Computer-Based Testing Rules and Procedures
July 2008 Exam Administration:

-Exam P/1, Probability

-Exam FM/2, Financial Mathematics

Canadian Institute of Actuaries		Casualty Actuarial Society		Society of Actuaries

Benefits of CBT

Exam P/1
Exam P/1 was first administered by computer-based testing (CBT) in September 2005 and is offered in multiple testing windows annually. Exam P/1 will also be offered three times each year by paper and pencil in a very limited number of localities outside the United States where CBT is not available. In addition to the benefit of frequent administrations, each candidate taking the CBT version of Exam P/1 will receive an unofficial pass/fail result immediately upon completion of the exam.

Exam FM/2
Exam FM/2 will be administered by CBT for the first time in May 2008 and will be offered again in November 2008. Exam FM/2 will also be offered by paper and pencil in a limited number of localities outside the United States where CBT is not available. In 2009, Exam FM/2 will be offered more frequently. In addition to the benefit of frequent administrations, candidates taking Exam FM/2 by CBT will eventually receive an unofficial pass/fail result immediately upon completion of the exam. When an exam is first offered by CBT, however, immediate pass/fail results are not available for the first few administrations. Therefore, grades for Exam FM/2 will be released approximately eight weeks after the exam administration in 2008.

This document includes important details about registration and the exam day. Please read it carefully. Also watch this Web site for announcements and updates.

Exam Dates

Exam P/1, Probability

Exam FM/2 Financial Mathematics

Readings and Instructions

Registration

Follow the six steps below to register for Exams P/1 and/or FM/2.

Step One: Select the exam center and application

There are two applications. To determine which application is appropriate for you, please follow these steps below:

A. Check the list of computer-based testing centers. If there is a CBT center in your area, you are expected to take your exams there. CBT sites are available in Canada, the United States, and internationally. Candidates may submit a hardcopy CBT application or register online.

B. No paper and pencil versions of Exam P/1 will be offered in July 2008. The next offering of the paper and pencil version outside the United States will be in November.

Step Two: Submit application by Deadline

• Exam P/1: May 29, 2008 Deadline

All applications must arrive at Preliminary Actuarial Exams/SOA Office by the deadlines listed above. No late applications will be accepted. Candidates will be registered on a first come first serve basis; candidates will be notified if their applications are not accepted.

Important Note for CBT Candidates: Candidates are required to bring a government-issued photo ID to the CBT center (see Step Five-A below). It is critical that the name you enter on your application form should match the same form of your name as it appears on your government issued photo ID. Do not change the spelling and do not change the order of your name. If you use an initial or middle name on your government-issued photo ID, be sure to include that as well. Discrepancies in names may prevent the candidates from testing.

Step Three: Receive confirmation

A. After your registration has been processed, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter by e-mail that includes your unique candidate/eligibility number for this administration. The candidate/eligibility number included on the automated acknowledgement will NOT be activated immediately. Once the number has been activated, SOA will e-mail you a letter of confirmation. At that time, you should schedule your exam appointment IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of your confirmation (see Step Four for details).

B. Candidates who submit the exam application or register online for the "Limited" paper and pencil exam centers outside the United States will receive an automatic acknowledgement letter by e-mail. This letter serves as your ticket of admission. Please check the information carefully. The letter will include your unique candidate number as well as the exam center name and number. For the exact address of your exam location please check the SOA website at www.soa.org. There is nothing else that you must do before the exam, except study!

If you don't receive your letter of confirmation within 10 days of receiving your acknowledgement letter, please check your “bulk mail” or “junk mail” e-mail folder before contacting the SOA Customer Service Center (888.697.3900 or CustomerService@soa.org).

Step Four: IMMEDIATELY schedule an appointment at a CBT center

As noted above, if you are taking the exam by CBT, you are strongly encouraged to schedule your exam appointment at a CBT center IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of your confirmation letter. Candidates who do not make an appointment at a CBT center as soon as possible may find their local CBT center is filled on the day when the exam is offered. You may schedule online or by telephone as follows:

• Schedule Online with Prometric

  Scheduling online is the most efficient method and candidates are encouraged to schedule their test appointments online as follows:
  • After receiving their confirmations with candidate/eligibility numbers, candidates may schedule their test appointments on the internet by going to: www.Prometric.com/SOA. The system allows candidates access to real-time scheduling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Canadian, international and U.S. candidates are able to select their preferred testing date from the available window. All candidates are able to select their preferred location, receive immediate on-screen confirmation, and a follow-up e-mail confirmation of their appointment details.
  • The opening page for scheduling your appointment will appear. The specific exam name is listed below:
    • For Exam P/1
      • The name is P1ENL for U.S. and all non-Canadian sites
      • In Canada, the exam name is P1FRL. This exam is viewed in English with French translation
    • For Exam FM/2 [Registration for the November exam will open in July.]
      • The name is FM2EN for U.S. and all non-Canadian sites
      • In Canada, the exam name is FM2FR. This exam is viewed in English with French Translation.
  • Note to Candidates with Special Needs: Only candidates who have already received approval for special accommodation from the SOA Office may schedule an appointment that includes special accommodations. Candidates requiring special needs accommodations may not make an appointment on the Internet but should call the Special Accommodations Department at Prometric to schedule their examination.

