Forums › ACCA Forums › General ACCA Forums › Covid-19 March 2021 exam centre cancellations and remote exam availability
- This topic has 29 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 3 years ago by Kim Smith.
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- January 14, 2021 at 5:05 pm #605833
You are strongly advised to refer to this page for the latest update from ACCA:
January 14, 2021 at 5:23 pm #605837I’ve received the below email:
Dear
Unfortunately, due to various exam centre restrictions in your location*, centre-based exams will not be going ahead in the March 2021 exam session. Your exam entry will be withdrawn, and your exam fee will be credited to your myACCA account.
We still want you to continue your exam journey, so we’re delighted to offer you the opportunity to sit computer-based exams (CBEs) at home through remote invigilation.
March remotely invigilated session exams will be available to book from 25 January. We’ll be in touch closer to the time with additional booking information. In the meantime, you can find out more about remote session exams on our website
January 14, 2021 at 5:33 pm #605838I’ve received the same email, so I’m now going to check whether I have the spacing and specification on my computer to sit the exam. At least we know early enough to put something in place
January 14, 2021 at 5:37 pm #605839I have received this email too.
But I have my doubts if I will trust the Remote Sessions, after what I read from the last December 2020 exam sessions. NOT IMPRESSED!!
Any advice?
January 14, 2021 at 7:25 pm #605849Hi Kim,
I was wondering are you allowed to use your own use your own calculator and scrap paper?
January 14, 2021 at 8:24 pm #605863I have also received this email today 🙁
You are allowed to use a calculator but no scrap paper. How are you supposed to do all the calculations without scrap paper. I know you can use the scratch pad that it will take so much longer and not ideal for complex formulas etc. Gutted the centre exams are cancelled.
Has anyone done one of these remote exams without using pen and paper?
January 14, 2021 at 8:34 pm #605864I have also read some bad reviews on Facebook. It would be interesting for people who have sat CBE to share their experiences here?
January 14, 2021 at 8:48 pm #605866I sat SBR remotely in December.
Only problem I had was the indiviligator said they couldn’t see me through the webcam (which was scary, thought that would be the end of it).
Did it on a 14″ screen, dont make the same mistake as me.January 14, 2021 at 9:54 pm #605877Is there a limit on the size of your screen?
January 14, 2021 at 10:32 pm #605882Don’t think so, they recommend 17″ and above
January 15, 2021 at 8:50 am #605907nbhutia wrote:Hi Kim, I was wondering are you allowed to use your own use your own calculator and scrap paper?
PLEASE note that many FAQs are answered in the “Guide to booking and sitting remote session computer based exams” available here https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/employer/supporting-trainees/remote-exams.html
(Answer no scrap paper – page 5)
January 15, 2021 at 11:58 am #605931Absoletly no way will I be doing the remote sessions after seeing the feedback from December!! Feel sorry for those who were told to resit in March!!
January 15, 2021 at 12:57 pm #605938Does anyone know if we are able to take the remote exams on a laptop? I assumed we would be but reading before I think I saw something saying a separate keyboard is needed?
Thanks
January 15, 2021 at 2:29 pm #605957@slawlor92 A laptop configuration is permitted. See the page: https://www.accaglobal.com/lk/en/help/remote.html
This includes:
What computer/laptop equipment am I allowed to use and what can I have on my desk?
which links to https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Students/Remote-exams/Remote%20session%20CBE%20work%20area%20graphic.pdf
January 17, 2021 at 4:57 pm #606272Hello,
I am so unsure whether to sit my exam remotely, I have been reading comments and everyone is saying there were issues, can some explain what actually were the issues? Did it result in them failing their exam or not sitting the exam?
January 18, 2021 at 1:42 pm #606869Ahhhh so annoying that you can’t use paper to make notes. I have done that in every single CBE I have sat and I find it so helpful. How are you meant to use a scratch pad on screen to quickly jot down notes or calculations…really annoyed at this part. What a shambles. Why does this even matter to them? So what if people write down what questions come up, most people remember them anyway. Stupid ACCA
January 18, 2021 at 7:41 pm #607015After seeing the issues which arose at the December session for remote exams, I will be passing this chance up myself. And use it as additional time to study for my (hopefully June) exam.
