ACCA to become first UK- based body to include spreadsheets in exams

As the highest ever proportion of students opted to sit online exams with ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in December 2015, the global body for professional accountants has announced it will further enhance its Computer Based Exams (CBE) this year.

ACCA is extending the use of its CBE exams to include the Fundamental Level exams F5-F9 from later this year. The exams will be available during the four exam sessions and there will be a phased roll out across the globe with the paper based option remaining available during the transition period. ACCA is planning to introduce spreadsheets and other innovative question types into the online exams at this Level to ensure that they more closely replicate the competencies used in the workplace and expected by employers.

162,602 students entered for the December 2015 exams entering 243,660 papers, with 63,383 CBE sittings.  The session saw 6,950 students worldwide complete their final exams, taking a significant step to membership with ACCA.

Dr Mary Bishop, ACCA’s Director of Learning, said: “We are delighted to continue to see improvements across the board in a number of papers, and we want to congratulate students on their success, particularly those  who completed their final exams in December and who have taken a major step towards becoming ACCA members.

“The ACCA exams remain demanding, to ensure that students meet employers’ requirements and have demonstrated that they can deal with the challenges facing today’s finance professionals. We are always looking at other innovative ways of ensuring that students can demonstrate their practical skills in the exam environment and we will be introducing spreadsheets into our new computer based examinations (CBE) this year, making us the first UK-based body to adopt them. We will also be introducing other question types which will mean that the CBE exams replicate the workplace even more closely and meet the needs of employers in every sector.

“ACCA introduced four exam sessions a year in September 2015, with exams now taking place in March, June, September and December. This initiative is already having a positive impact on pass rates for students who have to retake exams, as they are able to do so more quickly. The additional sessions are also giving all students greater flexibility as to when they attempt exams.  ACCA continues to enhance the learning support to students and is working closely with learning providers to improve pass rates, this is evidenced by pass rate stability and particular improvements within FIA certificate, FIA/ACCA diploma F1/FAB, F2/FMA, F3/FFA, F6, F9 and P7 exams,” said Dr Bishop.