Procedures for CBT Exam Day
Updated February 21, 2024
Learn more about what to expect on exam day for computer-based testing (CBT) exams.
The staff at each Prometric Testing Center follows designated procedures to ensure that the operation of the test center meets the SOA criteria for standardized testing. Because of the importance of actuarial exams, numerous security measures will be enforced during the test administrations. Strict identification requirements have been established. You will be observed at all times while taking the examination. This observation will include direct observation by test center staff as well as video and audio monitoring of the examination session.
Arriving at the Test Center
Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before your appointment. If you arrive later, you may not be allowed to test, thus forfeiting your appointment and examination fee. If you forfeit your appointment, you will be required to register and pay the examination fee again.
Dress comfortably for the exam. As test room temperatures and personal comfort zones vary, it is recommended that you bring a sweater or jacket to the sessions.
Waiting areas at the Prometric Testing Centers are small. Friends or relatives who accompany you to the test center will not be permitted to wait in the test center or contact you while you are taking the examination.
Exam Duration
The appointment duration includes the time for you to review a pre-exam tutorial as well as a brief post-exam survey, in addition to the exam time. The exam time varies and can be found on the first page of the exam's syllabus.
| CBT Appointment Duration | |||
| Pre-exam Tutorial | 12 minutes | ||
| Exam Time | Varies by exam and can be found in the exam syllabus. | ||
| Post-exam Survey | 15 minutes | ||
Checking In
The following activities will occur when you arrive at the Prometric Testing Center for your appointment.
Identification
You must present a valid government-issued identification that includes your name, photograph, and signature. Please review our identification policy very carefully. Digital ID’s are not accepted at this time.
You will be asked to sign-in at the center. Your signature will be compared to the identification that you present. You will be asked to sign your name every time you enter or leave the testing area within the center.
IDs presented will be scanned to ensure validity, and an image of the ID will be captured.
Bring your identification with you to the test room. You must always keep your identification documents with you. If you leave the testing room for any reason, you will be required to show the test administrator your identification to be readmitted to the room.
Personal Belongings
You will be required to leave your personal belongings outside the testing room including all jewelry outside of your wedding band and small earrings. Cell phones, pagers, and all other electronic devices are prohibited in the test room. Secure storage will be provided.
You cannot bring your own pencils, erasers, scratch paper, etc to the exam. You must use what is provided at the testing center.
Storage space is small, so you should plan appropriately. Do not take large bags, textbooks, notebooks, or any other unnecessary items to the test center. Prometric Testing Centers assume no responsibility for your personal belongings.
Review Prometric's regulations and list of prohibited items.
Food & Beverage
Review the food & beverage policy for more information on whether foods and beverages are allowed in the test room.
Calculators
Review the list of authorized calculators. Only authorized electronic calculators will be allowed into the test room.
The calculator must be removed from the carrying case so the proctor can confirm it is an approved model. Calculator cover and instructions cannot be brought into the examination room.
If you use a calculator other than the approved models, for any reason, you will be subject to examination disqualification and other disciplinary action.
In the Test Room
The test administrator will give you a short orientation and will then escort you to a computer terminal. You must remain in your seat during the examination, except when authorized to leave by a proctor or if you need to use the restroom. Once the timed section of the exam begins, it will run uninterrupted until time expires—time will continue to run even when you have permission to leave your seat.
At the beginning of the exam, you will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality and Conduct Agreement and review a pre-exam tutorial.
Provided Materials
The test administrator will provide you with two pencils and one 26-page/52 sided unlined light green scratch paper booklet.
If you fill up the scratch booklet or need a new pencil, you should raise your hand and the test administrator will take the old scratch booklet or pencil and provide a new one. You may request as many scratch booklets and pencils as necessary but must return the used booklet when asking for a new one as test center policy dictates that you may have only one scratch booklet at a time. You should manage your work to ensure that you do not turn in a booklet with a problem in progress.
Removing a scratch booklet from the test center is considered an act of misconduct.
Spring/Fall Exams ALTAM, ASTAM, and QFIQF will receive an additional "Answer Booklet" to be able to write out their written answer questions.
Disposable earplugs or noise canceling headphones will be available from the administrator, if requested.
During the exam, special information or tables for distribution can be found on-screen under Exhibit for Exams P, FAM, SRM, ALTAM, ASTAM, and PA.
Taking the Exam
When you are seated at your workstation and begin your tutorial for your exam, you may not write, use a calculator, access your notes or phone as soon as the tutorial begins. The beginning of the timed section of the exam when the first live exam question appears on the screen will take place automatically after the completion of the tutorial.
The computerized clock that times your specific exam will continue to run and will not be turned off for unplanned, unscheduled breaks; like using the restroom. If there is a power outage, the exam timer will also freeze so that the candidate will not lose exam time or completed questions. The test will resume at the point where it left off when power is restored.
Preliminary exams have a 15-minute warning that will appear on your screen 15 minutes prior to the end of the timed exam—click “OK” to continue. Exam PA, the time alerts will appear when 60 minutes, 30 minutes and 10 minutes remain in the examination. ALTAM, ASTAM, FSA, ERM, and EA exams, please check the specific exams home page for this information.
Technical Difficulties
Raise your hand to notify the test administrator if you have any technical issues as soon as they arise. If the technical issue is significant a Prometric Case Number will be assigned and should be given to you. Learn more about reporting technical difficulties.
Exam Screen (Multiple-Choice Exams Only)
Below is an example of what you can expect to see on your screen when taking a multiple-choice CBT exam at a Prometric test center.
The timer is at the top of the screen; the left-hand side offers navigation between questions. The main portion of the screen is occupied by the question, related information such as exam tables and applicable language options, and the answer choices. A pop-up on the bottom-right informs you if a question requires scrolling to see the full question and all available answer choices. On the bottom-right of the screen, there are "back" and "next" buttons for navigating sequentially between questions.
After the Exam
After your examination is finished, you will be asked to complete a brief, post-exam survey about your testing experience.
Instant Results
For eligible preliminary exams, instant results will appear on the computer screen after the post-exam survey. You will also receive the document with these preliminary results via your email address on record with Prometric.
Learn more about instant results and performance feedback, including which exams these features are available for.
Contact
If you have any additional comments about your testing experience, you are encouraged to send your comments directly to Prometric.
If you experience any technical difficulties during the exam or if there are weather emergencies or other unforeseen events that affect a test center’s operation, please see the Technical Difficulties and Test Center Closings section.