IRDAI Surveyor Exam Pattern
Two papers minimum, 60% in each, four chances a year. Exactly how the pre-licensing exam is structured.
The IRDAI surveyor pathway tests you twice. The main event is the III pre-licensing examination: an online, computer-based MCQ exam where you must clear the compulsory S-01 paper (Principles and Practice of Insurance and Survey) plus at least one of seven departmental papers, each of 100 questions for 100 marks, at a passing standard of 60% with no negative marking. After the training year comes the shorter Final Practical Test.
The number that should organise your preparation is the 60%. Agent exams like IC-38 pass at 35%; this exam demands 60 in every paper, and the sessions run only periodically, typically four times a year. Underpreparing does not cost a week here, it costs a season.
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- S-01 and departmental mock papers
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The Pre-Licensing Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Mode | Online, computer-based, MCQ |
| Compulsory paper | S-01: Principles and Practice of Insurance and Survey (100 questions, 100 marks) |
| Departmental paper | At least one of seven (100 questions, 100 marks each) |
| Pass mark | 60% in each paper |
| Negative marking | None |
| Subjects per session | Up to about 3 |
| Sessions | Periodic; typically March, June, September, December |
How the Two-Paper Requirement Works
S-01 is everyone's paper: principles of insurance, the regulatory framework, survey procedure and report writing. The departmental paper is your specialisation, chosen from Fire, Motor, Marine Cargo, Marine Hull, Engineering, Miscellaneous and Loss of Profit. Licensing requires both cleared at 60%, and further departments can be added later by passing their papers.
Because up to about 3 subjects can be attempted per session and sessions repeat, a partial pass is not a reset: clear S-01 in one sitting and the departmental paper in the next if you must. But every extra session consumed eats into the 3-year enrolment-to-licence window, so the efficient plan is both papers in one sitting.
Questions in the format described here. No signup.
The Final Practical Test (After Training)
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| When | After roughly 12 months of practical training |
| Mode | Online, MCQ |
| Content | Practical survey, loss assessment and report writing |
| Size | 50 questions, 50 marks |
No Negative Marking Changes Tactics, Not Standards
Attempt every question; a blank scores the same as a wrong answer and forfeits the chance of a right one. What no-negative-marking does not do is soften the 60% requirement. On a 100-question paper, 60 correct answers is the floor in every single paper, which leaves little room for a weak topic area.
FAQs
How many papers must I pass in the surveyor exam?expand_more
At least two: the compulsory S-01 paper (Principles and Practice of Insurance and Survey) plus one of the seven departmental papers. Each is 100 questions for 100 marks, and each needs 60% to clear. More departments can be added later by passing their papers.
What is the pass mark for the IRDAI surveyor exam?expand_more
60% in each paper, with no negative marking.
How often is the surveyor pre-licensing exam held?expand_more
Periodically, typically four sessions a year, in March, June, September and December, with enrolment windows announced before each session.
Can I attempt S-01 and the departmental paper in different sessions?expand_more
Yes. Up to about 3 subjects can be attempted per session, and candidates can sit multiple sessions. Remember that the whole enrolment-to-licence journey must finish within 3 years, so spreading papers across sessions spends that window.
What is the Final Practical Test?expand_more
A post-training online MCQ assessment of 50 questions for 50 marks, covering practical survey work, loss assessment and report writing. It comes after roughly 12 months of practical training and precedes the licence application.
Next steps
Take a full surveyor mock testS-01 format, timed against the real 60% bar.