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Change of policy for booking places on the practical exams

22 June 2011

The Education Committee has agreed to a policy which will not allow students to book places on practical exams in advance of their results being published from a previous attempt.

In January 2011 fixed booking periods were introduced for the practical exams to help eradicate some of the issues regarding availability and to maintain a level of fairness to all students. To further maintain this fairness the Education Committee has now agreed to the immediate introduction of this policy.

The aim of the fixed booking periods was to provide those students who failed a practical exam with a waiting time no greater than that of a session based exam i.e. 6 months from initial booking, receipt of result and re-sit available. The fixed booking periods allow the Practical exams team to review the exam attendance numbers in advance and add extra exams if the need arises.

The Profession has worked hard to establish a fair system of allowing students to book places on practical exams, however there have continued to be situations where students are entering for multiple exams. This practice is unfair to students who need to take the exam again, and who follow the guidelines and wait until they are in receipt of their results to book a place.

The Education Committee met on 16 May 2011 and there has been agreement for the immediate introduction of a policy, which will not allow students to book places on practical exams in advance of their results being published from a previous attempt. A copy of the wording of the policy is below:

Students are not permitted to book a place on any practical exam for which they are awaiting a result. The Practical exams team will review the exams periodically, checking for students who have entered but are still awaiting a result. Should we find such an applicant, the student will be removed from the practical exam and no refund will be available. The Practical exams team will continue to provide students who fail an exam with a place on a retaker exam at no greater waiting time than for a session based exam. For example if a student takes an exam in January they should be offered a place on an exam in June.

This policy will be applied to all practical exams taking place from 16 May, students who have more than one exam booked are requested to contact the Practical exams team, otherwise the team will cancel any second bookings.

If students are at all concerned about their practical exam booking they should contact the team at practical_exams@actuaries.org.uk