Study Material Comparison: Coaching Actuaries vs. ASM vs. ACTEX

Coaching Actuaries: Adapt and Learn

Coaching Actuaries (CA) has become one of the most popular study material providers for actuarial preliminary exams, largely driven by the strength of its Adapt practice exam platform. Adapt uses an adaptive algorithm that adjusts the difficulty of practice problems based on your performance, gradually increasing the challenge as you improve. The system assigns an Earned Level (EL) score that serves as a quantitative measure of your exam readiness, with higher EL values correlating to higher pass probabilities. Many candidates find this metric highly motivating because it provides concrete evidence of progress rather than relying on subjective feelings of preparedness.

CA's Learn platform provides video instruction that walks through concepts, derivations, and example problems. The videos are generally well-produced and cover the exam syllabus comprehensively. For candidates who learn well from watching explanations and worked examples, the combination of Learn videos and Adapt practice creates a complete study ecosystem. CA also offers a written study manual, though some candidates find it less detailed than competing manuals from ASM or ACTEX when used as a standalone reference without the video component.

Pricing for Coaching Actuaries is competitive, with bundle options that combine the manual, video lessons, and Adapt access at a discount compared to purchasing each separately. Subscription lengths vary, allowing candidates to choose based on their study timeline. The primary limitation is that CA's coverage is concentrated on the preliminary exams, so candidates progressing to upper-level exams will eventually need to look elsewhere for materials.

ASM Manual Strengths

ASM (Actuarial Study Materials) manuals have a long-standing reputation as some of the most thorough and detailed study resources available for actuarial exams. Written by experienced actuaries and educators, ASM manuals are known for comprehensive topic coverage, clear mathematical explanations, and extensive collections of worked examples and practice problems. Many candidates consider ASM the gold standard for self-directed study because the manual itself contains everything needed to learn the material from scratch.

The depth of ASM manuals is their greatest strength and, for some candidates, a potential drawback. The manuals are substantial, often running to hundreds of pages, and cover edge cases and nuances that other providers may gloss over. This thoroughness means that candidates who work through the entire ASM manual are unlikely to encounter unfamiliar concepts on exam day. However, the volume of material can be overwhelming for candidates who prefer a more concise presentation or who have limited study time. Effective use of an ASM manual often requires discipline in pacing and the willingness to skip or skim sections covering material you already understand well.

ASM also provides practice exams and online supplements for many exams. The practice problems in ASM manuals tend to be well-calibrated to exam difficulty, and the solutions are typically detailed with step-by-step explanations. For candidates who learn best by reading carefully and working through problems independently, ASM remains an excellent choice.

ACTEX Approach and Materials

ACTEX has been producing actuarial study materials for decades and offers a balanced approach that combines clear exposition with practical exam preparation. ACTEX manuals tend to be more concise than ASM manuals while still providing solid coverage of exam topics. The writing style is generally accessible, with an emphasis on explaining concepts in a way that connects to how they appear on actual exam problems.

In addition to printed manuals, ACTEX offers online courses, practice exams, and supplementary digital resources. Their online platform includes features like progress tracking and practice problem sets organized by topic. ACTEX materials are well-suited for candidates who want a structured but not overly detailed learning experience. The concise presentation works well for candidates who already have some background in the subject matter (for example, from university coursework) and need a focused exam review rather than learning concepts from the ground up.

Other Study Material Providers

Beyond the three major providers, several other resources deserve consideration. The Infinite Actuary offers video-based instruction and practice exams for select exams, with a teaching style that some candidates prefer. Marcel Finan's free online textbooks cover Exam P and Exam FM material and serve as useful supplementary references. For upper-level exams, providers like TIA (The Infinite Actuary) and Rising Fellow offer specialized materials tailored to specific exam formats.

SOA and CAS official study materials, including published syllabi, study notes, and past exam problems with solutions, are essential references regardless of which commercial provider you use. These official materials define exactly what is testable and provide authentic exam questions. Many successful candidates use official materials as their primary source for understanding exam scope and expectations while relying on commercial providers for instruction and practice problem volume.

How to Choose the Right Materials

Selecting study materials should be based on an honest assessment of your learning style, background knowledge, and study preferences. If you are a visual and auditory learner who benefits from watching explanations, Coaching Actuaries' video-based approach with Adapt practice is likely your best fit. If you are a strong self-directed reader who wants maximum depth and detail, ASM manuals provide the most comprehensive written coverage. If you want a balanced, moderately detailed approach with good online supplements, ACTEX offers a solid middle ground.

Your background knowledge matters too. Candidates with strong university preparation in the relevant subject area may find that a concise manual plus a large practice problem bank is sufficient. Candidates learning the material largely from scratch typically benefit from more detailed explanations, whether through ASM's thorough manual or CA's comprehensive video instruction. There is no universally best provider because the right choice depends on how you learn and what gaps your background leaves.

Combining Materials from Multiple Providers

Many successful exam candidates use materials from more than one provider. A common and effective combination is using one provider's manual or videos for initial content learning and another provider's practice platform for problem drilling. For example, studying from an ASM manual for conceptual depth and then using Coaching Actuaries' Adapt for adaptive practice and readiness measurement is a popular pairing. Similarly, some candidates use CA's Learn videos for initial exposure and then work through ASM's practice problems for additional depth and variety.

The key to combining materials effectively is avoiding duplication of effort. Use each provider for what it does best rather than working through two complete manuals covering the same topics. A practical approach is to choose one primary resource for learning content and one primary resource for practice, supplementing with official SOA or CAS materials for exam-specific guidance. Be cautious about purchasing too many materials, as having more resources than you can realistically use creates decision fatigue and can fragment your study time rather than focusing it.