Online exam version of Subject CA2

The online exam is available to:

• students who cannot attend a face-to-face exam in the UK or overseas
• students who having attended a face-to-face exam have failed the exam.

Requirements

If you decide to use this route you will need:

• a computer with: software compatible with Excel 2007 and Word 2007, Adobe reader, a printer, internet access and access to email (allowing the sending and receipt of spreadsheet and other attachments). Candidates must not embed documents in spreadsheets.
• reference material including the core reading for subjects CT1-CT8 and the Formulae and Tables for Actuarial Examinations.
• a suitable environment to work through the pre-exam learning material and exam assignment.

Overview

The online exam consists of material which is accessed through an online community on the website, and which is worked through with the help of an online staff actuary.

The exam has the same aims and standards as the face-to-face version and uses the same material. The format is as follows:

• Pre-exam work: advance study (which will form part of the work studied in Part One of the exam).
• Part One: exercises to work through and material to consider, with access to an online staff actuary via the discussion forum in the online community.

A guideline for the work outlined above is 50 hours.

• Part Two: exam assignment with email access to an online lead assessor

More detailed information is given below.

Exam dates

You will need to select a date to take the exam from those advertised on the application form. The pre-exam material will be available about one month prior to this date. You will need to make sure that you can complete the pre-exam and online learning work in good time before the exam date.

Further details

The sequence of tasks for the online version of the exam is set out below.

1. Study the material on the website including the past papers and sample projects. This should have been completed before applying for the practical exam.

2. Apply for the exam.

3. Receive your access to the online community for the study material and the contact details for the online staff actuary. You will be able to ask the online staff actuary for help via the discussion forum in the online community whilst working through the material.

4. Work through the pre-exam workbook. This work will form part of the material you will study during the rest of the exam.

5. Work through the online learning material in the online community documents.

6. Revise your work

7. Sit the exam assignment on the pre-agreed date.

• You must work through the exam assignment without assistance from another person (apart from the online assessor as described above).
• You will be able to receive guidance from the online assessor during the exam and he or she will help 'move you on' if you are unable to progress a particular aspect of the assignment.
• Only 5% of your overall mark will be for your ability to work independently so it is better to ask for guidance than become stuck. Your online assessor will record the help given to you.
• Help for any one student may need to be limited to allow adequate help to be given to all of the students. If a student requires 'excessive' help then they may be advised to withdraw from the exam.

8. You may refer to any reference material (but not prior CA2 exam material) and you must build your model from scratch.

9. If you experience delays outside your control, you must contact the team at: online_exams@actuaries.org.uk for advice, submitting appropriate evidence.

10. Instructions will be provided on how to submit your completed exam.

11. Pass lists are published on the website, and we will notify you by letter, according to a fixed schedule of dates.

12. The assessment regulations of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries apply as set out in the Examination Regulations, except that you may use reference material, as referred to above.