IFoA SA2
IFoA SA2 Life Insurance
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ExploreAbout this exam
SA2 Life Insurance is a Specialist Advanced (SA) subject in the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) qualification pathway, aimed at candidates who have completed the earlier Core and Specialist Principle stages and are moving toward Fellowship-level practice in life insurance. It suits actuaries working in, or moving into, life insurance roles - valuation, pricing, capital, risk, product development and reporting - who need to apply technical judgement to realistic business problems rather than recall formulas.
Important caveat for anyone searching for exam logistics: the IFoA's own SA2 Life Insurance page for the 2025 exams has been archived. The site states "This page has been archived" and explains that archived pages have been removed as part of digital content updates. The 2025 exams index page is archived too. That means the official source currently publishes no syllabus, format, question count, duration, pass mark or fee for SA2, and we do not invent them here. For current details, use the IFoA homepage, log in to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - described as the online learning platform with thousands of learning resources, short courses and microlearning materials - or browse the member portal. Archived-page requests go to [email protected], quoting the page title and original URL; the IFoA aims to respond within 5 working days.
Preparation should combine the current syllabus from the VLE with past-paper practice under timed conditions, wide reading on life insurance practice, and structured answer writing that shows assumptions, method and communication of results. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IFoA.
What you'll study
About IFoA SA2 preparation
Is this page run by the IFoA?
No. This is independent study material. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. Always treat the IFoA's own current curriculum pages, the VLE and the member portal as the authoritative source for exam rules, dates and fees.
Why can't I find the official SA2 page?
The IFoA's SA2 Life Insurance page for the 2025 exams has been archived; the site says "This page has been archived" and explains that older pages were removed during digital content updates. The 2025 exams index is archived as well. Use the homepage, the VLE or the member portal for current information.
How long is the exam and how many marks?
The available official source does not state a duration or mark allocation for SA2, so we do not publish figures. Confirm the current format from the IFoA curriculum pages or the VLE before you build a timing plan. Any number quoted elsewhere may relate to an older syllabus version.
What is the pass mark?
Not stated in the source we can verify, so we leave it blank rather than guess. Pass marks are set per sitting and published by the IFoA after results. Check the IFoA's exam results and marking pages, or your member portal, for the figures that apply to your sitting.
How much does it cost to sit?
The source does not give an SA2 fee, so none is quoted here. Exam fees are published by the IFoA and can change between sittings, and they often differ for members and non-members. Check the current fees page or your member portal before the entry deadline.
Can I retake, and how often?
The source does not describe a retake policy, so we cannot state limits or waiting periods. The IFoA publishes entry and re-entry rules each session. Confirm the position for your sitting through the IFoA exams pages or the member portal rather than relying on second-hand accounts.
How should I prepare for a Specialist Advanced life exam?
Work from the current syllabus, then practise applying it: read a scenario, state your assumptions, choose a method, and write a structured answer that a busy reviewer could follow. Time yourself, and review answers against the syllabus learning outcomes rather than against memorised model answers.
What are common failure modes?
Typical problems are answering the question you expected rather than the one asked, listing theory without applying it to the scenario, ignoring the commercial context, poor structure and time management, and skipping the communication marks. Practise writing under time pressure and get feedback on how clearly you justify conclusions.
Where can I get an archived page?
Email [email protected]. The IFoA asks you to include the title of the webpage or document and the original URL you were trying to access, and, for conference material, the conference name and year. The IFoA says it aims to respond to archive enquiries within 5 working days.
What is the VLE and why does it matter?
The Virtual Learning Environment is the IFoA's online learning platform, described as offering access to thousands of high-quality learning resources, short courses and microlearning materials, including event recordings, research papers and working party outputs. It is the practical route to current syllabus material now that older exam pages are archived.