| Q1. |
What is the purpose of the module workshops? |
| Ans. |
Workshop is part of the assessment for the module. There are four three-hour
workshops for each CPA QP module. Its main purpose is to develop your generic
skills through
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doing research for workshop materials, |
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teamwork, |
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communication and participation in discussions and |
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individual presentation at the workshops. |
These generic skills to be sharpened will enhance your success as a professional
accountants in today's business environment. |
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| Q2. |
What topics will be covered in the workshops? |
| Ans. |
All Workshop Preparation Questions are found in the last section of
the Candidate Learning Pack (CLP). There is a specific set of Workshop
Preparation Questions for each workshop. The topics to be covered in each
workshop are listed in this section. Do note that these topics are not
in the same order of presentation as the CLP. Your preparation for the
workshops, right from the first workshop, will be essential if you are
to participate in discussion, contribute to your team output and gain
marks. Your Workshop Facilitators may not go through the Workshop Preparation
Questions in the order listed in the CLP. So do prepare for all questions
just as thoroughly. |
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| Q3. |
What do we do in the workshops? |
| Ans. |
The workshops will be very interactive and you work in groups of 4 to
5 candidates. You are expected to discuss and share your answers to the
Workshop Preparation Questions in the Candidate Learning Pack provided
to you. This is an opportunity to clarify areas where you are unclear
as part of your module examination preparation. During each workshop,
your group will also be given 20 minutes to solve unseen problems termed
as "Additional Questions". Your contribution to this group discussion
will be assessed for the team contribution mark. Each group's answers
will be presented by an individual candidate as part of his/her individual
presentation assessment. |
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| Q4. |
Tell me more about the Individual Presentation. What would you expect
from me? |
| Ans. |
The Individual Presentation part usually takes place in the second half
of a workshop. You will be told before the group discussion if you are
designated to present the group's solution as your individual presentation.
Each candidate will be given one chance to do an individual presentation
for each module. From this presentation alone, you can gain up to 5 marks,
which is half of the total marks required to pass the workshop assessment.
Therefore, performing well in individual presentation helps you to pass.
In Section 1 of your CLP, there is a guide for a presentation which should
provide you with some useful tips to score good marks. Each presentation
is expected to last about five minutes. The candidate concerned will be
assessed on the technical content of the presentation and their presentation
skills. |
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| Q5. |
Do I score any mark if I keep myself quiet during the workshops? |
| Ans. |
No. This is just as bad as being absent from the workshops. Do not expect
your Workshop Facilitator to give you marks if you do not participate
in the workshops. |
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| Q6. |
I am a bit passive. There are usually some aggressive students who
will dominate the workshops. Do I have the same opportunity to speak as
they do? |
| Ans. |
Workshop Facilitators will ensure that you to have the same opportunity
to speak at the workshops. To score marks, you are supposed to engage
in sensible discussions or provide sensible opinions or answers. Those
who speak a lot but with little substance will not score points. You are
also encouraged to take the initiative to participate in class. Afterall,
one of the aims of the workshops is to develop strong communications skills
through the participation and assessment. |
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| Q7. |
Is there a mechanism in place to ensure fair assessment by Workshop
Facilitators? |
| Ans. |
Workshop Facilitators are given clear guidelines on how to assess candidates
with regard to their team contribution, individual presentation and general
contribution. These guidelines are reinforced in their training. In addition,
the appointment of two Facilitators in your class should eliminate most
of the natural biases that exist between people. In addition, the HKICPA
will monitor the workshop results to ensure that candidates are marked
fairly. |
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| Q8. |
Must I speak in English at the workshops? |
| Ans. |
The official language used in workshops is English. Students are required
to use English to give an individual presentation in front of the class
as well as to communicate with the workshop facilitators during class
discussion. The main reason for maintaining this policy is to help you
as professional accountants to become very fluent in presenting technical
issues in English, the business language for Hong Kong and for the business
world. However, Cantonese is acceptable to be used in small group discussion. |
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| Q9. |
Can I get assistance from my supervisors at work when preparing for
the workshop materials? |
| Ans. |
There is no restriction on how and where an CPA QP student can get external
assistance. The HKICPA does not stop you from discussing the subject matters
with qualified persons. In fact, we encourage you to prepare for your
workshops by forming study groups. This would help you to get yourself
better prepared prior to attending the workshops. Do note that you should
be the one preparing your answers, not your supervisor or your qualified
friends, as that will defeat the purpose of learning. You are expected
to understand the subject matter and express your opinions and answers
in your own words. |
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| Q10. |
What is an informal study group? |
| Ans. |
An informal study group maybe formed at the own wishes of students to
prepare for workshops and CPA QP examinations. This is encouraged as it provides
an opportunity for you to discuss issues and areas of difficulty with
your peers in an informal environment, before the workshops. It also provides
peer encouragement on your progress. Each member of the group is expected
to research on the workshop preparation questions. If you prepare well
before your workshops, you will be able to apply your knowledge to the
additional workshop questions given during workshops. |
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| Q11. |
Is attendance compulsory at the workshops? |
| Ans. |
No. However, workshops are structured in such a way to develop and assess
your generic skills. Remember that it is part of the assessment scheme
for the module. Therefore you should treat them like examinations which
you cannot afford to miss if you wish to pass. Missing a workshop means
that you will earn no marks for your team and group contribution for that
workshop, and this could translate to a fail unless you perform very well
in the other three workshops. |
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| Q12. |
Can I change to another workshop if I am unable to attend my original
workshop due to an urgent business trip out of town? |
| Ans |
Yes. Although you are not encouraged to change workshop, flexibility
is provided to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. To do so, you must
apply to us, together with the relevant reason or supporting document,
at least five working days before your scheduled workshop. There is also
a fee of $250 to process each request. We will do our best to accommodate
your request. However, please note no refund will be made if your request
cannot be entertained. |
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| Q1. |
Can I bring in notes and reference books to the module examinations? |
| Ans. |
CPA QP adopts an open-book examination approach. You can bring in any written
materials that you think are helpful in answering questions. However,
you are not allowed to bring in a computer into the examination venue. |
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| Q2. |
How do I prepare for the module examination? |
| Ans. |
The module examination is held at the end of the 15-week study, and
about two weeks after you finish your fourth workshop. This is a written
examination to test your understanding and application skills in solving
technical cases and problems. The questions are phrased as case studies,
an essay or short questions. Guidance on preparing the module examination
and examination techniques can be found in Section 2 of your CLP and are
given during your orientation session. Your Workshop Facilitators will
also go through some reminder points at the end of your fourth workshop.
