|
If you need assistance with this product, please call Customer Service
at (800) 644-2101 or e-mail customerservice@theinstitutes.org.
If you have concerns regarding one of the questions on the practice exams, please e-mail
customerservice@cpcuiia.org. To help us serve you better please include within your e-mail a screen shot of the question(s).
Q: How are SMART Online Practice Exams delivered?
A: Effective September 20, 2011, all SMART Online Practice Exams are now delivered through The Institutes’ Web site. All you have to do to access the exam is log on to www.TheInstitutes.org and click the SMART Practice Exam Activation button on our home page and enter the unique code on the inside back cover of your course guide. Once you have activated your code, you will be able to access your SMART Online Practice Exam by logging into your Institutes account.
Q: What if I already activated my code and installed the software on my PC before September 20, 2011?
A: Students who activated their SMART Online Practice Exam code prior to September 12, 2011, and installed the software on their PC will continue to have access to their SMART Practice Exams through the installed software. The Institutes will continue supporting the software based version of the SMART Practice Exams until December 31, 2011. Support of the software based SMART Practice Exams will be discontinued after that date.
If you have not yet taken your exam and still need the most up-to-date content of the SMART Online Practice Exam after December 31, 2011, contact Customer Service to obtain a new code so you can access the new Web-based version of the practice exam.
Q: Where can I find the SMART Online Practice Exams access code?
A: The access code is printed on the inside back cover of your course guide.
Q: What do I do with the access code?
A: On the Institutes’ Web site (www.aicpcu.org), click on the SMART Practice Exams link under Examinations or Student Services on the home page. You will be prompted to log in. After logging in, you will see the SMART button. Click on that button, and you will see a place to enter your access code. After you have successfully entered your access code to activate your practice exam questions for your course, click the To Download SMART Practice Exam Software button. This will take you to the instructions page, which contains a link to download the SMART Online Practice Exams software. You have to install the software only once on your personal computer. When you take another Institutes course in the future, you need only to activate the access code for that new course. The software will already be installed on your personal computer.
Q: What types of questions will I see on the SMART Online Practice Exams?
A: You will see the same types of questions on the SMART Online Practice Exams that you will encounter on the credentialing exam. The practice exams contain a variety of questions based on the course’s educational objectives.
For CPCU essay exams, the course guide lists and defines many of the action words used in the course’s educational objectives. Become familiar with these action words before taking the practice exam so that you will know how to approach a question that asks you to apply a principle, illustrate a concept, or evaluate a plan. Each of these action words requires a different type of answer. Be prepared to take your cue from the action word before you start to compose your answer.
Most questions can be completely answered in one or two paragraphs or less. Always be as responsive as possible to the question, but do not pad your answer. Direct answers that focus on the action word, contain the correct information, and end when the question has been answered earn full credit on the exam. However, exam graders often give partial credit when students provide part of the correct answer.
For objective exams, the practice exam questions are the same types you will find on the credentialing exam—all are multiple-choice questions. The specific types include:
The Correct Answer Type
In this type of question, the question stem is followed by four responses, one of which is absolutely correct. Select the correct answer.
Which one of the following persons evaluates requests for insurance and determines which applicants are accepted and which are rejected?
- The premium auditor
- The loss control representative
- The underwriter
- The risk manager
The Best Answer Type
In this type of question, the question stem is followed by four responses, only one of which is best given the statement made or facts provided in the stem. Select the best answer.
Several people within an insurer might be involved in determining whether an applicant for insurance is accepted. Which one of the following is primarily responsible for determining whether an applicant for insurance is accepted?
- The loss control representative
- The customer service representative
- The underwriter
- The premium auditor
The Incomplete Statement or Sentence-Completion Type
In this type of question, the last part of the question stem consists of a portion of a statement rather than a direct question. Select the phrase that correctly or best completes the sentence.
Residual market plans designed for individuals who have been unable to obtain insurance on their property in the voluntary market are called
- VIN plans.
- Self-insured retention plans.
- Premium discount plans.
- FAIR plans.
"All of the Above" Type
In this type of question, only one of the first three answers could be correct, or all three might be correct, in which case the right answer would be “All of the above.” Read all the answers and select the right answer.
When a large commercial insured’s policy is up for renewal, which of the following is (are) likely to provide input to the renewal decision process?
- The underwriter
- The loss control representative
- The producer
- All of the above
"All of the following, EXCEPT:" Type
In this type of question, responses include three correct answers and one answer that is incorrect or is clearly the least correct. Select the incorrect or least correct answer.
All of the following adjust insurance claims, EXCEPT:
- Insurer claim representatives
- Premium auditors
- Producers
- Independent adjusters
Q: How do I grade my CPCU Practice Essay Exam?
A:The exam review screen will show:
- The question and your answer.
- The suggested answer and point value for that answer.
- The maximum points allowed for the question when evaluating your answer.
- The score value option—a place for you to indicate how many points you believe your answer has earned.
Q: How do I print a SMART Online Practice Exam?
A: There is a printable sample credentialing exam. A link to this exam will appear on your account page once you have entered your access code or when you activate the SMART Online Practice Exams.
Q: What should I do if I have purchased a course guide, but my access code does not work?
A:Please call our Customer Service Department for help at (800) 644-2101.
Q: How do I take and save an exam?
A: Your practice exam is saved after each attempt
Q: How do I locate a saved exam?
A: Go to the Exam Setup page. Click “Open a Previously Saved Exam.” Select your exam from the drop-down menu of saved exams.
Q: Do I have to take a full exam?
A: No, you can answer questions covering a single assignment.
Q: Can I review my exam before I grade it?
A: Yes, before clicking the Submit all and finish, you may review the exam questions and your answers. Click on the Save without submitting button and review by scrolling.
Q: Why can't I share my access code?
A:Access to SMART Online Practice Exam is included in the cost of each course guide. Each student should buy his or her own course guide to gain access to the practice exam, which is linked to your personal Institutes account. To share your access code, you would have to allow another student to view your personal student records, which could allow the student to view your grades and change your personal information. Sharing of the access code is considered a copyright violation.
Q: How many questions are on the practice exams?
A: Full and Final practice exams contain the same number of questions as the actual credentialing exam. Practice exams for individual assignments can vary in length.
Q: Can I take the practice exams from any personal computer?
A: You can take the practice exams from any computer with Internet access.
Q: Where can I learn more about Institutes’ exams?
A: The How to Prepare for Institutes Exams! free handbook printable from Student Services on the Institutes’ Web site or available by calling Customer Service at (800) 644-2101 is designed to help you by giving you ideas on how to use textbooks and course guides as effective learning tools, providing steps for answering exam questions effectively, and recommending exam-day strategies.
Q: How do I register for the credentialing exam?
A: Please refer to the exam registration booklet, “Exam Information” section of the InstitutesInstitutes’ Succeed catalog, or the Examination area of our Web site.
| 
