Get ready to sit the online exams

Extratax Training are one of the listed ADIT course providers. They operate independently from the CIOT. For more information on them and other available tuition options, view the full list of course providers. This content is not an endorsement.

The June 2021 exams are being held online. This means you may sit your ADIT exams anywhere in the world, providing there is an internet connection available! Yes, that includes your own home, which has the benefit of cutting out the worry and cost of travel to an unfamiliar exam centre on the day.

For some ADIT candidates, sitting an online exam may be a whole new experience. We asked some of our Extratax Training students who sat the online ADIT exams in December 2020 for their advice so that you can learn from the experiences of others.

Using Exam4

You need to download the Exam4 software to fetch, type, and submit your exam. 

You'll be emailed a link and instructions on how to download the Exam4 software on Thursday 13 May. You should download this as soon as you can and test it out. There are several sample exams available in Exam4 which you can use as practice.

The software shows the exam paper on one half of the screen and allows you to type your answers on the other half. One of our students found that their screen did not display the full text of the exam questions. However, they could see enough to understand the questions so, when they realised they were unable to resolve the problem, they carried on with the exam. They successfully completed (and passed!) the exam as it was displayed. They suggest that, if minor technical problems happen on the day, you should not waste precious time trying to fix them if it is possible for you to work with the information available. 

The ADIT Team advise you to test the software in advance and use sample papers to check the display. If you need help with any issues, including question papers not displaying correctly, email them for support. 

Timekeeping

You need to keep track of your time, as Exam4 will not display reminders or tell you when your exam has finished.

Plan how much time you should spend on each question, depending on the marks available and write a brief timetable which includes the time you should end your exam (you will have 3 hours 15 minutes from when you fetch your question paper). Be sure to stick to these time limits, to give yourself the best possible chance to attempt every questions.

Typing tips

If you are adept at typing, there are several benefits of sitting the exam online! Answers will be neat, with adequate spacing. Short paragraphs or bullet points work well. You are likely to find typing answers more straightforward than having to handwrite (scribble!) your answers on to an exam paper. 

You can easily go back and add to your answer without having to use tiny writing to fit into the existing space or draw arrows over the page to try to tell the examiner which bit to read next.

If you realise you have made a mistake you can delete and correct it, rather than having to cross it out in a handwritten paper. Exam4 also has a spell check, so you can check for errors before you submit your exam. 

These features will make your answers quicker to check, and easier for the examiner to read.

Practise your exam technique

Our students were sure that sitting past papers, in timed exam conditions, made a huge difference to how well prepared they were.  It gave them the opportunity to manage their time, apply their knowledge, and type their answers. 

Practising past papers in exam conditions is good advice when preparing for any exam! 

Internet Access

You do not need to be connected for the whole exam. You will require access to an internet connection to fetch the exam and to submit your answers at the end.

One of our students told us that their internet connection failed on the day of the exam and recommended that you have a backup plan in case this happens. If you can connect to the internet through your mobile/cell phone, this is a good backup plan.

And finally, on the day…

Double check the local start time for your exam. Make sure you have your 5-digit candidate number at hand, and launch Exam4 early to complete the entry process early.

Make sure there are no distractions in the room where you will sit the exam, and that there is a clock you can easily see. Clear your desk and consider having a drink in a container with a lid, so that it isn’t likely to spill on your device.

Take a deep breath, read the questions thoroughly, and get started.  All that preparation you have done will make the process so much more straightforward. Good luck!

Extratax Training offers online study programmes for the Principles of International Tax, United Kingdom, United States, and Transfer Pricing modules. To learn more about their courses, visit www.extrataxtraining.com/adit-courses. You will also find more helpful guidance on ADIT, by following Extratax Training on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.