Exam P Details
Below we’ll lay out everything you need to know for your P exam from registration details to exam day to what to do after you receive your results.
Prerequisites
None. P is an ideal first exam for aspiring actuaries, along with Exam FM. Note that P requires knowledge of basic univariate calculus.
Exam Offerings
P is offered 6 times per year in the odd months (January, March, etc.).
Exam Format
30 Computer-based, multiple-choice questions
Exam Duration
3 Hours
Registration Info
Register online at www.soa.org before the registration deadline.
Upcoming exam windows and registration deadlines
Jan 13, 2025
Register by Dec 11, 2024Mar 14, 2025
Register by Feb 12, 2025May 9, 2025
Register by Apr 9, 2025
Exam Day and Results: Things To Keep In Mind
Don't forget your must-haves for exam day! Know what to bring and what to do after you pass the exam
What to Bring
- A government-issued photo ID that includes a signature
- Recommended Calculator: TI-30XS MultiView
(See Other Options)
Exam Results
After you complete your exam, you will receive a preliminary Pass-Fail result. This is not your official final result.
After approximately 8 to 11 weeks, the SOA will release the list of passing candidates' ID numbers. A few days after this list has been published, you will be able to see your final score in your official SOA transcript when you log into the SOA website.
Passing the Exam
If P was the first exam you’ve taken, you should take FM next, the other introductory exam. If you have passed FM, your next exam will depend on the actuarial society from which you wish to earn your designation.
Expert Tips: Helpful insights from our coaches
Our coaches know this exam inside and out. Check out their expert tips for achieving a passing score.
Stay calm during the exam, even if you see questions you don't know. Remember, you don't need to get every question right to pass. Just try to get those you know right, because every question is weighted equally.
Shi Yi Wong Content Coach
Understand the concepts as much as possible rather than memorizing them. Work on more practice problems to learn the method to tackle different types of questions.
Baron Cao Content Coach
P is uniquely challenging because there are usually many different ways to solve a single problem. Students become more prone to making mistakes due to this. Thus, it's best to stick to one strategy, but you'll need to determine what that will be.
Jon Lai Product Manager
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