Data as of Sep 14, 2026 · Based on 350 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
For actuarial exam preparation, 
Brands AI recommends here
Named in 84% of answers
Named in 80% of answers
Considered the industry standard for preliminary exams. Its core strength lies in its adaptive practice technology (ADAPT), which allows students to simulate real exam pressure and track readiness.
Named in 72% of answers
Named in 55% of answers
The best choice for budget-conscious students or those requiring lifetime access to study materials. It is highly valued for providing comprehensive support for multiple exams without recurring costs.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
Actuarial Science Study Material | Actuary Exam Practice Test ...https://www.coachingactuaries.com/ | 5.7% |
 Best Study Manual for Exam P (2026) - Etched Actuarialhttps://etchedactuarial.com/best-study-manual-for-exam-p/ | 4.3% |
The Best Exam FM Study Guide (2026) - Etched Actuarialhttps://etchedactuarial.com/best_exam_fm_study_guide/ | 3.9% |
 The Infinite Actuary - Actuarial Exam Preparationhttps://www.theinfiniteactuary.com/ | 3.8% |
 Anybody know any good FREE exam prep for FM and/or P? : r/actuaryhttps://www.reddit.com/r/actuary/comments/13ovugg/anybody_know_any_good_free_exam_prep_for_fm_andor/ | 3.1% |
 The Actuarial Nexus | Actuarial Exam Prephttps://www.theactuarialnexus.com/ | 2.8% |
Actuary Exam Prep & Test Questions | AnalystPrephttps://analystprep.com/actuarial-exams/ | 2.7% |
 Rising Fellow | Actuary Exam Prep Courses & Study Materialshttps://risingfellow.com/ | 2.7% |
Actuarial Study Materialshttps://www.studymanuals.com/ | 2.6% |
How to Study for Exams? What Material Should I use?https://org.osu.edu/actuarial/project/how-to-study-for-exams-what-material-should-i-use/ | 2.0% |
If you’re talking about the **U.S./North American actuarial exams**, my short answer is: > **For most candidates, I’d make Coaching Actuaries or ACTEX the core program, then supplement it with lots of official past/sample questions.** The best choice depends quite a bit on **which exam you’re taking** and whether you…
If you’re talking about the U.S./North American actuarial exams, my short answer is:
For most candidates, I’d make Coaching Actuaries or ACTEX the core program, then supplement it with lots of official past/sample questions. The best choice depends quite a bit on which exam you’re taking and whether you learn better from videos, textbooks, or drilling problems.
This would be my first choice if your priority is passing efficiently through lots of practice. Its major advantage is the large computerized question bank and adaptive practice/exam system. It is particularly attractive for P/FM and the other preliminary exams.
Best for:
ACTEX Learning is my other top choice. ACTEX offers study manuals, instructional videos, practice through GOAL, bootcamps, and tutoring. The SOA specifically lists ACTEX among the study-material providers for its exams.
Best for:
ACTEX's GOAL platform is particularly useful for practice; ACTEX says it has 35,000+ exam-style problems across its materials.
TIA is another established option, especially once you get beyond the very first exams. The CAS lists it among recognized study-aid providers for several exams.
I'd compare TIA against ACTEX/Coaching Actuaries on an exam-by-exam basis, rather than choosing one provider for your entire actuarial career.
Whatever commercial program you buy, use the SOA/CAS material as the authority.
For SOA exams, the Society publishes the syllabus, learning objectives, required readings and sample exams. Its online P and FM sample exams are free and designed to resemble the computer-based testing experience.
For CAS exams, CAS explicitly says its listed study aids are supplements rather than replacements for the material in the official Content Outline. CAS also provides retired practice items and solutions for several exams.
If you're starting with P or FM, I'd use:
For example, for FM, ACTEX currently combines a study guide, instructional videos and GOAL practice; its current digital FM package is listed at $199 for 180 days or $245 for 365 days.
| Resource | My take | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Coaching Actuaries | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Practice + adaptive exams |
| ACTEX | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Learning + practice |
| TIA | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Video courses / later exams |
| Official SOA/CAS material | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Required reference + authentic practice |
| Books alone | ⭐⭐⭐ | Good supplement, less efficient alone |
One important caveat: the best provider changes by exam. P/FM, FAM, SRM/PA, and the later CAS/SOA exams have very different study requirements.
If you tell me which exam you're preparing for (P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I, etc.), your target exam date, and roughly how many hours/week you have, I can give you a specific study program + materials + 6–12 week study schedule, including which resources I'd actually pay for and which I'd skip.
For CAS exams, CAS explicitly says its listed study aids are supplements rather than replacements for the material in the official Content Outline. CAS also provides retired practice items and solutions for several exams.