NOTE: A $35 rescheduling fee must be paid directly to Prometric if the test is rescheduled between 30 days and 49 hours of the appointment.

• Schedule by Telephone

  • After receiving their confirmations with candidate/eligibility numbers, candidates may schedule their test appointments by calling Prometric's Candidate Services Contact Center. To schedule their appointments, candidates must reference the "SOA/CAS/CIA" exam. Consult the list of telephone numbers for the Candidate Services Contact Centers. This information can also be found at www.Prometric.com/SOA selecting Contact Us and then selecting over the phone from the Test Takers section of the page. Then, select the region you wish to contact. Select Professional Licensure as the area of study or certification. Next, look on the page displayed for the telephone number of the Prometric Call Center in your region.
  • Candidates requiring Special Needs Accommodations should call the Special Accommodations Department at Prometric to schedule their test appointments.

Step Five: Secure appropriate identification and calculator(s) for exam day

Candidates should bring the following items to the exam center:
A. REQUIRED: Valid government-issued photo identification
All candidates must present a valid government-issued photo identification with the candidate's signature. Please note the following requirements:
• If you need to contact Prometric for any assistance, use the same form of your name that is on your exam application form and your government issued photo ID. Do not change the spelling and do not change the order of your name. If you use an initial or middle name on your government-issued photo ID be sure to include that as well.
• When you arrive at the test center, you will be required to present your non-expired government-issued identification with a signature and a photograph (e.g., driver’s license, passport, military ID, state ID, or other government-issued identification). If you are testing in your home country and your country’s government-issued ID lacks either a photo or a signature (but does not lack both), you should present both the government-issued ID and a secondary ID (e.g., employee ID, student ID, major credit card, etc.) to confirm that you are the individual scheduled to test. If you are testing outside your home country, you must present a non-expired passport as valid ID. If you have questions or are uncertain about what constitutes valid identification, contact the SOA Customer Service Center (customerservice@soa.org or 888.697.3900) prior to the exam administration.

B. Approved calculators
Only the following models of Texas Instruments calculators are approved:
• BA-35
• BA II Plus
• BA II Plus Professional
• TI-30Xa
• TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery)

Calculator covers and instructions will not be permitted in the examination room. Please note that upon entrance to the exam room, candidates using the BA II Plus Professional Edition, TI-30X IIS or TI-30XB (solar or battery) must show the supervisor that the memory has been cleared. For the BA II Plus and the BA II Plus Professional Edition, clearing the calculator will reset the calculator to the factory default settings. No other calculators will be provided for those who fail to bring an approved model. Candidates may bring more than one calculator into the examination room, provided each calculator is on the approved list.

Step Six: Check out the CBT Tutorial

The CBT tutorial demonstrates the screens and basic functionality of the CBT. Please note the following:
• The tutorial is a "snapshot" of screens in an htm format and is not live. The questions are presented to assist the candidate in navigating through the exam and to provide a simulation of the actual testing experience. Because the "snapshot" is not live, when an answer choice is selected, it will NOT be recorded for scoring and the selection will not be saved once another question is viewed. Therefore, if you return to a question in the practice exam, the choice that you selected will not appear as it would in the live exam.
• The live exam will have 30-35 questions (see "The Exam" section below for details), but the tutorial is a sample with only 10 questions.
• In the tutorial, the answer will appear at the top of the screen which, obviously, will not happen with the live exam!

Exam Fee

CBT Test Centers

Experience CBT with a "Test Drive"

Procedure for CHANGING a CBT Appointment

To reschedule an appointment, candidates must do one of the following by noon of the second business day before the appointment:

• Go online to www.prometric.com/SOA to reschedule your exam appointment; or
• Call the test center where you are scheduled to take the exam. Notification must be left directly with the administrator at the test center. Do NOT leave a message on the answering machine-this does not constitute official notification; or
• Special needs candidates must call the Special Conditions Coordinator to reschedule or cancel.

NOTE: A $35 rescheduling fee must be paid directly to Prometric if the test is rescheduled between 30 days and 49 hours of the appointment.

Exam fees or registrations cannot be transferred from one session to a future session.

Procedure for CANCELING a CBT Appointment

• Go online to www.Prometric.com/SOA to cancel your exam appointment; or
• Call the test center where you are scheduled to take the exam. Notification must be left directly with the administrator at the test center. Do NOT leave a message on the answering machine-this does not constitute official notification; or
• Special needs candidates must call the Special Conditions Coordinator to reschedule or cancel.

