Exam STAM covers probability distributions, survival analysis, life contingencies, and financial mathematics concepts like present value and annuities. The exam also includes applications to short-term insurance products and pricing models. You'll need to solve problems involving both theoretical concepts and practical calculations, often requiring strong algebra and calculus skills. A personalized tutor can help you identify which topic areas need the most focus based on your background.

Most candidates spend 100-150 hours preparing for Exam STAM, though this varies based on your math background and familiarity with actuarial concepts. If you're strong in probability and calculus, you might need less time; if these areas are new to you, you may benefit from additional study. Working with a tutor can help you create a realistic study schedule that targets your specific weak areas rather than spending time on concepts you already know well.

Students often struggle with survival analysis and life contingency calculations, particularly when applying multiple concepts in a single problem. Time management is another common challenge—the exam requires you to solve complex problems quickly and accurately. Many test-takers also find the transition from pure mathematics to applied actuarial contexts difficult. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction can help you work through these challenging topics systematically and develop problem-solving strategies that work for your learning style.

Practice tests are essential for Exam STAM success—they help you familiarize yourself with the question format, improve your pacing, and identify knowledge gaps before test day. Taking full-length practice exams under timed conditions gives you realistic feedback on where you need to focus your studying. A tutor can review your practice test results with you, explain why you missed certain questions, and help you develop strategies to avoid similar mistakes on the actual exam.

An effective Exam STAM tutor should have strong credentials in actuarial science or mathematics, ideally with experience helping other candidates pass the exam. They should be able to explain complex concepts clearly and adapt their teaching to your learning pace and style. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand the specific challenges of Exam STAM and can provide targeted instruction to help you build confidence and improve your score.

In your first session, a tutor will assess your current understanding of probability, financial mathematics, and actuarial concepts to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. They'll discuss your study timeline, exam date, and learning goals to create a personalized study plan. This initial meeting helps establish a foundation for targeted instruction that focuses on the topics where you need the most support.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how actively you engage with tutoring and practice. Students who work consistently with a tutor while completing practice problems regularly often see significant improvements, particularly in problem-solving speed and accuracy. Rather than focusing on a specific score increase, the goal is to identify and master the concepts and strategies that were holding you back, which naturally leads to better performance on test day.