[Updated October 23, 2024 to include information on the new exam format]
In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the AINS® & CPCU® virtual exams and give you some extra tips to help you pass your test!
In this post:
- About the virtual exams
- FAQs regarding the virtual exams
- Virtual exam demonstration (from The Institutes)
- Tips for taking your exams
Ace your AINS® & CPCU® exams with the help of our study materials!
About the AINS & CPCU Virtual Exams
Test format:
- Number of questions: 50 questions per exam
- Time limit: 65 minutes per exam
- No proctor (You do not need to have a webcam nor schedule a specific date & time to take the exam since no one will be monitoring you.)
- Exam is online-only & can be accessed through Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox
Exam registration:
- The Institutes offers four testing windows per year during which exams can be taken:
- January 15 to March 15
- April 15 to June 15
- July 15 to September 15
- October 15 to December 15
- You must pay for your exam registration fee through The Institutes (online or by phone) to gain access to the online test.
- You will receive an early bird registration discount if you register before the start of your chosen test window.
- After you have paid your fee, log in to your online account with The Institutes some time during your test window and click on My Courses and Exams to access the online test.
Conquer your AINS & CPCU exams using our study materials!
FAQs Regarding Exam Registration
1) Is there an option to take AINS & CPCU exams at a Prometric test center?
As of 2022, all exams are virtual-only. The option to take the exam at a Prometrics test center is no longer available.
2) Is there an option to take AINS & CPCU virtual exams at an on-site test center?
As of 2022, all exams are virtual-only. The option to take the exam at an on-ste test center, such as your employer’s office, is no longer available.
3) Is there an early bird registration discount?
Yes. If you register for the start of your test window, you will receive a discount on your exam registration fee.
4) If I take a virtual exam and do not pass, will I be allowed to retake it again during the same test window?
Yes, you may retake an exam once per test window. You will need to pay the exam registration fee every time you retake an exam, but it will be slightly discounted if you retake the exam during the same test window.
Also, the test questions on your retake will likely be different than the questions you got on your first attempt.
5) Can I see what the virtual exam interface looks like?
Yes. Visit The Institutes’ exam information page to see a video that highlights the features of the virtual exam interface:
Ace your AINS® & CPCU® exams with the help of our study materials!
Types of test questions:
- In the past, all AINS and CPCU exams consisted of only multiple-choice questions, where you must select the best answer out of four options.
- In July 2023, The Institutes released updated CPCU courses that included new question types on their simulated exam: fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, and multi-choice multiple choice questions (that had multiple correct answers and you had to correctly identify them all. At the time, The Institutes confirmed that there were no plans yet to change the test format.
- Beginning the test window that opened on October 15, 2024, many students confirmed that the test format has now changed to include fill-in-the-blank and drag-and-drop questions on both CPCU and AINS exams.
- We immediately contacted The Institutes to get more details, but the phone representative was unaware of the change. We emailed our list of questions to The Institutes’ customer service and are still waiting for a response.
FAQs regarding exam format:
We have emailed The Institutes to get more information and are still awaiting their response. As such, at this time, we can only report on what we saw in The Institutes’ simulated exams and what students have told us so far. When we hear back from The Institutes, we will update this page with any new information.
1) What are the new question formats?
The different question formats that have been noted are as follows:
Choose the single best answer out of the given answer choices.
In the past, all exam questions were of this type.
Type in your answer into the provided textbox. You must type out the exact word, phrase, or numerical answer to score the point.
TIPS:
- The questions we saw only asked for a single vocabulary word or the answer to a mathematical calculation, so it does not appear that you will be expected to write entire sentences.
- For questions that ask for a numerical response, read the question carefully to see what format they want the number in (percentage, decimal, whole number, etc.).
- We noticed that some textboxes had a character limit, and the correct answer choice was that exact number of characters. After typing your answer, you may want to see if you have hit the character limit. If you haven’t and can still add a few more characters, that might be an indication that you don’t have the answer they are looking for. Keep in mind that this wasn’t consistent on all fill-in-the-blank questions; some let you type indefinitely even though the right answer was only a single word.
- We did try deliberately misspelling an answer and it was marked wrong, so it appears that spelling will count.
You are given multiple items and two or more categories. You must match each answer to the correct category by dragging the item into the appropriate section. You must correctly match all of the items to get the point.
TIPS:
- The specific question we saw had six items that were to be divided between two categories, and the correct answer had three items in each cateogry. We noticed that when we had tried to drag a fourth item into either of the categories, the system would not accept more than three answers and kept kicking one back out. If you notice the same thing occurring, that might be an indicator that the category doesn’t have any more answer choices as you had incorrectly thought.
[NOTE: Students have not reported seeing this type of question on their actual exams, but this type of question is present in The Institutes’ simulated exam, so we are including it in our discussion here.]
Select all of the correct answer choices.
