I’m going to be blunt and preface everything by saying that passing the professional actuarial exams will be hard. According to the Society of Actuaries (SOA), the pass rate for Exam P is below 43%.
With that in mind, I’ve spent a lot of hours reviewing several major actuarial exam prep courses so I could share what the data points to as the best combination of tools at the best value. Whether you’re balancing exam preparation with a full undergraduate degree program or you’re thinking of changing careers, the following will help you decide which of our best actuarial exam prep courses fits your learning style and budget.
| Actuarial Exam Prep Course Comparison | ||
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Which Actuarial Exam Prep Course is Right for You?
- Pick AnalystPrep if you’re planning to take both Exams P and FM in the coming years and want lifetime access to your materials without recurring subscription costs.
- Choose Coaching Actuaries if you need adaptive technology to guide your study plan and want the industry’s biggest question bank.
- Go with AnalystPrep if you value unlimited tutor support and want study notes, video lessons, and practice questions that are yours forever.
- Start with The Infinite Actuary if you’re budget-conscious and need quality video instruction. It’s completely free for Exam P and Exam FM.
- Try The Acturarial Nexus if you’ll learn best from SOA practice questions with powerful analytics tracking at zero cost.
1. AnalystPrep – Best Overall Actuarial Exam Prep
For any actuary planning to sit for more than one exam over several years, AnalystPrep’s lifetime model will spare you from recurring subscription costs that quickly add up.
The unlimited package for Exams P and FM includes 1,600 practice questions, 40 hours of video lessons, and 600 pages of study notes. And all of them will be permanently accessible, including yearly curriculum updates. If you prefer to focus on one exam at a time, AnalystPrep also offers individual Learn + Practice packages for Exam P or FM with 6-month access, or Practice-only packages.
From my perspective, the standout feature here is the Unlimited Ask-a-Tutor service—it saved me from ever being stuck without expert help. There are no limits to the number of questions you can ask, and there’s no extra charge for the support. All of their practice problems are high-quality and designed to replicate the real-life difficulty of SOA exams.
The platform will work best for self-directed learners who can structure their own study schedules. And those who appreciate study materials can use the platform again at any time in the future without incurring any additional costs.
Also check out these AnalystPrep reviews of their other courses:
Course Highlights
- Course Format: Self-paced with on-demand video lessons
- Comprehensive Question Bank: 1,600+ practice questions across Exams P and FM
- Video Content: 40+ hours of expert-led instruction by Stephen Paris, PhD, ASA
- Study Materials: 600 pages of detailed study notes
- Performance Tracking: Dashboard tracks progress by syllabus topic
- Unlimited Ask-a-Tutor: Direct access to instructors for question support
- Lifetime Access: One-time purchase includes all future curriculum updates
Pros
- Lifetime access: Pay once and own the materials forever. Note: I calculated the cost, and if using the course once for each P and FM, it works out be less than the cost of most competitors’ six-month subscriptions.
- Unlimited tutor support: Ask as many questions as you want and never hit a limit.
- High-quality practice questions that match difficulty: These aren’t the type of easy questions that will boost your confidence when you can answer them. Trust me, they’re challenging!
- Comprehensive study notes suitable for visual learners: 600 pages of notes that include diagrams, worked examples, and color-coded formulas.
- Free curriculum updates: If the SOA is updated, the curriculum is too.
Cons
- No adaptive learning technology: The course doesn’t personalize study plans or give guidance on what to do next.
- Self-paced isn’t for everyone: This course might not be the right choice for anyone lacking in self-discipline.
Bottom Line
Pick AnalystPrep if you’re committed to passing multiple actuarial exams and want materials you’ll own forever. After testing this platform—and several others—it didn’t take me long to figure out that this one delivered the best value for students planning with long-range goals in mind. And, as noted above, the lifetime access model pays for itself if you do the P and FM bundle. That said, if you’re the type who struggles with self-directed study or needs adaptive technology to help build a study plan, check out the Coaching Actuaries’ Adapt platform instead.
