In this session, we discussed examinations, how to maintain your knowledge along with the latest news from the AAT, ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW.
Here’s a summary of the discussions from this webinar, based on the latest news and questions from our students:
AAT
- Exams have been suspended until at least the end of April.
- Results from exams that took place prior to the 23rd of March will be released in line with the original schedule.
- We have asked the AAT to look at adding extra synoptic windows when the exams restart
- The AAT are aware of the demand for remote options for their exams but are regulated by OFQUAL and need to work with them to ensure exams can be run satisfactorily.
- FI students who had an exam booked with us that has now been cancelled will receive priority when booking slots reopen.
- When we are able to run exams again, we will look at offering a greater number of slots to accommodate additional demand.
- Our team is working on a solution to help students maintain their knowledge to the next available exam sitting. This could take the form of regular drop-in sessions. We will be in touch with our students as soon as these sessions are confirmed.
ACCA
- The June exam sitting has been cancelled.
- Students who had booked an exam for June will have their account credited and will need to rebook for September. This will not happen automatically.
- The ACCA have lifted their usual restrictions on the number of exams that can be booked, Those with bookings already in the pipeline will be able book their exams based on their new study plans.
- The ACCA are looking into remote examinations and may be able have this in place for September.
- Our advice to students is that they should look to study at least 2 papers to the September sitting. You can find our advice on good combinations of papers here.
- There will still be a syllabus update in September but Alex Leach from the ACCA has advised that this will not be a major change.
- FI students who had an ‘On Demand’ exam booked with us that has now been cancelled be offered priority when booking reopens.
- We will look to add a greater number of slots to accommodate additional demand when we are able to reopen.
CIMA
- CIMA have announced that from May they will be offering remote proctoring (invigilation) for their exams allowing students to sit exams at home.
- With this in mind, it is likely the May case study exams and objective tests will go ahead.
- CIMA will confirm their plan, in relation to dates of examinations, on the 7th of April.
- Our advice to CIMA students is to rebook their cancelled exam slots, as soon as they become available.
ICAEW
- The ICAEW have cancelled the June Professional Level exam sitting.
- The Advanced Level papers, originally scheduled for July, are likely to run at the end of August.
- The ICAEW is aiming to confirm dates next week (w/c 6th April).
- The ICAEW are also evaluating remote examinations but are regulated by the FRC, so will need to work with them to ensure standards are met.
- We have asked the ICAEW to look at remote proctoring for the CFAB exams as a priority and an announcement will be made very soon.
- We have also asked the ICAEW to look at adding an additional Advanced Level sitting to help those students who are close to qualifying.
Apprentices
- The ESFA have confirmed that furloughed apprentices cannot work but they can continue studying on their apprenticeship programmes.
- The 20% off the job learning cover the whole of an apprenticeship and does not refer to the percentage of your working week. This means apprentices can continue to add to their 20% OFJ learning whilst furloughed or working from home.
- The current situation represents an excellent opportunity to document new learnings. This could include the use of new technology, systems or ways of working.
General
- Your Tutors are available to help maintain your knowledge. They can offer advice, set extra practice questions and help with queries.
- Look out for additional sessions aimed at maintaining knowledge. We will let you know about these as soon as they are firmed up.
- All study materials will be posted to students’ home addresses or the one you have indicated as a preference.
- Our team are here to help, please contact davidmalthouse@fi.co.uk for Chelmsford queries, benbullman@fi.co.uk or amyforrest@fi.co.uk for Cambridge queries.
If you’d like to join our next webinar, they’re taking place every Wednesday evening at 6 pm and you can click here to register. You can attend as regularly as you’d like to.
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