As we continue to adopt more modern, digital-first methods of assessment, we’ll update this page with all the information and resources you’ll need
As you will have seen in our communications, all exams start at 09:00 (BST). The UK has very recently switched to British Summer Time (BST) – which is GMT +1, so please ensure you have calculated the local start time of your exam correctly.
Here is a website you might find useful to check your local timings: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/
We would also like to remind you that the chat support function that can be accessed through the Guardian browser, supported by Proctor U, can only be used to help you to connect to the remote invigilation system.
We’ve now updated key documents including the assessment regulations, exam handbook, and exam rules. Candidates sitting exams are required to read all carefully before sitting an exam(s).
On 12 March the assessment regulations were updated to include in-person invigilated exams. See assessment regulations
On 21 March, we published a new examinations handbook for in-person invigilated exams and new exam rules for in-person invigilated exams. See the exam rules on our assessment regulations page
For remote invigilation, our exam rules and handbook have not changed.
We wish you well for your exam(s).
Our April 2025 exams are changing as we bring in new security measures to ensure we are protecting the integrity of IFoA exams. We are introducing changes that will affect exam candidates, including in-person invigilation, remote invigilation and closed book/closed web exams. This means the exam experience will be different for anyone who has previously sat IFoA exams.
We have created this central hub of information to help candidates understand everything they need to know when preparing for exams in April 2025.
You can find useful guidance on revision and preparation on sitting exams in a closed book/closed web environment on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Log in to view Mastering exams in a closed book environment.
To ensure the integrity of our exams, the primary delivery method for the April examinations will be in-person at centre exam centres, under in person invigilation.
All exam centres will have invigilators in the room, who will be monitoring all activity to ensure the integrity of our exams is maintained.
Your allocated exam centre will be matched as closely as possible to your preferred contact address. Once you have been assigned an exam centre, we will contact you with your exam centre location and details on how the exams will work in your exam centre. All the equipment you need to sit your exam will be provided at the exam centre, including a laptop.
For those who have previously sat IFoA exams, the online exam system you will be using will be the same one used in previous exam sessions. You will be able to access the online exam system using the browser on your exam centre laptop.
You can find more information on sitting exams in an exam centre and how to prepare on our in-person invigilation FAQ page.
Please also read the:
You can learn more about what to expect, including the requirement to identify yourself, layout of workstations, and more, by watching the recording of our webinar on the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Log in to view Preparing for successful April exams: what to expect at your venue.
Please find addresses and exam start times for the April 2025 session at:
As you will have seen in our communications, all exams start at 09:00 (BST). The UK has very recently switched to British Summer Time (BST) - which is GMT +1 hour, so please ensure you have calculated the local start time of your exam correctly. You may find this website useful to check your local timings https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/.
If you require access arrangements and you are allocated an exam location, this means that the exam centre will be able to accommodate those arrangements.
If we are unable to support your agreed access arrangements in exam centres, we will contact you to try and make alternative arrangements where possible.
Candidates with access arrangements that cannot be accommodated in an exam centre and candidates outside the UK where we cannot allocate an exam centre, will be invited to sit April exams under remote invigilation.
If you are one of the candidates that we have contacted confirming that you can sit April exams under remote invigilation, you can find some helpful guidance and resources in this section.
Candidates sitting remotely invigilated exams will be required to access the exam platform using a secure browser, which will record the screen and monitor activity during their exam. Candidates will also be required to show photo ID before they begin all exams, as part of an onboarding process.
See FAQs on preparing for a remote invigilated exam
Our Mastering exams in a closed book environment webinar also offers helpful guidance on sitting exam in under online invigilation.
To support you with these changes, we updated our assessment regulations in November 2024 to ensure our exams continue to be inclusive and accessible. We produced a new set of exam rules in November 2024 to help you understand what is and what is not allowed during your exam.
We recommend you download the secure browser as soon as possible to ensure you are prepared well in advance of your exams.
Download the secure guardian browser
Please also read the:
To answer some of your most common questions, we have put together frequently asked questions for sitting exams under in-person invigilation and another for the small number of candidates sitting exams under remote invigilation.
We know exam security is important to both candidates and employers, and we’ve heard your concerns about academic integrity and honesty.
We’ve been working to enhance exam security and have moved to in-person invigilation with on our online exam platform, and can now confirm that we will introduce remote invigilation for a small number of candidates in April 2025.
We are aware of a number of social media posts claiming to have leaked exam papers or sharing supposedly leaked internal emails. These matters have been thoroughly investigated, and there is no evidence of a leak, and the emails have been proved to be fakes.
Unfortunately, we believe there are likely to be further attempts to unsettle candidates.
We are committed to communicating updates about the April exam session as quickly and accurately as possible. The most up to date information available will be sent via official IFoA channels or can be found on our website.
To ensure candidates and employers can plan for future IFoA exams, we can confirm all IFoA exams will be delivered in their established format in April 2025.
We will continue work on preparing exams in OBA format, so we are ready to launch OBA exams when we launch a new exam system.
To support you sitting this style of exam when the time comes, we have provided some OBA study tips
We remain committed to delivering a modern digital-first exam system with security and integrity at its heart.
We will provide updates on our progress and clarity on timelines for the introduction of a new exam system at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, we will be implementing in person, and, for a small number of candidates, remote invigilation from April 2025 to ensure the integrity of IFoA exams.