What to expect on the day of your foundation exam

Get off to a good start by making sure that you know exactly how to get to your exam venue. Please plan to arrive at the test centre at least 30 minutes before your exam and allow for possible delays with public transport or traffic.

Key information about your exam location can be found in the appointment confirmation email that was sent to you after you scheduled your exam. If you haven't seen this email, please check your spam folder. This information will also be included in the reminder email that you receive seven (7) days before your appointment.

Before attending a test-centre exam, please review the health and safety requirements on the Pearson VUE website to understand your personal responsibilities when entering a test centre. These requirements will be based on local health guidelines and are subject to change at any time. Best efforts will be made to communicate any changes prior to your exam appointment. 

Entry requirements for test centres may vary. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the entry requirements to sit your exam. In most circumstances, your confirmation and reminder letters from Pearson VUE will identify any entry requirements for the test centre, noting this may change in the lead up to the exam date. If this occurs, you will be notified by CPA Australia or Pearson VUE via email or text message. Entry requirements may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• providing proof of full vaccination status on arrival and entry into the test centre in the format as requested (official immunisation record). Candidates with a medical exemption should contact CPA Australia prior to scheduling an exam. 
• receiving full vaccination status at least 14 days prior to your exam.
• providing proof (in the format requested) of a negative COVID-19 result within 24-72 hours prior to the exam appointment.
• mandatory mask wearing throughout the duration of the exam and/or attendance at the test centre. Candidates with a mask exemption should contact CPA Australia prior to scheduling an exam. 
• completion of a medical declaration on entry into the test centre.

You may be denied entry into the exam if you:

• do not meet the requirements
• are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
• are close contacts of someone with COVID-19
• are under home quarantine status, and/or have travelled to a restricted area. 

Upon your arrival to the test centre:

• your ID will be checked to ensure it's valid, hasn’t expired and matches your enrolment and scheduling data in the Pearson VUE system
• you will provide your signature on a digital signature pad, or a back-up signature sheet, and the test centre employees will check that the signature matches your ID
• your photograph may be taken by a digital camera and stored for any future verification purposes
• the test centre employees will show you where to store your belongings. No personal items are permitted to be taken into the testing room
• you will be given an erasable whiteboard and pen to use for any rough work
• you will be admitted to the testing room.

You must comply with the digital signature and photograph requirement. 

You must provide two forms of valid and current identification, including one primary ID and one secondary ID.

*If your ID has expired, it will not be accepted. Updating IDs can take several weeks, so if you need to renew yours, please do so as soon as possible.

** The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your member profile with CPA Australia, and must be presented in English. If your name doesn’t match, please contact us at least 10 business days before your scheduled exam appointment to update your profile.

If your primary ID isn’t issued from the country in which you’ll be sitting your exam, we recommend you use your passport. This is because IDs not in English will not be accepted.

^Candidates testing in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore or Vietnam are an exception, as National ID cards and passports will still be accepted without a signature

Examples of primary ID:

• driver’s licence
• learner permit
• national / state / country identification card
• passport
• passport card
• military ID
• military ID for spouses and dependents
• alien registration card (green card, permanent resident visas)

Examples of secondary ID:

• debit (ATM) card
• credit card
• social security card
• any form of primary ID

You won’t be allowed to take personal belongings into the testing room. Personal belongings include, but are not limited to:

• some items of clothing and jewellery, for example, jackets, large pieces of jewellery, or jewellery that could disturb others by making a noise
• food and drink, including water
• paper and pens, an erasable whiteboard and pen is available for rough work
• mobile phones, tablets, iPads and PDAs
• purses and wallets
• watches
• bags.

Refer to your exam confirmation email from Pearson VUE for a complete list of what you can and can’t bring with you to the exam.

We offer a “Pause the clock” function in both online and test-centre exams. This allows you to take one unscheduled five-minute break during your exam. Your exam timer will be paused throughout this break.

During a test-centre exam, you’ll need to raise your hand and wait until a staff member advises you that you can leave your seat before taking a break.

Please note: Additional breaks are permitted for test-centre exams, but your exam timer will not be paused for these. If you need another break, raise your hand and wait for a staff member.

You are not allowed to access any study materials, mobile phone or other personal belongings during your exam.

