IFoA SA3 exam-day guide
IFoA SA3 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exam delivery format and platform in advance
SA3 (General Insurance Specialist Principles) is delivered in the IFoA's online, remotely invigilated assessment format on the current exam platform. Log in to your IFoA member portal well before the exam to confirm the exact platform, the joining instructions and any software requirements. Because delivery arrangements can change between sessions, confirm with the provider rather than relying on an older sitting's instructions.
Government-issued photo ID matching your IFoA record
Have your passport or other accepted photo ID ready and check that the name matches your IFoA registration. If your ID name differs (for example, a changed surname), contact the IFoA in advance to confirm it will be accepted. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider.
Working webcam, microphone and stable internet connection
Remote invigilation typically requires a webcam and microphone for identity checks and room scans. Test them on the day before the exam, and have a backup connection (for example, a mobile hotspot) in case your home broadband drops. Confirm the exact technical requirements with the provider.
Quiet, well-lit, private room and a clear desk
Remove notes, textbooks, second screens and anything that could be treated as unauthorised material from the desk and the visible area. Tell household members not to enter the room during the exam. A room scan is commonly requested at the start, so keep the space easy to show on camera.
Approved calculator and a spare
SA3 is a quantitative subject, so a calculator is essential. The IFoA publishes a list of permitted calculator models; check your model against the current list and bring a spare of the same or another approved model. Confirm the permitted list with the provider before the exam.
Printed or on-screen copy of the IFoA's exam regulations and formulae/statistical tables as permitted
Check which reference materials the current sitting allows you to access. The IFoA has historically provided formulae and tables for quantitative subjects; whether these are embedded in the platform or must be accessed separately can vary, so confirm the arrangement with the provider.
Practice with the platform's word-processing and spreadsheet tools
The online exam environment typically includes a word processor and spreadsheet. Practise past or specimen questions using these tools so that formula entry, table creation and formatting do not cost you time on the day. Confirm which tools are available in your sitting.
A timing plan for the paper
Work out in advance how many minutes to allocate per mark and per question, and decide the order in which you will attempt questions. Write the plan down and keep it visible so you can check your pace at set points during the exam.
Water, snacks and any permitted medication within reach
Keep these at your desk before the exam starts so you do not need to leave the camera view. Check whether food and drink are permitted under the current invigilation rules and confirm with the provider if unsure.
Backup plan for technical failure
Know the provider's contact route for technical problems during the exam and have it written down where you can see it. Note the time of any incident and take a screenshot if possible. The process for reporting issues and any allowance made is set by the provider, so confirm the procedure in advance.
Review the IFoA's assessment regulations on conduct and misconduct
Read the current regulations so you know what counts as malpractice, how collaboration and unauthorised material are treated, and what the consequences are. Confirm the current version with the provider.
Confirm your exam start time in your own time zone
Sittings may be scheduled in a specific time zone or with a defined window. Convert the start time to your local time, allow for daylight-saving differences, and set more than one alarm. Confirm the exact timing with the provider.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating and rehearsing. Re-read your own summary notes on the SA3 syllabus areas: general insurance business and its environment, underwriting and pricing, reserving, reinsurance, capital and solvency, regulation, and the application of these to scenario questions. Work through a timed past or specimen paper under exam conditions using the online platform tools, then mark it honestly against the marking scheme to identify where you lost marks. Review the command words used in SA3 questions (for example, 'discuss', 'evaluate', 'recommend', 'critically assess') and practise structuring answers that make a judgement and justify it with evidence from the scenario. Check your calculator batteries and confirm your ID, platform login and technical setup. Protect your sleep: do not plan late-night cramming in this window.
Do a light review only: your one-page summaries, the formulae you most often misapply, and the list of mistakes you made in practice papers. Do a full technical rehearsal: log in to the platform, run the system check, test webcam, microphone and internet, and confirm you can access any permitted reference material. Prepare your desk and room, lay out ID, calculator and spare, and write down the provider's technical support contact and your timing plan. Confirm the start time in your local time zone. Set alarms, eat properly, and aim for a normal night's sleep rather than a final push.
Eat a proper meal and avoid starting new topics. Re-read your timing plan and the list of common errors, not the whole syllabus. Set up the room and desk early, complete any identity verification and room scan with time to spare, and log in before the scheduled start as instructed. Keep water within reach, silence phones and notifications, and close other applications. If a technical problem arises, record the time, try the documented fallback, and contact the provider's support route promptly.
Read the whole paper or the question list first and allocate time by marks. Answer the question actually asked, using the scenario's facts and the command word to decide whether analysis, judgement or a recommendation is required. For calculation questions, show your workings, state assumptions and units, and give a sense of whether the result is reasonable. For discussion questions, make a clear point, explain why it matters in this context, and link it back to the scenario; avoid lists of unconnected facts. Keep an eye on the clock and move on when a question's time allocation is used up, leaving space to return. Reserve the final minutes to check that every question has an answer and that any spreadsheet or word-processing work has been saved or submitted as the platform requires. If something goes wrong technically, note the time and follow the provider's incident process.
Rules to check
Follow the IFoA's current assessment regulations and the platform's invigilation instructions. Remote invigilation commonly requires an identity check and a room scan at the start; cooperate fully and keep within the camera view for the whole sitting. Confirm the current rules with the provider.
Present the ID that matches your IFoA registration. If your name or ID details have changed, resolve this with the IFoA before the exam rather than on the day, as invigilators may not be able to admit you otherwise.
The exam must be your own work. Do not communicate with anyone else during the sitting, do not use unauthorised material, and do not share or discuss the paper afterwards in a way the regulations prohibit. Breaches are treated as malpractice and can lead to sanctions. Confirm the definition of malpractice in the current regulations with the provider.
Only use calculators and reference materials that the current sitting permits. Check the approved calculator list and whether formulae and tables are provided in the platform or must be accessed separately. Confirm with the provider.
Know the rules on breaks before you start. In many remote sittings you may not leave the camera view without permission, and unscheduled absences may be treated as a breach. If you need an authorised break for a medical or other reason, arrange it with the provider in advance.
Understand how the paper is scored: SA3 is marked against the published marking scheme, with credit for relevant application to the scenario, sound reasoning and clear structure as well as correct calculations. Marks are not awarded for irrelevant material, so answer the question asked. Confirm the pass mark and marking approach with the provider.
If a technical failure occurs, follow the provider's documented incident procedure, record the time and evidence, and do not attempt to resolve it in ways that breach the rules. Any allowance for lost time is at the provider's discretion, so confirm the process beforehand.
Check the provider's policy on late arrival, permitted desk items and what happens if you cannot sit the exam. These policies are set by the IFoA and can change between sessions, so confirm the current position with the provider rather than relying on second-hand accounts.