AnalystPrep
2. Coaching Actuaries – Best for Adaptive Learning
Coaching Actuaries has built their reputation on Adapt, their adaptive learning platform that’s become the gold standard in actuarial exam prep. It assigns an Earned Level score based on performance and adjusts the difficulty of each question in real-time to match your level. Students who reach Earned Level 5.5 or higher report a 95.7% pass rate on Exam FM.
I watched the Earned Level system in action while testing this, and it’s pretty impressive. If I were struggling with something, the platform served up easier problems, which helped build a foundation, then gradually increased the difficulty again. That kept me from getting super frustrated and questioning my life’s choices. The question bank has more than 3,000 problems.
Coaching Actuarial offers across the entire spectrum of actuarial exams, with the option of their Learn Complete + Practice bundle or simply the Practice package. Access lengths range from 7 days to 365, but the Pass Guarantee applies only to 180-day purchases or longer.
Course Highlights
- Course Format: Self-paced with optional live instruction
- Adaptive Technology: Proprietary Adapt platform with Earned Level scoring
- Question Bank: 3,000+ practice problems across preliminary exams
- Video Lessons: Engaging instruction from Dave Kester—Coach K—and the team
- Mobile App: Study on the go with full platform functionality
- Performance Analytics: Detailed reports by topic and subsection using predictive analytics
- Pass Guarantee: Free course extension with 180+ day access
Pros
- Adaptive technology personalizes your study plan: The platform adjusts the level of difficulty based on performance, so you’re always working at the right level of challenge.
- Massive question bank with 3,000+ problems: The database has problems across all difficulty levels, and they’re written by actuaries who understand exactly what the SOA tests. Testing this, I realized it would be very hard to run out of questions.
- Earned Level scoring predicts how ready you are for the exam: Being able to see how ready you are takes the guesswork out of exam day.
- Active forums with responses from a support coach within 48 hours: The forum also means you’ll see how other students find solutions to problems.
- Pass guarantee: If you purchase 180+ day access and don’t pass, you get a free course extension.
Cons
- Premium pricing: While this will be a con to some, I think it’s important that the adaptive learning technology justifies the higher price.
- No pass guarantee on shorter subscriptions: Anything under the 180+ plan means limited access and no guarantee.
- Potential for overwhelm: There are a lot of tools baked in, and it might be too much for anyone who just wants a simple read-the-manual, do-the-problems, take-the-test approach.
Bottom Line
Choose Coaching Actuaries if you’re thrilled with the idea of data-driven insights and you’re willing to pay a premium for adaptive tech. After testing the platform, I found that it did a good job at identifying blind spots I didn’t even know existed. And if you’re looking for validation, they do boast a 95.7% pass rate for students who reach EL 5.5+ on the Exam FM. But it’s up to you. If you prefer lifetime access without recurring costs, AnalyystPrep offers better long-term value, but at the cost of sacrificing adaptive learning technology.
Coaching Actuaries
3. ACTEX – Best for Traditional Learners
ACTEX has been preparing actuaries since 1972, and its approach is the result of decades of understanding how students learn actuarial concepts. Students who prefer physical materials love the study manuals with written explanations paired with worked-through examples, which create a reference guide that makes passing exams that much easier.
Depending on what I’m studying, I’m sometimes a highlighter-and-sticky-note kind of learner, so ACTEX’s printed manuals felt natural when using them. Having them meant I could read them on the train in the morning, and happily flag formulas with tabs or scribble in margins. But it’s not just print. The platform integrates digital tools through the Actuarial University, including video lessons and a GOAL practice platform that uses keyword search. The hybrid approach meant I could watch a video about complex probability concepts or calculating present and accumulated values, drill practice problems in GOAL, and then go back to the manual for reference.
