Past Poll Results
September-December 2009
Q:Were September's exam results better than expected?
Better: 60%
Worse: 40%
The Committee concludes: SIAS members are slightly pessimistic.
July/August 2008
Q:Are you going to take your study notes on holiday?
Yes: 34%
No: 66%
April/May/June 2008
Q:Do you like the look of the new The Actuary?
Yes: 79%
No: 21%
The Committee concludes: a successful launch of our new look magazine.
February/March 2008
Q:Where did your 2008 SIAS Calender (included with Jan/Feb's The Actuary) end up?
Desk: 43%
Bin: 57%
January 2008
Q:Would you be pleased if next year's SIAS Dinner was at the same venue?
Yes: 50%
No: 50%
The Committee concludes: SIAS members were luke-warm towards the 2007 SIAS Dinner venue.
November/December 2007
Q:Are you hoping to get lucky at the SIAS Dinner?
Yes: 50%
No: 50%
September/October 2007
Q:Have you been to a SIAS programme or social event in the last 12 months?
Yes: 53%
No: 47%
July/August 2007
Q:Does your employer have a recognised policy for dealing with new graduates with large numbers of exemptions for the actuarial exams?
Yes: 50%
No: 50%
April/May/June 2007
Q:Are you in favour of the new Associateship status?
Yes: 43%
No: 57%
The Committee concludes: SIAS members are at best luke-warm regarding the new Associateship status.
March 2007
Q:Would you prefer exams sittings to take place every 6 months instead of the 5/7 month split?
Yes: 77%
No: 23%
The Committee concludes: members, in the main, would prefer a change to the examination timetable.
January/February 2007
Q:How long did it take before you broke your new year's resolution(s)?
A week or less: 44%
More than a week: 56%
November/December 2006
Q:Do you think the venue for this year's SIAS Dinner was better than the one used in the past couple of years?
Yes: 83%
No: 17%
The Committee concludes: the new venue for the Annual Dinner was a success.
October 2006
Q:Will you be dressing up in black tie for this year's Fire and Ice SIAS Dinner, particularly as this year there is no fancy dress?
Yes: 57%
No: 43%
The Committee concludes: with a large proportion of SIAS Dinner attendees wearing black tie this proved a popular option.
September 2006
Q: Given that the average qualification time is 6 years, do you think you will qualify within 5 years?
Yes: 68%
No: 32%
The Committee concludes: actuarial students that regularly check the SIAS website have a greater chance of passing the exams quicker than average... or not.
August 2006
Q: Would you be interested in attending a SIAS pub crawl?
Yes: 68%
No: 32%
The Committee concludes: We will place an emphasis on advertising the pub-crawling aspect of the next SIAS Treasure Hunt to encourage a greater entry.
June/July 2006
Q: Would you like to go back to receiving hard copies of SIAS sessional papers?
Yes: 67%
No: 33%
The Committee concludes: we will have a trial period of sending out papers again. Members will be given the option on the Institute's website to tick a box confirming whether they would like to continue receiving hard copies through the post.
May 2006
Q: Which theme would you prefer for the next SIAS Summer Boat Trip?
80's: 53%
Spanish Fiesta: 47%
The Committee concludes: the Summer Boat Trip will have an 80's theme.
April 2006
Q: Are you thinking of going to the next FREE SIAS social event?
Yes: 48%
No: 52%
The Committee concludes: successful new social event type (c.70 people attending).
March 2006
Q: Would you be more likely to attend a sessional meeting if it started later than 6.00pm (with drinks from 5.30pm)?
Yes: 55%
No: 45%
The Committee concludes: currently no pressing need to change sessional meeting times.