IFoA CB1 exam-day guide
IFoA CB1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam delivery format and platform
CB1 is delivered as a computer-based exam, but the exact platform, whether it is sat at a test centre or remotely proctored, and the permitted software environment can change between sessions. Log in to your IFoA member account and read the current exam instructions for your sitting; confirm with the provider rather than relying on what a colleague did last session. needs_review
Photo ID matching your exam entry
Bring the original, valid, signed photo ID (typically a passport or driving licence) in the name used on your IFoA record. A name mismatch or an expired document is a common cause of admission problems. Check the specific ID requirements for your sitting with the provider. needs_review
Exam admission or booking confirmation
Have your candidate number, booking reference, and any admission email available, printed or accessible offline. If sitting remotely, you may need a booking code to enter the platform. Confirm the exact requirement with the provider. needs_review
Approved calculator with working batteries
Use a calculator permitted under the current exam regulations: check the IFoA list of approved models and any restrictions on programmable or graphing devices. Bring spare batteries or a second approved calculator, and practise on the exact model you will use so key sequences for annuity and discounting functions are automatic.
Formula and tables material permitted for the sitting
Confirm whether the sitting supplies a formula book or tables on screen, or whether you may bring printed material. Do not assume; the rules differ by sitting and by centre. needs_review
Offline copies of the syllabus, core reading notes and your own summary sheets
For open-book or remote sittings, prepare a single well-tabbed folder of your own condensed notes, indexed by syllabus objective, plus clean copies of any permitted tables. Searching loose files under time pressure wastes minutes you cannot recover.
Practise the full exam interface and word-processing environment
Complete at least two timed past papers under exam conditions using the same platform or a close simulation. Learn how to navigate between questions, flag items, use the on-screen calculator if provided, and paste or type formulas and tables so your layout is readable to a marker.
Test your equipment and connection if sitting remotely
Run the provider's system check on the same machine, webcam, microphone and network you will use, and repeat it on the day. Have a backup plan for connectivity, such as a phone hotspot, and know the provider's incident procedure. Confirm the exact technical requirements with the provider. needs_review
Plan arrival or login time with a buffer
Aim to arrive or log in well before the scheduled start, allowing time for identity checks, room scans, and settling. Late entry may be refused, and the cut-off is set by the provider, so confirm the timing rules for your sitting.
Watch, phone and personal items handled per the rules
Expect phones, smart watches and notes to be stored away or out of reach during the exam. For remote sittings, clear your desk of everything except permitted items and know what the invigilator will ask you to show on camera. Confirm the permitted-items list with the provider. needs_review
Water, medication and comfort items cleared in advance
Bring water in a clear container and any necessary medication, but check whether these need prior approval or declaration. Small comforts reduce avoidable distraction over a long sitting.
A timing plan written on one page
Note the total marks, the number of questions, and your target minutes per mark, plus checkpoint times. Decide in advance which question you will start with and the maximum time you will spend stuck on any part before moving on.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Spend the time on retrieval and exam technique: work through at least two full past papers or specimen papers to time, then mark them honestly against the solutions. Record the syllabus outcomes where you lost the most marks and reread only those sections of the core reading.
Build your one-page timing plan and a one-page list of your recurring errors, such as forgetting to state assumptions, mixing accumulation and discounting, or misreading whether a rate is effective or nominal. These two pages are the only revision aids you should be reading in the final hours.
Check logistics: confirm the start time in your local time zone, the venue or remote session details, travel or login arrangements, and your ID. Resolve any name or booking discrepancy with the provider now, not on the day.
Protect sleep. Shift your body clock so you are alert at the scheduled exam time, especially for a morning sitting, and avoid all-nighters in these final days; fatigue costs more marks than one extra topic.
Do a light pass only: reread your summary sheets, the formula list and your error log. Attempt a handful of short calculation questions to keep your hand in, but do not start a full paper you cannot finish calmly.
Prepare and lay out everything from the checklist: ID, admission details, approved calculator with fresh batteries and a spare, permitted notes, water, and any approved medication. For a remote sitting, run the system check again and charge devices.
Confirm the venue journey or the remote session link and backup connection. Set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a sensible hour rather than revising late.
Eat a proper breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are not used to it, and leave or log in early with a generous buffer. Do a five-minute review of your error log only; do not open new material.
At the venue or before login, switch off and stow your phone and watch as instructed. Have your ID and candidate details ready for checking, and complete any room scan or identity verification calmly and exactly as directed.
Read the instructions and check the marks per question and any compulsory sections. Write your checkpoint times on the scratch paper or notepad provided. Skim the paper to identify the questions you will do first, then start with a topic you know well to build momentum.
Allocate time by marks, not by question count, and stick to your checkpoints. Show workings and state assumptions, because method marks are often available even when the final figure is wrong. If a calculation stalls, leave a clear line, move on, and return if time allows.
Stop starting new questions. Check that every question has an answer or at least a stated method, verify units, signs and that you have answered the question actually asked, and confirm your answers are saved or submitted as the platform requires.
Rules to check
Bring and present valid photo ID in the name on your IFoA record. If your ID name differs from your booking, contact the provider before the exam; admission may be refused otherwise. Confirm the accepted ID types and validity rules with the provider. needs_review
Use only calculators and materials permitted under the current exam regulations. Programmable or graphing calculators and unauthorised notes are typically prohibited; check the current approved list rather than assuming your model is allowed. needs_review
Follow all invigilation instructions, including identity checks, desk clearance, and any room or screen scans for remote sittings. Failure to comply can lead to invalidation of your paper, so clarify anything unclear with the invigilator or provider before you start.
Breaks and toilet visits are governed by the provider's rules and may not be permitted, or may not stop the clock. Confirm the policy for your sitting in advance and plan hydration accordingly. needs_review
Answer in the format the paper requires: show workings, define notation, and state assumptions. Marks are awarded for method as well as final figures, and unsubstantiated answers may score poorly even if numerically correct.
Do not communicate with anyone other than invigilators during the exam, and do not share or discuss paper content afterwards in breach of the provider's confidentiality rules. Suspected misconduct is investigated under the IFoA's disciplinary processes.
If equipment, connectivity or the venue fails, note the time and nature of the problem and follow the provider's incident reporting procedure immediately. Do not attempt to fix a remote session by unauthorised means; report it and await instructions.
Scoring follows the published mark allocation and pass standard for the sitting. Do not rely on rumoured pass marks; check the current IFoA guidance on results, marking and appeals, and confirm any specific query with the provider. needs_review