SOA Exam ALTAM exam at a glance
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Each is a distinct question set built on the real 45-question, 165-minute pattern, with instant scoring and section-wise analysis. The first is free; unlock all 50 forever for $1.99 (one-time, no subscription).
SOA Exam ALTAM key facts & eligibility
| Conducting body | Society of Actuaries (SOA). |
|---|---|
| Official website | soa.org — Exam ALTAM ↗ |
| Mode | Computer-based, written-answer exam at a Prometric test centre; one question is answered in an Excel workbook. |
| Frequency | Offered twice a year — a Spring and a Fall sitting. |
| Scoring & marking | A written-answer exam of 6 questions worth 60 points total over 3 hours, with partial credit; one question is completed in Excel. Answers are graded by SOA member committees and reported on a 0–10 scale with 6 as the pass mark. ALTAM replaced the long-term portion of the retired LTAM. |
| Language | English. |
Who is eligible for SOA Exam ALTAM?
Open to anyone — no degree requirement. Candidates take either ALTAM or ASTAM as their advanced exam; FAM is the recommended predecessor.
Last verified July 2026 against SOA — Exam ALTAM, SOA — Examination grading process. Always confirm current details on the official website before you register.
SOA Exam ALTAM section breakdown
The SOA Exam ALTAM mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.
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SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q)
Marking scheme
+1 per correct. Try your score.
Strategy: SOA Exam ALTAM has no negative marking. Attempt every question — blank answers cost you potential marks but cannot pull your score down.
Scale: SOA Exam ALTAM (pass 700/1000).
How SOA Exam ALTAM is conducted
- Mode
- Test format
- Backtracking
- Mark for review
SOA Exam ALTAM time strategy
With 45 questions in 165 minutes, you have about 220 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:
- SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q)
Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.
SOA Exam ALTAM topics covered
Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of SOA Exam ALTAM, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):
SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q)
- ALTAM — Pension Mathematics · 8
- ALTAM — Multiple Lives · 8
- ALTAM — Multiple-State Models · 8
- ALTAM — Profit Testing · 7
- ALTAM — Universal Life & Participating · 5
- ALTAM — Embedded Options & Interest Rates · 5
- ALTAM — Multiple Decrements · 4
SOA Exam ALTAM difficulty calibration
Elite tier. Elite-tier: among the toughest exams in its category. Most successful candidates prepare for 6-12+ months.
SOA ALTAM · written-answer, 2.75h. Long-term insurance & annuities — survival models, multiple-state models, profit testing, pension & retirement benefits. · Official language: English.
Verified content — Wrexa Edge's SOA Exam ALTAM bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).
How Wrexa Edge prepares you for SOA Exam ALTAM
- Real test-day interface
- 50 distinct variants
- Detailed analytics
- Spaced repetition (Notebook)
- Optional proctoring
- Free to start
Expert take: what SOA Exam ALTAM really tests
ALTAM (Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics) is the SOA’s advanced long-term exam covering life-contingent and pension valuation. It is a 3-hour, 6-question, 60-point written-answer exam (one question in Excel), committee-graded on a 0–10 scale with 6 to pass, and it replaced the long-term portion of the retired LTAM.
Preparation tips
- Practise full written solutions showing method and formulas — partial credit rewards clear work.
- Master multi-state / Markov models; they dominate the exam.
- Rehearse the Excel-question mechanics before exam day.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Studying only for a "right number" — graders reward shown methodology.
- Choosing ALTAM when your target FSA track is Health or General Insurance (ASTAM fits those better).
SOA Exam ALTAM study plan
A phase-by-phase roadmap from your first concept to test-ready. Stretch or compress each phase to fit the time you have before your attempt.
- Master multi-state (Markov) models — they dominate the exam
- Cover advanced life-insurance and annuity valuation
- Study from Actuarial Mathematics for Life Contingent Risks
- Cover pension / retirement-benefit mathematics and profit testing/reserves
- Rehearse the Excel-based question mechanics
- Practise showing full method and formulas for partial credit
- Work SOA sample written-answer questions with model solutions
- Time full 6-question, 60-point sittings
- Refine clear, structured written solutions
Where SOA Exam ALTAM can take you
A strong SOA Exam ALTAM result opens up these careers and higher-study paths:
- ASA advanced exam (long-term)
- Life / annuities / retirement actuary
- Toward FSA
Best books & official prep for SOA Exam ALTAM
- Actuarial Mathematics for Life Contingent Risks — Dickson, Hardy & Waters
Official practice: The SOA publishes the ALTAM syllabus, an introductory study note and sample written-answer questions with model solutions.
Previous-year papers: The SOA releases sample written-answer questions and solutions rather than full past papers.
Sample SOA Exam ALTAM practice questions
5 questions taken from the SOA Exam ALTAM mock tests on Wrexa Edge. Try each one, then reveal the answer.
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Q1. What is the "normal cost" of a defined benefit plan for a year?
- The total benefits paid to all retirees during that year
- The unfunded liability amortized over that year
- The administrative expense of the plan for that year
- The EPV of benefits attributed to that year's service
Show answer
Answer: D — The EPV of benefits attributed to that year's service
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Q2. Given äy = 12.0 and äxy = 9.0, what is the value of the annuity-due reversionary annuity payable to (y) after the death of (x), äx|y?