A cancellation does not automatically ensure a refund (see next section, "Refund Policy"). If a candidate fails to arrive for a scheduled appointment or cancels without giving the required notice as described above, no refund will be given. Exam fees or registration cannot be transferred from one session to a future session.

CBT Refund Policy—July 21, 2008, Deadline

• Cancel the appointment by noon of the second business day (includes Saturdays) before the test appointment. For example, to cancel an examination for Tuesday, a candidate must notify the test center by noon on the Friday before the Tuesday appointment.
• Cancel your order at www.soa.org (click on the “View My Account” button, then select “View Order History,” enter your user name and password, and select the order you wish to cancel; click the cancellation button to submit your refund request) by July 21, 2008. Examination fee refunds will be issued following the testing administration.

Note to candidates who have already set an appointment with Prometric: Any refund request submitted later than the refund deadline, or a refund request submitted without the appointment being cancelled will not be considered.

Exam fees cannot be transferred from one session to a future session. On test day, if a candidate is in violation of any of the check in policies regarding valid government issued photo IDs and is not admitted, the exam fee will not be refunded.

CBT Security

CBT Exam Day

The following activities will occur when you arrive at the Prometric Testing Center for your appointment:

• You must present your government-issued photo-bearing identification that includes your signature or two secondary forms of identification with your signature and physical description as described in Step Five-A listed above.
• 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.
• As part of an enhanced security system, Prometric testing centers are implementing the following two procedures at most centers: (1) IDs presented will be scanned to ensure validity, and an image of the ID will be captured, and (2) a biometric fingerprint-capturing system will be used. During the check-in process when your identification is verified and scanned, you will also be asked to supply a fingerprint before being allowed into the testing room. When re-entering the testing room after a break, your fingerprint will be validated against the one captured during the check-in process. Prometric will NOT retain the scanned images of the IDs and fingerprints. At the end of each testing day, Prometric will purge the database of all IDs and fingerprints captured that day.
• You will be required to leave your personal belongings outside the testing room except your identification. No food or water is permitted into the test room. Cell phones, pagers, and all other electronic devices are prohibited. Secure storage will be provided. You must keep your identification with you at all times. 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. Storage space is small, so candidates 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 candidates' personal belongings.
• Only authorized electronic calculators listed below will be allowed into the test room. Candidates may use the battery- or solar-powered models of the following Texas Instruments calculators: BA-35, BA II Plus, BA II Plus Professional, TI-30Xa, or TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery). Candidates may use more than one of the approved calculators during the examination. For those using the BA II Plus, BA II Plus Professional, or TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery) models, candidates will be required to show test proctors that the memory has been cleared prior to the start of the examination. For the BA II Plus and BA II Plus Professional, clearing will reset the calculator to the factory default settings. Calculator cover and instructions cannot be brought into the examination room. During the examination, the calculator must be removed from its carrying case so the proctor can confirm it is an approved model. Any unauthorized calculator brought to the test center will not be permitted in the test room. Candidates using a calculator other than the approved models, for any reason, will be subject to examination disqualification and other disciplinary action.
• 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.
• At the beginning of the exam, you will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality and Conduct Agreement.
• The test administrator will provide you with two pencils and one 32-page Scratch Booklet. The candidate 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 a candidate may have only one Scratch Booklet at a time. If a candidate fills up the Scratch Booklet or needs a new pencil, the candidate should raise his or her hand and the test administrator will take the old Scratch Booklet or pencil and provide the candidate a new one. Candidates should manage their work to ensure they 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.
• The candidate may neither write in the Scratch Booklet nor use a calculator prior to beginning the timed section of the exam when the first live exam question appears on the screen. This will take place after the completion of the tutorial.
• Raise your hand to notify the test administrator if you:
  • believe you have a problem with your computer
  • need another Scratch Booklet or pencil (used Scratch Booklet must be given to test administrator)
  • need to take a break
  • need assistance for any reason
• Disposable earplugs or noise canceling headphones will be available from the administrator.
• The computerized clock that times your specific exam will continue to run and will not be turned off for unplanned, unscheduled breaks. If there is a power outage, the time will stop counting down. The test will resume at the point where it left off when power is restored.
• A 15-minute warning will appear on your screen 15 minutes prior to the end of the timed exam—click “OK” to continue. After your examination is finished, you will be asked to complete a brief, computer-delivered questionnaire about your testing experience.
• If you have any additional comments about your testing experience, you are encouraged to send your comments directly to Prometric, SOA/CAS/CIA Program 5th floor, 1000 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
• 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.

