THE Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) recently approved the Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC) of Jamaica to conduct computer-based examinations (CBE) for the Common Admission Test (CAT) and ACCA qualifications.

“As a licensed centre, OEC can now register candidates to sit CBE exams, co-ordinate exam sittings, and administer CBEs in accordance with ACCA terms and conditions,” said a release from the ACCA.

There are nine other licensed CBE centres in the Caribbean.

“CBEs are an innovative and efficient way for ACCA and CAT students globally to take exams and one which allows them increased flexibility and access,” noted the release.

It lists among the advantages of computer-based examinations:

* students’ ability to get their results immediately upon completion of the exam;

* their ability to attempt examinations at anytime during the year; and

* their ability to progress at a faster rate through their chosen course of study by combining paper-based and computer-based sittings.

CBEs are offered in the first four papers at the introductory and intermediate levels of the CAT qualification, and in the first three papers at the fundamentals level of the ACCA qualification.

“This is a significant milestone for the OEC. We have worked hard in developing and modernising our facilities to put candidates on the fast track of career advancement through ACCA qualifications. We look forward to serving our clients through this new method and express our profound thanks to the team from ACCA Caribbean for the positive and dynamic leadership that they bring to the process,” said Hector Stephenson, executive director of OEC.

“OEC’s approval as a licensed CBE centre is an indication that they have met all of ACCA’s stringent approval criteria in terms of facilities, administration and accessibility. This is great news for ACCA and CAT students in Jamaica as it now offers them another option for sitting their exams — one that they can take advantage of to progress through the qualification faster,” noted Paula Marcelle-Irish, manager of ACCA Northern Caribbean.

The Overseas Examinations Commission was established by an act of Parliament in 2005 and has overall responsibility for administering the overseas examinations taken by candidates in the Jamaican secondary education system and continues to successfully administer all external examinations, including the secondary exit examinations and professional examinations.