Four-time student prize winner Aniket Panesar's study secrets

Aniket Panesar has won the Andrew Prescott Prize four times — an achievement he once would have dismissed as statistically impossible. 

Studying through the Actuaries Institute while working full-time, Aniket built a quiet, consistent discipline that carried him through years of early mornings, late nights and weekend study sessions. Here, he shares the approach that worked for him. Not a glamorous system, but a sustainable one.

Aniket's words

If my 21-year-old self at university tried to model the probability of winning the Andrew Prescott Award four times, he would have flagged the result as an outlier, one that felt impossible for him. Though much to my surprise, here we are.

Studying through the Actuaries Institute while working full-time over the past two years has been a surreal, demanding and incredibly rewarding experience.

My approach wasn't glamorous. On weekdays, I'd shut my work laptop, open the study laptop and begin my second shift: three hours of focused study. Weekends weren't much different. Study during the day and then make just enough time for family and friends, to remind myself that life exists outside of Microsoft Excel.

Before each semester, I'd read the textbook to build a mental map of the content, highlighting anything that felt important. Then, during the semester, I stuck to a simple formula:

• complete the weekly chapter readings
• take notes
• attend tutorials
• flavour notes with any gold nuggets from the educators

Setting a weekly to-do list was key to keeping everything on track. Then, once I hit the past paper stage, I would refine my notes with key ideas from the model solutions. My final pre-exam ritual was simple. Reread my notes, highlight the pressure points and quietly hope the exam committee was in a generous mood.

Looking back, the consistency mattered more than intensity for me. There was no single breakthrough moment during the semester, but rather just a lot of small, sustained steps. The Institute's education structure, my study group and colleagues all played a big part in making the journey not only manageable, but meaningful. Every late night, every question to a colleague, every tutorial discussion and every new Microsoft Excel and Word shortcut eventually added up.

And then comes that moment. The email confirming you've passed and can officially call yourself an Actuary. It's a mix of relief, pride and disbelief, all at once. A feeling you never forget.

Ready to start your own journey?

Aniket's story shows what's possible when consistency meets commitment. Whether you're just starting out or working toward Fellowship, the Actuaries Institute Qualification Program is designed to support you every step of the way. Explore the Qualification Program.