CBE Guidance on Success

It is strongly recommended that you watch the tutorial video as it is the best way to become familiar with the onscreen exams, how they work, what sort of questions you may be asked and so forth.  There are Sample exams for each of the CBEs and you should take these before sitting your real CBE, 

There are three CBEs, each 1 hour in length: 

• Professional Responsibilities & Ethics 
• Law 
• Principles of Accounting  

The pass mark is 60% for each CBE. 

For the Accounting CBE only, you are able to take in a basic calculator (non-Accounting, non-Scientific) into a test centre, but please note there is also an onscreen calculator available for use with every single question.  A calculator will not be required for every question. 

Please note if you have not brought your own basic calculator to use at a test centre, the onscreen calculator is available for you to click on and open up for any question you require it.  If you are in any doubt as to what you the rules are for what you can bring with you to any of the CBEs, please look at the frequently asked questions.

Question Type 

There are four potential types of question within the exams and full details on these are contained in the tutorial at the start of your exam: 

Multiple Choice 

This is where you have to pick the correct answer from the four available options. 

Multiple Response 

This is where you will have to pick the correct two or three answers from the four available options. 

Drop and drag 

This is where you will be given a number of answers, typically two, but it may be more on occasion, which you have to drag into the correct “drop zone”. 

Please note you will often be presented with two statements and you will have to decide whether each one is true or false.  It may be that both are true or both are false, in which case you will need to drag both statements into the "true" drop zone or both into the "false" drop zone.  

Select from a list 

This is where you have to select the correct answer from those available to you in the drop down box or boxes.  Often there will be a missing word or phrase and you need to select the correct answer from the list available when you click on the drop down box.

Please note that whatever type of question it is, each question is worth one mark and there is no partial marking.  To receive the mark, you have to answer the entire question correctly. For example, if on a multiple choice response question you were asked to pick the correct three options out of four and you picked two correctly, but the third on you selected was incorrect, you would score no marks for this question.  

Within these formats, you will encounter questions that test both knowledge (recalling specific facts) and application (applying facts to a new situation).

Study Material 

All of the CBEs are book syllabi based on the manuals below: 

• Professional Responsibilities & Ethics – the manual is called Professional Responsibilities & Ethics for Tax Practitioners 
• Law – the manual is called Essential Law for Tax Practitioners 
• Principles of Accounting – the manual is called Principles of Accounting 

The latest versions of these manuals are displayed in the shop and they can be purchased from our shop. 

Studying for the CBEs 

All of the CBEs require significant amounts of study. The level of detailed knowledge required in order to achieve a pass in these exams should not to be underestimated. It is, therefore, important that you give some thought to when you would wish to sit the CBEs. 

To give the best chance of success, you may think about sitting each CBE separately, rather than on the same day. You should also try to obtain the study manuals earlier, rather than later and always attempt the practice questions contained within, and at the end of, each chapter in each of the manuals.  You should also take the sample exams available on our website, see more below. 

The volume of information is significant and you will be required to know it at a micro level. However, you should bear in mind that the syllabi have been carefully devised to expose tax students to the accounting, law and ethics you will come across during your careers and it is therefore essential that, to become a qualified tax practitioner, you can demonstrate a full understanding of these areas. 

Before you book to sit your CBE, make sure you have watched the tutorial and sat the Sample exams, as outlined above.  The sample questions were chosen to give you the same spread of topics as you will face in the real exam and they will give you the best indication of whether or not you are ready to sit the exam. Try to attempt them without your learning material and see if you can score 60% within the permitted time.  

To prepare best for the CBEs, you should go back to the manual you are studying from and look at any questions you got wrong and find the relevant detail in the manual.  This way, you are ensuring you understand why you got the question wrong and what the correct answer would have been.  You can always re-take the sample exams to ensure you have definitely understood the information in the manuals.

Study Methods 

As you will have realised, to achieve success in the CBEs you will need to remember the material.  Everyone has their own method of remembering things, no one way is better than another, and you will probably know from previous exams you have sat which is best for you. 

However, here are some tips that may help: 

Revisit your notes several times. This will fix them in your mind better than a ‘once and for all’ approach. 

As outlined above, question practice is key.  Make sure you practice the questions at the end of each chapter in the manuals and take the sample exams. 

Use trigger words for a topic and then list beside that trigger word the points you need to know. Remembering the trigger word should bring back the full list. 

Association – this is where you link a number of facts to a journey. As you move through the journey, you recall each point at the landmark you have linked it to. 

During the Exam 

Taking a CBE is naturally a different experience to a traditional written exam. You will be given questions which have been randomly selected within certain parameters from a substantial question bank. You will have 60 minutes with which to answer the questions. 

You also have the facility to skip questions and go back to them later, or to ‘flag’ them for review if you are uncertain of the answer you have given.   Please see the frequently asked questions for more information. 

Key features of the look and feel of the CBEs are outlined below, but the best way to get used to it is to complete the Sample exams.

Progress Bar 

At the top of the screen there is a progress bar showing you how far through the exam you are. 

Question list on the left hand side of the screen  

This will make it easier for you to navigate between questions and also see which questions you have flagged for review. 

Strike Out  

During the exam, a Strike Out feature is available to help you visually eliminate possible options from consideration. A struck-out option will remain present as you navigate through the exam, unless you select to remove it. 

You may strike out as many or as few options as you like. 

Highlighting 

During the exam, you will be able to highlight text in the passage area and in the questions that you feel are important to refer back to as you progress through the exam. The highlight will remain present as you navigate through the exam, unless you select to remove it. 

To highlight text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the cursor over the desired text and click to highlight it.

Technique 

Good exam technique is just as important for a CBE as for any other exam, but the challenges you face will be different. Here are some tips to help you make the best use of the 60 minutes: 

Some questions are longer than others. If the length of the question is daunting, skip it and go back to it at the end when you have attempted the others. You will then, hopefully, be calmer and will know how much time you have left. 

Try to answer the short questions in 30 to 40 seconds, to give you extra time on the longer questions. 

Don’t forget to breathe! 

Above all, don’t forget the CBEs are not set to trip you up, we want you to succeed. A well prepared student WILL pass.

GOOD LUCK!