General ACCACovid-19 March 2021 exam centre cancellations and remote exam availability

I’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 Your exam entry will be withdrawn, and your exam fee will be credited to your myACCA account.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

I'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

I 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?

Hi Kim, I was wondering are you allowed to use your own use your own calculator and scrap paper?

I 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?

I have also read some bad reviews on Facebook. It would be interesting for people who have sat CBE to share their experiences here?

Is there a limit on the size of your screen?

nbhutia 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)

Absoletly 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!!

Does 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

@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

Hello, 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?

Ahhhh 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

After 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.

Hi 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.

@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.

Hi 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.

I 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

This 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..

@nadiranks - please report any issues with exam centres through your myACCA account.

ACCA recommends a 17" screen however I have a 13" laptop which I have successfully used in the practise cbe platform. is there a difference to the layout in the live exam? I do have a monitor that works but that does not have any Microsoft packages (excel, word) does anyone know if it would be fine to use this in the exam?

@hbwiza21 - see my post on 15 Jan further up this thread: 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? And see here: https://www.accaglobal.com/in/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/computer-based-exams/strategic-professional-cbes/cbe-practice-platform.html "... we’ve launched the CBE Practice Platform: a free on-demand resource designed to MIRROR the live exam experience ..."

Hi from Mongolia, I have ordered two exams (APM & SBL) for March sitting. My exams just got cancelled yesterday. But only SBL exam fee is credited whereas APM exam is still booked on March 3 in my planner. Is it possible that only SBL exam is available for remote sitting and APM exam remains as a paper sitting? Also, what does it mean by this “Mongolia (only Applied Skills exams and surplus Strategic Professional entries)”? https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/covid-19-exam-availability.html

@nar317 - please see answer to your question here https://opentuition.com/topic/march-2021-remote-exams-booking-window-opens-on-25-january/page/5/#post-610032 And please note for future that you do not need to and should avoid duplicating posts.