Test centers move, new ones are opened, and some close from time to time. The most current list of test centers may be found on the Prometric Web Site at (www.prometric.com/soa). For candidates who experiences technical difficulties or test center closings on exam day, please see the next section for contact information.

Important Notice for Candidates Who Experience Technical Difficulties or Test Center Closings

In the event that a test center is closed due to weather-related issues or events outside of the test administrator’s control or a candidate experiences technical difficulties associated with the exam delivery while taking an exam, the candidate should notify the test administrator immediately at the time of the occurrence. On the rare occasion that the administrator is unable to resolve the technical issue, or if the test center is closed, the following options apply:

• The candidate’s exam fees are refunded in full. The candidate must submit a refund request online at www.soa.org (“View My Account”—see CBT Refund Policy section above) or by e-mail (cbtrefund@soa.org) and describe the situation. The incident will be verified with the test administrator. The candidate is advised to register for the next exam administration.

or

• The candidate is offered the option of sitting for a new test within the same exam window if a seat is available. If there are no available seats within the same exam window, the exam window will be extended as appropriate. The length of this extension will be at the discretion of the SOA/CAS/CIA and it will not exceed 5 calendar days past the affected exam window. In order to exercise this option, the candidate must notify the SOA (aabel@soa.org) within 24 hours of the occurrence of his or her intent to test within the exam window. The SOA will instruct the candidate on how to proceed.

In order to exercise either of the aforementioned options, it is critical that a candidate experiencing technical difficulties immediately, at the time of the occurrence, notify a test center administrator for the purposes of both trouble-shooting and documentation. Candidates with unsubstantiated claims will not be refunded or retested in the same exam window.

Confidentiality and Conduct Agreement

You can be disqualified from taking or continuing to sit for an examination, or from receiving examination results, or your exam may be disqualified if there is substantial reason to believe through proctor observations, statistical analysis, and/or other evidence that your score may not be valid or that you were engaged in collaborative, disruptive, or other unacceptable behavior during the administration of this examination.

Test Center Regulations

Grounds for Dismissal

Examination Discipline

• Gaining access to test questions before the examination or aiding someone else to do so.
• Using an unauthorized calculator (as defined above) or other mechanical aid that is not permitted.
• Having access to or consulting notes or books during the examination.
• Talking or otherwise communicating with another candidate during the examination.
• Disturbing other candidates during the examination.
• Consulting other persons outside the examination room during the examination.
• Removing or attempting to remove test questions and/or responses (in any format) or notes about the examination from the testing area.
• Taking unauthorized material from the test room.
• Taking an examination for another candidate.
• Arranging to have another person take an examination for the candidate.
• Threatening or physically or verbally abusing a supervisor or proctor responsible for curbing or reporting improper conduct.
• Disclosing the contents of an examination to any other person.
• Presenting false information on an examination application.
• Failing to follow other examination instructions.
• Tampering with the operation of the computer or attempting to use it for any function other than taking the examination.

Candidates taking actuarial exams are expected to follow the rules and procedures included in the official Study Note for the specific exam as well as announcements made by the proctors at the test centers. All candidates, on their applications for examinations, are required to read and sign the following statement: "I have read the rules and regulations concerning the examination(s) for which I am applying and agree to be bound by them. I also agree that the results of any examination(s) which I take, and any action taken as a result of my conduct may, at the sole discretion of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Casualty Actuarial Society, or the Society of Actuaries, be disclosed to any other bona fide actuarial organization that has a legitimate interest in such results and/or actions."

Disciplinary rules are published in the CAS Syllabus of Basic Education and the SOA Basic Education Catalog.

The Exam

As part of the computer-based testing process, a few pilot questions will be randomly placed in the exam (paper and pencil and computer-based forms). These pilot questions are included to judge their effectiveness for future exams, but they will NOT be used in the scoring of this exam. All other questions will be considered in the scoring. All unanswered questions are scored incorrect. Therefore, candidates should answer every question on the exam.

In the uncommon event that a candidate's computer freezes momentarily during the exam, the exam timer will also freeze so that the candidate will not lose exam time or completed questions. If the computer freezes for a significant period, the test administrator should be notified.

In addition, with the introduction of computer-based testing, a different approach to test development is being followed. Since the CBT exam will be offered over a period of a few days, multiple forms of the test are being created for use. Each candidate will receive a test form composed of questions selected from a pool of questions. Statistical scaling methods are used to ensure within reasonable and practical limits that, during the same testing period of a few days, all forms of the test are comparable in content and passing criteria. The methodology that has been adopted is used by many credentialing programs that give multiple forms of an exam.

In Canada—French/English Exam

Grades

For Exam FM/2
When an exam is first offered by CBT, immediate pass/fail results will not be available for the first few administrations. Grades for Exam FM/2 will be released approximately eight weeks after each exam administration in 2008 and will be available for both CBT and pencil-and-paper candidates in the SOA online transcript facility.