More study resources

About this exam

The ASLI is an entry-level insurance licensing-style examination covering the foundational knowledge expected of someone beginning a career in insurance sales or advice. It is aimed at new agents, advisors, bank and agency staff, and career-changers who need a structured grounding in how insurance works before specialising. The exam is multiple choice and is organised into six domains: general insurance principles and concepts; insurance contract law and policy provisions; life insurance products and underwriting; health and accident insurance; property and casualty fundamentals; and regulation and ethics. Questions test recall of definitions and terms, but a large share ask you to apply a rule to a short scenario, so memorising vocabulary alone is not enough. Preparation works best as a staged read-through: build the principles and contract-law vocabulary first, because later product domains reuse it constantly; then work domain by domain, writing your own one-page summary of each; then move to practice questions under timed conditions, reviewing every wrong answer against the underlying rule rather than just noting the correct option. Confirm current administrative details, including scheduling and any published pass standard, directly with the official examining body, since these are set by them and change over time. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by that body.

What you'll study

Common questions

About ASLI preparation

What is the exam format?

It is a multiple-choice examination delivered in the six domains listed in the syllabus. Expect four-option items, some of which are straightforward recall and others short scenarios asking for the best answer. Check the official body's candidate handbook for the current delivery method, whether paper or computer, and any permitted materials.

How long is the exam and how many questions are there?

Those figures are set and periodically revised by the official examining body, so this page does not quote them. Look up the current candidate handbook or exam regulations on the official site before you book, and use the stated question count and time limit to rehearse full-length papers at realistic pace.

How difficult is it?

Most candidates find it moderately demanding: the concepts are not mathematically hard, but the volume of terminology and the number of near-identical definitions reward consistent study. The scenario questions are where people lose marks, because they require choosing between two options that are both technically true. Practise justifying why one is the better answer.

What happens if I fail, and can I retake it?

Retake rules, waiting periods and any limits on attempts are set by the official body and vary over time. Confirm the current policy on its website before sitting, and build in time for a possible resit when you plan your study schedule so a failure does not derail your start date.

In what order should I study the domains?

Start with general principles and contract law, since the product domains assume that vocabulary. Then take life, health and accident, and property and casualty in whatever order matches your intended role. Leave regulation and ethics until last, as it is largely self-contained and easier to hold in memory close to the exam date.

How much study time should I plan for?

Plan for several weeks of regular short sessions rather than a few long ones, because the material is definition-heavy and repetition matters. A practical pattern is to read a domain, write a one-page summary from memory, then answer practice questions on it a few days later so you are testing retention rather than immediate recall.

What are the most common failure modes?

Three recur: skimming the contract-law domain because it feels abstract, memorising definitions without learning how they apply in a scenario, and reviewing practice questions by noting the right letter instead of the underlying rule. A fourth is neglecting the regulation and ethics domain, which is a smaller share of marks but easy points for candidates who read it properly.

Are calculators or reference materials allowed?

Permitted aids are specified by the official body and can differ between venues and delivery formats. Check the current exam regulations rather than assuming. In practice the numerical content is simple arithmetic, so the main preparation need is understanding concepts such as premiums, deductibles and limits, not calculator speed.

Is this page official, and where do I find exam dates and fees?

No. This is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the examining body. Fees, dates, venues and the current pass standard are published by that body, so consult its official website for anything administrative and treat this page purely as a revision aid.