If you're starting with P or FM, I'd use:
When prepping for actuarial exams, the consensus among successful candidates is that **Coaching Actuaries** and **ACTEX / ASM** stand head and shoulders above the rest, though the "best" choice depends on your learning style and the specific exam you're taking. Top-tier online programs and practice materials are…
When prepping for actuarial exams, the consensus among successful candidates is that Coaching Actuaries and ACTEX / ASM stand head and shoulders above the rest, though the "best" choice depends on your learning style and the specific exam you're taking.
Top-tier online programs and practice materials are structured as follows:
To help narrow down the best specific recommendation, could you tell me:
When preparing for actuarial exams, the general consensus in the actuarial community is that **Coaching Actuaries (CA)** and **ACTEX / ASM** stand out as the gold standards, though the "best" choice depends heavily on your learning style and which exam you are taking. Top options for online study programs and practice…
When preparing for actuarial exams, the general consensus in the actuarial community is that Coaching Actuaries (CA) and ACTEX / ASM stand out as the gold standards, though the "best" choice depends heavily on your learning style and which exam you are taking.
Top options for online study programs and practice materials include:
To help narrow down the ideal resource, let me know:
The “best” actuarial exam study program depends a lot on **which exam you’re taking (P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I, etc.)**, your learning style, and whether you need structure or mostly practice. The most commonly used programs are:…
The “best” actuarial exam study program depends a lot on which exam you’re taking (P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I, etc.), your learning style, and whether you need structure or mostly practice. The most commonly used programs are:
Best for: Exam P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, early exams Strengths:
Many candidates choose it because it combines teaching + practice in one platform.
Best fit: If you want a guided program and don’t want to build your own study plan.
Best for: Candidates who like detailed explanations Strengths:
ACTEX is one of the long-established actuarial study providers and is listed among major SOA/CAS study-aid providers.
Best fit: If you prefer learning concepts deeply before drilling problems.
Best for: P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I/MAS-II Strengths:
ASM has been a long-running actuarial study-materials provider and covers many SOA/CAS exams.
Best fit: If you are disciplined and prefer reading over watching videos.
Best for: Candidates who want live instruction Strengths:
It is also among the providers recognized by SOA/CAS as a source of actuarial study aids.
Regardless of your main course, I’d prioritize:
| Exam | Good choices |
|---|---|
| Exam P | Coaching Actuaries, ACTEX, ASM |
| Exam FM | Coaching Actuaries, ACTEX, ASM |
| Exam SRM | Coaching Actuaries, ACTEX |
| Exam FAM | Coaching Actuaries, ACTEX, ASM |
| MAS-I / MAS-II | ASM, ACTEX, Coaching Actuaries |
| Upper-level CAS/SOA exams | ACTEX, The Infinite Actuary, specialized providers |
SOA Casualty Actuarial Society## A common winning setup
For many candidates:
If you tell me which exam you’re studying for (P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I, etc.) and whether you prefer videos or textbooks, I can suggest a more specific package and study schedule.
If you're preparing for the **U.S. actuarial exams**, my short answer is: > **For most candidates, I’d use Coaching Actuaries or ACTEX as the primary program, then put a very heavy emphasis on practice exams.** If you're starting with P or FM, there are also unusually good low-cost/free options worth considering. The…
If you're preparing for the U.S. actuarial exams, my short answer is:
For most candidates, I’d use Coaching Actuaries or ACTEX as the primary program, then put a very heavy emphasis on practice exams. If you're starting with P or FM, there are also unusually good low-cost/free options worth considering. The right choice depends somewhat on whether you're pursuing the SOA or CAS track. The SOA's current ASA pathway starts with P and FM, followed by FAM, SRM, and other requirements.
| Program | Best for | My take |
|---|---|---|
| Coaching Actuaries | Best all-around practice experience | ⭐ Best overall |
| ACTEX | Thorough instruction + manuals + practice | ⭐ Best comprehensive alternative |
| The Infinite Actuary (TIA) | Video-based learning, especially P/FM | ⭐ Great value |
| ASM | Independent learners who like textbooks | Excellent traditional option |
| SOA/CAS materials | Official syllabus & source material | Essential, but not sufficient by itself |
If you want one platform that handles most of your studying, I'd lean toward Coaching Actuaries.
Its biggest advantage is the practice environment: you want to be able to drill problems by topic, difficulty and timing, then transition into simulated exams. For actuarial exams, this is enormously important because understanding the material isn't the same as being able to solve an unfamiliar problem quickly.
I'd particularly favor it once you're beyond the very first exam or if you know you learn well by doing lots of problems.
actexlearning.com is an excellent choice if you like having a serious study manual alongside videos and practice.
