Computer Based Assessment at Foundation Level

by

Computer Based Assessment at Foundation Level

 

CBAs are available for all the papers of the Certificate Level and can be taken at any time of the year, allowing students to progress through to the Intermediate level paper based exams at their own pace.

CBA uses computers to deliver questions and receive answers. Objective test questions are used in the assessment (the most common type is multiple choice but there are other formats).

The CBA system has many benefits:

  • You will receive your results immediately after you finish the assessment, because the computer can mark it instantly.
  • You will receive individual performance feedback after the assessment, if you are unsuccessful this will help you to identify the areas of the syllabus where you require a better understanding of the topics.
  • You can sit computer based assessment whenever you wish – you aren't restricted to the two paper based exam sittings per year.
  • You can also re-sit assessments as and when you are ready.
  • You can use CBA to progress quickly through to the Intermediate level paper based exams.
  • CBA allows for a wide range of the syllabus to be covered so you can be confident that you have a sound grounding in business and accounting in preparation for the Intermediate level exams
  • Upon successfully completing an exam by computer based assessment you will receive a 'Certificate of Achievement' from the centre. Your student record will automatically be updated by CIMA and an exemption will be awarded for the appropriate paper based subject.

 

CBA can be taken at any time of the year, provided that you are a registered CIMA student. However, if you are using CBA to fast track through to the Intermediate level papers you need to be aware of CIMA's registration, exam entry and exemption deadlines.

This is particularly important if you want to sit Financial Accounting and/or Management Accounting Performance Evaluation from the Intermediate level, as we must have notification that you have completed the Foundation subjects Financial Accounting Fundamentals and/or Management Accounting Fundamentals before you can be entered for these papers (this is due to the progressive nature of these subjects).

If you are interested in sitting the May Intermediate level paper based exams – you must register as a CIMA student by 31 January. You must return your completed exam entry form to CImA by 1st March and you have until the 18th March to pass the relevant subject by CBA and be awarded an exemption.

If you want to sit Financial Accounting from the Intermediate level in May, you will need to register as a student with CIMA by 31 January – we will then send you an exam entry form for the May exam and you must return that to CIMA by 1 March. On the form you should indicate that you wish to be entered for the Financial Accounting exam but you are pending an exemption from Financial Accounting Fundamentals. You then have until the 18 March to complete Financial Accounting Fundamentals by CBA, in order that you can sit Financial Accounting in May.

For the November paper based exams, you must register as a CIMA student by 31 July. You must return your completed exam entry form for the November exams to CIMA by 1st September and you have until the 18th September to pass CBA and be awarded the relevant exemption.

Leave a comment