EXAMS  
FREQUENTLY ASKED  
QUESTIONS  
MAY 2023  
Many questions from our May 2023 Q&A were also answered in our previous online sessions.  
Be sure to read our Annual Updates FAQ documents, or visit our general FAQ page on the  
APSCA website.  
EXAM PROCESS AND APSCA AUDITOR LEVELS  
Q: What are the consequences for an APSCA Auditor who remains as an ASCA?  
If you are an ASCA, you cannot audit without a CSCA physically present. This also means that a  
CSCA cannot lead audits remotely with an ASCA onsite – you both must be present at the audit.  
There is no limit to how long an APSCA member Auditor can remain an ASCA.  
Q: Can Auditors lead audits if they fail Part III?  
If an RA Auditor score between 65% and 74%, they can maintain their status until the end of  
September ꢀꢁꢀꢂ or until they pass Part III, whichever comes first. RA will no longer be a level  
within APSCA effective 1 October. ASCA can lead an audit if they are accompanied by a CSCA or  
RA who is physically present. If an Auditor who was RA fails and is moved to ASCA, they have a  
two-week grace period to fulfill the audits they have committed to.  
Q: Can an Auditor who is not associated with a Firm still sit the exams?  
A Member Auditor who is no longer associated with an APSCA Member Firm can sit as an  
independent Auditor as long as other requirements, such as enrolment with APSCA, and  
submission of a signed audit log has been completed prior to disassociation from the Member  
Firm. You can work with the exam team, to start/continue the exam process as an independent  
Auditor.  
Q: Will in-house testing be available soon for all the exams?  
In-house testing centers are expected to be available in the second half of the year. This option will  
allow individuals who may have unstable internet or other IT issues to go to a testing center and  
sit the exam in a controlled environment. It will only be available for Part I and Part II, while Part III  
will still be conducted remotely. We are continuing to investigate ways in which we can offer Part  
III in person.  
Q: Does APSCA plan to have periodic qualification renewals based on exams for  
certified Auditors?  
At this stage, APSCA does not have a plan to develop new examinations for Auditors. The focus  
is on continuous professional development (CPD) and recognizing additional knowledge or  
experience through validation and skill set recognition.  
APSCA Frequently Asked Questions – Q&A – Exams - May 2023  
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Frequently Asked Questions - Exams  
REGISTRATION & BOOKING  
Q: How do I register for an exam?  
To start the process, review the How to Book documents for each exam in our Resource Library.  
Q: How do I book my part III exam?  
Use the How To Book document for Part III. Booking of Part III is different to Part I and II. Failing  
to not schedule correctly will see your exam cancelled. You must book your Part III exam  
through Calendly, and similarly use Calendly for any rescheduling or cancellations. If Part III  
exams are booked through any other method, such as directly via ProctorU, the exam will be  
cancelled. Rescheduling or cancellation of Part III exams via any methods other than through  
Calendly means interviewers will not be notified of new changes, and no new interviewer will  
be assigned to the exam. So, please, be sure to use Calendly for all Part III exam bookings or  
adjustments.  
Changes made incorrectly may incur a penalty charge and/or result in the exam being  
cancelled. The link for cancellations and reschedules can be found in the original Calendly  
confirmation email. When scheduling, ensure to use the same email address as that listed on  
your ProctorU profile as using a different email will result in the exam not being transferred to  
your ProctorU account.  
Q: Can I make multiple bookings to get a specific interviewer?  
No, you should not make multiple bookings in search of a particular interviewer, this can result  
in a penalty charge and can also stop other people from being able to identify open places,  
thus delaying their ability to sit an exam. Interviewer assignments are often adjusted internally,  
so even if you try to select a specific interviewer, you may not end up with them. Schedule one  
date and time, being mindful to choose an appropriate time for the exam in your time zone.  
Q: What happens if the interviewer needs to make a change to the exam due to unforeseen  
circumstances?  
Such cases are handled on a one-off basis and assessed individually. If the change is not  
the Auditor’s fault, they will be supported to ensure they are not disadvantaged. You will be  
contacted by the Exam team and offered a new exam date or time for you to confirm, once  
confirmed you will receive a new meeting invite from the Interviewer and the Exam team  
will put in a request to PU to have the exam updated. The auditor will receive a confirmation  
notification from PU when the exam has been updated, and you should check the date and  
time are correct, matching the new meeting invite.  
Q: Can I reschedule my exam without losing my current date?  
Yes, you can reschedule your exam without losing your current date. Follow the reschedule/  
cancelation link in your Calendly confirmation email and once you have obtained your new  
date, go back, and cancel your previous booking before confirming the new date.  
Q: Can I pay for my exams using a credit card?  
Yes, using a credit card is the easiest way to pay. The invoice will have the necessary details  
and links for payment. A credit card payment guide is available here.  
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Frequently Asked Questions - Exams  
EXAM LANGUAGE & TRANSLATION  
Q: Why are there three different prices for the Part III exam?  
There are three language lists (list A, B, and C). The translation costs vary depending on  
the language and translation company used. The pricing is based on the charges from the  
translators, and the exams are operated at cost.  
Q: What if I believe my translator may have incorrectly translated a statement during the exam?  
If you suspect a mistranslation by your translator during the exam, you should immediately  
stop them, repeat what you said and ask them to translate again. Work with the translator and  
the interviewer as a team to clarify your message. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you  
don’t understand a question from the interviewer. The translator is there to work with you to  
achieve the best result.  
Q: Can an Auditor bring their own translator to the exam?  
No, Auditors cannot bring their own translator to the exam. The translation services provided  
are approved by APSCA.  
Q: Is it possible to have a native Brazilian translator for APSCA?  
APSCA has recently engaged two Portuguese Brazilian translators who are trained and  
supporting the exam process.  
Q: How should I indicate my language preference for my Part III exam?  
It is recommended that you specify the languages you speak and your proficiency level in  
your APSCA profile. If you want to take the exam in a language other than English, Chinese  
or Spanish, you should select the ‘alternate language’ option when booking your exam.  
There is then a place to type your preferred language. Just like the Part I & II exams, the  
Part III Alternate Language exam presents in English, and you can right-click translate to  
your language of choice. You can move back and forth between English and your other  
language as many times as you feel necessary.  
Q: Is there an anonymous way to provide feedback for interviewers or translators?  
While sending an email is not anonymous, APSCA treats all feedback confidentially. Feedback  
is valued and supports our ability to identify areas of improvement. Complaints and comments  
are reviewed, and afterwards calibration sessions are conducted to address issues with  
interviewers.  
EXAM DEADLINES & AVAILABILITY  
Q: What is the deadline and availability for Part III exams?  
The deadline for the Part III alternative language exam was May 30th, 2023. All RA Auditors  
who did not have a Part III exam booked in Calendly, and it had been 90+ days since receiving  
their Part II results, were moved to ASCA in early June 2023 (there were less than 40 Auditors  
that this applied to). RA Auditors who had a Part III exam booked and confirmed in Calendly  
prior to the end of September remain RA until their results are issued. Availability for exams  
may vary, but it is suggested to book the earliest available date and keep checking Calendly  
for places to become available due to cancellations and rescheduling.  
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Frequently Asked Questions - Exams  
EXAM DEADLINES & AVAILABILITY (CONTINUED)  
Q: When is RA being phased out and why does it need to be phased out?  
On 1 October ꢀꢁꢀꢂ, RA will no longer exist. All auditors who have the RA level will be moved  
to ASCA (currently less than 500 Auditors). RA was always intended to be an interim process  
to allow Auditors to move through the accreditation process while still being able to audit in  
recognition of their extensive experience. After commencing the phase out period 1 January  
ꢀꢁꢀꢀ, it officially closes on ꢂꢁ September ꢀꢁꢀꢂ.  
EXAM SCORING  
Q: What is the scoring breakdown for the Part III exam? How do you make sure the scoring is fair?  
Each scenario in the Part III exam is worth 40 to 50 points. The grading rubric and detailed  
information on scoring can be found in the Part III Exam Guide available in the resource library.  
To ensure fairness and consistency, the interviewers for the Part III exam undergo an  
alignment workshop. They use a specific scoring sheet and criteria to score the exams, and  
perform second reviews of each other’s exams, ensuring the scoring process is objective and  
consistent. If they are unsure during the marking process, they consult their colleagues and  
review the exam recordings.  
Q: What happens if you fail the exam but score between 65% and 74% during the grace period?  
If you score between 65% and 74% you will be moved to RA or stay at RA if you previously held  
this level. If you score below 65% you will be moved or stay at ASCA. If you score 75% or higher  
you will be moved to CSCA.  
EXAM RETAKES & PREPARATION  
Q: How can colleagues help in training if they cannot explain how the exam works?  
Colleagues can explain how the exam works but cannot provide answers. The emphasis is  
on the investigative process and understanding how answers are derived rather than just  
providing the correct answer. Refer to the Part III Exam Guide to understand the scoring, and  
how you gain points for investigation.  
HANDLING ISSUES DURING THE EXAM  
Q: How can Auditors get help with troubleshooting and IT issues?  
If IT issues occur during the exam, Auditors should immediately engage with a live ProctorU  
technician using the ‘chat now’ bubble. Do not wait and hope that the issue fixes itself. It is  
also essential that equipment testing be conducted prior to the exam appointment to ensure  
Auditors are familiar with the troubleshooting chat function. Auditors should also be sure to  
watch the Test Taker Experience Video before sitting their exam.  
Remember, Proctors are there to help Auditors navigate problems and troubleshoot. Auditors  
need to work with Proctors and avoid getting angry.  
APSCA Frequently Asked Questions – Q&A – Exams - May 2023  
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Frequently Asked Questions - Exams  
HANDLING ISSUES DURING THE EXAM (CONTINUED)  
Q: Should Auditors keep their mobile phones with them during the exam?  
Auditors should keep their phones with them until instructed by ProctorU or the Interviewer  
to put it away. Interviewers or Proctors may reach out via phone if there are problems or  
connection issues. As such, Auditors should have their correct phone number listed both in their  
APSCA profile and their ProctorU booking information to enable effective communication during  
the exam. As a reminder, the APSCA profile and ProctorU systems are not linked at all. The  
interviewer cannot see your APSCA profile – it is extremely important that up to date information  
is included in your ProctorU profile.  
Q: What should I do if I have a virtual machine issue during the exam?  
ProctorU takes cyber security very seriously. When sitting an exam with ProctorU, you should  
have all programs on your computer closed and the Guardian Browser downloaded. If you  
intend to use right-click translate you should have the Chrome browser also downloaded. If  
you receive a message about a virtual machine issue, follow the instructions of the Proctor who  
will guide you through closing down the necessary program. Programs that you will be asked  
to disconnect from ProctorU and close before reconnecting are Apple Bootcamp, VMWare,  
VirtualBox and Chrome remote Desktop to name a few.  
Q: What do I do if I need a bathroom break during the exam?  
For Part III alternate language exams, you can ask the interviewer for a break. For Part I and  
Part II exams, contact the Proctor through the chat box but keep in mind that the exam will  
timeout if you’re not present in a certain amount of time.  
APSCA Frequently Asked Questions – Q&A – Exams - May 2023  
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