This is especially applicable to me, as I am heavily reliant on using scrap paper, I usually take about two toilet breaks per sitting as I have a small bladder. And my internet is not the most reliable.
January 20, 2021 at 12:15 am #607222Hi guys, I noticed that a lot of people are hoping to retake their exam in June but remember that the syllabus will change or was scheduled to be updated and that might be a massive factor to considered when considering retake.
They did however delayed the June 2020 Exam to July. So I believe depending on Covid situation, it will probably be an April/May exam for UK.
Best of luck and stay safe all.
January 20, 2021 at 9:00 am #607250@Kian – CLARIFICATION – only the TX/ATX exams will be to a revised syllabus in June. For all other exams, the exam year is September – December – March – June
The first examinations of the 2021-22 syllabuses and examinable documents will therefore be SEPTEMBER 2021.The delay you refer to last year was a one off. With the advent of remote invigilation, there will be exams in MARCH – they will NOT be deferred.
January 20, 2021 at 3:00 pm #607318syednshah wrote:Hello,
Here is plenty
https://opentuition.com/topic/acca-portal/
You can also read comments on Reddit and Facebook. Basically, a lot of people could not take the exams and have wasted their preparation time.
January 21, 2021 at 11:01 am #607422@Kim Smith
First I want thank you regarding your information about the generic communication, I passed my December 2020 exams.
Secondly, I received an email from ACCA regarding cancellation of centre based exams in Jordan.
I contacted British council jordan and they are ready to hold March 21 exams as the situation in Jordan is getting better under Covid 19 pandemic. In addition British council backed to offer the usual services since the beginning of 2021.Even our government cancelled the partial lockdown since the first of January 2021 as well the situation is getting better.
Why ACCA cancelled March 21 sitting in Jordan as this decision is the opposite of our government approach.
I sent an email to ACCA yesterday and I called the customer service today with no luck to reach anyone.
Please help.
Thanks,
Amani Abuzaid
3919060January 21, 2021 at 11:25 am #607427Hi Amani – ACCA does not take the decision to cancel centre-based exams lightly and will have taken into account the best available information at the time when they have to make these decisions – to give students, tutors, etc as much notice as possible. I would go by the ACCA announcement (link above) and say that once cancelled at a centre, they will not be reinstated. I will however draw ACCA’s attention to the conflicting information provided by the British Council. I might mention also that in terms of customer service responses you should probably allow at least 2 working days.
January 21, 2021 at 12:11 pm #607434@Kim Smith
Thanks for your response.
Dear Kim, it is not about conflicting information by British council Jordan.
It is about the recent announcements by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan government, all schools and universities will return back to get their education face to face on the 7th of February 2021.
ACCA held the centre based exams in jordan last September/December 2020 when the situation was more difficult.
I’m sure that ACCA is taking the best decision to protect us, but the situation is much better than before.
Can you please advise regarding the remotely exams from home after the whole aforementioned complaints by ACCA candidates?
Thanks
AmaniJanuary 21, 2021 at 1:23 pm #607447I realise and understand that for every student affected – that every student was one too many. The problems were most acute for the first day of the exams – AAA – which is “my subject” – so I always look out especially for first day issues. It will have been of no consolation to those affected that it was in fact only 00s rather than 000s of students that experienced significant issues that might have been detrimental to their performance or resulted in cancellation. I think some “teething” issues were inevitable given the necessary scale and speed of the introduction of remote invigilation in covid-affected locations. Lessons will no doubt have been learnt from both sides – students and ACCA – which is why I have made the post about remote exams for the March 2021 session – so students can check and recheck their devices in remote locations before booking.
You might also want to bear in mind that centre-based examinations are not issue-proof either – it doesn’t happen often – and it’s not necessarily a natural disaster that is the cause – like this one https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/14191072.trainee-accountants-horrified-after-gangnam-style-played-during-crucial-exam
February 2, 2021 at 3:29 am #608800This small screen was forced upon me in my cbe exams so far. Moving the scroll bar from side to side to read and answer the questions especially constructed response one were absolutely horrid and took away so much of my time and attention away. Why arent exam centers forced to provide bigger screens? its unfair to the students. Also no 6 ft apart..
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