• Online proctored exams will be accessed through My CPA Program.
• As these exams will feature an online proctor, you will need to book a specific time to sit your exam from the available appointments.
• In the event you experience an unexpected issue during the check in process, you will be referred to an appropriate support service to assist.
• There will be two-way communication between you and your exam proctor.
• You’ll be able to take one unscheduled five-minute break during your exam. If you may require more than one break, please consider sitting a test-centre exam.
• Your exams will be delivered in partnership with Pearson VUE, meaning the online exam appearance and functionality will be the same as the test-centre exam.

To sit your exam, you must provide one original form of valid identification.

Your ID must:

• be current and in date (not expired)*
• be physical and original (not digital or a photocopy)
• be government-issued (like a passport or driver's licence)
• contain your full name in English**
• contain a recent, recognisable photograph
• not be restricted (i.e. an ID that is prohibited by law from being photocopied, digitised or captured on camera).

*If your ID has expired, it will not be accepted. Updating IDs can take several weeks, so if you need to renew yours, please do so as soon as possible.

** The name on your ID must exactly match the name on your member profile with CPA Australia, and must be presented in English. If your name doesn’t match, please contact us at least 10 business days before your scheduled exam appointment to update your profile.

Acceptable forms of ID

• driver's licence
• learner permit 
• national / state / country identification card
• passport
• alien registration card (green card, permanent resident visa). 

If you have any questions regarding your ID requirements, please contact us.

Before booking your online proctored exam, we recommend you follow these steps to ensure your device is equipped to provide a positive online exam experience:

1. Check that online proctored exams are available in your region via My CPA Program. You'll be shown available exam appointments based on your residential address, which can be updated at any time via your Contact Details.
2. Ensure you have access to a suitable environment to undertake an online-proctored exam (see room setup requirements below).
3. Check your device against the Pearson VUE technical requirements. It's your responsibility to ensure you have suitable equipment that meets the requirements..
4. Undertake a systems test to troubleshoot any technical issues. It’s important you complete the system test on the device you'll be using for your exam, in the same room and at the same time as your real exam.

Your device must:

• be a computer or laptop, either Mac or PC. Tablets or touchscreen devices are prohibited
• be a personal computer that meets the minimum technical specifications. Work computers may have restrictions that impact your exam
• have a strong internet connection, with well above 6 Mbps download and upload speed. We recommend using a wired network, as wireless internet is less reliable and may cause you to lose connection during your exam
• be equipped with a webcam and microphone.

Before your exam, you will need to take several steps to prepare your computer settings. Please refer to the Pearson VUE technical requirements for a full list of requirements and instructions.

If you cannot meet the technical requirements to sit an online proctored exam, you may choose to schedule a test centre computer-based exam, if available. Please contact us if you can’t find availability.

To sit an online proctored exam, your exam environment must be:

• walled and have a closed door
• a quiet space, background noise may interfere with your exam session
• free from disruptions, since you cannot be interrupted during your exam appointment (this includes completing the survey), inform others in your household they cannot enter the room
• well-lit for the full duration of the exam window
• clear within arm’s reach, aside from your ID, calculator and a clear glass of water
• closed to any other person, no one can be in or enter the room during your exam. No one else must be able to view your computer or monitor (even through a window or clear glass panel).

It's important to make sure your environment will be appropriate for the entire exam duration. As you'll not be able to leave your seat once the exam has commenced, you may wish to turn on/off lights or open/close curtains or windows before your exam.

We also suggest you unplug any extra monitors or electronic devices, such as your printer, to simplify your exam check-in process.

If you have any questions regarding your room set up, please contact us.

Before you begin your exam, you'll be led through a check-in process, which will include:

• a final system test
• verification of your identity: you'll need to take photos of yourself and your ID using your mobile phone or webcam
• a check of your exam room: you'll need to take four (4) photos of your exam environment using your mobile phone or webcam.

We find using a mobile phone the simplest way to complete the check-in process. You'll be asked to enter your mobile number as the Pearson VUE software launches, so that a check-in link can be sent to you. This link will guide you to take photos of yourself, your ID and your exam environment. Once you have completed this process, you'll be asked to put your phone away, out of reach. You'll then be asked to close all applications before you are added to a queue to begin your exam. You'll be under exam conditions during this time, so you must not leave the view of your webcam, or use your mobile phone.

As part of your check-in process, your proctor may ask you to:

• show your ears to ensure you are not using wireless headphones
• roll up your sleeves to verify you have no writing on your arms, and that you are not wearing a watch
• empty your pockets, to ensure you aren’t carrying a prohibited item
• complete a 360-degree room scan (please note, this may also occur during your exam if your proctor is concerned something new has been introduced to your room)
• retake a photo of your identification, if the image is blurry or unclear.