The question usually asks you to identify all of the items that fall under a certain category or fit the question prompt (example: Which of the following are covered causes of losses under a commercial crime policy?).
You must select all of the correct answers to score the point. You will not get partial credit for getting only some answers correct.
2) What designations are affected by this format change?
As of October 24, 2024, students have reported seeing the new question types on all of the following exams: CPCU, AINS, ARM, AIDA, AIC.
Since so many designations have been affected so far, we think it is best to assume that all of The Institutes’ exams now follow this new format and to plan accordingly.
We have asked The Institutes for official confirmation, but we are still awaiting their response.
3) Are the exams still 50 questions long?
Yes, according to The Institutes’ exam information page.
4) Do all exams still have a 65-minute time limit?
Yes, according to The Institutes’ exam information page.
5) Will all exams have the same ratio of multiple choice vs. fill-in-the-blank vs. drag-and-drop questions?
Based on students’ feedback, it appears that the mix of questions varies from student to student.
Tips for taking your exam:
- Do not wait until the very last day of the test window to take your exam. We have heard of many instances where there was a technical issue with The Institutes’ website and students were not able to contact customer service until the next day, after which The Institutes needed yet another day to fix the issue. The safest approach is to take the exam at least 2 days prior to the test window.
- Many students have reported that if you indicate you need continuing education (CE) credits, you will be locked out of your exam for at least 24 hours while the system processes that request. Again, do not wait until the last day to take your exam in case you encounter this same problem.
- Read the entire question and all answer choices carefully!
- All questions are only worth one point, so guess and move on if you are taking too long to answer a particular question. Flag the question so that you can come back to later if you still have time. That way, you can rack up points on any easier questions that come afterwards before you run out of time.
- You are allowed to have scratch paper, a pen or pencil, and a basic calculator handy.
- If seeing the timer will stress you out, use a sticky note to cover it up. You may want to set an alarm to give you an early warning that you are near the end of your time.
- As you are reading the question, use your mouse to drag over key words like “except,” “not,” and so forth to call attention to them.
- Although the test interface does let you flag questions, it can be very helpful to also keep a list of those questions on your scratch paper so that you can add extra notes about the question, or star the ones that you think you are more likely to get correct when you go back to answer them so you can prioritize those if you are low on time.
How to Minimize Distractions During Your Test
- Try to eliminate distractions at home (ex: arrange for a babysitter, keep pets out of the room, silence your phone, etc.).
- Create a space that mimics a test center. For example, it is better to take your exam in an office space rather than to do it on your laptop in bed.
- Test your internet connection and browser version before starting your exam.
- Make sure you have plenty of scratch paper, a few working pens or pencils to take notes, and a calculator of the permitted type.
- Test the calculator to make sure it works and has fresh batteries.
- If possible, try to use a wired internet connection rather than wireless or wi-fi, to ensure a consistent connection that is less likely to cut off.
- Before you start your exam, put up a piece of paper on the wall with a mantra that will help you calm down or refocus in case you mentally stray.
- If you have a safe alternative site you can go to besides home, such as your work place, consider testing there to minimize at-home disruptions.
Why our study programs work
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See concepts in action
You will be tested on your ability to apply the concepts to different situations, so we provide plenty of examples to show you how things work.
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Some things won't make sense until you have enough background info. We give extra context where you'd need it to fully grasp the material.
Easy to review
Besides learning the content, you have to remember it all. Our paid study programs include our famous study guides that make it super easy to refresh your memory.
CHOOSE YOUR COURSE
AINS 101
Increasing Your Insurance IQ
FREE study materials available!
(click LEARN MORE for details)
AINS 102
Understanding Personal Insurance
AINS 103
Exploring Commercial Insurance
CPCU 500
Becoming a Leader in
Risk Management & Insurance
CPCU 520
Meeting Challenges Across
Insurance Operations
CPCU 530
Applying Legal Concepts
to Insurance
CPCU 540
Contributing to
Insurer Financial Performance
CPCU 550
Maximizing Value with
Data and Technology
CPCU 551
Managing Commercial
Property Risk
Note: We will not be offering
a full online study program
for CPCU 551
CPCU 552
Managing Commercial
Liability Risk
Note: We will not be offering
a full online study program
for CPCU 552
CPCU 555
Advancing Personal
Insurance Products
Note: We will not be offering
a full online study program
for CPCU 555
CPCU 556
Building a Competitive Edge
in Personal Lines
Note: We will not be offering
a full online study program
for CPCU 556
Ethics 311
Ethical Decision Making
for Risk and Insurance
Disclaimers: The Institutes, CPCU®, and AINS® are trademarks of the American Institute For Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters, d/b/a The Institutes. InsuranceExamGuides.com is not affiliated or associated with The Institutes in any way, and The Institutes do not endorse, approve, support, or otherwise recognize InsuranceExamGuides.com or its products or services. CPCU® and AINS® are registered trademarks of The Institutes. All rights reserved.