such a change will be announced on the specific exam syllabus Web page.
Study Notes may be downloaded at no charge from the specific exam syllabus Web page.
Study Kits for Exams 5-9
The Study Kit contains required readings not owned by the CAS but for which the CAS has been granted permission to include in the Study Kit. Study kits for the Spring with be available in December and Study kits for Fall will be available in April. Study Kits may be purchased from the CAS Online Store; there are NO RETURNS and NO REFUNDS.
Online Publications for Exams 3L and 5-9
The readings listed as "Online Publications" in this Syllabus may be downloaded at no charge from the text references section at the end of each exam syllabus.
Online Courses 1/CA1 and 2/CA2
All required educational content for Online Courses 1/CA1 and 2/CA2 is provided in the online courses themselves.
Sample Examination Questions
Exams 1/P, 2/FM, 3F/MFE, and 4/C
Sample examination questions for Exams 1/P, 2/FM, 3F/MFE, and 4/C are available at no charge on the specific exam syllabus Web page.
Exams 3L and 5-9
Copies of recent past exams for Exams 3L and 5-9 with sample answers are available at no charge in the "Past Exams and Pass Marks" section of the CAS Web Site. Sample essay answers are actual responses that received credit and are illustrative of successful answers, although they may not be considered perfect answers.
Exams 3L and 5-9 will be posted in the "Exams" section of the CAS Web Site approximately one week after these examinations have been administered. They will include a preliminary list of multiple-choice answers. Sample essay answers and final multiple-choice answers will be posted at the end of July for April-May Examinations and at the end of January for October Examinations.
In referring to a published prior examination, candidates should keep in mind that the questions were based on the learning objectives in effect for that particular examination and may not reflect the current learning objectives. Candidates may also expect future examinations to vary somewhat as to the proportions of question styles and subjects. New forms of questions may appear from time to time, and the total number of questions may vary from one exam sitting to the next.
E-Mail Study Groups
The CAS has available e-mail study groups for those preparing for CAS examinations. Information about joining a study group is available in the "E-Mail Study Groups" section of the CAS Web Site. Please direct any questions to the CAS webmaster at webmaster@casact.org.
CAS Library
The CAS Library has available for loan a limited number of the books marked with a bold L in this Syllabus. Candidates registered for CAS Examinations and all members of the CAS have access to the library. The CAS Library is located at the CAS Office in Arlington, Virginia. For those who reside in East Asia, the Actuaries Office in Hong Kong has CAS Library books available for lending and candidates residing in that area should contact the office in Hong Kong.
Books and manuals may be withdrawn from the library for a period of one month without charge. In general, not more than two references may be in the hands of one borrower at a time. Requests must be in writing and must include the borrower's complete name, address, and telephone number as well as the complete title(s) and author(s) of the requested book(s). Address requests for library books to:
| For Candidates Outside East Asia: | For candidates in East Asia: |
|---|---|
| Casualty Actuarial Society Attention: Library Service 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 250 Arlington, Virginia 22203 Fax: (703) 276-3108 E-mail: library@casact.org | Actuaries Office in Hong Kong Attention: Patricia Kum 2202 Tower Two, Lippo Centre 89 Queensway Hong Kong E-mail: hongkonglibrary@casact.org |
Candidates are responsible for the cost of returning library books. Books must be returned to the office from which they were borrowed. The CAS ships the requested book(s) in the U.S. via United Parcel Service (UPS) and internationally via Air Mail. Due to delays in the mail system, the CAS requires all shipments of books returned to the CAS Office to be shipped via UPS, FedEx, or an equivalent carrier with tracking capabilities. Please do not use the postal service. Overdue books will be charged at a cost of 25¢ per day.
Books that are not available through the CAS Library may be obtained by contacting the organizations listed in the "Publishers and Distributors" section at the end of each examination syllabus section.
