Campus Club ambassador Hayden Siew Men Lek shares what it’s really like to juggle university life and actuarial exams, along with the time management tips, daily habits, and study strategies that helped make it all possible.
You’ve seen it and you’ve heard it: how hard is actuarial student life?
Let me tell you one thing beforehand: balancing university, actuarial exams, and personal life is literally no joke. University consists of midterms, assignments, and finals, while actuarial exams alone already take up most of your time, and we haven’t even factored in your personal life yet! So... how did I do it? Let’s see...
Now imagine studying for five university courses while preparing for one SOA exam. Feel your blood pressure and stress level rising yet? I’VE BEEN THERE!
You don’t just manage time from spare time. You need to create time first.
The Secret: Time Management
But here’s the secret recipe (and no, it’s not some magical productivity hack): it’s just plain old simple time management. Many of my friends often argue, “How can I manage my time when I have no time to manage?” Fair point, but here’s the interesting part behind time management: you don’t just manage time from spare time. You need to create time first.
Yes, that means learning to say no. Sometimes skipping a random late-night invitation to a club might save you hours of focused study. Prioritize the important stuff first! With that kind of discipline, you will have much more breathing room to do more things, including studying as well as other important tasks.
Study Strategies That Actually Work
Now, in terms of studying for both university exams and actuarial exams, it is truly devastating. After hours of university lectures, realizing you still need to tackle SOA exams might feel like a stab in the back, but fear not. That’s why you are reading this blog, right?
My boring but powerful answer is consistency.
So, as for study strategies, sorry to disappoint you—I don’t have any fancy group study systems or viral YouTube study hacks. My boring but powerful answer is consistency.
I literally study every day. One hour, two hours, four hours—it doesn’t matter. As long as you show up and study, that’s what matters. By the way, fun fact: improving just 1% daily makes you 377% better in a year. Think about that for a second. WILD, right?
A Tool That Makes Exam Prep Easier
And of course, another bonus tip when it comes to actuarial exams is to get a study platform like Coaching Actuaries! I cannot emphasize enough how important this is. Without CA, my study routine would be devastating and make my life feel like hell. Studying at my own pace, practicing whenever I want, and tracking my progress makes exam prep less painful.
Final Thoughts
Before signing off, just remember one thing: a balanced life doesn’t mean perfection or even normalcy. It’s about discipline, consistency, and knowing what matters. You’ve got this, and it’s okay if life gets hard and doesn’t feel normal. Here’s a corny actuarial joke: Even actuaries know life doesn’t follow a normal distribution. TAKE CARE!
About the Author
Hayden Siew Men Lek is 21 years old and a second-year actuarial science student at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has passed SOA Exam P and SOA Exam FM, and he is currently completing an actuarial internship at Chubb Malaysia. He also serves as the president of his university’s actuarial science club, the Actuarial Science Student Association (ASSA). Outside of studying and networking, Hayden enjoys jamming to music.