- 3.00
- 21.00
- 9.00
- 12.00
Show answer
Answer: A — 3.00
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Q3. What does the Kolmogorov forward equation for d/dt tp_x^{ij} express?
- Outflows from state i minus inflows to state i at time 0
- Inflows to state j minus outflows from state j at time t
- The EPV of benefits payable while in state j
- The change in reserve for a policy in state j
Show answer
Answer: B — Inflows to state j minus outflows from state j at time t
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Q4. Under the contribution principle for participating policies, how is surplus distributed?
- Equally per policy, whatever the policy type or its size
- Entirely to the most recently issued policy group
- In proportion to how each group contributed to surplus
- Only to policies that have already reached maturity
Show answer
Answer: C — In proportion to how each group contributed to surplus
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Q5. A profit vector for years 0–3 is (−100, 30, 40, 50). Survival probabilities are px = 0.99 and px+1 = 0.98. What is the year-3 element of the profit signature?
- 49.00
- 50.00
- 49.50
- 48.51
Show answer
Answer: D — 48.51
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SOA Exam ALTAM exam pattern?
- Society of Actuaries — Exam ALTAM (Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics) contains 45 questions across 1 section: SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q). Total duration is 165 minutes (about 220 seconds per question).
- Does SOA Exam ALTAM have negative marking?
- No — SOA Exam ALTAM has no negative marking. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark, so attempt every question.
- How is SOA Exam ALTAM scored?
- Scaled score range: 100 to 1000. SOA Exam ALTAM (pass 700/1000).
- How can I practise SOA Exam ALTAM online for free?
- Wrexa Edge gives you a free full-length SOA Exam ALTAM mock test — with instant scoring, detailed explanations and analytics — plus 49 more with a one-time $1.99 unlock that never expires. Start practising in under a minute, no card required.
- What is the difficulty level of SOA Exam ALTAM?
- SOA Exam ALTAM is rated Elite difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Elite-tier: among the toughest exams in its category. Most successful candidates prepare for 6-12+ months. SOA ALTAM · written-answer, 2.75h. Long-term insurance & annuities — survival models, multiple-state models, profit testing, pension & retirement benefits. · Official language: English.
- How long is the SOA Exam ALTAM exam?
- SOA Exam ALTAM runs for 165 minutes total. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.
- What topics are covered in SOA Exam ALTAM?
- SOA Exam ALTAM is split into: SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q). Each section is timed and weighted separately. SOA ALTAM · written-answer, 2.75h. Long-term insurance & annuities — survival models, multiple-state models, profit testing, pension & retirement benefits. · Official language: English.
- What tools or aids are allowed during SOA Exam ALTAM?
- No special tools are required. Note: real exam is proctored — Wrexa Edge mirrors this with a webcam-based proctoring flow you can enable.
- Is the SOA Exam ALTAM test adaptive?
- No — SOA Exam ALTAM is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
- How many SOA Exam ALTAM mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?
- Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct SOA Exam ALTAM variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options — the first one free for everyone and 49 more with a one-time $1.99 unlock. That's 2250 unique practice questions in the real test-day interface.
- Is there a free SOA Exam ALTAM test series 2026?
- Yes. The Wrexa Edge SOA Exam ALTAM test series for 2026 gives you a free full-length mock test (50 in total) plus subject-wise and topic-wise tests — instant scoring and detailed analysis, no card required.
- Are SOA Exam ALTAM previous year question–style papers included?
- Every SOA Exam ALTAM mock is modelled on the official exam pattern and the style of previous years' papers — the same 45-question structure, sections and marking — so your practice mirrors the real paper you'll sit.
- Which is the best free SOA Exam ALTAM mock test online?
- Wrexa Edge's SOA Exam ALTAM mock test replicates the real exam interface, timing and marking scheme, with instant score, section-wise analysis and 50 fresh variants — a strong free choice for 2026 preparation.
- Can I take the SOA Exam ALTAM mock test on mobile?
- Yes. SOA Exam ALTAM mock tests run in any browser on mobile, tablet or desktop — no app or download needed. Start on your phone and your progress and analytics sync when you sign in.
- What is the SOA Exam ALTAM syllabus?
- The SOA Exam ALTAM syllabus maps to its 1 section: SOA Exam ALTAM (45 Q). Wrexa Edge's mock tests cover the complete syllabus topic by topic — see the topics-covered breakdown above — so you practise every area at real exam difficulty.
- What is the eligibility for SOA Exam ALTAM?
- Open to anyone — no degree requirement. Candidates take either ALTAM or ASTAM as their advanced exam; FAM is the recommended predecessor. Wrexa Edge focuses on realistic SOA Exam ALTAM practice: a free full-length mock in the exact exam pattern, ready whenever you are.
- When is the SOA Exam ALTAM exam and how should I prepare?
- Official SOA Exam ALTAM exam dates are announced by the conducting body for each cycle — check the latest notification for the current schedule. To be ready, follow a phased study plan and take full-length timed mocks; Wrexa Edge gives you a free SOA Exam ALTAM mock with instant scoring so you can track your readiness week by week.
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