Yes. Varsity Tutors connects students in Minneapolis with tutors who specialize in actuarial exam preparation, including Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) exams like Exam P/1, Exam FM/2, and IFM. Expert tutors can help you build problem-solving speed, understand tricky probability distributions, master financial mathematics formulas, and develop test-taking strategies specific to the multiple-choice and multiple-answer formats these exams use.

The biggest hurdles are mastering probability theory and distributions (especially when applied to insurance scenarios), understanding the time value of money and complex financial instruments, and managing the volume of material on professional exams. Many students also struggle with the transition from classroom problem sets to exam-style questions that require synthesizing multiple concepts under time pressure. Personalized 1-on-1 instruction helps identify your specific weak areas and builds confidence in these challenging topics.

Your first session is diagnostic and collaborative. Tutors will assess your current understanding of core concepts like probability, calculus, and financial mathematics; discuss your goals (passing a specific exam, improving your GPA, or mastering a particular unit); and identify where you're losing points or confidence. From there, they'll create a personalized study plan that targets your weak areas and builds toward your specific objectives, whether that's exam preparation or coursework success.

This depends on your timeline and current knowledge level. Students preparing for SOA/CAS exams typically benefit from weekly or bi-weekly sessions over 3-6 months, combined with independent practice between meetings. If you're working through difficult coursework during the semester, even bi-weekly sessions can significantly improve your understanding. Your tutor will help you determine the right frequency and intensity based on your exam date, current performance, and learning pace.

Practice tests are essential—they're how you build speed, identify knowledge gaps, and get comfortable with exam formats and question types. Tutors typically recommend full-length practice exams under timed conditions to simulate test day, followed by detailed review of every question (correct and incorrect). This combination of practice testing and retrieval practice is one of the most effective study strategies in learning science, and tutors can help you analyze patterns in your mistakes to focus your studying where it matters most.

Absolutely. Financial mathematics—including annuities, bonds, loans, and present/future value calculations—is a core component of actuarial science and a major focus of Exam FM/2. Tutors break down these concepts from first principles, help you master formulas and when to apply them, and teach you shortcuts and intuition that make complex calculations manageable. Many students find that personalized explanation of these interconnected topics transforms their understanding and exam performance.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who have strong backgrounds in actuarial science, mathematics, and exam preparation. Simply share your goals, timeline, and preferred meeting schedule, and we'll match you with a tutor whose expertise and teaching style fit your needs. Whether you're in North Minneapolis, around the University of Minnesota, or anywhere else in the area, you'll get personalized instruction designed to help you succeed.