For example, its current Exam P package includes a comprehensive manual, 90 instructional videos, exercises, full-length exams, flashcards and its GOAL practice system.
ACTEX's FM materials similarly combine a substantial manual, instructional videos, exercises, full exams, flashcards and GOAL.
Its GOAL system is particularly useful: ACTEX says it has more than 35,000 exam-style problems across its offerings, with practice organized by topic and difficulty.
The Infinite Actuary is worth serious consideration for P and FM, especially if you learn best from videos.
A current independent comparison reports that TIA's P/FM study materials became free in mid-2025, making them an unusually compelling option for those exams.
I'd take advantage of that even if you ultimately use another provider: free material + lots of practice is hard to beat.
Don't make the mistake of buying three study manuals and then spending too little time actually solving problems.
For each exam, I'd structure preparation roughly like this:
The last part is crucial. Practice exams are not just assessment—they're part of the learning process.
Whatever commercial provider you choose, use the SOA/CAS syllabus as the authority for what you're responsible for.
The SOA explicitly says its own exam resources include overviews, learning resources and sample exams, while also providing links to additional study materials.
For CAS exams, the CAS specifically cautions candidates that commercial study aids are supplements rather than substitutes for the primary-source material in the syllabus.
That's especially important as you get into the more advanced exams.
If you're deciding between P and FM for your first exam, I'd generally choose based on your mathematical background:
And I wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars immediately. For P/FM, I'd first look at the free/low-cost resources, then pay for a premium practice system if you find that you need it.
If I were starting from scratch today, I'd probably do:
Primary instruction: Coaching Actuaries or ACTEX Practice: GOAL / Coaching Actuaries question bank Official material: SOA/CAS syllabus + sample questions Extra: TIA/free resources where applicable Final 2–3 weeks: Almost entirely mixed/timed practice and review of mistakes
The SOA currently lists P and FM among the foundational ASA exams, so those are the natural place to build your study system before moving into FAM, SRM, PA, etc.
If you tell me which exam you're taking (P, FM, FAM, SRM, MAS-I, etc.), your target sitting/date, and roughly how many hours/week you can study, I can give you a specific study program, materials, and week-by-week schedule rather than just a provider comparison.
For example, its current Exam P package includes a comprehensive manual, 90 instructional videos, exercises, full-length exams, flashcards and its GOAL practice system.
ACTEX's FM materials similarly combine a substantial manual, instructional videos, exercises, full exams, flashcards and GOAL.
Its GOAL system is particularly useful: ACTEX says it has more than 35,000 exam-style problems across its offerings, with practice organized by topic and difficulty.
The Infinite Actuary is worth serious consideration for P and FM, especially if you learn best from videos.
A current independent comparison reports that TIA's P/FM study materials became free in mid-2025, making them an unusually compelling option for those exams.
I'd take advantage of that even if you ultimately use another provider: free material + lots of practice is hard to beat.
Don't make the mistake of buying three study manuals and then spending too little time actually solving problems.
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a tailored approach depending on your learning style and budget. The consensus in the actuarial community points to a few gold-standard providers, heavily dominated by **Coaching Actuaries** and **ACTEX /…
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a tailored approach depending on your learning style and budget. The consensus in the actuarial community points to a few gold-standard providers, heavily dominated by Coaching Actuaries and ACTEX / ASM.
Top Online Study Programs & Practice Materials
Alternative / Budget Strategies
To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:
Adapt
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a blend of conceptual learning and heavy problem-drilling. The consensus among successful candidates points to a couple of industry-leading platform giants, supplemented by specialized manuals. The top online study programs and practice materials break down as follows: -…
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a blend of conceptual learning and heavy problem-drilling. The consensus among successful candidates points to a couple of industry-leading platform giants, supplemented by specialized manuals.
The top online study programs and practice materials break down as follows:
To help narrow down the best specific resources, which exam are you planning to take first (e.g., Exam P, Exam FM, or an upper-level track), and do you prefer video-based learning or reading traditional textbooks/manuals?
Adapt
If you're preparing for the **SOA/CAS actuarial exams**, my recommendation is to use a **dedicated prep program + lots of timed practice**, rather than trying to learn primarily from the official syllabus materials. ### My top choices - **Best overall for most students: Coaching Actuaries** — especially strong if you…
If you're preparing for the SOA/CAS actuarial exams, my recommendation is to use a dedicated prep program + lots of timed practice, rather than trying to learn primarily from the official syllabus materials.
The CAS itself lists Coaching Actuaries, TIA, ACTEX and ASM, among others, as study-aid providers, while emphasizing that candidates should still read the primary syllabus material.
If you're just starting the preliminary exams:
P → FM → FAM/SRM/PA, depending on your SOA pathway.
