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Remote Invigilation Session CBEs 1-5 March 2021 – ACCA RECOMMENDATIONS!

Forums › ACCA Forums › General ACCA Forums › Remote Invigilation Session CBEs 1-5 March 2021 – ACCA RECOMMENDATIONS!

  • This topic has 54 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated 4 years ago by Kim Smith.
Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 55 total)
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  • Author
    Posts
  • February 25, 2021 at 8:57 am #611630
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    See below a “Top 10” list of recommendations from ACCA to avoid potential pitfalls in sitting session CBEs remotely – with links to where you can find more details:
    1. Check the minimum technical specifications AND complete and pass the system test in the same place you will take your exam http://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/computer-based-exams/remote-session-exams/before-you-book.html
    Included in above but worth reiteration:
    2. Windows Operating system must pass Genuine Windows Validation
    3. A wired internet connection will be more stable than wireless
    4. DO NOT SIT YOUR EXAM IN SETTINGS WITH A CORPORATE FIREWALL/VPN
    5. Enable internet cookies and disable pop-up blockers
    Re desk location and set up of a CLEAR desk area:
    6. A completely quiet and private room – make sure no one enters during your exam
    7. A minimum monitor size of 17” to be able to effectively manage response options
    8. NO SCRAP PAPER is allowed on your desk
    9. Scientific calculators are allowed, but not programmable calculators or with word display facility – see FAQs for details http://www.accaglobal.com/lk/en/help/remote.html
    During the exam:
    10. You are allowed ONE comfort break of up to 5 minutes. You must NOTIFY your invigilator using the chat function before leaving and on returning but do not need to wait for permission before leaving.

    Check out ACCA’s resources on accaglobal.com/remoteready and be sure to READ CAREFULLY the exam regulations here https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-entry-and-administration/rules-and-regs/exam-regulations.html

    February 25, 2021 at 2:45 pm #611683
    gopib
    Participant
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 2
    • ☆

    hi, does the laptop have to be 17inches or is a smaller screen fine?

    February 25, 2021 at 2:47 pm #611686
    msidq
    Member
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 1
    • ☆

    less than 17 is not fine. As it says minimum 17 inches

    February 25, 2021 at 4:17 pm #611699
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @gopib – you should practice CBEs using the exams in the practice platform. Even if you think you can manage with a smaller monitor, I do not advise this – you cannot claim mitigating circumstances if a having a set-up that does not meet system requirements affects your exam performance.

    February 25, 2021 at 5:35 pm #611707
    lianghow
    Member
    • Topics: 1
    • Replies: 1
    • ☆

    It’s possible, I passed my previous exam with an 15.6inch screen laptop. As long you’re comfortable using a smaller screen, it shouldn’t affect much.

    February 25, 2021 at 6:05 pm #611711
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @lianghow – you do not appear to be sitting strategic professional level exams where managing the workspace, case study questions and exhibits is more demanding. So I must reiterate – anyone who chooses to disregard ACCA’s recommendation does so at their own risk. The above post has been compiled in collaboration with ACCA and therefore to ignore this recommendation should be regarded as an issue – otherwise it would not have been included in the list of recommendations.

    February 26, 2021 at 1:19 am #611724
    mateuszmejza
    Participant
    • Topics: 2
    • Replies: 13
    • ☆

    This is the first time I hear about screen size requirements. I don’t think the issue was brought up earlier or during the December session. I will have no choice but to attend the exam using a smaller screen as the exam is in four days and I have no other laptop/PC to run it on.

    February 26, 2021 at 2:25 am #611726
    marlk
    Member
    • Topics: 2
    • Replies: 7
    • ☆

    yes exactly first time im hearing this it says on accawebsite 17inch is recommended so not really essential, ive also taken exam in december on smaller screen so should be fine

    February 26, 2021 at 3:12 am #611729
    samono29
    Participant
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 3
    • ☆

    Is it true that you can’t look around the room or else the system will think you’re cheating

    February 26, 2021 at 4:55 am #611732
    ashlan
    Member
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 37
    • ☆

    @marlk – sure it’s a recommendation, but as Kim mentioned, it may impact your exam performance, especially strategic professional exams. By now, though, I’m sure you’ve already been practicing on the screen that you intend to use for the exam, so you’ll have a fair idea of what it will look like.

    February 26, 2021 at 5:00 am #611733
    ashlan
    Member
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 37
    • ☆

    @samono – yes in addition to the proctor watching you, they have an AI software that tracks your movements, so by looking around, the software may flag it as an ‘irregularity’. Keep your eyes at your screen and keyboard (there’s really no other place you should be looking anyway). You wouldn’t want to jeopardize your chances of passing by a mistake like this.

