Where you decide to take your exam could be down to various reasons including the environment you prefer, but in both cases, preparation is everything, says Natalie Dawes DipPFS, Candidate Support, Trainer & Business Development Adviser.
Let me start off with a question – where would you like to sit your exam? It’s actually a really important question and one that you can answer with your ideal in mind. Naturally there’s a few caveats to that, such as not sitting your exam with your study guide in front of you – obviously! Technically speaking though, you can pretty much sit your exam anywhere.
Your options…
You have two options open to you. You can opt for a test centre sitting, where you travel to your closest centre and sit your exam at the same time as other candidates. I say that, they might be sitting a different exam to you, with different time allowances.
The environment is set up with exam conditions in mind, with an in-person invigilator on hand to do your ID checks and to assist with anything you might need during your exam. They won’t help you with answering the actual exam questions though!!
The second option is to elect for a remote sitting where you sit the exam at home, in the office, round a family or friend’s house…wherever you choose, that of course is appropriate to enable exam conditions. You will need to demonstrate via a camera room scan that you‘re not being naughty and that you have nothing accessible that could aid your performance.
An online PSI ‘proctor’ will guide you through this and any ID checks that are required. They’ll also keep an eye on you during the exam – which sounds a little creepy when I say it like that. It isn’t (I promise) and most of the time I’ve forgotten that there’s anyone even there. From time to time, I’ve had them check in with me – probably when my jaw has dropped or I’ve mouthed an ‘oh gaaaawd’ at a question I’ve just read!
I actually find it a reassurance to know that there’s ‘someone there’ in case of any tech problems and have found them to be very responsive on the chat functionality in times that I’ve needed something – which has been rare.
Let’s get personal…
The choice you make should be based on what’s right for you. Exams, are a really personal thing and what we need to get in the zone, to really focus, will vary from one person to another. I much prefer to sit an exam remotely, from home, in an environment I am familiar with.
By doing this, I don’t have to mess about with tech, chairs or surroundings I’m not used to – which means I can focus on the job in hand. That’s not to say it doesn’t come without it’s challenges. There are things I cannot control, such as the PSI system having problems, which has happened.
I foolishly forgot to plug my charger in once and my laptop died during my exam. Naturally, panic set in but once I got everything switched back on and had redone the room scan, I was allowed back into my exam where I had left off. I mentioned problems with the PSI system though didn’t I – this was entirely my own fault, whoopsies.
It should be noted that since PSI remote sittings were launched a few years ago, they have much improved, so if the idea of sitting in a test centre with other candidates banging away on the keyboards is something you might find a distraction, do consider a remote sitting.
In the reverse, I’ve actually spoken to a lot of candidates who find other candidates around them a reassurance, to know that they are ‘all in this together’ (even if sitting different exams). There can be something about travelling to your exam, that can help create the right mindset and the journey there can be the time to achieve that. Can the same be said for sitting an exam at home? You ask that question to ten people and I’ll bet you’ll get differing responses. Those that appreciate the journey, those that don’t want the stress of it – what is best for you?
It also depends on what we mean by ‘getting ready’ for an exam. Although it’s not my thing, some candidates like to do some REAL last minute cramming – how many of us have had our head in the books 10 mins before a remote sitting? Sitting remotely might even encourage that last minute revision for some of us, versus travelling to a test centre might mean you take a welcome break before your sitting.
In both scenarios, there will always things you can’t control. With remote sittings, it might be the doorbell ringing, the dog barking or your neighbour having some work done in their garden – which is exactly what is happening right now as I type this! With a test centre, there could be building works, a nearby busy road, or perhaps noises from computer systems that we’re just not used to.
My advice? Prepare for anything – this is where your exam prep in the lead up can help you. Try to simulate the exam experience as much as possible. Timing yourself, completing questions in ‘exam conditions’ but also – not in exam conditions. Can you focus with distractions around you? Perhaps sitting in a café, or even just at home with the kids. The more you prepare before exam day, the better the exam day will be.
Take control of your choices…
We’ve talked a lot about choice but what we’ve not mentioned is having this reduced. Take the October 2024 R06 sitting as an example.
It seems this sitting is popular and as a result, candidates that have left it a little later (note not late, just later than others) to book in, haven’t been able to secure their preferred option. There are no remote sitting available at all and some candidates are having to travel hundreds of miles to sit their exam. Some have decided not to sit and to defer until 2025 – not ideal at all and many are feeling the disappointment.
What to do? Plan ahead, get in early and CHOOSE the way you want to sit your exam – it’s all in the prep.
Bespoke Training Solutions have been supporting regulated exams for 20 years this year! Known as ‘the exam experts’ within the industry, BTS provide support for the CII regulated exams by way of study guides, e-learning resources, and workshops for the full R0 suite and many AF and J0 units.
Visit https://www.bespoketrainingsolutions.com and check out the BTS Careers Zone for study plans, answers to exam FAQs and lots more to support your journey.
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