IFoA SA4 exam-day guide
IFoA SA4 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Locate the confirmation email from the IFoA (or the exam platform it uses) showing your candidate/registration number and the exam session. Save a screenshot and a printed copy. If you cannot find it, contact the IFoA education services team before the exam day rather than on the morning itself.
Photo ID matching your registration name
Bring the identification document accepted by the provider - typically a passport or photocard driving licence. The name must match your IFoA record; if you have changed your name, confirm with the provider in advance that your record has been updated.
Exam entry and system requirements check
If the sitting is online, run any pre-exam system test the provider offers (browser, webcam, microphone, bandwidth) and confirm the supported operating system and browser versions. Do this at least 48 hours ahead so there is time to fix problems. Confirm with the provider which platform and version applies to your sitting.
Permitted materials list
SA4 is a written-answer specialist exam; check the current IFoA exam regulations for what is permitted (e.g. which formulae and tables are provided in the exam, whether any printed material is allowed). Do not assume the rules from a previous sitting still apply - confirm with the provider.
Calculator (approved model) and spare batteries
Use a calculator permitted under the current regulations; if you are unsure whether your model is approved, confirm with the provider. Bring spare batteries or a second approved calculator, since a failed device mid-paper is not normally grounds for special consideration.
Pen, pencil, eraser, ruler and rough paper
Even in a typed exam, rough working on paper is often useful for reserving and cashflow-style calculations. Check whether rough paper is supplied or must be blank and unbranded; confirm with the provider if the rules are unclear.
Quiet, well-lit room and reliable internet
For remote sittings, arrange a private room with a stable connection, a charged laptop and a phone as backup for contacting support. Tell household members not to interrupt. Have the provider's support contact number written down offline.
Timing plan and question-selection strategy
Before the day, decide how many minutes you will allocate per mark (commonly around 1.8 minutes per mark for a 3-hour-15-minute paper, but confirm the exact duration and mark allocation for your sitting with the provider), and how long you will spend choosing questions.
Formula and reserving-method summary sheet
Prepare a one-page revision sheet covering the reserving methods you expect (e.g. chain ladder, Bornhuetter-Ferguson, average cost per claim, frequency-severity, IBNR run-off patterns), the assumptions behind each, and common criticisms. Use it in the final 24 hours only; do not plan to consult it during the exam unless the regulations permit it.
Water, snack and clock
Keep water and a light snack within reach if the regulations allow, and have a visible clock or timer. Set a timer for the last 15 minutes so you reserve time to check that every attempted question is submitted.
Backup contact plan
Write down the provider's exam support contact and your own candidate number on paper. If the platform fails, you will need to report the issue promptly and follow the provider's incident process; confirm that process with the provider in advance.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your summary sheets and work through two or three past-style questions under timed conditions, focusing on the SA4 skill of applying reserving and capital techniques to a scenario and writing structured, judgement-based answers. Rehearse the exam interface if one is used, and check your booking details, ID and permitted-materials list. Confirm with the provider anything you are unsure about now, not later.
Do a light review of your weakest two topics only - for SA4 these are often the interaction of reserving bases with capital and reinsurance, and the communication of uncertainty to a board. Prepare your desk, pack ID, calculator, pens and rough paper, charge devices and test the internet connection. Check the start time in your local time zone and set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than late-night cramming.
Eat properly, avoid starting a new topic, and skim your summary sheet for 20–30 minutes. Log in or arrive early as instructed, complete any ID verification, and have your candidate number and support contact to hand. Close unnecessary applications and silence your phone unless the regulations require it for support.
Read the whole paper before writing. Note the marks per question and identify which questions you will attempt; SA4 papers typically offer a choice, so confirm the required number of questions and any compulsory section from the rubric. Draft a brief plan per question listing the points you will make, since marks are usually earned for breadth of relevant points rather than lengthy prose.
Track time against your per-mark budget and move on when a question is consuming disproportionate time. Show method and state assumptions explicitly; where a calculation is involved, set out the steps so partial credit is available. For discussion parts, use headings and bullet-style sentences, refer to the specific scenario, and give balanced arguments including limitations. Leave the final 10–15 minutes to check that all answers are saved or uploaded and that question numbers match.
Note anything that went wrong (technical failure, illness, disruption) and report it through the provider's official process as soon as possible, keeping evidence such as screenshots and timestamps. Do not discuss the paper's content publicly, as exam regulations normally prohibit sharing question content.
Rules to check
Bring the photo ID required by the provider and ensure the name matches your IFoA registration; candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry or have their script not marked. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before the day.
Follow the current IFoA exam regulations on permitted materials, calculators, communication devices and any proctoring requirements. Rules change between sittings, so check the version applicable to your sitting rather than relying on memory.
Attempt the required number of questions and observe any compulsory sections stated in the rubric; answers to extra questions are normally not credited, and rubric errors can cost marks even when the content is strong.
Breaks are generally not permitted during a timed sitting unless the regulations or the invigilator/proctor allow them; leaving the room or the proctored view may be treated as a breach. Confirm the break policy with the provider if you have a medical or access need, and apply for reasonable adjustments well in advance.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the invigilator or proctor during the exam, and do not share, record or reproduce question content afterwards. Suspected misconduct is handled under the IFoA's disciplinary processes.
Marks are awarded for relevant, applied points rather than volume; calculations should show working and assumptions, and discussion should be directed at the scenario. Read the verb in each question (state, explain, discuss, evaluate) and answer at that level.
If a technical failure occurs, stay calm, note the time and error, and follow the provider's incident-reporting process promptly; outcomes depend on the provider's assessment of evidence, so keep screenshots and correspondence.
Check the exam's start time, duration and time zone on your booking confirmation, and log in or arrive with margin to complete ID checks; late starts are not normally compensated with extra time.