ACET December 2026
Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI)
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Overview
ACET (Actuarial Common Entrance Test) is the IAI entrance test for actuarial student membership; the December 2026 exam is on 5 December 2026. The Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) is a statutory body established under an Act of Parliament. ACET is meant for candidates who plan to enrol as student members of IAI and take its actuarial examinations. As on 31 March 2026 IAI had 12,186 members, of whom 11,005 were student members. Candidates in some categories, such as MBA in Finance holders with at least 60% and fully qualified members of ICAI, ICMAI or ICSI, are admitted to student membership without ACET.
ACET at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) |
| Level | Entrance test for IAI student membership, taken before the actuarial examinations |
| Purpose | A pass allows the candidate to apply for student membership; the result is valid for 3 years |
| Mode | Online, computer-based test with a proctor; the ACET FAQ describes the current format as home-based |
| Frequency | More than once a year; the FAQ says tentatively in June and December |
| Questions and marks | 70 multiple-choice questions, 100 marks, no negative marking |
| Duration | 3 hours, in a single slot on one day |
| Registration fee | Rs 3,000, not refundable |
| Exam centres | The ACET Exam Center page lists 16 cities: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Indore, Kochi, Coimbatore and Guwahati |
| Official website | actuariesindia.org |
Important dates (December 2026)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | 28 July 2026, 3:00 pm |
| Registration closes | 4 November 2026, 3:00 pm |
| Hall ticket | Not announced yet; it is released in the candidate's ACET login |
| Exam | 5 December 2026, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm |
| Result | 16 December 2026 |
After ACET
- The pass mark is 50% and there are no sectional cut-offs.
- A passed candidate applies for student membership online with the ACET candidate ID and date of birth, and uploads attested copies of education certificates; the result must be used within 3 years of its declaration.
- There is no revaluation or detailed marksheet for ACET; unsuccessful candidates can register again for a later session.
Sources: ACET examination dates; ACET exam structure; ACET FAQ; About ACET; IAI membership statistics (31 March 2026). Checked on 5 October 2026.
Conducting Body
Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI)
Category
Government
Level
National
Important Dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | Over | |
| Application closes | 29 days to go | |
| Exam date | 60 days to go |
Eligibility Criteria
The rules below are from IAI's About ACET page and FAQ; no age limit is printed on them.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Appeared in 10+2 or an equivalent examination and awaiting the result, or passed 10+2 or any higher course or examination |
| Streams | Any stream; the page names candidates in mathematical sciences (maths, statistics, econometrics), engineering, management, finance, diploma holders and chartered accountants, cost accountants and company secretaries |
| Class 12 appearing candidates | Can take ACET; the Class 12 pass must be in hand when applying for IAI student membership |
| Candidates outside India | Can appear for ACET |
| Attempts | Unsuccessful candidates can reappear by registering again; the fee is not carried forward |
| Validity of result | 3 years from the date of declaration, for taking student membership |
- Admitted to student membership without ACET, on application and documents: fully qualified members of ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI; MBA in Finance (minimum 60%); IIM and IIT graduates; BSc or MSc in Actuarial Science; B.E. from an institute (minimum 60%); Fellow Members of the Insurance Institute of India; candidates who passed two papers of IFoA (UK), SOA (US), CAS (US), ASSA or IAAust; and some Indian Statistical Institute degree holders.
Source: About ACET; ACET FAQ; Direct entry; Validity of ACET result.
Exam Pattern
ACET is a 3-hour online exam of 100 marks with 70 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. It is held on a single day in one slot.
| Subject | Marks |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 30 |
| Statistics | 30 |
| Data Interpretation | 15 |
| English | 15 |
| Logical Reasoning | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
- Question weightage: 45 questions of 1 mark, 20 questions of 2 marks and 5 questions of 3 marks.
- There is no negative marking; it was discontinued from the September 2019 exam.
- The pass mark is 50%, with no sectional cut-offs.
- Only the scientific calculator models on IAI's approved list may be used, for example Casio FX-82, FX-83 and FX-85 series, Texas Instruments BA II Plus and HP 12c; a candidate may be asked to show the calculator to the proctor.
- ACET is offered only as a computer-based test; the results normally come within 10 working days of the exam.
Source: ACET exam structure; ACET FAQ (December 2026 session).
