ERB and student feedback December 2007
The CAT Examination Review Board provided feedback on the December 2007 CAT examinations.
The terms of reference of the Board are:
1. To review the questions, answers and marking schemes after each exam session to ensure that the papers are a fair and reasonable test.
2. To recommend changes to the syllabus and format of the papers.
Members of the CAT Exam Review Board are:
Rowena Morris BPP
David Simpson Prestige
David Collingridge Kaplan Publisghing
Comments on the Papers Overall
The feedback from the ERB on the December 2007 CAT examination papers was overall very positive. ERB members agreed that the majority of papers were challenging but fair. Some concerns were raised regarding individual papers; these are outlined below.
Comments on Specific Papers
Paper T3 was considered to be clear and set at the correct level. A suggestion was made that Question 2 may have been broken down into too many parts, however it was confirmed that this had been done to make the question more manageable. The MCQs in Paper T4 were thought by some to have been more difficult than in previous sittings. However, this should not have caused any problem for well-prepared students.
Paper T5 was agreed to be fair with good coverage of the syllabus. The questions in Paper T6 were considered to be clear and set at the right level. One tutor commented that the syllabus coverage was adequate, but one commented that partnerships have been covered in the past seven exam sittings. Comments reflected that Paper T7 was fair and balanced, but one tutor felt that it was too time-pressured. Question 2 part (b) was felt to be more difficult than part (a), but this should not have caused any problems for well-prepared students.
It was felt that Paper T8 was fair overall and straightforward. Question 3 was particularly well-received. Question 4 was considered to be a good question, however less well-prepared students may have found it difficult. Paper T9 was challenging but fair with adequate syllabus coverage. Paper T10 was very well-received and described as being less time-pressured than in previous sittings. One tutor felt that the issue of rounding should have been better explained in Question 1. It was confirmed that this was raised at the markers’ meeting and marks will be awarded accordingly.
All comments were passed to the Examiners for consideration in the marking process. ACCA should like to thank the Board for their helpful and constructive comments.