Find answers to your questions about our new exam system and the introduction of objective based assessments
In these FAQs, you can find information on:
We are introducing a new system to provide a more robust, technologically advanced, and forward-looking service to our candidates. The new system will allow us to deliver exams with greater global accessibility while maintaining our examinations’ integrity.
Our current system does not support our aspirations to provide more technologically advanced exams. It was introduced as a short-term measure in response to the global pandemic.
The system will offer you a new experience when sitting IFoA exams. Once launched, and wherever possible, you will answer exam questions directly within the system rather than using Word or Excel.
Remote invigilation technology will be used to monitor your exam for integrity purposes. If you are sitting one of our new objective based assessments you will be invigilated in real time. All other assessments will be recorded and monitored by invigilators at the end of your examination.
You will need to complete exam ‘onboarding’ activities, which include verifying your identification and environment before starting your exam.
Our aim is to move away from using Word or Excel during exams but there may be a few exceptions. Our R based assessments will still require the use of R studio outside the exam system. And for some subjects it may be necessary to continue using Excel due to the complexity of the question.
We have taken the decision to delay the introduction of the new exam system while we continue to thoroughly test that it is ready to support our exams and our candidates.
This means that we will deliver all IFoA exams on our current platform in their traditional format in April 2024.
We will share further updates on our new online exam system launch in early 2024.
Yes. We will be implementing remote invigilation for all exams that are hosted on the new exam system.
Our new objective based assessments will be invigilated in real time. All other exams will be recorded and reviewed by an invigilator at the end of your exam.
Yes. A stable internet connection will be required to sit your exam.
We understand internet connectivity can sometimes cause problems. It is important to think about your exam environment carefully before sitting your exam.
The new system saves your work every minute, and each time you move between questions. If you do lose internet connectivity during your exam do not close your internet browser. Your work will be saved once your connection is restored.
You will need a PC or laptop that has access to a web camera and audio. You can view all technical details on our new dedicated new exam system technical requirements webpage.
Yes. You will be able to sit a ‘familiarisation’ exam at any time. You will also be able to complete technical readiness checks on any equipment you plan to use during the exam.
You can still sit your exam in a location of your choice, but there are some important things you need to consider.
Your exam should be sat in a ‘clean space’. This means no background noise or movement.
A ‘clean space’ is needed to make sure your invigilation takes place without an issue. If you are in a busy office, or a location where movement or noise is detected, your exam experience will be impacted and you may be unable to sit your exam.
You cannot take your exam with another person in the room, unless this has been agreed with the IFoA before you sit the exam.
Our aim is to offer exams on our new system at convenient local times.
We want all candidates to receive a fair and equable service. Therefore until all exams have transitioned to the new exam system, we will not be changing our exam delivery times.
Yes. Our exams will remain open book. You can take your study resources into the exam or refer to electronic resources on the same device as you sit the exam.
You will not be able to refer to online or electronic resources on a second device, for example an iPad or tablet.
If you intend to sit your exam on equipment provided by an employer, or within your employer’s network, you will need to make sure you can access the system prior to the exam. Your employer may need to help you get access to the system.
Your equipment needs to be able to access the system URLs, a web camera, and audio functions. If you intend to access the system from a virtual desktop, your employer may need to whitelist specific URLs for you to connect to the system.
A list of all technical requirement has been published to our new exam system technical requirements webpage.
You will be able to access our familiarisation exams, technical readiness checks, and online resources at any time.
Two weeks prior to each exam session, you will be able to contact our system provider if you are having problems accessing the system. Our provider cannot provide comprehensive technical support for your PC or laptop but they will help with basic troubleshooting advice.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to the correct equipment and have conducted technical readiness tests before sitting your exam.
On exam day you will have access to online chat, email, and telephone support.
Objective based assessments comprise a combination of question types that assess a full range of skills, knowledge, application, and higher order thinking.
Question types include:
Objective based assessments are widely used among professional bodies as a comprehensive, fair, and challenging way to assess qualifiers. Those professional bodies include the:
To find out more about OBAs, you can read our article on pages 10 to 11 in the March 2022 edition of The Actuary magazine.
We will be introducing OBAs for relevant Associate exams to further increase their objectivity and reliability.
The introduction of OBAs will also allow us to, in future, offer more flexible, on-demand style testing.
To find out more visit our Learning Change Programme webpage.
The first exams we aim to launch in this new format of assessment will be Business Finance (CB1) and Business Economics (CB2).
Other modules being considered for later transition include Core Statistics and Core Mathematics.
You can now sit CB1 and CB2 familiarisations exams on our new online exam system.
Everyone has different methods of learning and revising before exams, but you may need to prepare differently for an objective based assessment.
Results from our OBA trial exams indicate that familiarity with question types and being prepared to reach an answer without subjective discussion is important. Familiarity and understanding of all syllabus learning objectives is essential.
We have created some useful objective based assessment study tips.
Initially, we will release OBA results at the same time as other exams.
We know how important it is to maintain the high standard of IFoA qualifications. So, we will be carefully reviewing the question performance and results of our new OBAs after each exam. This will ensure our new OBA format exam results reflect a fair and comprehensive examination of our candidates’ competency.
Most organisations that deliver results immediately for their OBAs use large question banks, that have been tested over many exam sessions. This ensures that any set of questions is consistently assessing the appropriate range and level of knowledge and skills.
We aim to provide OBA results more quickly over time. However, we will be taking a cautious route initially to ensure we continue to deliver to the high standard expected of our qualification.
No. Due to the format of the assessment, which includes randomised delivery of questions, the only data available from your OBA exam will be a list of marks (1 or 0) for each question. This will not be helpful in understanding your exam performance. Exam questions will not be published.
We are currently investigating how to provide candidates with constructive exam performance feedback for our OBA exams and will update you as we make progress in this area.
We are unable to publish OBA questions after each exam as this would undermine the integrity of our future question bank.
No. While the format of these assessments will change, the depth and breadth of competence candidates need to achieve will remain unchanged.
OBAs are a comprehensive, fair, and challenging way to assess qualifiers and will continue to demand high standards of competence.
To find out more about OBAs, you can read our article on pages 10 to 11 in the March 2022 edition of The Actuary magazine.