Capstone 2 Candidate Guide

Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, CPA Canada, CPA

are trademarks and/or certification marks of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. © 2017, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. All Rights Reserved.

Les désignations « Comptables professionnels agréés du Canada », « CPA Canada » et « CPA »

sont des marques de commerce ou de certification de Comptables professionnels agréés du Canada. © 2017 Comptables professionnels agréés du Canada. Tous droits réservés. 27/07/17

Capstone 2 Candidate Guide

CPA Canada Capstone 2 Candidate Guide

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Table of Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4Your responsibilities .................................................................................................... 4Joining a profession .................................................................................................... 4Taking charge of your studies ..................................................................................... 4When can you use the CPA designation? ................................................................... 5Professional conduct ................................................................................................... 5Code of ethics ............................................................................................................. 5Academic honesty ....................................................................................................... 5Keeping the profession informed ................................................................................ 7Computer requirements .............................................................................................. 7

Your support team ............................................................................................................ 9National Marking Centre ............................................................................................. 9 Lead Discussion Board facilitator ................................................................................ 9 Session leader ............................................................................................................ 9Regional/provincial staff ............................................................................................ 10

Capstone 2 — module requirements .............................................................................. 11Capstone 2 — calendar ............................................................................................ 11Capstone 2 — learning materials .............................................................................. 12 Capstone 2 — submissions ...................................................................................... 16Capstone 2 — marking ............................................................................................ 17

Capstone 2 —Workshop ................................................................................................ 19Preparing for the workshop ....................................................................................... 19Workshop behaviour ................................................................................................. 19Workshop locations ................................................................................................... 20

Capstone 2 —Appeals ................................................................................................... 21Appeal of module results .......................................................................................... 22Appeal of fees ........................................................................................................... 22Appeal relating to ethics ............................................................................................ 22

Capstone 2 — Managing your program ......................................................................... 22Module enrolment ..................................................................................................... 22Capstone 1, Capstone 2 and the CFE ...................................................................... 22Withdrawing from a module ...................................................................................... 23


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Module fees and candidate dues .............................................................................. 24Important dates ......................................................................................................... 24Academic accommodations for medical reasons or disability ................................... 24

Capstone 2 — the CFE .................................................................................................. 25What is the CFE? ...................................................................................................... 25The Board of Examiners ........................................................................................... 26The Board of Examiners report ................................................................................. 27CFE marking ............................................................................................................. 28Writing the CFE ......................................................................................................... 34


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Introduction This guide is designed to provide key information on Capstone 2 and the CFE. Additional information, or answers to any questions not addressed herein, can be obtained either from your lead facilitator or from your regional office. Capstone 2 is the Common Final Exam (CFE) preparation module and is the last module in the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP). Capstone 2 is a unique module and it is not designed to resemble Core 1, Core 2 or the elective modules. Capstone 2 focuses on preparing candidates for entry into the profession by requiring candidates to apply the competencies acquired throughout the CPA program in unique, complex and highly integrative cases. Candidates should expect to spend between 12 and 15 hours weekly to complete the online learning activities. Capstone 2 has three primary objectives: 1. Continue the development of your enabling competencies, particularly your

communication and self-management competencies 2. Prepare you for all three days of the CFE 3. Continue the development of your integration of technical competency areas During the module, you will receive a variety of feedback and support including: • Individualized feedback on case responses from the national marking centre • Case-specific debrief guidance • Technical knowledge support, particularly in the area of elective concentration • Results tracing and interpretation • Continuous individualized coaching by the lead facilitators on the discussion board

throughout the module • Feedback and guidance on the relevancy of information within case facts Your responsibilities

Joining a profession The CPA certification program is designed to prepare candidates to join a respected profession. In the certification program, candidates are expected to uphold the same values as the profession’s members. Taking charge of your studies The CPA Professional Education Program is competency based, which means candidates might notice differences between this program and post-secondary education. First, when candidates are preparing responses to assignments, there is often no single correct answer. Additionally, there is no lecturer or any other person telling candidates what they need to do, what they need to read or where to find


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additional information. Candidates are expected to have acquired the study skills, sense of responsibility, self-motivation and discipline necessary for an independent course of study. When can you use the CPA designation? Before passing the CFE and being formally accepted into membership by a regionally/provincially regulated CPA body, candidates may not, under any circumstances, use the designation “CPA” or any other title suggesting that they are Chartered Professional Accountants. Please refer to the regional/provincial guidelines on the use of titles for candidates. Professional conduct The manner in which members and candidates conduct their activities reflects on the CPA designation and affects the level of respect accorded to the profession. Code of ethics Those who do not abide by the Code of Ethics may be subject to the disciplinary process and have their registration deleted. All candidates and members are required to abide by their regional/provincial Act, bylaws and Code of Ethics. Academic honesty During their studies in the CPA certification program, candidates are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. While each module has some of its own unique requirements and standards, academic honesty applies equally to all candidates. Plagiarism — the unauthorized and/or uncredited use of others’ intellectual property — is considered a serious offence and may result in penalties including suspension or dismissal from the program. There is likewise a no-tolerance policy toward cheating of any sort. Candidates are expected to conduct their studies with professionalism and integrity. Where there is any doubt, candidates should contact their facilitator for guidance. Note, among other things, that copying from other candidates, previous candidates and solutions/feedback guides is considered plagiarism and penalties (see below) will apply. If you are copying from a source (such as the CPA Canada Handbook), be sure to clearly reference your source.


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Candidates are encouraged to use the module discussion board as a platform for collaboration with their peers prior to composing their own responses. Collaboration can include:

• discussion of technical topics

• identification of potential resources for further research

• discussion of general approach to assignments

Collaboration does not involve sharing files or templates with peers (unless sharing across team members). This would be considered plagiarism or enabling plagiarism. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, candidates are expected to compose their responses to module assignments independently with their team members.

Where teamwork is involved, the contribution of each candidate must be acknowledged, and reports must be signed off with a declaration that the report is original, produced by the signed authors, and that any intellectual property from other sources is properly quoted and credited.

Each region/province reserves the right, at its sole discretion and without specific notice to candidates, to employ active and/or passive techniques for the detection of plagiarism. This includes, but is not limited to, comparative analysis of written submissions in hard copy or electronic form, including the use of human reviewers and/or automated searches by plagiarism detection software using a comparative databank of written submissions from other current candidates and/or program years, program articles or Internet-based resources.

