IFoA SP10 exam-day guide
IFoA SP10 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the exact form of photo ID your booking confirmation names (typically a passport or driving licence). Check the name matches your registration and that the document is unexpired. Confirm the accepted ID types and any name-change evidence with the exam provider in advance.
Admission permit or booking confirmation
Have your appointment/booking confirmation and candidate number ready, printed or accessible offline. Remote-proctored and centre-based sittings may require different documents, so confirm the required paperwork with the provider.
Approved calculator
SP10 is a quantitative exam, so a permitted calculator is essential. Check the current IFoA list of approved models and confirm whether your model is allowed; bring spare batteries or a second approved calculator if the rules permit.
Formula and tables reference
Confirm with the provider whether the sitting is open-book and which actuarial tables or formula sheets are permitted or supplied. Do not assume; the rules differ between sittings and delivery modes.
Printed or offline copies of permitted materials
If open-book materials are allowed, organise notes and tables by topic so you can locate them quickly. Verify the permitted format (printed only, or electronic) with the provider before relying on it.
Reliable computer, webcam and microphone (remote sittings)
For online-proctored sittings, test your equipment, browser and proctoring software on the same machine you will use. Run the provider's system check and confirm minimum bandwidth requirements.
Stable internet with a backup
Arrange a backup connection (mobile hotspot or tethering) and know the provider's procedure for technical failure during the exam. Confirm the incident-reporting process with the provider.
Quiet, cleared workspace
Remove clutter and unauthorised items from your desk and surroundings. Remote invigilators may require a room scan, so confirm the environmental rules with the provider.
Water and any permitted comfort items
Check whether drinks, snacks or medication are allowed at your desk; rules vary by centre and delivery mode. Confirm any access or medical arrangements with the provider well before the day.
Timing plan and watch
Know the start time, duration and any reading time, and plan how to allocate minutes across questions. If a watch is permitted, confirm it is not a smartwatch; many centres ban all wrist devices.
needs_review: Exam-day contact details
Record the provider's candidate support phone number and email in case of technical or administrative problems. The exact contact route depends on the sitting; confirm with the provider.
needs_review: Permitted stationery
Bring pens and rough paper only if the rules allow them; some computer-based sittings supply or prohibit these. Confirm the stationery policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the current exam regulations and your booking confirmation, and confirm the exact start time in your local time zone, the duration, the delivery mode and the permitted materials. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now rather than on the day. Run the technical system check for a remote sitting and install or update the proctoring software.
Shift from learning new material to consolidation. Review your summary sheets for the main SP10 topic areas: the regulatory and professional framework, pricing and product design, reserving, capital and solvency, risk management, and communication of results. Work through a timed past-paper or mock under exam conditions to rehearse pacing and calculator use.
Assemble your materials. Tidy your notes into labelled sections, check your calculator works and has fresh batteries, and prepare your ID and confirmation documents in one place. Confirm travel or accommodation arrangements if you are attending a centre.
Do a final light review of formula sheets, key definitions and your own list of common errors, then stop intensive study. Check the provider's website for any late changes to venue, timing or software requirements. Confirm your equipment and internet once more, and charge devices.
Prepare everything you will carry: ID, confirmation, approved calculator, permitted materials and stationery. Lay out clothes and plan your route or workspace. Get a full night's sleep; avoid last-minute cramming that displaces rest.
Eat properly and arrive or log in early, allowing a margin for delays, identity checks and room scans. Re-run a quick equipment check for a remote sitting and close unnecessary applications. Keep your ID and confirmation within reach.
Do not attempt heavy new learning. Skim only your one-page summary of formulas and common pitfalls, then put notes away so your working memory is clear for the start.
Read the instructions and any candidate guidance on screen carefully before starting. Note the total time and any reading time, and set a rough minute budget per question based on marks. Start with questions you can answer confidently to build momentum.
For calculation questions, write down the method and assumptions before computing so you earn method marks even if arithmetic slips. Show workings clearly, state units, and sanity-check magnitudes against intuition.
For written and discussion questions, use short structured answers: define the term, apply it to the scenario, and give a judgement or recommendation. Watch the command words (state, explain, discuss, evaluate) and match the depth of answer to the marks available.
Keep an eye on the clock and protect time for review. If you get stuck, flag the question, move on, and return. In the final minutes, check that every question has an attempt, that numerical answers are transcribed correctly, and that you have submitted as instructed.
If anything went wrong technically or administratively, note the time and details and report it through the provider's stated process as soon as possible; do not wait. Then stop analysing the paper and rest.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified in your booking confirmation and present it when asked. The name must match your registration; if it does not, contact the provider before the exam rather than on the day.
Follow all instructions from invigilators or remote proctors, including identity verification, room scans and desk checks. Refusal to comply may lead to your sitting being voided; confirm the exact procedure with the provider.
Use only permitted equipment and materials. Unapproved calculators, notes, phones or smart devices should be switched off and stored as directed; if in doubt about an item, ask the provider beforehand.
Do not communicate with anyone other than invigilators or proctors during the exam, and do not share or discuss paper content afterwards in a way that breaches the provider's confidentiality rules.
Confirm the break policy with the provider. In many sittings there are no scheduled breaks and leaving the room or workspace may not be permitted; plan hydration and any medical needs in advance.
Understand how the paper is scored: marks are allocated per question and method marks may be available, so show workings and attempt every question rather than leaving blanks. Confirm the pass mark and any sectional requirements with the provider.
If a technical failure occurs during a remote sitting, follow the provider's incident procedure exactly, including any requirement to report within a set time. Do not attempt to restart or reconfigure systems in ways the rules prohibit.
Check the provider's rules on misconduct and malpractice before the exam. Academic misconduct findings can invalidate results and affect future eligibility, so resolve any ambiguity about permitted collaboration or materials in advance.