IRDAI POSP General exam-day guide
IRDAI POSP General · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm the exact test mode and slot with your training provider
IRDAI's POSP (Pre-Insurance Sales Person) framework is delivered through approved training providers and their assessment partners, so the venue, whether the test is at a centre or online-proctored, and the reporting time must be confirmed with the provider rather than assumed. Get the slot confirmation in writing (email or SMS) and note the reporting time.
Carry a valid photo identity document
Bring the original government photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence, or voter ID) that matches the name and details used at registration. Keep a photocopy as backup. Confirm with the provider which IDs are accepted and whether a specific one is mandatory.
Carry your admit card or hall ticket and registration confirmation
Print or download the admit card/hall ticket and the registration confirmation the provider issued. If the provider uses only an SMS or app-based entry pass, confirm that and keep the phone charged.
Bring the required photographs and documents
Some providers ask for recent passport-size photographs and copies of educational qualification or KYC documents at the test or enrolment stage. Confirm the exact list with the provider; do not carry originals you do not need.
Re-read the syllabus and the provider's study material
The POSP assessment covers insurance fundamentals, products (life and general), regulatory and ethical conduct, and sales/customer-service basics. Use the provider's official syllabus and material as the final authority on scope and weighting.
Revise key IRDAI concepts and definitions
Focus on the meaning of insurance and insurable interest, the roles of insurer, insured, agent and intermediary, the difference between life and general insurance, key policy terms (premium, sum insured, deductible, exclusion, claim), and the duties of a POSP toward customers.
Practise full-length mock tests under timed conditions
Attempt at least two timed mocks in the final days. Review every wrong answer and note whether the error was knowledge, misreading, or time pressure. Confirm the actual number of questions and duration with the provider.
Check the test platform requirements if online
For online-proctored tests, verify browser, webcam, microphone, internet stability, and the quiet, well-lit room requirement in advance. Run the system check the day before. Confirm these requirements with the provider.
Plan the journey and arrive early
For a physical centre, do a route check and plan to arrive at least 30-45 minutes before reporting time to absorb traffic or queue delays. Keep the admit card and ID in one folder.
Prepare the permitted items only
Carry a transparent water bottle and a simple pen if the provider permits. Leave phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags outside the test area as instructed; confirm the permitted-items list with the provider.
Read the instructions screen carefully
Before the timer starts, read the on-screen instructions, check the question count, marking scheme, and navigation buttons, and confirm whether negative marking applies. Ask the invigilator if anything is unclear.
Sleep well and eat a light meal
Avoid last-minute cramming the night before. A rested mind performs better on scenario-based questions than a sleep-deprived one.
Plan the day
Do a structured revision: one pass over insurance fundamentals, one over products and policy terms, one over regulatory and ethical conduct. Complete two timed mock tests and log every mistake. Re-read the provider's syllabus to confirm you have not skipped a topic, and confirm the slot, venue or online link, and permitted items with the provider.
Stop learning new topics. Review only your error log, key definitions, and the duties and prohibited practices of a POSP. Pack the ID, admit card, photographs, and any documents in one folder. For an online test, run the system and internet check and set up the room. Confirm the reporting time and travel plan. Sleep on time.
Eat a light meal, re-check the folder for ID and admit card, and leave with a buffer. Avoid heavy last-minute reading; skim only your one-page summary of definitions. Arrive early, complete verification calmly, and settle at the assigned seat or log in early for the online test.
Read the instructions screen fully. Answer the easy and definitional questions first, mark uncertain ones for review, and return to them. Watch the clock and allocate roughly a minute per question unless the provider states otherwise. Read scenario questions for the customer's interest and the compliant action, not just the profitable one. Do not leave blanks unless negative marking is confirmed; submit only after checking that all answers are recorded.
Rules to check
Carry the original photo ID that matches your registration details; entry may be refused if the name or document does not match. Confirm the accepted ID list with the provider.
Bring only permitted items into the test area. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags must be left outside; possession during the test may lead to disqualification.
Follow all invigilator and proctor instructions. For an online test, keep your face visible, do not leave the camera frame, and do not use unauthorised material or assistance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test and do not attempt to copy or share questions. Misconduct can void your result and affect your eligibility.
Confirm the marking scheme with the provider before the test: the number of questions, duration, pass mark, and whether negative marking applies. Do not assume a pattern.
If a break is allowed, confirm the rules with the invigilator, note the time, and return promptly; unapproved breaks may not be permitted.
If the system or a question appears faulty, raise it immediately with the invigilator or proctor rather than restarting or refreshing on your own.
Answer in line with regulatory and ethical conduct: when a question pits a sales target against customer suitability or disclosure, choose the compliant, customer-first option.