Is it time for the ICAEW to look seriously at switching its Advanced exams from July to earlier in the year? As temperatures in the UK are set to soar, some students are asking if keeping the final level exams in this increasingly hot summer month is the best way forward. As one trainee told PQ magazine: “How can the ICAEW say they care about the planet but not about their own students.”
One PQ rightly pointed out that the July and November exams aren’t even six months apart, so moving them back into May would be far more logical – which would be better temperature wise too.
As one worried PQ said: “With global warming is not going away it’s only going to get hotter.” Another asked if there will be air conditioning in all the exam buildings this July.
The call has come for the ICAEW to now survey all its stakeholders about moving the Advanced exams.
The ICAEW told Advanced sitters on 12 July: “Please ensure you are suitably prepared for the current weather conditions across the United Kingdom and Europe ahead of the July Advanced Level exams. With temperatures higher than usual, our exam centres are working hard to put measures in place to ensure you are comfortable during your exam. You may wish to bring foam earplugs with you in case an exam centre needs to open windows. In addition to these measures, we recommend you wear layers during your exam to account for changes in the temperature (eg, due to air conditioning) as well as bringing water. Water must be in a clear bottle with no labels for exams via remote invigilation and in an exam centre. For exams via remote invigilation, students are permitted to have a fan in the room.”
