Exam ALTAM
Exam ALTAM
Everything You Need To Pass
Coaching Actuaries gives you the tools to study smarter and pass the Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics Exam.
Your Coaches
Here To Help
Meet our team of expert coaches who will guide you through ALTAM.
Dave Kester, FSA, MAAA
Exam ALTAM Video CoachAttained FSA via the ILA TrackI’ve been helping aspiring actuaries for more than 20 years. When I’m not teaching, I like to read, run, and listen to good math stories. When I was preparing for the actuarial exams, there was nothing like Coaching Actuaries. Now, we combine teaching and technology to guide the next generation of actuarial students.
Product Team
Jia Bin Ho, ASA, CFA
Exam ALTAM Product ManagerPursuing FSA via the QFI TrackI graduated from Drake University in 2012. I'm a math geek who likes to travel. My favorite place I've been to is New York City for all the different museums! One of my bucket list items is to visit every state in the US.
Exam ALTAM Overview
What To Expect
Exam Details
Written-Answer Questions, Administered by Prometric
- Questions and formula sheet shown on computer
- Answers written in paper booklet
- Scratchpad will be provided
- Excel workbook available but not submitted for grading
Registration Deadline
September 25, 2023 (Midnight CST)
Exam Duration
3 Hours
Next Available Sitting
October 24, 2023
Before the Exam
Exam ALTAM Offerings
ALTAM is offered twice per year, once in April or May, and once in October or November.
How Do I Register?
- Register online at www.soa.org before the registration deadline.
- Wait 3-5 business days to receive an email confirmation letter.
- Schedule a seat at a Prometric Center.
Learn more about how to register for official SOA exams on their website.
Highest-Weighted Concepts
Questions related to these concepts will appear the most on the exam.
- Multiple State Models
- Multiple Decrement Models
- Pension Mathematics
- Profit Analysis
Note that written-answer exams are often challenging for actuarial candidates used to the multiple-choice format used for other exams.
Tip from Coach Tong, FSA, CFA
"It is very important that you know how to solve problems using basic principles. You should always view basic principles as the core of your learning, and shortcuts as a supplement, not the other way around. Students who memorize shortcuts without understanding them will struggle on the actual exam."
Day of Exam
What To Bring:
- A government-issued photo ID that includes a signature
- Recommended Calculator: TI-30XS MultiView
(See Other Options) - A reference to your five-digit candidate ID (for exam submission)
Coach K's Story
“I took the old version of this exam, MLC. Once I passed that exam, I thought I could pass any exam. This can be the big hurdle to be certified!”
Coach Shi Yi's Story
“I took the previous version of this exam, MLC. When I was working on the exam, I felt like I couldn't solve a lot of the problems, but I tried to write down as much as I could for the written answer part. I came out of the exam hall thinking that I would fail. 2.5 months later, to my surprise, I passed! Thinking back to that day, I think I passed because I wrote down as much as I could, even for questions that I wasn't sure how to solve. Thus, my advice is: do not give up, and always try to put in what you know. This will get you partial credit, which is very, very important, and can be a factor that determines if you pass or fail!”
Tip from Coach Terence, ASA
"A big part of passing a written-answer exam is to accumulate as many partial credit points as possible. Even if you can't fully answer a question, clearly communicate your thought process as much as possible. Be sure to show your work. Include all important steps or formulas."
Tip from Coach Terence, ASA
“Time management is key. Try your best to spend no more than 3 minutes per point. If you think you know how to answer a question but you're pressed for time, at least write a list of steps you'd take and/or formulas you'd use to arrive at the final answer. You may get partial credit.”
Tip from Coach Larry
"You'll have access to an Excel workbook during the exam (note that it won't be submitted for grading). Utilize the workbook to your advantage to expedite/verify calculations."
After the Exam
Getting Your Exam Results
After approximately 8 to 11 weeks, the SOA will release the list of passing candidate ID numbers. A few days after that, you will get your exam score in your official SOA transcript when you log into the SOA website.
Next Steps
