Exam Application Form

Exam Application Form - Adobe PDF 426K

Please download and print the Exam Application form and forward the completed application form to:

The exam fee must be paid before the application can be processed

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

Once you have completed all the coursework and assignments for a module, you may sit an exam. If you successfully complete the exam, you will receive a Statement of Attainment.

NOTE: To gain an official Statement of Attainment or to be awarded a qualification (i.e. Certificate, Proficiency Award 1-4 etc) successful completion of the exams is required.

There are two ways you can sit the exam:
1. At our Queensland office, by appointment. Two weeks notice must be given prior to the date you wish to sit your exam. Evening appointments are available.
2. At a location convenient to you, with a school-approved adjudicator.

The procedure for point 2 is as follows:

a) You nominate an adjudicator (i.e. supervisor) to oversee the exam. This must be a reputable person such as a police officer, Justice of the Peace, Minister of religion, school principal or your employer. Adjudicators cannot be relatives.
b) Set a date, time and place for the exam (usually held at the adjudicator's office).
c) Submit your exam application 2 weeks prior to the nominated date.
d) We send the exam to the adjudicator.
e) You sit the exam at the nominated place, in the presence of the adjudicator.

The adjudicator conducts the exam. On completion of the exam, the adjudicator collects your work and sends it directly to the school. Students do not have access to exams without supervision at any time.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Exams are usually 90 minutes in duration.
• Students should bring pens and a few dozen sheets of foolscap or A4 paper with them.
• No texts or notes are allowed in the exam.
• An exam fee is payable at the time of application.

  The exam fee for students within Australia is AUD$55.00 (including GST) per exam. The exam fee for students outside Australia is AUD$50.00 per exam.

What are the Exams Like?

See a sample exam below:

Sample Exam: Introduction to Psychology  (Adobe PDF)

HOW DO WE STRUCTURE EXAMS?

• Exams are designed to test content knowledge and application. They also assess how well a student organises thoughts and processes and communicates ideas.
• ACS Distance Education reserves the right to examine students on any material included in its modules.
• Exams assess students on their general understanding of foundation knowledge and principles in their chosen area.
• Extra marks are awarded to students demonstrating creativity or innovation, or answering questions to a high level of detail.
• A percentage mark is recorded on your exam paper and noted on your academic record. In accordance with government education policy, your Statement of Attainment records only that you have successfully completed (i.e. Passed) or not yet completed (failed) a module.

SAMPLE EXAMS

We provide sample exams for some subjects, but not all. Do not focus too much on the sample exam. The exam you end up sitting might or might not be very, very different. Exams are designed to assess real-world performance. If you aware of what to expect in an exam, it would defeat the purpose of examination.

DON’T WORRY

Prepare for an exam by refreshing your memory. Read through your notes and assignments, until the information feels fresh again. People who have successfully completed assignments rarely fail exams. The process of completing the assignment almost ensures that you retain sufficient information to pass.

If someone else has helped you a lot with your assignments, you may need to spend more time refreshing your understanding of the material. In many ways an exam simply verifies that you completed all the coursework on your own.

HOW MANY EXAMS

Standard Modules (100 hours duration) have one exam once you have completed all of the assignments for that module. All assignments, plus the exam, must be satisfactorily completed, in order to gain a module credit (or pass). Special circumstances including overall interaction with tutors throughout the course are taken into account for borderline cases. People who fail are given opportunity to reapply and sit a supplementary exam. Exam fees are additional to course fees.

Project and Research Work:  Non-Standard Modules, such as Research Projects, Workplace Projects, Workshops and Industry meetings do not have an exam, but adequate and academically sound proof of completion of required work must be produced in order to achieve a pass in such modules.

Non-Standard Certificates Courses:  A few courses have different requirements. For example, a Certificate in Garden Design involves a set 30 lessons, rather than 6 modules. This certificate has only 4 exams for the entire certificate rather than the usual six.

EXCEPTIONAL SITUATIONS:  A small number of courses may have extraordinary requirements in order to obtain a qualification e.g. Permaculture Design Certificates are awarded by the tutor rather than the school; and the tutor must as an individual be satisfied you have reached their standard, before a qualification is issued.