Plagiarism and cheating are serious offences and are considered to be a breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct, as governed by the profession’s Discipline Committees, and may result in the suspension of the candidate’s registration and eligibility to continue pursuing the designation. All candidates should become thoroughly familiar with the Rules of Professional Conduct on their regional/provincial website and are accountable for conforming to its standards.

Penalties can include:

• fines

• repeating a module

• expulsion or suspension

• letter to employer

• completing an ethics course

• reporting offences to the applicable regional/provincial body


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Keeping the profession informed Candidates are responsible for notifying their regional/provincial education body when circumstances change, such as for a(n): • address change

• employer change

• name change See the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide. Computer requirements CPA Professional Education Program content is delivered through Desire2Learn (D2L), CPA Canada’s learning management system. All technical issues should be sent to the CPA Canada D2L Help Desk (https://support.cpacanada.ca). The specific requirements to access D2L are listed below. Required hardware

• PC-based computers only; no Apple/Power PC/Macintosh computers allowed during examinations, even if they run Windows

• 1 GB minimum of RAM • 100 MB of free hard-drive space (required to run application) • a free USB port Operating system

Microsoft Windows Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 Required software

• Microsoft PowerPoint (minimum Office 2010 compatible) • Microsoft Word (minimum Office 2010 compatible) • Microsoft Excel (minimum Office 2010 compatible) • JavaScript enabled • Cookies enabled • Adobe Flash • Acrobat Reader


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General requirements

• sound card with speakers or headphones: modules may contain audio that requires headphones or speakers

• device to record .mp4 videos such as a smartphone or Movie Maker software in Windows

• Internet access — high speed strongly recommended

o Firefox (latest) o Internet Explorer (version 9 or higher) o Chrome (latest)

Note: If you are having issues in D2L, please use Firefox and/or Chrome. They are the most reliable browsers to use with D2L.


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Your support team To assist candidates in Capstone 2, there are several individuals to help provide support. National Marking Centre All Capstone 2 practice cases (with the exception of the Week 7 Day 2 case) will be marked by a national marking centre. This will ensure consistent feedback for all Capstone 2 candidates. The national marking centre will use the practice case feedback guide to assess candidate responses. Lead Discussion Board Facilitator Unlike other modules in the PEP, Capstone 2 candidates are not paired with a facilitator. A discussion board, moderated by a CPA lead facilitator, is available to candidates for the duration of Capstone 2. The lead discussion board facilitator(s) is a designated CPA and acts as a coach, providing candidates with support and answering technical questions. The lead discussion board facilitator does not mark candidate practice cases nor does he/ she decide whether a candidate succeeds in a module. Candidates are not permitted to email their lead discussion board facilitator. Candidates are encouraged to use the discussion board to ask questions on practice cases and/ or questions of a technical nature. In addition, candidates are encouraged to respond to their peers’ questions and comments. CPA Canada is dedicated to a quality learning experience for all candidates and encourages candidates to email their regional/provincial delivery body (see Candidate Guide Addendum for contact information) if they are unsatisfied with the quality of their learning experience. Session leader This is the person who guides the two-day workshop during the module. Session leaders will be CPAs.


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Support team

member What to expect

from them What they will expect

from candidates Lead Discussion Board Facilitator

• Help candidates locate information and understand new concepts.

• Respond to questions on the discussion board within 24 hours.

• Monitor and facilitate discussions on the discussion board.

• Post questions about technical topics or practice cases on the discussion board.

• Respond to peers’ questions and comments on the discussion board.

• Review the discussion board daily and respond to emails in a timely manner.

Session leader

• Lead discussions and activities during a two-day workshop.

• Arrive on time, prepared to participate in the session. Complete the pre-work activities for the module workshop.

Regional/provincial staff The regional/provincial bodies will also have employees dedicated to supporting Capstone 2 candidates/teams through CPA certification.

Please see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide for questions about:

• registering in the CPA program • prerequisites • admittance criteria • eligibility • module registration, including Module Zero • accommodations


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Capstone 2 module requirements The module begins with a two-day face-to-face workshop. The balance of the module consists of independent online learning. Candidates will access content via D2L, the CPA Canada learning management system. Within D2L, candidates will find instructions for the practice cases, module workshop materials, resources and other material that they will use during Capstone 2. Throughout Capstone 2, candidates will be writing practice cases that resemble three days of the CFE. These Capstone 2 practices cases are commonly referred to as ‘Day 1’, ‘Day 2’ and ‘Day 3’ cases. Candidates will also write a two-day mock CFE that resembles Days 2 and 3 of the CFE. There is no examination at the end of Capstone 2. To pass Capstone 2 and be eligible to proceed to the CFE, candidates are required to attend the Capstone 2 workshop and to make a reasonable attempt on the mock CFE. Capstone 2 – calendar The Capstone 2 calendar, located on the module homepage, runs from Saturday to Friday, from week 0 to week 8, and provides candidates with detailed information about when each practice case is written and when each case is due. Week 0 is included on the Capstone 2 calendar because the Capstone 2 module workshop begins on the Friday of week 0. Week 8 is included in the Capstone 2 calendar because the CFE runs during week 8. In all weeks of Capstone 2, with the exception of week 1, week 4 and week 7, candidates will have either a day 1 or a day 2 practice case response and a day 3 practice case response due: Week 1 One Day 3 practice case due Week 2 Day 2 and Day 3 practice case due Week 3 Day 1 and Day 3 practice case due Week 4 Mock CFE Day 2 and Day 3 cases and one Day 3 practice case due Week 5 Day 2 and Day 3 practice case due Week 6 Day 1 and Day 3 practice case due Week 7 One Day 3 practice case due * There is also a Day 2 practice case scheduled for Week 7; the Day 2 practice case is self-evaluated and will not be marked by the National Marking Centre. Unlike other modules, cases are NOT all due on Fridays. Check the Capstone 2 calendar for the due dates.


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Candidates are cautioned that the D2L dropboxes will close at 11:55 pm on the stated deadline. Writing early While candidates have the option of writing and submitting their practice case responses to the D2L dropbox at any time before the stated deadline, candidates are encouraged to submit their practice case responses in the week in which they are due. The reason for this recommendation is twofold: practice case responses that are submitted early will not necessarily be marked and returned to candidates by the national marking centre before the stated feedback deadline. Also, it is known that candidates improve their writing skills by digesting and applying feedback received on previously submitted practice case responses. If candidates write all of their practice case responses in the first few weeks of the module, they will not get an opportunity to apply feedback received from the national marking centre and gauge their improvement over the course of the module. Capstone 2 – learning materials Capstone 2 is designed to provide candidates with all of the learning materials and resources necessary to facilitate effective studying in the seven weeks leading up to the CFE, with no time off from work. The following learning materials will be provided for the Day 1 practice cases:

Debrief material Explanation Solution A complete solution. Note that the solution is a competency

with distinction response and is usually much longer than what can be achieved in an exam setting.