ACTEX offers several bundle options depending on your needs. The Complete Bundle includes the study manual, videos, GOAL practice platform, and live bootcamp sessions. For those who don’t need live instruction, the Study Manual + Video package provides the core materials. And for anyone who just needs practice, GOAL-only access is available separately.
Key Features
- Course Format: Hybrid printed materials and digital platform
- Study Materials: Comprehensive physical manuals with more than 500 pages
- Video Instruction: 90 videos (20 hours) for Exam P and 56 videos (10 hours) for Exam FM
- Goal Platform: Practice database with customizable quizzes and GOAL score tracking
- Keyword Linking: Integrated search across the manual, videos, and practice questions
- Bootcamps: Live 3-session intensive review with instructors
- Access Duration: 6 to 12-month licenses
Pros
- Physical manuals: This is a great option for traditional learners. For me, it meant being able to retain concepts better because I had actual paper to mark up.
- Deep explanations: Theoretical explanations help build strong conceptual understanding.
- 50+ years of actuarial education experience: When doing some upfront research on this company, I had several professors I contacted recommend ACTEX as one of their top choices for their students.
- Keyword integration: All study resources are seamlessly connected across resources, which is a huge time-saver.
Cons
- No lifetime access option: I’m not a fan of this, because if life happens—and it does—the only option is to buy another license.
- The interface isn’t modern: The course wasn’t natively built for online, so it’s not as sleek and integrated as more modern platforms.
- Tutoring isn’t that accessible: Don’t get me wrong, the sessions are great, but scheduling, pricing, and coordinating may make it hard for some students.
Bottom Line
ACTEX is a good choice for traditional learners who need printed materials and in-depth explanations. But it’s more than that. After testing them out, I decided I liked their hybrid approach, where I had materials I could annotate and digital tools for practice and video instruction. Honestly, learning styles might not matter. For anyone who wants to truly understand actuarial mathematics, ACTEX is a good choice. But for anyone who might need to study over an extended period or just prefers some leeway, Analyst Prep is definitely the way to go.
ACTEX
4. The Infinite Actuary – Great for Video Instruction
The Infinite Actuary made headlines a while back by offering Exams P and FM completely free—forever. And no, that’s not a typo. This isn’t a limited trial; it’s full access to 80+ video lessons (25+ hours for FM), 1,200+ practice problems, flashcards, and complete TIA study scheduling at no cost. For anyone who is budget-conscious, probably a lot of us now, or anyone who just wants to test actuarial exam prep, this is an unbeatable entry point. Note that once you get past the preliminary exams, there is a fee for their courses.
I have to say I was surprised by the course quality when I started testing TIA. It’s not often I say free and quality when talking about the same product, but there you go. The video instruction is from the CEO, James Washer, and the point isn’t memorizing things. It’s about really understanding the financial concepts, financial instruments, and actuarial applications behind the mathematics.
I did notice that the practice question bank is smaller than the Coaching Actuaries’, and they don’t have any adaptive learning, but other than that, I got a daily study schedule based on my exam date. I think that feature could eliminate some of the paralysis people might feel when faced with a huge syllabus. Better yet, the schedule will adjust, so falling behind doesn’t feel like such a crisis.
All in all, for something free, I had no reason to complain about the Infinite Actuary.
Key Features
- Course Format: Self-paced video lessons with a scheduling platform
- Video Content: 80+ lessons totalling 25+ hours for Exam FM
- Practice Problems: 350+ problems with video solutions
- Study Scheduler: Automated daily task planning via the TIA Study app
- Flashcards: 350+ digital flashcards for reviewing concepts
- Forum Support: Instructor and assistant support through
Pros
- Exams P and FM for free, with permanent access. There’s a zero barrier cost here, so it’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants to test whether actuarial science is something they want to make a career out of.
- High-quality video instruction that emphasizes conceptual understanding. I think it’s a huge plus that this course explains the why behind all those formulas, using examples from the insurance industry.
