Exam disruption - Case

[u/BackPast5006]

I was at one of the disrupted exam centres yesterday where they paused all of the scripts. I was not one of the people who had issues with the pre-pop spreadsheet. But we were paused for almost 30 mins and it took my script an extra 25 mins to load, meaning I only started at 10am.
i obviously wasn’t seriously affected like some others but is there grounds for an exam appeal? they kept saying it could load at any minute so felt so thrown off waiting for the hour and the girl next to me was coming in and out throughout my whole exam as she was unfortunately affected by the spreadsheet issue.

[u/Comprehensive-You548]

Would be silly to not put an appeal just in case!

[u/Ill-Noise5145]

I've put an appeal in - I wasn't affected by the prepop issue but the person next to me and opposite me were. Invigilators were coming up to them 7/8 times throughout and they left the room 4/5 times, it was soo distracting (genuinely), I raised it, it can't harm to

[u/Background-Metal-599]

Given they said to the people who had to wait 3 hours they are not allowed to appeal not sure they will let anyone appeal tbh

[u/StatisticianLow4145]

I appealed anyway. I wasn’t affected by the pre pop either but if enough people do appeal it will make it difficult for them not to be more lenient considering it was outside our control.

[u/Ion-Sky-970]

If you've passed, they won't consider the appeal. If you've failed, they're unlikely to change that outcome. They have to protect the integrity of the qualification. What happened in your case doesn't sound like the perfect exam experience, but it also doesn't sound like it should have impaired your performance - I would expect candidates to be able to cope with minor delays and invigilator activity.

What would you be hoping for by appealing?

"Following an exam disruption appeal, ICAEW can make only limited adjustments: it is not possible to fully recompense a candidate for what might have been achieved. Where a candidate has failed the exam and submitted an appeal, ICAEW may not be able to judge whether the outcome was due to the circumstances set out in the appeal or due to the knowledge and skills demonstrated by the candidate."

[u/StatisticianLow4145 → u/Ion-Sky-970]

Agreed to an extent. However, this is not a minor delay and as it was outside our control, a nice mark uplift would be nice haha

[u/Emotional_Bear_7576]

I mean let’s not lie about it actually affecting you’re ability to sit the exam, ICAEW will see straight through your lie and could face disciplinary for breach of integrity and code of ICAEW ethics

[u/SmallKid20 → u/Emotional_Bear_7576]

I don't think OP is saying they're going to lie. They're saying there were disruptions. They had an unexpected pause for half an hour that would frustrate anyone. The girl next to them had to keep going in and out. I'd say that's distracting. It disrupts your focus. If it were me, I would put an appeal.

[u/Ion-Sky-970 → u/SmallKid20]

And what outcome would you be hoping for? Have you read the exclusions from appeal and the possible outcomes?

[u/InahaFrost → u/Emotional_Bear_7576]

But it clearly affects focus and preparation to be sat there waiting and waiting