Rating Formula

Written By Jessica Moore (Super Administrator)

Updated at January 21st, 2026

Formulas in SchemeServe let you automate calculations and rules (like premiums,  validations, and auto-filled values), and the exact syntax and appearance can vary depending on whether you’re working in the matrix/rating, rules, documents, or reporting.

Here are some of the basic guidelines:
 

  • Use square brackets to reference fields & make sure it has the correct suffix/modifier
[FieldName_Suffix]

Suffixes/Modifiers

_Cover Numeric/Money - e.g. the amount entered in a Calculation question
_Value Text - e.g. the answer Yes/No
_Fee Numeric/Money - e.g. the Fee you've set some rows above in your rating file
_Result Numeric/Money - e.g. the result of your total Premium 'TotalPremium_Result'
i.e the obtained result of a % applied to £XX Sum Insured
_DateValue Date
_CoverBefore Pull through the previous record´s answer on a calculation question
_Rate Numeric/Money - e.g. the Rate you've set some rows above in your rating file
 
 

 

  •  Use quotes correctly (text vs numbers)

Text must be in quotes: "Yes", "Builder", “GB”
Numbers must not be in quotes: 10, 0.25, 500
 

  • Brackets control the order of operations

Use brackets anytime you have multiple steps.

✅ Good:

([A_Cover] + [B_Cover]) * [Rate_Cover]

Risky / unclear:

[A_Cover] + [B_Cover] * [Rate_Cover]

✅ Rule: When in doubt, add brackets to force the order you intend.
 

  • Always protect anything that can be blank or zero

Common formula failures come from:

dividing by 0
referencing an empty table row
comparing an empty value

✅ Division guard example:

IF([SumInsured_Cover]=0, 0, ([Premium_Cover]/[SumInsured_Cover]))
 
 
  • If statements are your main building block

Format:

IF(condition, value_if_true, value_if_false)

✅ Rule: Always include the false part (even if it’s just 0 or "").
This avoids unexpected “Null” behaviour.
 

  • Table formulas must specify rows when needed

If you are reading from a table, you often need:

[Table_Field_Row#0_Cover]
 

Quick “before you save” checklist ✅

Before saving a rating formula, check:

 Use our formula tester to test if your formula is working. Jump into a policy and head tot he bottom right.