- Scheduling platform keeps you organized. We’ve all dealt with conflicting schedules, but the planner just redistributes tasks when life gets crazy.
- The best choice for the budget-conscious. What more can I say? It’s free!
Cons
- Smaller question bank. AnalystPrep’s Exam P has 500+, and Coaching Actuaries has 3,000+ in comparison to TIA’s 350+.
- No adaptive learning. The platform doesn’t track performance or suggest what to study next.
- Limited analytics. There were no detailed performance breakdowns for me to see, so I couldn’t track my performance.
Bottom Line
If you’re budget-conscious or just want to get a feel for what the actuarial exams are like before making a financial commitment, then I absolutely recommend checking out The Infinite Actuary. And frankly, it’s more than enough for video learners who are already further along in their educational experience and taking upper-level SOA/CAS exams, but for anyone who might be more prelim, I’d recommend pairing it with at least extra question banks.
The Infinite Actuary
5. The Actuarial Nexus – Good Course for Budget-Conscious Students
The Actuarial Nexus has thousands of practice questions with adjustable levels of difficulty and an integrated AI tutor for instant explanations. From my perspective, one of the best things about the platform is how it can help students identify knowledge gaps—I had lots of them!—through detailed performance tracking. And the mock exams can be customized in a way that means everyone is always getting tested on fresh material.
The AI tutor is pretty impressive, and I spent a lot of time with it when I tested the program. It was able to provide explanations clearly within seconds.
The best thing about TAN is the pricing structure. Like The Infinite Actuary, it’s free. It’s honestly crazy that they offer so many comprehensive materials and still manage to undercut its premium competitors like this. Other than that, since I like learn by doing, their approach and the amount of practice materials fit my style. But visual learners who need video lectures may feel lost.
Key Features
- Course Format: The platform focuses on written materials and practice—lots of practice
- Question Bank: Thousands of practice problems with adjustable difficulty
- AI Tutor: Instant explanations for concepts and problem-solving strategies
- Written Course: Comprehensive study manual covering the full exam syllabus
- Mock Exams: Customizable practice tests with difficulty selection
- Performance Analytics: Detailed tracking by topic and accuracy metrics
- Discussion Forums: Lots of community support
Pros
- Completely free for Exams P and FM: Zero cost barrier makes this accessible for career changers or students who want to test the actuarial career path.
- Integrated Exam P manual directly links to practice problems: This tight integration saved hours I could have spent manually cross-referencing topics.
- AI Tutor: Get instant help on any Exam P or Exam FM questions and never lose study momentum.
- Pass prediction score: The platform analyzes performance and predicts how ready you are for the exam.
Cons
- Limited FM coverage: The question bank and manual are only for Exam P. I would have had to supplement with AnalystPrep for additional FM practice volume if I were actually heading down this career path.
- No video lessons for visual learners: It’s free, so it’s understandably lacking. There are no video solutions or instructions offered.
- Not as much exam coverage when compared to paid providers: TAN just focuses on the early exams like P, FM, SRM, and FAM-S, while other providers also have prep and support for upper-level exams too.
Bottom Line
If you’re a budget-conscious student who learns well from written materials, The Actuarial Nexus might be a good choice. After testing the platform, I found it works best for Exam P, where you get both the manual and question coverage integrated. If you need Exam FM, then this is more of a supplement to a more comprehensive course like AnalystPrep or The Infinite Actuary. This is a deliberately lean platform that keeps costs down.
The Actuarial Nexus
Other Actuarial Resources Worth Mentioning
ActuaryExam Tutor
This is a good option for anyone who knows they need some personal attention. I recommend this option for anyone who is really struggling or may have failed the exam several times. A tutor just might make the difference since they can help pinpoint weaknesses and then build a custom practice plan.
They offer tutoring in one-on-one, semi-private, and group sessions, led by credentialed actuaries and university professors who have taught thousands of students.