Feedback Guide A guide to assess standing, based on the solution. Walkthrough An annotated version of the case, highlighting case facts and

triggers. Debrief notes Notes to highlight specific areas of the case and elaborate on

learning points. Debrief video A video debrief that walks through the key learning points in

the case.


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The following learning materials will be provided for the Day 2 and Day 3 practice cases:

Debrief material Explanation Marking guide A complete solution written by the Board of Examiners (BoE)

that is located in the BoE report. Note that marking guides are not available for all CFE cases and that when provided, represent a competency with distinction response that is usually much longer than what can be achieved in an exam setting.

Practical solution A complete solution that demonstrates case writing ‘best practices’ including, but not limited to the use of headings, point form, templates and exhibits. Note that the solution is a competency with distinction response and is usually much longer than what can be achieved in an exam setting. A practical solution is meant to illustrate to candidates HOW to write a best response for the various issues in the case.

Feedback Guide A guide to assess standing, based on the solution Walkthrough An annotated version of the case, highlighting case facts and

triggers. Debrief notes Notes to highlight specific areas of the case and elaborate on

learning points. Debrief video A video debrief that walks through the key learning points in

the case. Flashcards Flashcards summarizing technical content covered in the case.

Note that role specific flashcard decks are provided. Each role specific flashcard deck covers the technical content from all of the Capstone 2 cases. Flashcard decks by case are not provided.

It is not necessary for candidates to use all of the learning materials provided to them in Capstone 2. In the first week of Capstone 2, candidates are encouraged to take a look at the various materials to determine which ones will be of most use to them. In addition to the learning materials provided in Capstone 2, candidates will have access to the following resources:

• Individualized feedback on all practice case responses (with the exception of the Week 7 Day 2 case which is self evaluated) from the national marking centre;

• Technical knowledge support, particularly in the area of elective concentration through the recently added new Oracle documents;

• A workbook designed to facilitate results tracking and interpretation; • A detailed Capstone 2 calendar;


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• A Capstone 2 lead facilitator through the D2L discussion board; • A session leader through a two-day workshop; • Employees of the candidates’ regional/provincial institute who are dedicated to

supporting candidates through the CPA PEP program. Mock CFE The mock CFE consists of two exam papers that resemble Day 2 and Day 3 of the CFE. The Day 2 mock CFE paper should be written in 5 hours and the Day 3 mock CFE paper should be written in 4 hours. The mock CFE will be written remotely (not in a writing centre) and may be written by candidates at any time, as long as the files are submitted to the D2L dropbox by the calendar due date. Day 2 of the mock CFE is due on the Saturday of week 4. Day 3 of the mock CFE is due on the Sunday of week 4. Once candidates have written the mock CFE, they are encouraged to immediately debrief their response using the many tools provided on the D2L site. A second debrief should be performed when candidates receive their marked responses back from the national marking centre one week later. For information on how to effectively debrief a practice case response, please access the Debriefing a Case Guide in the Oracle. CPA Canada strongly recommends that candidates wait until week 3 of Capstone 2 to write the mock CFE. This will ensure that candidates have received feedback from the national marking centre on their week 1 and 2 practice cases and are provided with an opportunity to apply some of the skills they have learned on the mock CFE. Discussion Board A discussion board, moderated by a CPA lead facilitator(s), is made available to candidates for the duration of Capstone 2. While the lead facilitators are not the same people who are marking candidates’ practice case responses, they are very familiar with the content of each practice case and can address any module related inquiry. Candidates are encouraged to subscribe to the ‘Important Announcements’ board and any other boards that are of interest. The discussion boards that are available to candidates include:

• Important announcements: Capstone 2 lead facilitator(s) will post important information to candidates about Capstone 2 and/ or the CFE here. The purpose of this discussion board is to communicate important information from CPA Canada to candidates.

• CFE questions: candidates are encouraged to post questions about the CFE here.

• General Capstone 2 questions: candidates are encouraged to post general questions about the Capstone 2 module here.


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• General case writing questions: lead facilitators will share case writing best practices and answer candidate questions related to case writing here.

• Case specific questions (by case): lead facilitators will answer questions about specific cases here.

• Module workshop questions: lead facilitators will answer questions about the module workshop here.

• Securexam questions: candidates can share information about Securexam here. This discussion board will not be monitored by the Capstone 2 lead facilitator.

• Study partners: candidates can use this discussion board to find a study partner to work with. This discussion board will not be monitored by the Capstone 2 lead facilitator.

Any Securexam related posts must be made on the ‘Securexam questions’ discussion board. Securexam related posts on other discussion boards may be deleted. If a candidate is experiencing technical issues with Securexam, they are encouraged to file a ticket with the CPA Canada help desk at: https://support.cpacanada.ca Candidates are reminded to use online discussion board etiquette:

• Before posting a question to the discussion board, check to see if the question has already been asked and if so, if the reply to your question has already been provided.

• Only reply to a posting when you have a comment or a follow up question to ask. Do not reply to a posting with a ‘thank you’.

• Be respectful. Avoid writing anything that sounds angry or sarcastic, even if it is meant as a joke.

Study groups In addition to the Capstone 2 resources, candidates are encouraged to work with a coach and/ or a study group. When looking for a coach, candidates are encouraged to find someone that they feel comfortable with, who is willing to share their knowledge and experience and will be available to the candidate for morale support, if needed. A coach doesn’t have to reside in the same city as the candidate as information can be easily shared electronically or by phone. Candidates may also want to consider joining a study group. Study groups can take many different forms. Some study groups choose to write, mark and debrief every Capstone 2 practice case together while other study groups only come together to mark and debrief practice cases after having written and marked the cases individually. Some study groups have members that reside across Canada and come together using tools like Skype while other study group meet in person daily. Candidates are reminded that


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an effective study group is a group that works for each member. There is no “right way” when it comes to study groups. In some situations, a candidate may decide that his or her study group is no longer providing the support that the candidate needs during his or her CFE preparations. When this happens, candidates are encouraged to leave the study group. Although this may cause a disruption to the other group members, it is very important that each candidate prepares for the CFE in a way that works for them. Study group members can be found in many different ways. Candidates can:

