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Hello, everyone!
It’s been a few years since I last sat an exam due to personal reasons. Now I am back, however, I have only sat paper based exams and these CBEs are new to me.
I feel very stressed about it because it’s all new to me. So I hope those of you who already have experience with it to help me with some information to ease my worries.
First and main question is what would you recommend – goint to an exam centre or sitting the exam at home remotely? I am in the UK, if it makes a difference. Are there any advantages to go to an exam centre? Do they have large monitors at the test centre? Do they have only one monitor per person or two (considering that I will need several windows opened at the same time). And may I use two monitors at home, say, one – my laptop screen and one additional and bigger? Do you know if it would be allowed?
What if anything goes wrong with my computer? With paper based exam the worst the could happen is to need a new pen. But computers and software might give you errors when you least expect it. Will I have another chance to sit the exam? Or be allowed more time? What if I need to restart my computer? Will it mean I will fail the exam? Will I get a refund of my exam fee?
As I am planning to sit a taxation paper, can I have the Tax rates and allowances printed next to me, or I will need to view them on my screen too?
Thank you in advance all who could help! Anythink else you believe is important and any other tips will be welcome!
Hi Tim, I have sat 6 exams at home and never been to a test centre.
I find the ease of not having to travel there and back in the morning before the exam an advantage. At home you are invigilated throughout the exam via your webcam and microphone on your laptop. Before the exam you submit photos of the room you are sitting the exam in, front, both sides and back.
You are not allowed any scratch paper (I think at the test centre you are but don’t quote me because I haven’t been to one). At home you must get used to making notes on “notepad” on your PC. Which at first I struggled with but it’s like second nature now. You are not allowed any additional monitors just your laptop screen and you are allowed a scientific calculator. You get one 5 minute break during the 3 hour exams, I’m not sure about the 4 hour ones because I haven’t sat those yet.
If you do decide to sit it at home then I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck!
Welcome to OpenTuition Tim!
First and foremast, I recommend you bookmark this page https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-support-resources/fundamentals-exams-study-resources/f6.html
In the introduction section download the pdf “Guide to session CBEs TX UK” and “Making the best use of the tax tables …” these will answer lots of Qs about the exam.
See also https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/about-our-exams/remote-exams/remote-session-exams.html this will tell you eveything you need to know about sitting remotely.
As Suzanne has kindly fed back, to not have to travel is a big plus for many, but you must have stable internet connection and suitable workspace (see referenced resource above).
Are there any advantages to go to an exam centre? Do they have large monitors at the test centre? 17″ is standard minimum
Do they have only one monitor per person or two (considering that I will need several windows opened at the same time). Only one – see in the pdf how to manage what you see on screen.
And may I use two monitors at home, say, one – my laptop screen and one additional and bigger? Do you know if it would be allowed? It is not – see https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Students/Remote-exams/Remote%20session%20CBE%20work%20area%20graphic.pdfWhat if anything goes wrong with my computer? With paper based exam the worst the could happen is to need a new pen. But computers and software might give you errors when you least expect it. Will I have another chance to sit the exam? Or be allowed more time? What if I need to restart my computer? Will it mean I will fail the exam? Will I get a refund of my exam fee? See section 5. Post exam options on the remote exam page (link as above).
As I am planning to sit a taxation paper, can I have the Tax rates and allowances printed next to me, or I will need to view them on my screen too? Only on screen – as Suzanne says, paper is not allowed.
Hi Tim
I have done 10 exams, all sat in the centre in person (UK). Whilst I have not sat them remotely I would thoroughly recommend to sit the exams in person.– In the centres you are given scrap paper to do any rough workings. At home you will be expected to do all your workings on screen. This can be time consuming particularly in section A of the applied skills exams.
– In the centre you will have one screen to work from, a fairly normal sized monitor. You will not have the need to open several windows at once, it is all done from the one program which will remain on your display for the full course of the exam. Home based you will have to work off your laptop.
– I have heard many cases where those sitting the exam from home have had tech issues with the exam and have had to resit as a result. I did not want to risk this.
I know that this is a very one sided review but I wouldn’t be able to possibly consider doing the exam remotely for the reasons that I have given above
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