CAA Fellow Actuary (China) exam-day guide
CAA Fellow Actuary (China) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission letter / exam notice
Print or download the admission document issued through the registration channel and confirm the venue, session time, and seat or candidate number shown on it. If you have not received one, contact the exam administrator before the exam day - do not assume you can enter with only an ID card.
Valid identity document
Bring the original ID document (typically a PRC resident identity card for mainland candidates; passport or other accepted document for others) whose number matches your registration. Check the expiry date now. Which document types are accepted for your candidate category should be confirmed with the provider.
Writing instruments
Bring at least two black or blue-black ballpoint or gel pens for written answers, plus a pencil and eraser if the paper has a machine-readable answer sheet. Do not bring red pens, correction fluid, or erasable pens unless the instructions explicitly allow them.
Approved calculator
Bring a non-programmable financial/scientific calculator with fresh batteries. Models with communication capability, symbolic algebra, or stored text are normally prohibited. Confirm the permitted model list with the provider, since the accepted list can differ between paper-based and computer-based sittings.
Confirmation of exam format (paper vs computer)
Confirm whether your sitting is paper-based or computer-based, and whether answers are entered on screen, on a separate answer sheet, or in an answer booklet. This determines what you practise in the last week and what you carry. Verify with the provider if the notice is ambiguous.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you allocate time if the hall clock is not visible from your seat. Smart watches and any device with transmission capability are normally banned. If in doubt, leave it at home and rely on the invigilator's time announcements.
Travel and venue reconnaissance
Confirm the exact building and entrance, not just the street address; large campuses often have multiple gates. Do a dry run or check the route and travel time the day before, and plan to arrive well before the reporting time stated in the notice.
Personal essentials in a clear bag
Water in a transparent bottle, tissues, and any medication you may need. Food and drink rules vary by venue; confirm with the provider whether water may be kept at the desk. Avoid bringing bags or valuables, as storage may be limited or unavailable.
Leave prohibited items behind
Phones, smart watches, earbuds, and any other electronic device must normally be switched off and stored outside the desk area, or not brought at all. Note that possession during the exam can lead to disqualification even if the device is not used.
Review the official instructions for your sitting
Read the candidate instructions issued with your admission documents in full, including permitted materials, answer-sheet conventions, and the policy on late arrival and early departure. Where anything is unclear, ask the provider in writing and keep the reply.
Study materials for the waiting period
Bring concise summary sheets or formula cards for last-minute review before entering the hall. These must be left outside the exam room; check where personal items can be placed at your venue.
Backup plan for the day
Arrange a second route or a backup alarm, and tell someone your schedule. If an emergency prevents attendance, contact the provider as soon as possible to ask about the documented procedure - do not simply fail to appear without notifying anyone.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your own summary sheets, formula lists, and past error log, focusing on topics where you have repeatedly lost marks rather than on unfamiliar chapters. Do one timed mini-paper under exam conditions to check your pace, then mark it strictly and note the three most costly mistakes. Confirm the venue, reporting time, and permitted materials against your admission documents, and resolve any ambiguity with the provider while there is still time to receive a reply. Prepare the items on the checklist and pack them in one place.
Do a light review only - skim formula sheets and key definitions, and stop by early evening. Check travel arrangements and the weather, set two alarms, and go to bed at a normal hour rather than revising late. Prepare clothing in layers, since hall temperatures vary, and decide what you will eat for breakfast. Confirm that your ID document and admission letter are already in your bag, and re-read the answer-sheet or answer-entry instructions so that the mechanics are automatic on the day.
Eat a normal breakfast and arrive at the venue well before the reporting time, allowing a margin for transport delays and security checks. Keep your phone switched off and stored as instructed before entering the hall. Use the waiting time for a brief skim of summary sheets only; do not attempt new problems, which tends to raise anxiety. Follow the invigilator's instructions for seating, ID checks, and filling in candidate details, and check that your name and number are correct before the paper starts.
Read the instructions and the mark allocation first, then allocate time by marks rather than by question order. Answer the questions you are most confident about first to secure marks, and leave clearly marked gaps for anything you skip so that nothing is overlooked when you return. Show working for calculation questions, since method marks may be available, and state assumptions explicitly. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the last portion of the time for checking candidate details, answer numbering, and any unanswered items. If you need to leave the hall, follow the invigilator's procedure exactly.
Rules to check
Bring the original identity document that matches your registration and present it for verification on request. Candidates without acceptable identification may be refused entry; the accepted document types for your candidate category should be confirmed with the provider in advance.
Electronic devices, including phones, smart watches, and earbuds, must normally be switched off and kept outside the desk area. Possession of a prohibited device during the exam can lead to disqualification regardless of whether it was used.
Only materials explicitly permitted for your sitting may be at your desk. Notes, textbooks, and formula sheets are generally prohibited unless the instructions state otherwise; confirm the permitted list with the provider for your specific paper.
Follow the invigilator's instructions on seating, starting and stopping writing, and leaving the hall. Continuing to write after the instruction to stop, or leaving before any permitted departure time, may be treated as misconduct. The exact departure and toilet-break rules vary by venue and should be confirmed with the provider.
Communicate only with invigilators during the exam. Any form of communication with other candidates, or attempts to view another candidate's answers, is misconduct and can result in invalidation of your paper.
Scoring conventions, pass marks, and the treatment of partially correct answers are set by the examining body and are not necessarily published in detail. Do not rely on rumour; consult official materials, and confirm anything that affects your answering strategy with the provider.
If illness or an emergency affects your performance or attendance, notify the provider promptly and ask about the documented procedure for special consideration. Do not assume that a later appeal will succeed without timely notification and supporting evidence.