• Form study groups with colleagues • Use the Capstone 2 discussion board to find a study partner(s) • Connect with CFE candidates who were enrolled in the same CPA PEP or

PREP modules Capstone 2 – submissions To ensures consistency of feedback for all Capstone 2 candidates, Capstone 2 practice cases (with the exception of the Week 7 Day 2 case) will be marked by the national marking centre. Candidates are required to write their responses to the Capstone 2 practice cases in Securexam. Unencrypted practice case response files (in Word and Excel) must be uploaded to the Capstone 2 D2L dropbox by the stated deadline. PDF documents will not be accepted. It is expected that candidates will attempt and submit all cases on time. The national marking centre will not provide feedback or review late submissions. In extenuating circumstances, a candidate may request an extension. See the Candidate Guide Addendum for contact information. If technical difficulties are encountered with submitting files to the D2L dropbox, contact the CPA Canada help desk: https://support.cpacanada.ca Candidates should refer to the Securexam case writing instructions for more information. Submission deadlines Note: All submission deadlines are stated in Pacific Standard Time (PST) and will need to be converted to each candidates’ local time zone. Practice case responses are due on the stated date at 11:55 p.m. PST. Revisions

There are no revision opportunities in Capstone 2.


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Capstone 2 – marking The national marking centre will use the practice case feedback guide to assess candidate responses. Candidates are encouraged to debrief their practice case response immediately after writing using the feedback guide. A second debrief should be performed when candidates receive their marked responses back from the national marking centre one week later. For information on how to effectively debrief a practice case response, please access the Debriefing a Case Guide in the Oracle. The national marking centre will assign a question leader and several quality control reviewers to each practice case. Markers are selected based on their past marking experience, a reference check and a demonstrated commitment to the profession. Prior to the start of the marking centre, all team members will be asked to mark an actual response to the practice case. The results of their assessment will be reviewed by the question leader and any instances of inconsistency will be investigated and discussed in a debrief meeting where the practice case feedback guide will be fine tuned, if necessary. Once the question leader, the quality control reviewers and the markers are comfortable with the practice case and its feedback guide, live marking will begin. Over the course of the marking centre, question leaders and quality control reviewers will be tasked with reviewing candidate feedback being provided by markers. Feedback should be understandable, positive and helpful in explaining to candidates what is required to move to the next level on each assessment opportunity. Feedback that is deemed not to have met these requirements will be flagged and the marker will be notified and coached on how to improve the feedback he or she is providing. In addition to monitoring the quality of feedback being provided, the question leader and the quality control reviewers will monitor the consistency of marking, looking for instances where a marker is being too harsh or too lenient on an assessment opportunity. Where inconsistent marking is noted, the marker will be consulted and trained, as necessary. By the stated deadline, the national marking centre will upload a case results report containing an assessment of candidates responses to each practice case. The marking centre will not return the candidate’s practice case response file(s). Candidates should follow the steps below to access their case results report: On the Dropbox Folders page, click View in the Feedback column beside the folder containing your practice case response file(s).


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Click Download All Files to download the case results report. When you are finished viewing the case results report, click Done.


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Once candidates have reviewed their case results report from the national marking centre, they may have questions on their individual assessment. Neither the national marking centre nor the CPA lead facilitator(s) will address queries related to individual case results reports. There are several reasons for this:

• The primary focus of the national marking centre is on the feedback being provided to candidates. While consistency of marking is important, candidates may note instances of inconsistency between their marking and the marking of their peers. This is not a cause for alarm. Candidates are reminded that the CFE will be marked much more slowly and over a longer period of time. Candidates are also reminded that the focus of CFE marking is on consistency, not feedback.

• Because of the volume of marking handled by the national marking centre, markers will not have capacity to investigate and comment on individual assessments. If candidates have general questions regarding the practice case feedback guide, they are encouraged to post these questions on the Capstone 2 D2L discussion board.

Capstone 2 – Workshop The Capstone 2 module workshop pre-work is due on the Friday of Week 0 (per the Capstone 2 calendar). Candidates should refer to their regional/provincial body’s website for schedule details. The workshops run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. Candidates are expected to attend the entire workshop, and arriving late or missing a portion of the session may result in being suspended from the program or being withdrawn from the module. In extenuating circumstances, candidates may request to arrive late or miss the workshop (see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide). In most cases, candidates will be expected to complete a make-up assignment and may be charged a make-up assignment fee. If candidates do not attend the workshop and do not complete the make-up assignment(s), they may not be eligible to write the CFE. Preparing for the workshop Candidates are expected to arrive at the workshop with any requested pre-work completed and prepared to participate in the group discussions and activities. Candidates are also expected to bring a laptop to the workshop with workshop materials already downloaded from the module’s D2L site.


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Workshop behaviour Professional behaviour is expected throughout the program, module and workshop. This includes arriving on time, being present and actively involved, avoiding or limiting distracting communications, and respecting other candidates and the session leader. All late arrivals will be documented by the session leader and communicated to the regional/provincial body. This includes late arrivals after breaks. Regional/provincial bodies may ask candidates to complete make-up assignments, pay a fine or deny credit for attending the workshop if part or all of the workshop is missed (without an approved extension). The workshop learning environment encourages discussion and discourse, including debate with other candidates or the session leader. Nonetheless, the principle of respectful communication is expected and required at all times. If a candidate is unsure if they are being respectful, err on the side of caution and follow up with the session leader during a break or at the end of the day. Distracting forms of communication including cell phone conversations, texting, social media etc. should be limited to use outside of the classroom, during scheduled breaks. Any emergency situations should be dealt with outside the classroom without distracting the cohort. If a candidate is being disrespectful or demonstrating other unprofessional behaviour that is disrupting the learning environment, the session leader reserves the right to ask them to leave the classroom. The candidate, the session leader and the regional/provincial body should discuss the circumstances that led to the dismissal as soon as possible (such as the nearest break).

Workshop locations Workshop locations will be published at least one week before the workshop. To request a change in an assigned location, see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide.


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Capstone 2 – Appeals

Appeal of module results Candidates should expect a high level of fairness, professionalism and objectivity in the CPA certification program. The appeals process is designed to handle concerns raised by candidates. The intent of the process is to ensure fairness and clear communication. All appeals related to program policies must be made in writing and must clearly state that they are a letter of appeal. To submit an appeal, see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide. The stronger the submission, the greater the likelihood that it will be favourably considered:

1. Include an explanation and supporting documentation, where applicable, if there were extenuating circumstances that hindered your ability to satisfy the requirements or meet established policies.

