Important changes to subject CA3

All students entering for this exam will have access to an online package of self-study modules, live chat facility, bulletin board and regular facilitated sessions conducted by qualified actuaries. You will also be able to record and playback a practice presentation using your own webcam.

You will have access to this downloadable application approximately eight weeks before your exam, which will allow you to plan around your current commitments and workloads. This online facility was, until recently, only available to overseas students unable to travel to the UK but access is now available to all.

When the booking period is open you have the option of booking to attend at a UK venue for your presentation and written exam or taking it completely online. You will be booked as a cohort with your fellow students taking the same exam and you will be able to communicate with them and other members of staff while you have access to the application.

From July also, the CA3 Workbook will no longer be compulsory. You will be provided with a copy of the Workbook as a self-study aid. We will however suggest that you complete a minimum of three selected questions as sample answers will be provided in the online modules.

Please note that all CA3 exams will now run the same and are called ‘CA3 Communications Exam’. You will no longer see any reference to a ‘full programme’ or ‘retaker exam’. You now have the option of completing your CA3 exam online or attending for one day at a UK venue.

What are the fees for both options of this exam?

• If you choose to take your exam at the venue then the fee will be £435.00. Please note that this fee will increase to £450 from October 2013, due to a rise in venue costs.
• If you choose to take your exam online then it will be £400. There are overseas rates available for the online exam.

Why this change?

We have listened to your feedback and developed the online application as a way forward for students to be able to self-study and communicate with other students taking part around the world. Students that have taken the exam by this method have told us that they benefitted from taking part in the live chat, bulletin board discussions and facilitated sessions. Taking the exam completely online also has benefits in terms of not having to travel or take time away from the office.

We recognise that some students may need more time to adapt to completing their presentation via webcam on the application and would still prefer to attend a venue. With this in mind we have maintained a number of dates in the CA3 programme which allow students to do their slide preparation exam online but attend the venue to have their presentation recorded and sit the written paper. This has also reduced the time required to attend the UK venue to one day only. Students that have previously sat the CA3 retaker exam will be familiar with this format.

What is the format of the exam days online and at the venue?

Online
If you book to take your exam completely online then you will have access to the application eight weeks before and then continue until the exam. On Exam Day 1 you will sit your written paper in the morning and prepare your slides for the presentation on day 2, in the afternoon. On Exam Day 2 you will be given a time slot, e.g between 10.00 and 14.00 (UK time), within which to complete and upload your presentation.

At the venue
If you book to take your exam at the venue then you will have access to the application for eight weeks before your exam day. The day before attending the venue you will prepare your slides and submit these via the CA3 online application. The next day you will attend the venue at the given time to complete your presentation. The written exam will then take place in the afternoon, usually between 15.30-17.30.

How will the exam be marked?

We have a group of actuary assessors and non-actuary communications experts who mark the CA3 exams and all marking will now be conducted online, i.e assessors have access to your exam scripts and presentation via a secure online facility. With this in mind you will still be marked accordingly whether you are presenting to camera or to the supervisor at the venue.

What about the IT requirements for this and problems that students may face working online?

We realise that using any level of technology can come with its own difficulties but we are confident that any issues raised have been dealt with successfully. We publish a list of technical requirements necessary to run the application and the majority of students have downloaded it successfully within a few minutes. We also have dedicated technical support on hand to help run the application and offer advice should a situation occur.

Students from a variety of countries around the world have now sat this exam largely without any problems. In the event of any unusual situation we will work with students to rectify things as soon as possible with minimal disruption.

What difficulties have students experienced?

Occasionally students may experience download difficulties because of the firewall, for example, used by their own company and we are able to offer IT advice to overcome this. Some students have experienced a loss of internet connection and we have worked with our IT provider to ensure that a ‘saving’ mechanism is included. These cases are rare and overall we have had some very positive feedback about the use of the application.

What if I book to attend the venue but change my mind and want to take the exam online?

Our normal cancellation policies and fees will remain in force. However, students need to be aware that should you cancel after already gaining access to the application then an exam day may not be available straight after the eight week session. We may need to book you on another online exam or venue at a later date and subject to availability.

Further details about the online application, technical requirements and a demonstration.