Be An Actuary
This resource provides career information, exam guidance, and insights into the insurance industry. They are not a prep course, but they do offer free sample problems and scholarship information, and they have a ton of online resources. It’s a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand the strong quantitative skills necessary for risk assessment, but isn’t sure if this is the right career move.
Ranking Methodology
There’s nothing random about my choices. I evaluated each actuarial exam prep platform across six categories, with weights based on features that would help lead to success. So the criteria reflect what I feel mattered most during hands-on testing. Obviously, what matters most will be different for everyone.
| Category | Weight | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Exam Coverage & Cohesion | 25% | Rewards having a complete, cohesive package for P and FM w/predicable pricing |
| Cost‑to‑Value Ratio | 25% | Compares total included features against the list price and course access length |
| Practice Questions & Exam Simulation | 20% | Looks at the quality of explanations, realism vs SOA, presence of CBT‑style mocks, and full sample exams |
| Instructional Design & Clarity | 15% | Rewards clear study notes and structured video teaching rather than sheer volume |
| Analytics, Feedback & Support | 10% | Includes performance tracking, readiness indicators, and access to human help |
| Flexibility & Study Control | 5% | Favors platforms that let self‑directed learners control pacing, mix resources, and reuse materials over multiple attempts and years |
Choosing the Right Actuarial Exam Prep Course
I think I’ve been pretty upfront so far about my top pick, but ultimately it’s going to come down to what works best for you.
Learning Style
If you prefer structured, video-heavy instruction, The Infinite Actuary might be your best choice. If you’re an independent learner who prefers reading through material, ACTEX’s printed study materials have some of the most thorough explanations I’ve seen. If you need tech guidance to tell you what to study next, then the adaptive learning platform Coaching Actuaries provides is calling.
Course Format
AnalystPrep and Coaching Actuaries both offer platforms with video, practice questions, and analytics. ACTEX provides a hybrid approach with both printed materials and digital practice tools. The Infinite Actuary focuses on video instruction, while The Actuarial Nexus emphasizes practicing with SOA questions. If you want everything in one polished package, go with AnalystPrep or Coaching Actuaries. If you want something focused and no-frills, I recommend the free programs.
Practice Questions and Exams
Coaching Actuaries offers the largest question bank—more than 3,000—while The Actuarial Nexus provides a complete set of SOA sample questions and analytics. But consider quantity over quality, because I found the actual SOA material provided a more realistic picture of what to expect on exam day. AnalystPrep sits in the middle here with 1,600 high-quality questions that match exam difficulty.
Adaptive Learning
The Coaching Actuaries’ Earned Level system is the most sophisticated adaptive technology I tested. Seriously, there is no contest here. However, the Infinite Actuary uses an algorithm to select lessons and problems based on your needs, and ACTEX offers adaptive quizzes.
Instructor Support
AnalystPrep’s Unlimited Ask-a-Tutor feature impressed me the most. Ask as many questions as you want and expect an answer within 24 hours, so if you want human support, they’re your best bet. However, if you want one-on-one personalized coaching, take a serious look at the Actuary Exam Tutor.
Budget
If you’re truly cash-strapped, The Infinite Actuary and The Actuarial Nexus are no-brainers. Prep for both Exams P and FM is completely free.
Pass Guarantee
Coaching Actuaries, ACTEX, and The Infinite Actuary all offer pass guarantees with free extensions if you don’t pass, but they’re conditional. AnalystPrep has lifetime access, so it doesn’t matter how many times you need to retake the exam; the materials are yours forever.
Comparing Actuarial Exam Prep Courses
AnalystPrep vs. Coaching Actuaries: Lifetime Value or Adaptive Power?
AnalystPrep won me over for long-term planning. Lifetime access means you never pay again. Even if it took forever to pass Exam P, I could still move on to FM. And I loved the unlimited tutor support. That’s the kind of thing that’s invaluable when you’re stuck at midnight on regression analysis or risk modeling. I submitted my question and had a detailed response by morning without hitting any question limits.