2. Avoid making general statements such as “I will work harder.” Identify the issue or

weakness that created the situation and clearly outline what changes are required and that you will undertake should your appeal be successful.

The applicable regional/provincial body, in accordance with established regional/provincial processes and/or bylaws, will consider appeal submissions. Should the appeal be confidential, be assured that any individuals involved in the review are bound by privacy policies. An appeal decision can be expected within six weeks of submission, unless additional information is requested from the candidate. Any other reasons for a delay beyond this time frame will be communicated in writing. Appeal of fees

Issues with payment and refunds, per the approved and published schedules, are not appealable. Where there are cases of hardship, contact your regional/provincial body to discuss resources that may be available or alternate arrangements that may be considered (see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide). In some situations, a written appeal may be directed to the appeal committee for review. Appeal relating to ethics Your regional/provincial body will first consider ethical issues such as cheating or plagiarism. Depending on the nature of the situation and/or in accordance with regional/provincial requirements, the matter may have to be forwarded to the individual responsible for ethical issues. The penalty for such actions may involve a warning, reducing the score, disallowing the assignment, or recommending suspension or


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removal from the program. Candidates may submit an appeal of this decision for consideration by the appeals committee, and they will be notified of the results in writing. In extreme or difficult cases, the appeal may be referred to an independent, qualified external reviewer. Candidates will be responsible for any costs of the appeal. At this stage, the person making the appeal will be required to sign an agreement that the results of this stage will be final and not subject to further appeal. For ethical issues that relate to workplace or professional conduct, the applicable regional/provincial committee for disciplinary action will consider the matter. Capstone 2 – Managing your program

Module enrolment

To enrol in a module, candidates must be registered with the appropriate program in a Canadian region/province, usually the one in which they are living. In the CPA Professional Education Program, candidates must pass Core 1 and Core 2 before starting any electives. Candidates will need to pass two electives before they can start Capstone 1 and pass Capstone 1 before they can start Capstone 2. Capstone 1, Capstone 2 and the CFE The case used in Capstone 1 changes for each offering of Capstone 1, and Day 1 of the CFE is linked to the Capstone 1 case. As a result, the Day 1 practice cases for Capstone 2 also change for each offering of Capstone 2.

It is HIGHLY recommended that candidates consider Capstone 1, Capstone 2 and the CFE as one integrated package and therefore take Capstone 1 and Capstone 2 immediately leading up to the CFE to ensure consistency of the cases. The following guidance illustrates why:

Capstone 1 Capstone 2 CFE Day 1 CFE Day 2


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Capstone 1 Capstone 2 CFE Implications Route 1: Take Capstone 1 and 2 immediately leading up to the September 2017 CFE

May 2017 Case

July 2017 Practice Day 1 cases: based on May 2017 Capstone 1 case

September 2017 Day 1 case: based on May 2017 Capstone 1 case

Case is consistent across Capstone 1, Capstone 2 and the CFE, therefore this route is recommended.

Route 2: Take Capstone 1 in May 2017, Capstone 2 in July 2018, write the CFE in September 2018

May 2017 Case

July 2018 Practice Day 1 cases: based on May 2018 Capstone 1 case

September 2018 Day 1 case: based on May 2018 Capstone 1 case

The sample Day 1 cases in Capstone 2 would be different from what was taken in Capstone 1, therefore this route is not recommended.

If you are currently registered in Capstone 1 and are NOT planning to write the coming September CFE, we recommend you reconsider your plan immediately. If you would like to discuss your options, contact your regional/provincial administrator (see the Candidate Guide Addendum for contact information). Withdrawing from a module

Except in unusual circumstances, if candidates choose to withdraw from a module, they can withdraw through their regional/provincial body. To withdraw from a module, see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide.

Whether candidates are issued a refund or charged for a module attempt depends on when they withdraw:

• If the candidate withdraws before the second Friday of the module, they will not be charged a module attempt. Check with your region/province to determine if you are eligible for a refund.

• If the candidate withdraws between the second Friday of the module and the fourth Friday of the module, no refund will be issued and they will not be charged a module attempt.

• If the candidate withdraws after the fourth Friday of the module, no refund will be issued and they will be charged a module attempt.

In all cases, if a candidate re-enrols in a module after withdrawing from an earlier offering, candidates will need to restart the module at Week 1.


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Module fees and candidate dues

Module fees are required in full at the time of enrolment. To maintain status as a CPA candidate, candidates are also required to pay annual dues, set by the applicable regional/provincial body. Important dates

The program schedule lists the module enrolment dates, module start and examination dates, workshop dates, and the dates that results are released. Academic accommodations for medical reasons or disability

If candidates have a medically documented reason or disability that affects their participation in the module or ability to attempt the module examination as scheduled, they can request an academic accommodation. Such candidates will need to provide appropriate documentation and may be asked to provide additional information. For additional information, see the Candidate Guide Addendum that accompanies this guide.


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Capstone 2 – the CFE What is the CFE? The Common Final Examination (CFE) is intended to evaluate a candidate’s readiness to enter the profession by requiring them to demonstrate competence across a set of competency areas required of an entry-level Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). The CFE is made up of a set of unique cases that are written over three days. Day 1 – is a 4-hour exam that consists of one comprehensive case that is linked to the Capstone 1 case, which candidates work on in groups prior to Capstone 2. This exam focuses on enabling competencies of professionalism, ethical behaviour, written and oral communication, leadership, problem-solving and decision making with candidates directed to target a “board room and senior management” level of discussion. Because this examination is common to all candidates, only core level knowledge will be tested on day 1. Day 2 – is a 5-hour exam that consists of one comprehensive case with different roles and requirements. Candidates will respond assuming one of four unique roles (Assurance, Tax, Finance or Performance Management). Competence will be assessed in two ways, within each role:

1) Depth in the core Financial Reporting and/ or Management Accounting competencies (these are competencies that are common to all roles);

2) Depth in one of the four roles chosen in advance by candidates. The four roles reflect the four CPA elective choices.

All candidates will work with the same case which consists of a common section and four sets of appendices containing additional information that is applicable to each of the four unique roles. Generally, the required tasks, regardless of the role, are clearly directed. The financial statements of the day 2 exam will be pre-loaded into the Excel spreadsheet component of SecureExam so that candidates may copy and paste elements of the financial statements into their response. Day 3 – is a 4-hour exam that consists of a mix of between three and four multi-competency area cases. The maximum time for any one case is 90 minutes and the minimum time is 45 minutes. Because this examination is common to all candidates, only core level knowledge will be tested on day 3.