For P and FM, I'd start with TIA because it's free. There's little reason to spend hundreds of dollars before seeing whether you like its teaching style. The official SOA also provides free online sample exams for P and FM.
For subsequent exams, I'd lean toward:
Coaching Actuaries + official syllabus/readings + released/sample questions or
TIA + Coaching Actuaries question bank The combination is powerful: TIA/ACTEX for learning → Coaching Actuaries for drilling → official SOA/CAS questions for calibration.
One important point: don't judge readiness by whether you can follow the solutions. You want to reach the point where you can solve unseen problems quickly and consistently under timed conditions.
If you tell me which exam you're taking next (P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, MAS-I, etc.) and roughly when, I can give you a specific 8–12 week study plan, including exactly which materials to buy/use and how many practice problems to do each week.
If you’re pursuing the **SOA/CAS actuarial pathway in the U.S.**, my short answer is: > **For most candidates, I’d use Coaching Actuaries for practice + an ACTEX/ASM manual for learning the material + the official SOA/CAS syllabus and sample exams.** The best combination depends somewhat on which exam you’re taking.
If you’re pursuing the SOA/CAS actuarial pathway in the U.S., my short answer is:
For most candidates, I’d use Coaching Actuaries for practice + an ACTEX/ASM manual for learning the material + the official SOA/CAS syllabus and sample exams. The best combination depends somewhat on which exam you’re taking.
I’d especially recommend it for P, FM, FAM, SRM, and the other computer-based preliminary exams where doing lots of problems is critical.
Its major strength is Adapt, the adaptive practice system. Rather than simply giving you a giant question bank, it adjusts difficulty and lets you drill by topic. The SOA itself lists Coaching Actuaries as a study-material provider and specifically lists Adapt practice/mock exams for P, FM, FAM, SRM, ALTAM, ASTAM and PA.
Best for:
ACTEX is probably my pick if you want one integrated study ecosystem rather than cobbling together several resources.
Their current programs combine manuals, instructional videos, GOAL practice, flashcards, formula sheets and—in some exams—bootcamps. Their P program, for example, includes 1,000+ practice problems through GOAL, videos, flashcards and simulated exams.
Their FM program similarly combines a comprehensive manual, 60+ instructional videos, hundreds of exercises, practice exams, flashcards and GOAL.
Best for:
ASM is another established option, particularly if you like detailed written explanations and traditional study manuals. The SOA lists ASM as a provider for P, FM, FAM, ALTAM, ASTAM, SRM and EA exams, along with videos and practice resources.
I wouldn't necessarily buy both ASM and ACTEX manuals. Pick one primary textbook/manual and spend the money you save on practice.
The hierarchy I'd use is:
The official SOA provides free online sample exams for P and FM, designed to resemble the computer-based testing environment. They're useful, but SOA cautions that their sample-exam difficulty isn't necessarily representative of an actual exam.
Also, don't completely replace the official readings with a commercial course: the SOA explicitly says candidates are expected to read the material cited in the syllabus and use commercial study materials as a complement.
If you're starting with Exam P:
ACTEX/ASM manual + Coaching Actuaries Adapt is an excellent combination.
If you want a simpler all-in-one solution:
ACTEX's P program + GOAL is very strong. Their current P package includes 13 full-length exams and 390+ SOA sample questions, alongside the manual, videos and GOAL.
For FM, I'd use essentially the same strategy. ACTEX's current FM package has 14 full-length exams plus hundreds of exercises and GOAL practice.
For later exams such as FAM, SRM, PA, ALTAM/ASTAM, the choice becomes more exam-specific; ACTEX and Coaching Actuaries both have particularly useful resources, but I'd choose based on the exact exam.
Don't confuse "best course" with "best chance of passing." Actuarial exams are unusually practice-heavy. Once you understand the material, your marginal study time is often better spent solving problems under time pressure than watching another three hours of lectures.
A good rule is roughly:
Learn → drill by topic → identify weaknesses → drill weak topics → timed exams → analyze every mistake → repeat.
If you tell me which exam you're studying for (P, FM, FAM, SRM, PA, etc.), your target exam date, and roughly how many hours/week you can study, I can give you a specific program—including which course to buy, which practice bank to use, what to skip, and a week-by-week study schedule.
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a strategic mix of conceptual learning and rigorous adaptive practice. The industry consensus across the actuarial community points to a few top-tier platforms depending on your learning style and budget. - **Coaching Actuaries (ADAPT)** : Widely regarded as the gold standard for…
Preparing for actuarial exams requires a strategic mix of conceptual learning and rigorous adaptive practice. The industry consensus across the actuarial community points to a few top-tier platforms depending on your learning style and budget.
Recommended Strategy for Success
To help narrow down the best path, could you tell me:
