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Solved sample questions
Fully solved sample questions from the ActuaryDeck bank — original SOA Exam P and Exam FM problems with the complete worked solution, free to read and never behind a paywall.
These 12 questions are a fixed cross-section of the 400-question bank (400 in total, 220 for Exam P and 180 for Exam FM). They never rotate and they are never gated: read the solutions in full before deciding whether the rest is worth paying for.
#1Exam PSet theory and probability axiomsCore
A motor insurer finds that 48% of its policyholders have a telematics device, 31% have a named second driver, and 17% have both. What proportion have at least one of the two?
A0.1700
B0.6200
C0.6500
D0.7900
E0.9600
Solution
- 'At least one' is the union, so inclusion-exclusion applies: P(A∪B)=P(A)+P(B)−P(A∩B).
- Substituting the given proportions gives 0.48+0.31−0.17.
- That is 0.62. The subtraction is essential because the 17% with both were counted once in each of the first two figures.
- As a check, the proportion with neither is 1−0.62=0.38, which is consistent with the numbers given.
Trap. Adding 0.48 and 0.31 to get 0.79 forgets that the overlap has been double-counted.
#2Exam PConditional probability and independenceExam level
An insurer knows P(claim)=0.12 and P(claim∩young driver)=0.045. What proportion of claimants are young drivers?
A0.0054
B0.1200
C0.2667
D0.3750
E0.4500
Solution
- The question asks for P(young∣claim): the conditioning event is 'claim', so it is the denominator.
- P(young∣claim)=0.120.045.
- =0.375.
- Reading the question carefully matters here: 'what proportion of claimants' fixes the denominator, and getting that backwards gives 0.375 versus its reciprocal-style alternative.
Trap. Conditioning the wrong way round and computing P(claim | young) with the data given.
#3Exam PRandom variables and distribution functionsExam level
A device's lifetime in years has survival function S(t)=e−t/4 for t>0. What is the probability it survives more than 6 years?
A0.2231
B0.2865
C0.4724
D0.6065
E0.7769
Solution
- The survival function IS the answer: P(T>6)=S(6).
- S(6)=e−6/4=e−1.5.
- =0.223130.
- This is an exponential lifetime with mean 4 years, so surviving beyond 1.5 mean lifetimes has probability e−1.5.
Trap. Computing 1 − S(6) = 0.7769, which is the probability of failing before 6 years.
#4Exam PDiscrete distributionsExam level
In 8 independent trials with success probability 0.35, what is the probability of at most 2 successes?
A0.1373
B0.2786
C0.3428
D0.4279
E0.5721
Solution
- Sum the binomial mass function over k=0,1,2 with n=8, p=0.35.
- P(X=0)=(0.65)8=0.031864.
- P(X=1)=8(0.35)(0.65)7=0.137276; P(X=2)=28(0.35)2(0.65)6=0.258712.
- The total is 0.031864+0.137276+0.258712=0.427852.
- So a little over two fifths of samples contain at most two successes, against a mean of 2.8.
#5Exam PContinuous distributionsExam level
Losses follow an exponential with mean 1,000. What is the probability a loss lies between 500 and 1,500?
A0.2498
B0.3834
C0.4712
D0.6065
E0.7769
Solution
- P(500<X<1500)=S(500)−S(1500) — easiest through the survival function for an exponential.
- S(500)=e−0.5=0.606531.
- S(1500)=e−1.5=0.223130.
- 0.606531−0.223130=0.383401.
- Roughly two fifths of losses land in this middle band, with the rest split between small and very large claims.
#6Exam PMoment generating functionsExam level
For the MGF M(t)=0.2+0.3et+0.5e3t, find the variance.
A1.5600
B1.8000
C3.2400
D4.8000
E5.4000
Solution
- The distribution puts mass 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 on the values 0, 1 and 3.
- E[X]=1.8 from before, so (E[X])2=3.24.