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The day 3 cases are time constrained, and they are designed to cover different competency areas (both technical and enabling) within each case. A higher level of integration and judgment is required on day 3 of the CFE than in the core modules. It is important to note that additional depth opportunities in Financial Reporting and Management Accounting competencies will be provided. The Board of Examiners A committee called the Board of Examiners (the Board) oversees the development and marking of the CFE. The Board is comprised of a Chair, a Vice-Chair and sixteen members who have been appointed by the regional/provincial bodies to ensure regional/provincial representation. The Board’s responsibilities, as set out in its terms of reference, include the following:

• Setting the CFE in accordance with the Chartered Professional Accountant Competency Map (the Map) and other directions from the Professional Education Management Committee;

• Submitting the CFE and the marking guides to the regional/provincial bodies for review;

• Marking the candidates’ responses and recommending to the regional/provincial bodies the pass or fail standing that should be given to each candidate; and

• Reporting annually on the CFE to various CPA committees and the regional/provincial bodies, in such form and detail and at such time as is satisfactory to them.

While the Board Chair is responsible for the supervision of the evaluation process, a CFE subcommittee of six individuals is responsible for the preparation of the CFE cases and marking guides and the setting of the passing profile. The CFE subcommittee oversees a group of Board staff. These staff members work with authors to ensure that the CFE cases achieve the overall intent and design objectives of the Board while adhering to the competencies and the proficiency levels specified in the Map. Board staff are also tasked with developing a solution, also known as a marking guide, for every CFE case. Approximately three months prior to the CFE being finalized and printed, a group of C meet to examine the cases and the preliminary marking guides. The regional/provincial reviewers’ comments are considered by the Board when it finalizes the CFE cases and again when the senior markers review the marking guides in the context of actual responses, which is discussed below.


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The Board of Examiners Report After each evaluation, the Board publishes a report called the Board of Examiners CFE report (Board report). The objective of the Board report is to explain the Common Final Examination (CFE) process and to assist the CPA profession in improving the performance of candidates on the CFE. The Board reports describe the responsibilities of the Board, the methods used for developing the marking guides of disclosed cases and the process of setting the passing standard. The reports also contain a valuable message from the Board to candidates on how to improve their performance. The following Board reports are currently available to candidates here: https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/become-a-cpa/cpa-certification-program-evaluation/the-common-final-examination-report-simulations-and-guides-for-the-cfe May 2016 CFE report In addition to the details listed above, the May 2016 CFE report contains:

• September 2015 Capstone 1 case: Rejuvenating Spa Inc. (RSI) • September 2015 Day 1 Version 1 case, marking guide and sample candidate

response: Rejuvenating Spa Inc. (RSI) • May 2016 Day 1 Version 2 case, marking guide and sample candidate response:

Rejuvenating Spa Inc. (RSI) • May 2016 Day 1 Version 1 case: Canada Heavy Engineering Inc. (CHEI) • May 2016 Day 2 case. Note that the marking guide for the May 2016 Day 2 case

is undisclosed. • May 2016 Day 3 cases. Note that the marking guides for the May 2016 Day 3

cases are undisclosed. May 2016 CFE report supplement This supplement to the May 2016 CFE Report provides commentary from the Board on candidate performance on the May 2016 Day 2 and Day 3 cases. Marking guides and solutions for these cases are not being released by the Board. September 2015 CFE report In addition to the details listed above, the September 2015 CFE report contains:

• September 2015 Day 1 Version 1 case: Rejuvenating Spa Inc. (RSI) • September 2015 Day 2 case and marking guide for each role: K-MED


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• September 2015 Day 3 cases and marking guides: Bamboo Bikes, ESL Chang Academy, Katwill Lodge.

CFE Marking The CFE design The Board applies a competency-based method of evaluation on the CFE. Assessment Opportunities (AOs) are embedded throughout the three days of the exam and these AOs are designed to answer the question, “what would a competent CPA do in these circumstances?” Five categories of performance can be awarded for each AO. Not Addressed (NA): the AO was not addressed Nominal Competence (NC): there is virtually no evidence of competence Reaching Competence (RC): there is some evidence of competence Competent (C): competence has been demonstrated Competent with Distinction (CD): there is overwhelming evidence of competence Every Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 marking guide provides a brief description of the AOs and a description of what was expected for each category of performance. How the CFE is marked Each CFE case is marked by a team consisting of a team leader, an assistant team leader and a pool of French-speaking and English-speaking markers from across Canada. Each team has one or more markers who are capable of marking in both languages. The Board Chair is responsible for the CFE marking centres and works alongside the CFE subcommittee and Board staff throughout the marking process. Team leaders, assistant team leaders and markers are selected based on a pre-determined set of criteria which include marking experience, motivation, academic achievement, work experience, personal references and regional representation. In September 2015, approximately 80 individuals were chosen to participate in the CFE marking centre. The number of markers grew to 85 for the May 2016 CFE marking centre. Prior to the start of the CFE marking centres, the marking guides must be tested and refined to ensure that they meet the overall intent and design objectives of the Board. The testing of the marking guides is performed by a group consisting of team leaders, assistant team leaders and some Board members. Participants review the marking guides, apply them to randomly selected candidate responses and make necessary revisions to the marking guidelines. Any refinements made to the marking guides are completed before live marking starts.