Coaching Actuaries impressed me with its Earned Level system that told me exactly when I was ready. Watching my EL score climb from 3.2 to 5.8 gave me concrete confidence I didn’t get with other platforms. The adaptive difficulty adjustment meant I wasn’t wasting time on concepts I’d already mastered, which made my study sessions incredibly efficient.
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229-$549 P&FM | $80-$794 P&FM |
| Access Duration | Lifetime | 90-365 days |
| Practice Questions | 1,600+ | 3,000+ |
| Adaptive Learning |  |  |
| Pass Guarantee | | |
ACTEX vs. The Infinite Actuary: Print Depth or Video Clarity?
ACTEX became my most-used resource because I’m a margin-scribbler. The printed manual let me highlight derivations, dog-ear key formulas, and write “REVIEW THIS” on pages I struggled with. The theoretical depth helped me understand why formulas work, not just how to apply them.
The Infinite Actuary delivers excellent instruction—for free—with 25+ hours of videos explaining financial mathematics through real insurance scenarios that helped make things click. The scheduling app kept me organized without any cost. I recommend starting here, and if the materials work for you, you’ve saved hundreds of dollars.
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $69-$278 P&FM | Free P&FM |
| Format | Printed + Digital | Video-focused |
| Video Hours | 10-20 hours | 25+ hours |
| Practice Questions | 2,500+ | 1,000+ |
| Study Manual | Comprehensive printed | Digital only |
| Pass Guarantee | | |
Coaching Actuaries vs. The Actuarial Nexus: Premium Tech or Free SOA Questions?
Coaching Actuaries justified its price tag with a 95.7% pass rate at EL 5.5+. The predictive analytics showed me exactly which subsections needed work, and the massive 3,000+ question bank meant I never ran out. The adaptive difficulty kept me challenged without making me feel stupid, and that helped keep my study momentum.
The Actuarial Nexus surprised me with what it offers for free. Practicing with official SOA questions felt more valuable than proprietary problems, since they matched the actual exam topics and style. The analytics tools tracking my performance by topic gave me insights similar to those from paid platforms. For Exam P and FM with the integrated manuals, this works as a complete course at zero cost.
| Feature | |  |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $80-$794 P&FM | Free P&FM |
| Practice Questions | 3,000+ proprietary | Official SOA questions |
| Adaptive Learning | | |
| Video Instruction | | |
| Analytics | Advanced predictive | Performance tracking |
| Pass Guarantee | | |
Final Thoughts
After testing these platforms, AnalystPrep continued to land in my favorite column. The lifetime access and unlimited tutor support won me over. But for students who need adaptive technology to stay on track, Coaching Actuaries’ Earned Level system keeps you there and lets you know when you’re ready for the exam.
For anyone who prefers more traditional learning with printed materials, ACTEX’s hybrid approach gives you everything you need to understand actuarial mathematics. And finally, for the budget-conscious, both The Infinite Actuary and the Actuarial Nexus offer both P and FM prep completely free.
FAQs
You should start studying 3 to 4 months before your exam date, putting aside about 250-300 total hours for Exam P or FM. Use a prep course if possible and complete full-length practice exams under timed conditions.
It’s possible for some in senior leadership roles at major insurance companies, but entry-level actuaries who’ve passed Exam FM and 1 or 2 other exams start around $60,000-$75,000.
Actuarial exams and the CFA program test different skill sets, so there really isn’t a true comparison. However, the actuarial exam required 7-10 exams over 4-7 years, and the CFA 3 exams over 2-4 years.
No. Many successful actuaries start in their 30’s or 40’s, often when changing careers.
The choice depends on your actuarial specialty. Choose SOA if you want to work in life insurance, health insurance, pensions, or broader risk management. Choose CAS if you prefer property and casualty insurance.