Do practise past year examination questions. |
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| Q3. |
Where can I find the past years' examination questions? |
| Ans. |
The past year Question & Answers and the Examiners' Comments can be
accessed from the CPA QP Learning Support Centre at http://www.hkicpa.org.hk/students
or purchased from the Institute's service counters. There are also additional
"Exam Stuff" in the CPA QP Learning Support Centre which you may find useful. |
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| Q1. |
Under the CPA Qualification Prgramme, do I need to take the Professional
Programme Modules in any specified order? |
| Ans. |
The Professional Programme Modules may be taken in any order. |
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| Q2. |
Can I take two modules at one session? |
| Ans. |
The Programme is designed to be taken one module at a time. However,
if you wish, you can take two Modules per session. |
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| Q3. |
Can I phone the Institute to inquire my examination results of the
CPA Qualfication Programme? |
| Ans. |
No. Examination results (Professional Programme Modules or Final Professional
Examination) will not be disclosed by phone or facsimile as they are confidential.
Students will receive a notification of their results by mail or they
can view them on-line. |
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| Q4. |
Is there any time constraint in completing the Professional
Programme Module Examination and the Final Professional Examination? |
| Ans. |
Yes. There is a time constraint in both the Professional
Programme Module Examination and the Final Professional Examination. A
candidate who fails to obtain a pass in the same module examination after
4 attempts or within a period of 5 years from the date of first sitting
of the examination is liable to exclusion. In the Final Professional Examination,
a candidate can at most attempt 4 times and must pass within 3 years from
the date of first examination sitting. All examinations must be completed
within 10 years from the first eligible examination sitting after registration.
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| Q5. |
Exemption granted to Professional Programme? What is
the duration? |
| Ans. |
No. All four modules are core modules which means no exemption
will be granted on them. Each module is expected to last 15 weeks of self-study,
including four 3-hour workshops to be held outside office hour. A module
examination will be held at the 16th week of a module while the examination
results will be available about eight weeks after the examination. |
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| Q6. |
Can I enter the Professional Programme if I am not a
degree holder? |
| Ans. |
Yes. HKAAT graduates can enter the Professional Programme through completion
of the Professional Bridging Examinations (PBE) or an accredited Foundation Programme - an alternative route available
to students who do not have university qualification.
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Under the new scheme, graduate entry is the main route to
the Professional Programme. Recognized accountancy degree holders can
apply directly to HKICPA for registration as students. Non-accounting degree
holders and sub-degree holders are required to complete Conversion Programme,
and the PBE or Foundation Programme plus HKAAT qualification respectively, to ensure
that they have the pre-requisite knowledge before commencing the Professional
Programme. |
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| Q7. |
What are the "possible exemptions" for the Foundation
and Conversion Programmes? |
| Ans. |
It is up to the discretion of the tertiary institutions
offering the Conversion and Foundation Programmes to grant exemptions
to candidates on the basis of their previous studies. However, this should
be within general parameters and limits agreed with the Institute. Prospective
students of these programmes should note that both Programmes would be
structured in the form of an academic programme. |
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| Q8. |
Is a degree awarded upon completion of the Foundation
Programme? |
| Ans. |
In general, no. A Foundation Programme serves as a pre-requisite
and a preparatory programme for sub-degree holders to enter the Professional
Programme. It ensures that candidates entering the Professional Programme
have attained a prescribed level of technical accounting knowledge and
generic skills such as writing skills, communication skills and analytical
skills, which are essential to the success of a professional accountant.
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Programme providers will have full autonomy in running the
programmes which normally will be in the form of an academic programme
offered by local accountancy degree-granting institutions accredited by
the Institute. Students may be granted exemption for a degree based on their
studies completed in the Foundation Programme. |
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The exit point of a Foundation Programme is comparable to
an accounting degree. Therefore, it will not be uncommon to find that
most programme providers would structure their Foundation Programmes based
on their accountancy degree programmes which have already been accredited
by HKICPA. Having completed an accredited Foundation Programme, graduates
would often have a chance to further pursue an accounting degree by taking
a few additional subjects as stipulated by the tertiary institution concerned
for fulfilment of the requirement of an accountancy degree. |
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Moreover, when candidates have attained the HKAAT qualification
and completed a Foundation Programme, the Institute will issue a certificate
to certify them as having met the pre-entry educational requirement for
registration as a student of the Institute. |
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