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At the beginning of the live marking centre, the team leaders and assistant team leaders present the marking guides to their teams. The teams then undertake a two-phase test marking procedure prior to actual marking. Phase one is designed to familiarize the markers with the marking guides and ensure that all markers understand the issues in the marking guide and the basis on which to apply each expectation level. During this phase, markers apply the marking guide to a set of candidate responses and collectively review the results. Phase two consists test marking several additional responses to establish marker congruence. After the marker training is complete and marker congruence has been achieved, live marking begins. At several points during the live marking centres, marker statistics are reviewed by the team leaders to ensure that marking remains consistent throughout the centre. Based on analysis of the statistics, team leaders review, and, if necessary, re-mark candidate responses to ensure that the assessment opportunities are fair for all candidates. Bilingual markers mark responses in both languages and their results are compared to ensure that the marking is consistent in both languages. Near the completion of the marking process, the CFE subcommittee satisfies itself that the markers have applied the marking guides as intended by the Board. The live marking centres are overseen by the Chair of the Board. Day 1 – each candidate paper is marked once. All candidate papers that were assessed as a clear fail, a marginal fail or a marginal pass are marked a second time by the team leader or assistant team leader. If the two markings differ, an arbitrator (the leader, the assistant leader or a senior marker) compares the two markings and determines the final result. Clear pass results are also audited on a random basis to ensure accuracy of marking. Day 2/3 – each candidate paper is marked independently by two different markers. If the two initial markings differ on any assessment opportunity, an arbitrator (the leader, the assistant leader or a senior marker) compares the two initial markings and determines the final result. As an added measure to ensure that markers consistently apply the marking guide, a two-day rule exists. Under the two-day rule, the second round of marking cannot begin until two days have elapsed since the first marking. By enforcing this two-day rule, any movement in the application of the guides due to marker interpretations during the first two days of live marking are stabilized before the second marking and arbitration procedures begin. The passing profile In determining which candidates pass the CFE, a passing profile is developed by the CFE subcommittee and the Board. The full Board is responsible for determining the passing standard.


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A candidate is judged in relation to the pre-established expectations of an entry-level CPA. The passing profile decisions are ratified by the full board. In setting the passing profile, the board considers the following:

• The competency area requirements described in the Map • The level of difficulty of each case • The level of difficulty of each Assessment Opportunity • The design and application of the marking guides • Comments from leaders and assistant leaders regarding any marking difficulties

encountered or any time constraints noted • Possible ambiguity of wording or of translation

Each day of the CFE is unique and is specifically designed to assess different skills: Day 1 – is assessed independently from Day 2 and Day 3. A pass or fail decision is made based on a holistic assessment of the candidates’ performance in applying the CPA Way to demonstrate the enabling competencies. Day 2 – is a depth test. This exam assesses technical depth in one of four unique roles and provides depth opportunities in the common core competency area of Financial Reporting and/or Management Accounting. Day 3 – supplements the depth test in the common core areas of Financial Reporting and/ or Management Accounting. It is also the breadth test for all common core competency areas. In order to qualify for entry to the profession, candidates must pass both Day 1 and Days 2 and 3 of the CFE. While Day 1 is assessed independently (per above), Day 2 and Day 3 of the CFE are assessed together. The Day 2 and Day 3 decision model used by the Board relies on four key decision points, or levels, that are applied in reaching a pass or fail decision:


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The levels above can be described as: Level 1: The response must be sufficient. The candidate must demonstrate competence on the AOs presented on Day 2 and Day 3 (by scoring RC or higher a pre-determined number of times). Note that this predetermined number of times required is NOT published. Level 2: The response must demonstrate depth (by scoring C a pre-determined number of times) in the common core area of Financial Reporting or Management Accounting (Level 2). Financial Reporting and Management Accounting AOs will be provided on both of, or either of, Day 2 and Day 3. Note that this predetermined number of times required is NOT published. Level 3: The response must demonstrate depth (by scoring C a pre-determined number of times) in the pre-selected role on Day 2 only. Note that this predetermined number of times required is NOT published. Level 4: The response must demonstrate breadth across all competency areas of the Map, at a core level, by not having avoided a particular technical competency area. All competency areas will be tested on both of, or either Day 2 and Day 3. Breadth is demonstrated by scoring RC a pre-determined number of times. Note that this predetermined number of times required is NOT published. What are the implications of this decision model?


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• Depth in a candidate’s elective role is only assessed on Day 2. • Depth in Financial Reporting or Management Accounting is assessed on both

Day 2 and Day 3. Licensure For licensure, a candidate must demonstrate depth in Assurance (level 3) and Financial Reporting (level 2). If this same candidate only demonstrates depth in Assurance (level 3) and Management Accounting (level 2), they will pass the CFE but will not be eligible for licensure. Candidates should contact their regional/provincial CPA body for information on how to become eligible for licensure after writing the CFE. CFE marks release CFE results are released at 7 am Pacific Standard Time (PST) on results day via the regional/provincial CPA body’s website. Results are released first by the candidate number and then by the first and last names of successful candidates. All candidates will be provided with two transcripts of their results. The first transcript will provide information with respect to candidate performance on the Day 1 assessment. The second transcript will provide information with respect to candidate performance on the candidate’s overall combined Day 2 and Day 3 examination results. This transcript also reports the performance results for each breadth and depth test. Next steps for successful candidates Candidates who were successful on all three days of the CFE must complete a term of relevant practical experience which includes the development of competencies to be eligible for membership with their regional/provincial CPA body. Candidates who have successfully completed all three days of the CFE and the practical experience requirements should initiate an application for membership with their respective regional/provincial accounting body. Each region/province has the relevant forms and information regarding application for membership and convocation on their regional/provincial website. Subsequent appeal of results Unsuccessful CFE candidates may apply to appeal the results of their examination for Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 or any combination of days within 15 business days of the results being publicly released. Candidates must apply for an appeal through their regional/provincial CPA body.


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CPA appeal costs are: Day 1: $275 Days 2 and 3: $500 Days 1, 2 and 3: $725 If an appeal is requested, the candidates’ response(s) are reviewed by the leader and assistant leaders who were originally assigned to the questions under review. The leaders and assistant leaders are directly supervised by the chair of the Board of Examiners as well as CPA Canada Evaluations and International Assessment staff. The candidates’ response(s) are read and compared to the marking guides used at the marking centre. In reviewing candidates’ results, two aspects are considered. First, it must be determined that the basis of marking the papers has been consistent with that accorded to other candidates who wrote the examination. Second, all responses reviewed are subjected to a careful check to ensure the markers have indicated that consideration has been given to all material submitted by the candidate. The results are then tabulated and a decision is made as to whether any candidates should indeed pass the CFE. The appeal results are forwarded to the regional/provincial CPA bodies for notification of the candidates. If a candidate is unsuccessful on appeal, they do have the option to rewrite the CFE. Candidates who failed all or a portion of the CFE will need to re-register to complete all or a portion of the CFE again:

• Candidates who fail Day 1 are required to rewrite Day 1 • Candidates who fail Day 2 or Day 3 are required to repeat both Day 2 and Day 3 • Candidates who fail all three days are required to repeat all three days

Unsuccessful candidates can register for the next offering of the CFE up the registration deadline. Candidates are allowed to fail the CFE three times before they are required to re-enroll in Core 1. Performance Analysis Report Unsuccessful candidates may request a performance analysis report (PAR). A PAR will detail the weaknesses that are evident in the candidate’s response and highlight the elements of the response that did not meet the minimum standard. Areas where candidates met the minimum standard or performed well are not commented on. Note that the PAR for Day 1 will provide candidates with specific feedback on the areas where the minimum standard was not met, and provide commentary on how to improve performance. In addition, areas where candidates performed well will also be commented on.


