API™ 28 Exam Format – What to Expect

The API™ 28 exam is a 65-minute virtual exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions. Exams are virtual, and non-proctored, meaning you take the exam alone online directly from your computer.

All questions on the virtual exam will be application-based scenario questions. These are tricky questions that require you to apply your knowledge to a real-life scenario to choose the appropriate answer (you will not be repeating a definition or concept). You will be given a real-life scenario; your job will be to select the best recommendation to solve the given scenario.

You can download one of our free practice exams to see what these questions look like.

Exam Question Format

If you have already taken a CPCU^® exam, you will find the API^™ 28 exam questions are formatted in a much friendlier manner. The questions on this exam will focus on more of the broad underwriting topics rather than the minute and specific details of each topic (as is common on CPCU^® exams).

In preparation, I found it most useful to practice questions formatted as, “All of the following are true, except?”. In this type of question, there will be three correct answers and one wrong answer. It will be your job to find the one wrong answer. For example, one of the questions that might show up on the exam is: “All of the following are covered by the miscellaneous vehicle endorsement except?”

Be prepared for these types of questions. The best way to prepare for this is to take notes and list what each underwriting consideration and endorsement covers. Make sure to focus on the broad topics while you study to ensure that you cover all aspects of the API^™ 28 exam.

Download: Free Practice Exam (CPCU® | ARM™ | AINS™ | API™)

Exam Topics

The API™ 28 exam covers the topics of personal insurance underwriting and marketing including underwriting for auto, homeowners, miscellaneous vehicles, umbrella, watercraft, and inland marine.

Most Important Topics

As you may have expected, a major focus of this exam is underwriting, in particular underwriting the homeowner’s policy, automobile, watercraft, and miscellaneous vehicles. Be sure to fully understand the underwriting considerations of each line of business. The API™ 28 exam will put you in the shoes of an underwriter, it will be your job to make an underwriting recommendation based on given scenario.

Below we are outlining some important API™ 28 exam topics. These topics come straight from our API™ 28 online course where we provide a detailed breakdown of the most important topics of each chapter, along with our difficulty and importance rank for each chapter.

We recommend you master these topics before attempting the API™ 28 exam. This is our opinion of the topics that are important on your exam.

Personal insurance marketing – focus on the topics of underwriter marketing roles, distribution systems, and distribution channels.
Underwriting introduction – focus on the topics of loss exposures and loss hazards.
Personal auto policy – focus on the topics of liability underwriting considerations and physical damage underwriting considerations.
Homeowner underwriting – focus on the topics of property underwriting, property loss exposures, and homeowner liability.
Miscellaneous auto – focus on the types of automobile, auto coverages, and underwriting considerations of the automobile.
Watercraft – focus on the coverage options for watercrafts (Small boat, yacht policies, etc) and the underwriting considerations of a watercraft and watercraft operator.

Disclaimer

Remember, every API™ exam is different. No single exam is the same. Be sure to study ALL topics (not just our recommendation). This resource is intended to provide you with a general idea of where your focus should be. Make sure to thoroughly study every topic of this exam.

Free Practice Exam

Ready to get started studying? We’re here to help (for free). Download our free API™ 28 practice exams to get a feel for the type of questions you will see on the exam.

Download: Free Practice Exam (CPCU® | ARM™ | AINS™ | API™)

More Information

For more information about the API™ 28 exam, check out some of our other free resources:

Disclaimer

Difficulty rank and importance rank are solely the opinion of AssociatePI. This resource is intended to provide you with a general idea of where your focus should be. Each exam administered by The Institutes is different. AssociatePI is not affiliated with The Institutes or involved in the exam writing process. Please be sure to thoroughly study every chapter and every topic of this course.

API™ exams are administered by the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (“The Institutes”). AssociatePI does not administer the actual exams, we are an independent resource of free content, advice, and study material for professional insurance education. This blog is intended for informational purposes only, to inform prospective students of the benefit of the API™ designation.

CPCU^® and API^™ are trademarks of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (“The Institutes”). AssociatePI LLC is not affiliated with, associated with, endorsed by or otherwise supported or recognized by The Institutes in any way. AssociatePI LLC is not authorized by The Institutes to offer courses, practice examinations, or any other resources related to the Institutes’ designations or other programs.

For further information, please email contact@associatepi.com.

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