There are certain behaviours that are prohibited during online exams, to ensure your proctor can verify no exam questions or answers are recorded.

While these rules may seem restrictive, please keep in mind your proctor can only see the area immediately around you. Your proctor only wishes to make sure no candidate is disadvantaged by misconduct.

From the time you are added to the proctor queue (after you have checked-in) to the time you complete the survey and close your exam window, you will be supervised by a proctor, and must not:

• introduce new materials into your exam area
• use a pen or pencil
• speak, mumble or read your exam questions out loud (similar to an in-person exam)
• cover your mouth or attempt to hide your face
• wear headphones, AirPods or any type of earpiece or headset
• leave your exam desk, the view of your webcam, or move your computer screen or webcam
• access or use a mobile phone or messaging device, unless you lose complete contact with your proctor via your computer
• consume food and drinks (aside from your clear glass of water), chew gum or smoke
• communicate with others, including any third parties or others in your home, or have another person enter the room 
• copy, paste or attempt to remember questions from the exam.

Any disruptive or fraudulent behaviour, or any breach of our exam policies, may cause your proctor to end your exam.

If you momentarily lose connection during your exam, your proctor may ask to rescan your room. This is to ensure your room hasn’t changed while you were disconnected. If you lose connection completely, your proctor will call you on your phone to understand the issue, so make sure it is in earshot.

If you require assistance at any stage, you can use the chat function to speak to your proctor.

After completing your exam, you will see either a Pass or Fail result on your screen. This result is in relation to the passing score for your subject.

A detailed breakdown of your result, including your performance under each learning module, will be available in My CPA Program 72 hours after you have completed your exam.

Both test centre and online proctored foundation exams will be:

• multiple-choice, with 100 questions. Each question has four options with only one correct answer
• three (3) hours and fifteen (15) minutes in duration, with no reading time
• in a closed-book environment
• delivered with a random order of exam questions for each student. 

Some exams may have on screen tools to assist you, such as formula and discount tables. You can familiarise yourself with the tools available for your subject under “Learning Support Resources” in My Online Learning.

Personal calculators are permitted at both test centre and online proctored exams. Calculators can be scientific, standard or financial, however, they must not be:

• programmable (i.e. calculations that can store and replay a sequence of operations) or capable of external programming. Calculators that store and recall the last performed calculation are allowed
• able to provide text storage
• equipped with an alphanumeric keyboard (i.e. any calculator with a QWERTY keyboard or a keyboard allowing entry of all letters from A to Z)
• a graphing calculator
• wired or include wireless communication capabilities
• equipped with a camera or video recording functionality
• powered by anything other than internal batteries and/or solar power
• able to produce a sound which cannot be turned off or disabled.

An online calculator will also be available in both exam settings to support those without access to an approved calculator. We welcome you to trial the online calculator ahead of your exam appointment. You can access an example of the online calculator within this demonstration (please navigate to item 3).

If you are taking your exam at a test centre, you'll continue to have access to an erasable whiteboard during your exam. The whiteboard will be collected and cleared upon completion, as well as an online scratchpad for quick workings during your exam.

If you are taking an online proctored exam, you'll have access to the same online scratchpad, as well as an online whiteboard for note taking. To ensure exam questions and answers are not recorded or shared, pen and paper are prohibited during online proctored exams.

Attempt every question. Marks are not deducted for incomplete answers. You can flag questions and return to them easily once you have viewed all exam questions.

Read questions carefully:

• read each question carefully and attempt to calculate the answer before you read the multiple-choice answers provided, as referring to these first may confuse you
• take note of important terms and dates in the question to ensure that you focus on exactly what is being asked
• be careful with numerical questions, as the distractors are designed to match answers that incorporate common errors
• check that your calculation is correct. Have you followed the requirement exactly? Have you included every stage of the calculation?
• you may find that none of the options matches your answer:
• re-read the question to ensure that you understand it and are answering the requirement
• eliminate any obviously wrong answers
• consider which of the remaining answers is the most likely to be correct and select that option.

Revisit unanswered questions

When you come back to a question after a break, you often find you can answer it correctly straight away. If you are still unsure, have a guess - you are not penalised for incorrect answers, so never leave a question unanswered.