C12: Insurance on Property exam-day guide
C12: Insurance on Property · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary piece is required.
Exam admission or confirmation letter
Print or download the confirmation showing your name, exam session, date, time, and location or online access details. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Approved calculator
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether a memory-clear or inspection step applies. Property exams often involve coinsurance and depreciation arithmetic, so practise on the exact model you will bring.
Exam-day stationery
Bring several pens or pencils and a simple eraser if paper-based. Confirm with the provider what is supplied versus what you must bring, and whether scratch paper is allowed.
Watch or timing plan
If the venue has no visible clock and a watch is permitted, bring a non-smart watch. Otherwise plan to use the on-screen timer. Confirm with the provider whether personal timing devices are allowed.
Directions and arrival logistics
Plan the route, parking, and a backup transport option, and aim to arrive well before the reporting time. For remote sittings, test the platform and your internet connection the day before.
Permitted reference material
Most property exams are closed-book, but some providers permit a specified reference or formula sheet. Confirm with the provider exactly what is allowed and in what format; do not assume.
Review of core property formulas
Be able to compute coinsurance penalties, actual cash value as replacement cost less depreciation, and loss settlement under limits and deductibles without notes. Practise short worked examples in the final days.
Rest and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final two nights and plan a light meal before the session. Property exams are long and calculation-heavy, so fatigue directly costs marks.
Knowledge of conduct and break rules
Confirm with the provider the rules on leaving the room, bathroom breaks, electronic devices, and whether breaks stop the clock. Clarify in advance rather than during the exam.
Plan the day
Move from reading to active recall. Work through timed practice questions on the major property topics: fire and allied perils, extended coverage, business interruption, inland marine, boiler and machinery, crime, and homeowners forms. Log every wrong answer with the reason it was wrong, then re-test only those items the next day.
Drill the calculation types until they are automatic: coinsurance requirement and penalty, loss settlement when insurance is adequate or inadequate, deductibles, and actual cash value. Write the formulas from memory twice daily and check them against your study material.
Build a one-page summary of distinctions that are commonly confused, such as named perils versus open perils, replacement cost versus actual cash value, and coinsurance versus agreed value. Keep it short enough to reread in ten minutes.
Confirm logistics: verify the session time, venue or remote access link, permitted items, and ID requirements with the provider. Resolve any uncertainty about calculators, references, or breaks now, not on the day.
Do one light review pass over your one-page summary and formula sheet only. Stop studying new material in the evening; late cramming tends to displace what you already know.
Prepare and pack everything: ID, confirmation, approved calculator, stationery, watch, and any permitted reference. Lay it out by the door or in your bag so the morning requires no decisions.
For a remote sitting, run a full platform check: log in, test audio and video if proctored, confirm browser compatibility, and identify a quiet room with a stable connection and a backup plan such as a phone hotspot.
Set two alarms, confirm travel time, and get a full night of sleep. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals, and stop screen work at least an hour before bed.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the venue or log in early as instructed. Bring only permitted items; leave notes, phones, and smart devices secured away from the exam area.
Do a brief ten-minute warm-up on formulas and key definitions only. Avoid discussing content with other candidates, which can create doubt and anxiety.
Read the instructions and note the total time and question count, then set a per-question pace with time reserved for review. Answer every question; there is no benefit to leaving blanks unless the provider penalises wrong answers, which you should confirm in advance.
Work in passes. First pass: answer everything you know immediately. Second pass: return to flagged calculation and multi-part questions. Third pass: check that no question is unanswered and that your answer sheet or selections match your intended answers.
For calculation questions, write the formula, substitute the figures, and sanity-check the result against the scenario. For coverage questions, identify the policy form, the peril, the property, and the valuation basis before choosing an option.
Manage the clock: if a question resists more than about a minute, flag it and move on. In the last ten minutes, confirm your progress and submit with time to spare rather than at the deadline.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid photo identification matching your registration name. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and what happens if your ID does not match your registration details.
Arrive or log in by the stated reporting time. Candidates arriving after the cutoff may be refused entry or given reduced time; confirm with the provider the exact late-arrival policy for your session.
Keep only permitted items at your desk. Phones, smart watches, notes, and unapproved references must be stored as directed, and possession of prohibited material during the exam may lead to invalidation.
Follow all proctor instructions, including room conduct, screen sharing, and identity checks for remote sittings. Disruptive behaviour or communication with other candidates can result in removal.
Raise your hand or use the platform's chat to request a bathroom break or assistance. Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are permitted, whether they stop the clock, and whether escorted breaks are required.
Work only your own paper or screen. Sharing answers, copying, or attempting to access unauthorised material is misconduct and is typically reported and sanctioned.
Understand the scoring method before you sit. Confirm with the provider the pass mark, whether wrong answers are penalised, how results are reported, and the process and deadline for appeals or retakes.
If equipment fails during a remote exam, notify the proctor immediately and follow the provider's incident procedure rather than troubleshooting silently; confirm that procedure before exam day.