Why Association of Chartered Accountants scrapped online exams
In a move to combat cheating, UK based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has announced to scrap online or remote (at-home) exams from March
London: In a move to combat cheating, UK based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has announced to scrap online or remote (at-home) exams from March.
The ACCA is the world’s largest accounting body having around 257,900 members worldwide.
The ACCA exams are computer based exams (CBEs) conducted at select exam centers. The accounting body had introduced remote or at-home based exams during the Covid-19.
The practice continued after the Pandemic. But, the ACCA has now announced to end the remote exams from March 2026 due to AI cheating concerns.
Talking to The Financial Times, ACCA Chief Executive Helen Brand said the online mode of exams will end from March 2026, and candidates will be required to sit assessments in person unless there are exceptional circumstances.
"AI Impact is Alarming"
The decision follows what the ACCA describes as an escalating challenge in maintaining exam integrity. The methods used to cheat have become increasingly sophisticated, overtaking the effectiveness of existing monitoring systems, Helen Brand said.
The ACCA said it has invested significant efforts in addressing dishonest behaviour but acknowledged that those intent on cheating are adapting rapidly, driven in part by easy access to AI tools, The Guardian reported.
Other professional bodies have reported similar pressures. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales said last year that reports of cheating continued to rise, although it still allows some exams to be taken online.
Brand said the wider trend across professional qualifications is clear, with fewer high-stakes exams relying on remote invigilation as concerns about credibility and trust grow.
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