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Important information on entering for exams

11 Mar 2009

As the global body for professional accountants, ACCA continues to enjoy sustained growth, to be in-demand by employers, and a popular choice for trainee accountants.

At the December 2008 exam session, a record number of entrants sat ACCA exams, with 182,449 candidates taking a total of 365,528 papers. In the past five years alone, the
number of exam entries processed has increased by 69%.

The continued relevance and popularity of our exams means that it is essential that we ensure that our services and support remain consistently excellent, and that our exam service can be administered to its usual high standards of delivery.

To do this, we rely on the cooperation of our students and other stakeholders. Please take the time to read the exam entry procedures and processes on this page which must be followed to ensure you are able to sit your exams.

• Try and submit your Exam Entry Form as early as possible and before the exam entry deadline - 15 October for December exams and 15 April for June exams.
• Only submit one Exam Entry Form per exam session. If you submit an online exam entry form, do not also submit a postal Exam Entry Form. Similarly, if you have submitted a paper form, there is no need to also submit an online exam entry. However, don't get confused regarding the number of exams you can take during an exam session. There is no limit on the number of CAT exams you can take and you can sit a maximum of four ACCA Qualification exams at one session. Just make sure you enter for them all at the same time - either online or by post using the original Exam Entry Form we send to you.
• If you are submitting an online exam entry form, carefully check the details on the acknowledgement page before completing your online application and ensure you print and retain a copy for your own reference.
• If you are submitting an Exam Entry Form by post, please remember the following:
  - You must use an original ACCA Exam Entry Form - no photocopies, handwritten or computer screen prints will be accepted.
  - Carefully check the details before posting your form.
  - You will be sent an exam entry acknowledgement by e-mail if we have your e-mail address, otherwise it will be posted. Carefully check the details on receipt of the acknowledgement.
• If you wish to withdraw your application, you must do so before the exam entry deadline, otherwise you will be marked as absent and your fee will not be refunded. After the deadline, ACCA can only consider exceptional circumstances, for example, if a student is unable to attend for medical or other unforeseeable issues. In such cases, withdrawal requests must be submitted with documentary evidence.
• If you miss the regular exam entry deadline, you have up to three weeks to submit your exam entry through the online late exam entry process. There is a charge of £110 per paper plus the exam entry fee for this service. Please note that this is an online service only; we cannot process late paper Exam Entry Forms during this time.
• If you submitted an online exam entry form, you can make changes to your preferred exam centre and variant papers using myACCA  up to the exam entry deadline. If you completed a paper Exam Entry Form, you can make a request in writing to ACCA Connect to change your exam entry - marked 'change to exam entry' - but we cannot guarantee that this will be processed in time for the exams. Please do not submit another Exam Entry Form.
• If you wish to submit a paper Exam Entry Form but can't find your original, you will need to make a request to ACCA Connect, marked 'request for duplicate exam entry form'. Please ensure you allow enough time to receive the duplicate Exam Entry Form and return it to ACCA before the exam entry deadline.
• If you wish to sit exams at a location that is not listed on the special exam centre list or on the exam centre list, you will need to submit a request in writing along with your completed Exam Entry Form to the Exams department in Glasgow by 15 September for December exams and by 15 March for June exams. ACCA will only set up special centres if a suitable, independent administrator can be found, so please do not assume that submitting a request will guarantee that a special centre will be set up. If it is not possible for us to arrange a special exam centre, you will be offered the opportunity to sit your exams at the nearest regular exam centre.
• If you require special facilities at the exam centre and have already notified ACCA, this will already be recorded on the Exam Entry Form that we send to you. You must submit your Exam Entry Form by 30 September for December exams and 30 March for June exams. If you have not previously notified us of any special facilities you require at the exam centre, submit documentary evidence to support your request in writing to the Exams department by 30 September for December exams or 30 March for June exams and we shall aim to make the necessary arrangements. Requests submitted after this time will not be considered.

Your cooperation and support by following these exam entry procedures will ensure ACCA can process and deliver your exams as effectively and efficiently as possible.