ERB and student feedback June 2006
The CAT Examination Review Board met on 23 June 2006 to give immediate feedback on the June 2006 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 Currington Lancaster & Morecambe College
Felix Orogun Jeff Wooller College
David Collingridge FTC
Tony McManus AT Emile Woolf Manchester
Comments on the Papers Overall
The feedback from the ERB on the June 2006 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
It was agreed that Paper T3 was a fair test of students’ abilities, however section B may have been too time-pressured for the less well-prepared students.
Paper T4 was seen to include especially good syllabus coverage in its MCQs. Some felt that Question 13 was better suited to T3.
Paper T5 was very well-received, and described as being clear and unambiguous. The health and safety questions proved popular. It was agreed that Paper T6 was fair and straightforward, and one that well-prepared students would do well. However, some commented that Question 1 was too time-pressured.
Paper T7 was felt to be fair but testing, and featuring all mainstream questions covering good, familiar, areas. Paper T8 was well-received but considered by some to be challenging and quite difficult for this level. Paper T9 should not have caused any problems for well-prepared students, however it was felt that students may have had difficulty in gaining the maximum marks in Question 4 (b). It was agreed that Paper T10 was a very reasonable paper with no unpleasant surprises. Some felt that Question 1 included too much information to digest in the time allocated. Questions 2 and 4 were especially well-received.
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.