Syllabus
Mathematics (30 marks)
- Notation and standard functions; numerical methods; algebra; differentiation; integration; vectors; matrices
Statistics (30 marks)
- Permutations and combinations; types of data; statistical diagrams (bar chart, histogram, dot plot, stem-and-leaf, boxplot); measures of location and spread, including skewness
- Probability: basic rules, tree diagrams, conditional probability; discrete and continuous random variables; discrete distributions (uniform, Bernoulli, binomial, Poisson); continuous distributions (uniform, exponential, normal); correlation and regression
English (15 marks)
- Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms); grammar and usage; sentence correction; fill in the blanks; cloze passage; analogies; jumbled paragraph; meaning-usage match; summary questions
- Verbal reasoning (facts, inferences, judgements); reading comprehension
Data Interpretation (15 marks)
- Tables, column graphs, bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, Venn diagrams, caselets and combinations of two or more types
Logical Reasoning (10 marks)
- Number and letter series; calendars; clocks; cubes; Venn diagrams; binary logic; seating arrangement; logical sequence and matching; logical connectives; syllogism; blood relations
Source: ACET syllabus; the page also lists reference books, which IAI says are for guidance only.
How to Apply for ACET December 2026
- Open the ACET sign-up page on the IAI website (member.actuariesindia.org/acetstudents), enter an email address and verify it with the one-time password.
- Fill in the online registration form using a computer browser such as Firefox or Chrome, not a mobile phone. Check every detail first, because nothing can be changed after payment.
- Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph (4.5 cm by 3.5 cm, plain white background, at least 150 by 150 pixels, up to 1 MB, in .png, .jpg, .bmp, .jpeg, .gif or .raw format).
- Pay the registration fee online; no other payment mode is accepted. A confirmation email follows, and the registration form should be printed.
- Download the hall ticket from the ACET login before the exam.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| ACET registration fee (covers one sample question paper, indicative solution and the online exam) | Rs 3,000 |
- Registration for the December 2026 session runs from 28 July 2026 (3:00 pm) to 4 November 2026 (3:00 pm).
- The fee is not refundable and cannot be carried forward to a later ACET.
- After passing, student membership is applied for through the Student Membership Form on the IAI site, which asks for the ACET candidate ID and date of birth and for attested copies of documents.
Source: ACET FAQ; ACET examination dates; Announcement for application of student membership (December 2026 session).
Apply online on the official portal: https://member.actuariesindia.org/acetstudents
Frequently Asked Questions
When is ACET December 2026?
ACET December 2026 is scheduled for 5 December 2026.
When can I apply for ACET December 2026?
Applications open on 28 July 2026 and close on 4 November 2026.
Who conducts ACET December 2026?
ACET December 2026 is conducted by Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI).
What is the eligibility for ACET December 2026?
The rules below are from IAI's About ACET page and FAQ ; no age limit is printed on them. Criterion Requirement Qualification Appeared in 10+2 or an equivalent examination and awaiting the result, or passed 10+2 or any higher course or examination Streams Any stream; the page names candidates in mathematical sciences (maths, statistics, econometrics), engineering, management, finance, diploma holders and chartered accountants, cost accountants and company secretaries Class 12 appearing…
What is the exam pattern of ACET December 2026?
ACET is a 3-hour online exam of 100 marks with 70 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. It is held on a single day in one slot. Subject Marks Mathematics 30 Statistics 30 Data Interpretation 15 English 15 Logical Reasoning 10 Total 100 Question weightage: 45 questions of 1 mark, 20 questions of 2 marks and 5 questions of 3 marks. There is no negative marking; it was discontinued from the September 2019 exam. The pass mark is 50%, with no sectional cut-offs. Only the…
What is the syllabus of ACET December 2026?
Mathematics (30 marks) Notation and standard functions; numerical methods; algebra; differentiation; integration; vectors; matrices Statistics (30 marks) Permutations and combinations; types of data; statistical diagrams (bar chart, histogram, dot plot, stem-and-leaf, boxplot); measures of location and spread, including skewness Probability: basic rules, tree diagrams, conditional probability; discrete and continuous random variables; discrete distributions (uniform, Bernoulli, binomial…
How do I apply for ACET December 2026?
Open the ACET sign-up page on the IAI website ( member.actuariesindia.org/acetstudents ), enter an email address and verify it with the one-time password. Fill in the online registration form using a computer browser such as Firefox or Chrome, not a mobile phone. Check every detail first, because nothing can be changed after payment. Upload a recent colour passport-size photograph (4.5 cm by 3.5 cm, plain white background, at least 150 by 150 pixels, up to 1 MB, in .png, .jpg, .bmp, .jpeg…
What is the official website of ACET December 2026?
The official website is https://actuariesindia.org/.