# SOA Exam SRM Study Plan & Practice System SOA Exam SRM study plan: GLMs, decision trees, PCA, cluster analysis, time series. Adaptive flashcards and weekly schedule. Canonical URL: https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/ [Actuarial](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/index.md)›Exam SRM SOA Exam SRM · Statistics for Risk Modeling Updated August 2026 Exam SRM covers statistical learning and predictive modeling fundamentals. Heavy on GLMs and tree-based methods. Typically 100–150 hours of prep. Upload your study notes and PDF handouts and exclam.ai builds adaptive flashcards, quizzes, and a weekly plan tuned to the SRM syllabus. Typical hours ~125 Typical weeks ~12 Topic areas 5 Pass rate ~55–65% [Build your study plan](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/index.md#plans) ## Exam format 3.5-hour computer-based test. Multiple-choice questions covering statistical learning concepts. No computer programming is required on SRM — that comes in Exam PA. No coding on SRM — multiple-choice only. Exam PA is where you actually write R. GLMs and decision tree-based methods dominate the content (together 60-75%). Typically one of the higher pass rates among preliminary exams. Often taken alongside or immediately before Exam PA. Format details change periodically. Always verify the current exam structure on [soa.org](https://www.soa.org/) before your exam. ## Exam SRM topic areas The 5 topic areas tested on Exam SRM, with approximate weight bands from the public SOA syllabus. Click any topic for a dedicated study page. [Basics of Statistical Learning 7–13% Supervised and unsupervised learning, model assessment, bias-variance tradeoff, and resampling methods including cross-validation. Study this topic](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/basics-of-statistical-learning/index.md) [Linear Models 40–50% Ordinary least squares regression, generalized linear models, variable selection, and regularization techniques. Study this topic](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/linear-models/index.md) [Decision Trees 20–25% Classification and regression trees, pruning, and ensemble methods including bagging, random forests, and boosting. Study this topic](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/decision-trees/index.md) [Principal Components and Cluster Analysis 5–10% Dimension reduction via principal components analysis and unsupervised clustering via k-means and hierarchical clustering. Study this topic](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/principal-components-and-cluster-analysis/index.md) [Time Series Models 5–10% Introduction to time series analysis including autoregressive, moving average, and ARIMA models. Study this topic](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/time-series-models/index.md) Topic names and approximate weight bands sourced from the public SOA Exam SRM syllabus on soa.org. ## How exclam.ai helps with Exam SRM ### Upload your study manual Drop in your ACTEX Exam SRM digital edition (full-corpus PDF), scanned ASM pages, TIA handouts, or your own notes. exclam.ai parses them into structured content for a fully guided study plan. ### Generate flashcards & quizzes AI generates flashcards for formulas and concepts, plus multiple-choice quizzes targeting each of the 5 topic areas. Edit any card. ### Get a weekly adaptive plan Coverage phase, review phase, and mocks — distributed across your ~12-week timeline or whatever you choose. ## Exam SRM study plan Pick the timeline that matches your exam date. exclam.ai spreads roughly 125 hours across coverage, review, and mock phases — each reading paired with its own quiz and FSRS flashcards. Switch the plan length to rebalance the schedule instantly. Plan length 6 weeks10 weeks14 weeks18 weeks24 weeks 14 weeks · ~9h/week ### Approximate milestones 14 weeks CoverageMonths 1–2 1. Basics of Statistical Learning~wk 2 2. Linear Models~wk 4 3. Decision Trees~wk 6 4. Principal Components and Cluster Analysis~wk 7 5. Time Series Models~wk 8 ReviewMonths 2–3 Mock examsMonth 3 Examend of Month 3 #### Your full plan · 14 weeks to exam day 14 weeks · ~9h/week CoverageReviewMocks· chips show the task mix for that week; buffer days are the planned rest ##### September 2026 1. Wk 1Sep 28 – Oct 4Basics of Statistical LearningCoverageReadQuizFlashcards7–13%4 study · 3 buffer ##### October 2026 1. Wk 2Oct 5 – Oct 11Basics of Statistical LearningCoverageReadQuizFlashcards7–13%4 study · 3 buffer 2. Wk 3Oct 12 – Oct 18Linear ModelsCoverageReadQuizFlashcards40–50%4 study · 3 buffer 3. Wk 4Oct 19 – Oct 25Linear ModelsCoverageReadQuizFlashcards40–50%4 study · 3 buffer 4. Wk 5Oct 26 – Nov 1Decision TreesCoverageReadQuizFlashcards20–25%4 study · 3 buffer ##### November 2026 1. Wk 6Nov 2 – Nov 8Decision TreesCoverageReadQuizFlashcards20–25%4 study · 3 buffer 2. Wk 7Nov 9 – Nov 15Principal Components and Cluster AnalysisCoverageReadQuizFlashcards5–10%4 study · 3 buffer 3. Wk 8Nov 16 – Nov 22Time Series ModelsCoverageReadQuizFlashcards5–10%4 study · 3 buffer 4. Wk 9Nov 23 – Nov 29ReviewReviewQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer 5. Wk 10Nov 30 – Dec 6ReviewReviewQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer ##### December 2026 1. Wk 11Dec 7 – Dec 13ReviewReviewQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer 2. Wk 12Dec 14 – Dec 20MocksMocksQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer 3. Wk 13Dec 21 – Dec 27MocksMocksQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer 4. Wk 14Dec 28 – Jan 3MocksMocksQuizFlashcards4 study · 3 buffer Exam daySun, Jan 3, 2027End of week 14 ### Your Exam SRM plan A visual preview of how exclam.ai turns your plan into daily reading, flashcard, quiz, review, and mock streaks across the timeline you pick. Active days 24 Best day 8EP Total study time 15h Avg / study day 38 min LessMore Study activityReview / at riskExam day Sample activity — your own streaks, study time, and module milestones appear here once you upload. Sign in to unlock your full 14 weeks plan Every module dated to your exam, with quizzes and FSRS flashcards generated from your own materials. [Unlock my full plan free](https://exclam.ai/pricing/index.md) ### Week-by-week module breakdown Your Exam SRM plan walks the syllabus module-by-module before transitioning into review and mock phases. Module weeks are allocated proportional to SOA topic weights — heavier-weighted modules get more time, lighter ones either get a single week or pair with adjacent topics on intensive paces. Change the plan length above to see the schedule rebalance. Module 1 of 5 Weeks 1–2 Exam weight 7–13% [Basics of Statistical Learning](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/basics-of-statistical-learning/index.md) Supervised and unsupervised learning, model assessment, bias-variance tradeoff, and resampling methods including cross-validation. Build flashcards covering every learning objective and quiz yourself before moving to the next module. Module 2 of 5 Weeks 3–4 Exam weight 40–50% [Linear Models](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/linear-models/index.md) Ordinary least squares regression, generalized linear models, variable selection, and regularization techniques. Build flashcards covering every learning objective and quiz yourself before moving to the next module. Module 3 of 5 Weeks 5–6 Exam weight 20–25% [Decision Trees](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/decision-trees/index.md) Classification and regression trees, pruning, and ensemble methods including bagging, random forests, and boosting. Build flashcards covering every learning objective and quiz yourself before moving to the next module. Module 4 of 5 Week 7 Exam weight 5–10% [Principal Components and Cluster Analysis](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/principal-components-and-cluster-analysis/index.md) Dimension reduction via principal components analysis and unsupervised clustering via k-means and hierarchical clustering. Build flashcards covering every learning objective and quiz yourself before moving to the next module. Module 5 of 5 Week 8 Exam weight 5–10% [Time Series Models](https://exclam.ai/actuarial/exam-srm/topics/time-series-models/index.md) Introduction to time series analysis including autoregressive, moving average, and ARIMA models. Build flashcards covering every learning objective and quiz yourself before moving to the next module. Phase: Review Weeks 9–11 #### Review Weak-topic drilling. exclam.ai surfaces topics where you underperformed during coverage and re-quizzes them. Daily FSRS flashcard reps across all 5 topics to prevent decay. Start doing timed question batches focused on the heaviest-weight sections. Phase: Mocks Weeks 12–14 #### Mocks Full-length Exam SRM practice exams under timed conditions. Target one mock every 3–5 days. Same-day error review: for every question you miss, re-derive the solution from scratch. Taper in the final 3 days — light flashcards only. ## Popular Exam SRM study manuals exclam.ai works alongside any of these vendors. Upload paths vary, ACTEX sells full digital editions as downloadable PDFs (cleanest upload), ASM print manuals can be scanned for the full corpus, and The Infinite Actuary provides downloadable PDF handouts alongside their videos. For ASM digital (app-locked) and Coaching Actuaries (online platform), upload your own notes taken while studying. We do not distribute or reproduce any vendor content, your manual stays with the publisher. ACTEX Study Manual Digital edition · downloadable PDF Coaching Actuaries Online platform · upload your notes Introduction to Statistical Learning (free textbook) Free textbook · full PDF ## Exam SRM questions Should I take SRM before PA? Yes. SRM covers the conceptual foundations that PA applies in practice with R. Taking SRM first makes PA significantly easier. Do I need to know R for Exam SRM? No. SRM is entirely multiple-choice and tests your understanding of statistical learning concepts. Exam PA is where R proficiency becomes essential. Is Introduction to Statistical Learning enough for SRM? It is the most recommended free resource and covers most of the SRM content. Most candidates supplement it with a dedicated study manual and a question bank.