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The PAR for Day 2 and day 3 will provide feedback on each case and how the candidate performed relative to the Board’s expectations, with both positive and negative commentary on the candidate’s performance. Suggestions for ways to improve results will be provided. Candidates must apply for a PAR through their regional/provincial CPA body. The cost of a PAR is $500. Where a candidate requests an appeal and a PAR, the PAR will be charged at a rate of $400. Should the result of the appeal change a candidate’s standing from “fail” to “pass”, the PAR will not be performed and any associated fees will be refunded. Writing the CFE CFE writing locations The CFE is written in locations across Canada. A variety writing locations are used including university lecture halls, hotel conference rooms, catering halls and conference centres. The choice of location primarily depends on the number of candidates writing the exam at that centre. Candidates are required to register in one of the approved writing centres through their regional/provincial CPA body. Candidates should contact their regional/provincial representative for more information. The CFE writing centre Candidates are asked to arrive by 8:00 am (local time) on each day of the examination. Before entering the examination room, an unobstructed visual inspection of personal items will be conducted by the invigilators. For a list of the materials that are allowed in the examination room, refer to the Examination Rules posted on the module homepage. In addition to an inspection of personal items, candidates will be asked to display a piece of government issued identification and sign in prior to entering the examination room. The signature on the candidates’ government issued identification will be compared with the candidate’s signature on the sign-in sheet and the candidate will be provided with a seat number. Once signed in, candidates will enter the examination room and direct themselves to their pre-assigned seat. Candidates will be seated at tables that are either 5, 6 or 8 feet in length. If a table is 5 or 6 feet in length, there will be one writer assigned to the table. If the table is 8 feet in length, there will be two writers assigned to the table.


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Candidates will be expected to travel directly to their seat and not walk about or visit with other candidates in the examination room. Non permitted items including, but not limited to briefcases, knapsacks, purses, books, notes, etc. should be placed in the designated area in the examination room. Once seated, candidates should place their government issued identification on the top right hand corner of their writing table for inspection by the exam invigilator. On their writing table, candidates will find the following items:

• Securexam laminated instructions • Seat number card • Ziplock bag • Ear plugs • Texas Instruments BAII Plus calculator

All candidates are expected to be seated 45 minutes prior to the start of the exam at which point the Presiding Officer will make a short announcement. The exam invigilators will circulate through the examination room distributing ziplock bags that contain an exam booklet and a USB for each candidate. The Presiding Officer will remind candidates that they are not allowed to leave the examination room permanently until the exam is finished to prevent disruption during the exam and to ensure collection and consolidation of all exam booklets and USB keys. 30 minutes prior to the start of the exam the Presiding Officer will start the Securexam process. Candidates will be asked to open their ziplock bags, retrieve their USB keys and write their candidate numbers on the keys before inserting them into their computers. Candidates will begin the Securexam process by following the directions on the laminated sheet. The Presiding Officer will instruct candidates as to the point in the instructions where they have to stop and the invigilators will tour the room to ensure that there are no restricted items sitting on candidates’ writing tables. At the start of the exam, the Presiding Officer will announce: “The exam will now start. You have X hours to complete the examination. You may start the examination. The X hours commences now”. During the exam, invigilators will circulate among candidates ensuring that no unauthorized items are on the candidates’ writing tables and that no suspicious activities are occurring. Candidates are permitted to leave the examination room, one at a time, to visit the washroom. Candidates are not permitted to take any examination material or electronic


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devices with them and could be escorted to the outside of the washroom by an invigilator. The Presiding Officer will make the following announcement ten minutes before the end of the exam: “there are ten minutes of writing time remaining”. At the end of the exam, the Presiding Officer will make the following announcement: “Stop typing immediately. Please put down your pencils, stop typing and do not write anything more. Put your hands on your lap. Anyone continuing to write will be violating the exam rules.” The Presiding Officer will provide candidates with the Securexam exit password and will direct candidates to refer to the instructions sheet to shut down their computer. The Presiding Officer will instruct candidates to put the following items in the Ziploc bag: USB key, examination booklet, seat number and calculator. The invigilators will collect the plastic bags with the exam materials and check them to ensure that all required materials were placed in the bag. If the examination booklet and/or the USB key are not returned to the Presiding Officer, the candidates’ response will not be accepted. After all exam materials are collected and reconciled to the sign in sheets, the Presiding Officer will make the following announcement: “Please remember to upload your response file within 3 hours to the Software Secure website or you will be fined $200.” After the final announcement is made, candidates will be asked to leave the examination room. Candidates must remove their allowable items contained in a clear, plastic storage bag from the examination room. Tissues, paper, wrapping, etc. will be collected and disposed of by the Presiding Officer. Securexam and the CFE Securexam is a lockdown software that must be used by candidates to write all three days of the CFE. Once Securexam is launched, candidates won’t be able to access any saved files or online resources without exiting the program. While writing the CFE, candidates are permitted electronic access, within Securexam, to the following reference materials:

• An examination version of CPA Standards and Guidance Collection • An examination version of the Federal Income Tax Act

Prior to using Securexam, it is strongly recommended that candidates read the user guide and tips guide that can be found on the Capstone 2 homepage.


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Securexam and/or computer malfunction during the exam If a candidate experiences Securexam and/or computer problems during the CFE, the following steps will be taken:

• The invigilator will inform the IT proctor responsible for the section and if the IT proctor is busy, the invigilator will remain standing beside the candidate with hand raised in a closed fist so that the proctor can see him/her once he/she becomes available.

• The candidate will be instructed to start handwriting immediately while the IT proctor tries to solve the problem.

• The invigilator will ensure that spare blank sheets of paper are provided to the candidate.

USB key malfunction during the exam If, during the exam, a candidate’s pre-numbered USB key ceases to function, the candidate will be given a blank USB key to replace the defective key. If the candidate’s computer still fails to save on the new USB key, the candidate will be given a choice to continue the exam on the computer without a USB key or to handwrite the remainder of the exam. If a candidate chooses to continue writing on the computer without a USB key, the candidate will be required to sign a waiver in case of a USB key malfunction.

Capstone 2 Candidate Guide

Documents

Transcript of Capstone 2 Candidate Guide