How does this role benefit the work of the organization and the profession?
This role supports the education and credentialing activities of the SOA, in particular the question writing and grading for the Predictive Analytics exams, to ensure the integrity of the SOA’s credentials.
Responsibilities & Duties
The SOA is looking for volunteers to support Exam PA (Predictive Analytics), a five-hour practical exam where candidates are given data and a series of tasks. Volunteers to do both item writing and grading are preferred due to how experience with one informs the other, but those wanting to do just one will be considered.
Volunteers will be familiar with assigned syllabus and exam materials, write questions, and grade exams that are offered twice each year.
The responsibilities and duties will include:
- Reading and understanding the assigned syllabus material
- Developing two high-quality exam questions and corresponding grading rubric based on the exam syllabus and learning objectives
- Grading exam questions
- Attending item writer training (virtual), grading training (virtual), and central grading (in person when possible) sessions
- Working reliably and with the construction and grading committee leadership
- Maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the SOA Education Confidentiality Agreement
Time Commitment
- 41 to 60 hours, split evenly between item writing and grading, plus 2-day Central Grading
- Volunteers are expected to begin work in March to develop two exam-quality questions and associated grading rubric by May, and then be available to revise and update the question until early June.
- Grading typically involves 20-30 hours over three weeks in January to initially grade exam questions, and attendance at a 2-day Central Grading session in early February to finalize the grading (Feb 4-5, 2022).
Experience Required
- Must be FSA or Career ASA (5+ years as ASA and not pursuing the FSA designation)
- Predictive analytics knowledge on some portion of the syllabus via prior training or practical experience
- As R is used in the exam, ability to interpret R code in RStudio for grading; ability to modify R code for item writing
Opportunity Location
U.S. and Canada Only
Travel Required
Graders should be prepared to attend the off-site Central Grading meeting in person if possible.
SOA Training Required
If new to exam development, it is recommended that the volunteer to go through the on-line training course
Specializations
Open to all Specializations