- E[X2]=0(0.2)+1(0.3)+9(0.5)=4.8.
- Var(X)=4.8−3.24=1.56.
Trap. Reporting E[X²] = 4.8 as the variance.
#7Exam PTransformations and order statisticsExam level
X is exponential with mean 5 and Y=min(X,8). Find E[Y].
A3.9906
B4.0000
C5.0000
D6.5000
E8.0000
Solution
- Y is the limited variable, and E[X∧u]=∫0uS(x)dx for a non-negative variable.
- For an exponential, ∫0ue−x/θdx=θ(1−e−u/θ).
- =5(1−e−8/5)=5(1−0.201897).
- =5(0.798103)=3.990515, comfortably below the unlimited mean of 5 as any cap must be.
Trap. Reporting the unlimited mean 5, or capping the mean at 8 and answering 5 anyway.
#8Exam FMMeasurement of interestExam level
At what effective annual rate does money double in 12 years?
A5.9463%
B6.0000%
C6.1163%
D8.3333%
E12.0000%
Solution
- Solve (1+i)12=2.
- 1+i=21/12=1.059463.
- i=5.9463%.
- The 'rule of 72' estimate 72/12=6% is close, which is exactly why that approximation survives — but it is an approximation.
- The rule is most accurate near 8%; it drifts noticeably at very low or very high rates.
Trap. Using the rule of 72 as though it were exact.
#9Exam FMLevel annuitiesExam level
A 10-year annuity pays 1 at the end of each half-year, at a nominal 6% convertible semiannually. Find the present value.
A7.3601
B10.0000
C14.8775
D16.0000
E20.0000
Solution
- Work in half-years: the rate is 3% per period and there are 20 periods.
- a20∣0.03=0.031−1.03−20.
- 1.03−20=0.553676, so the factor is 0.030.446324.
- =14.877475. Treating the payments as annual at 6% would give 7.36, less than half the correct value.
Trap. Using 10 periods at 6% rather than 20 periods at 3%.
#10Exam FMLoan amortisation and sinking fundsExam level
A 100,000 loan charges 7% annually and is repaid in 12 years by the sinking-fund method, with the fund earning 5%. Find the total annual outlay.
A7,000.00
B12,590.20
C13,282.54
D14,000.00
E15,000.00
Solution
- The lender receives interest only: 100,000×0.07=7,000 a year.
- The sinking fund must accumulate to 100,000: D=s12∣0.05100,000=15.917127100,000=6,282.54.
- Total outlay: 7,000+6,282.54=13,282.54.
- Straight amortisation at 7% would cost 100,000/a12∣0.07=12,590.20 — cheaper, because the fund earns less than the loan costs.
Trap. Using a rather than s for the fund, which discounts instead of accumulating.
#11Exam FMBond pricing, premium and discountExam level
A 1,000 par 12-year bond with 4% annual coupons is bought to yield 6%. Find the discount (the amount by which C exceeds P).
A120.00
B167.68
C200.00
D240.00
E300.00
Solution
- P−C=(Fr−Ci)an∣, so the discount is (Ci−Fr)an∣.
- Ci−Fr=60−40=20 per year.
- a12∣0.06=8.383844.
- Discount =20(8.383844)=167.68, so the bond costs about 832 and accumulates up to 1,000 over its life.
Trap. Reporting the price rather than the discount, or getting the sign backwards.
#12Exam FMDuration and convexityExam level
Adding convexity, estimate the same bond's price at a 6.5% yield. Its modified convexity is 22.9187.
A978.94
B979.22
C980.00
D981.50
E985.00
Solution
- The second-order estimate is P(1−DModΔi+21CMod(Δi)2).
- The convexity correction is 21(22.9187)(0.005)2=0.000286.
- Pest=1,000(1−0.021062+0.000286).
- =979.22, within 0.07 of the true price — a threefold improvement on duration alone.
Trap. Forgetting the factor of one half on the convexity term.
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