    February 26, 2021 at 7:48 am #611750
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    PLEASE if you have “been fine” on a smaller screen for Applied Skills exams you must not suppose that this will be adequate for Strategic Professional exams. If you have practiced SP exams in the CBE Practice Platform and you, personally, feel fine with this, that is your decision. I am simply conveying ACCA’s recommendation which I know, from feedback on previous exams, has been a pitfall for some students, and not grounds for any claim of mitigating circumstances.

    February 26, 2021 at 12:09 pm #611797
    gopib
    Participant
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 2
    • ☆

    spoke to ACCA and they said it is a recommendation. i am taking the LW paper which is multiple choice so smaller screen should be okay. thanks for your help

    February 26, 2021 at 12:34 pm #611799
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @gopib – this is a post about remote invigilation SESSION CBEs in March 2021 starting on Monday – I have changed the title/introduction to make that clear. It is not about the 2-hour remote on-demand CBEs. Thank you for drawing my attention to that.

    February 27, 2021 at 11:32 pm #612035
    2kuayyaz
    Participant
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 18
    • ☆

    I’m taking the PM exam and I have a 14″ laptop screen with a built in Web Cam. I have a monitor but no Web Cam on that can any please advise whether I’ll be okay with the laptop screen?

    February 28, 2021 at 1:15 am #612037
    marlk
    Member
    • Topics: 2
    • Replies: 7
    • ☆

    yeah i called yesterday and said you can use your laptop screen as in you can use your laptop for the exam- mine is also smaller. they said they recommend at 17 inch but its more for the strategic prof exams and not the applied skills

    February 28, 2021 at 3:19 am #612041
    Hinaa
    Member
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 14
    • ☆

    hello i was just doing my remote exam check up when its doing camera check up its using my laptop camera instead of the external camera i have attached to my screen. how do i switch the camera from laptop to the separate camera i have attached to my screen. please guide me as it will be a problem on exam day?

    also the exam has to be done on google chorme?

    thanks a bunch
    all the best to everybody march 21 here we come 🙂

    February 28, 2021 at 7:51 am #612057
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @Hinaa – when you booked for RI you ticked a box to confirm that you had correct technical specification and done systems test – so please make sure you have read the technical specification which you will find from link at the top of this post:

    “Internet Browser…. The newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome,
    and Firefox or Internet Explorer 11.”

    So no – it does not have to be done on google Chrome.

    I am afraid that I can only provide exam advice on these forums not person IT support – you could try:
    – looking at the “devices and printers” tab in your computer’s settings – if you can’t see the external cam as an option, it’s not installed
    – reading any instructions that might have come with the external camera about installation
    – if no instructions – browsing the internet for the webcam model with the word “troubleshoot”
    – browsing “how to test an external webcam”
    etc
    etc

    February 28, 2021 at 2:41 pm #612128
    jzb85
    Member
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 3
    • ☆

    It is strange how they ‘recommend’ a screen size of 17 inch or greater for remote invigilation yet when I sat APM in a centre last September the monitor size provided was only 14 inches.

    February 28, 2021 at 3:00 pm #612135
    Hinaa
    Member
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 14
    • ☆

    thanks alot kim.
    ill check out the video how to use the camera.

    February 28, 2021 at 3:01 pm #612136
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @jzb85 – if that was the case you should have lodged a complaint after the exam – 17″ is the minimum recommendation and it is reasonable that you should have expected that.

    February 28, 2021 at 3:40 pm #612146
    jzb85
    Member
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 3
    • ☆

    I didn’t realise at the time that that would have been a possibility. Remote exams had only been offered in limited settings in July 2020 and as my centre based exam was going ahead int he September I didn’t read too much into the detail. It didn’t specify anywhere what equipment you would be provided with during a centre based exam.

    March 1, 2021 at 12:05 am #612204
    redbull
    Member
    • Topics: 1
    • Replies: 3
    • ☆

    On exam day we are supposed to take a photograph of the desk space during the online check-in process.

    Silly question but – how are we supposed to upload the pics?

    I ask because they want pics of laptop on the desk, but I will be checking in on the laptop… do they expect us to hold up the laptop in the air so that we can use the webcam to take the pics of the desk?

    March 1, 2021 at 7:45 am #612224
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 133
    • Replies: 8281
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    @redbull – where are you seeing this? in the guide and the video it indicates “take 4 pictures of your workspace – front, behind, left and right”. Since there are repeated references to the webcam being internal or external, it must be expected that with an internal webcam you would have to move your laptop to take the photos.

    March 1, 2021 at 8:39 am #612243
    redbull
    Member
    • Topics: 1
    • Replies: 3
    • ☆

    Thanks Kim, correct this was from the “Exam Day” video.

    Thank you for explaining, I’m sure it’ll be a smooth process during the exam. It was just confusing because people with desktops running the check-in process wont be able to take webcam pics of their desk, unless they take a pic on their phone and somehow transfer it to the desktop running the check-in application?

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