Preparing for the April 2025 exam session

As we continue to adopt more modern, digital-first methods of assessment, we’ll update this page with all the information and resources you’ll need

 

Our April 2025 exams are changing as we bring in new security measures to ensure we are protecting the integrity of IFoA exams. We are introducing two key changes that will affect exam candidates, remote invigilation, and closed book/closed web exams. This means the exam experience will be different for anyone who has previously sat IFoA exams.

We have created this central hub of information to help candidates understand everything they need to know when preparing for exams in April 2025.

Remote invigilation

The introduction of remote invigilation is an essential step forward to ensure we are maintaining the integrity of IFoA exams.

All exam candidates will be required to access the exam platform via a secure browser, which will record the screen and monitor activity during their exam. Candidates will also be required to show photo ID before they begin all exams, as part of an onboarding process.

See FAQs on preparing for a remote invigilated exam

To support you with these changes, we have updated our Assessment Regulations to ensure our exams continue to be inclusive and accessible. We have produced a new set of Exam Rules to help you understand what is and what is not allowed during your exam.

We recommend you download the secure browser as soon as possible to ensure you are prepared well in advance of your exams.

Download the secure guardian browser

We understand that exam candidates often use their work equipment to complete the exams, so you may wish to ensure your employer is aware of this requirement.

We will be working with nearly 300 student employer contacts to make sure employers have the information they need to support you as best they can. If you don’t think your employer has an employer contact registered with the IFoA, you can find out how they can get involved at student employer contacts.

Key changes for April 2025 exams

We have put together a list of specific frequently asked questions (FAQs) for April 2025 exams to answer candidates’ questions. We have also selected the most popular questions, to share answers with you here:

 

Closed book/closed web exams

  • You will no longer have unlimited access to the internet, or any other preprepared notes or materials during your exam. You can use scrap paper to make notes during your exams.

 

Breaks

  • You will be allowed to take two five minute breaks during your exam.
  • If you think you may need more time then please check our access arrangements web page to see if you are eligible to apply for additional breaks (not already agreed).

 

Single screen use during the exam

  • For our April 2025 exams you will be restricted to using only one monitor during your exam. For more information please see our April 2025 FAQs

 

One exam start time

  • To completely remove the possibility of any candidate having access to an exam paper in advance of anyone else during the exams, every exam will have a single start time. You can find more information in our April 2025 FAQs

 

Enhanced exam security measures for 2025

We know exam security is important to both candidates and employers, and we’ve heard your concerns about academic integrity and honesty.

We've been working to enhance security on our online exam platform, and can now confirm that we will introduce remote invigilation and identity verification in 2025.

Exam candidates will confirm their identity before accessing their exam papers. Candidates will also be monitored for the duration of their exam.

Find out more about the new measures

 

Objective based assessments

We would like to thank everyone who tested our business finance and business economics objective based assessments (OBAs). Your feedback and exam results have been used to refine the design and assure the quality of this new form of assessment.

To ensure candidates and employers can plan for future IFoA exams, we can confirm all IFoA exams will be delivered in their established format in April 2025.

We will continue work on preparing exams in OBA format, so we are ready to launch OBA exams when we launch a new exam system.

To support you sitting this style of exam when the time comes, we have provided some OBA study tips

 

New exam system

We remain committed to delivering a modern digital-first exam system with security and integrity at its heart.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our test exams in 2023. Feedback shared by candidates who took part was crucial in helping us reevaluate our exam delivery needs for the future.

We will provide updates on our progress and clarity on timelines for the introduction of a new exam system at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime we will be implementing remote invigilation and other exam security measures from April 2025 to ensure the integrity of IFoA exams.

Related resources

Objective based assessment: study tips

Why you may need to change your study preparation for OBA and three effective approaches you could take
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Key dates

Exam dates, exam entry dates, results release dates, and other key learning dates.
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Exam news

Get all the updates on the introduction of our new exam system and objective based assessments, and all other IFoA exam news
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