Exam Policy

ICA is committed to providing students with an efficient, fair, and equitable system of
assessment and examination that will enable them to demonstrate their learning and
completing their certification.

Scope
The examination policy document covers all versions of Certified Industrial Accountant
(CIA) and other courses (as and when introduced by ICA). The coverage of examinations
under this policy is subject to change from time to time.

Definitions
Delivery Centre / Centre: the centre where students have enrolled for the course and where
exams will be conducted.

Invigilator/Examiner: The person conducting the examination and is responsible for conduct
during the examination. Also, the person checking the papers and providing score to the
students based on answers provided by the students

Examination Department: ICA’s department responsible for overall administration of the

examinations

External Examination (Exam): Examination conducted by the Examination Department of ICA

max 2 times in a month based on exam load. Unless otherwise mentioned, “Exam” would
mean external examination and includes online offline and practical examination.

Internal Exam: Exam to be conducted by the centre.

Examination Revamped

The Revamped Examination Pattern is on the roll

The examinations are conducted to assess the performance of students and are used to
determine
whether the student is eligible for certification or not.

ICA conducts exams at the end of each module/subject/level and a final exam (refer details
below) at
the end of the course. Notwithstanding, the frequency of exams is subject to change depending
on
circumstances and business requirements.
 Table of Modules
To be conducted by ICA HO To be conducted internally (ICA Centres)
Tally Additional Accounting Package
Business Accounts (BA) Banking, CM, Audit
BCA FM
BC (Bus. Communication) MCA
DT (Direct Tax) IFRS
GST SAP
Advanced Accounts ITP
Advanced Excel
Final Exam

There will be a sharing of responsibilities for Internal Examination which is mentioned below:

ICA HO Responsibility ICA Centre Responsibility

1) Will give the exam password a day before 1) To conduct the exams within the said time as
the exams to be conducted the password would change. Timely completion
of internal exams to enable acceptance of
External Exam requisition.
2) Question papers of Additional accounting 2) To conduct the exam and send the required
package and ITP will be sent bi-monthly to back-ups and answer sheets accordingly (as and
centres from HO when asked for offline exam)
3) To check and approve the requisition made 3) To raise requisition for all internal exams
by centre to conduct exam. (Min requisition
requirement to remain 30)
4) To guide the centre trainer members in the 4) To maintain discipline during the
process as to start and confirm the entire exam process. HO can ask for A/V
online exams recordings when required for Internal Exams.

a) Frequency: The External Examinations will be conducted as per Quarterly Exam calendar
shared in advance. The exam department will communicate the date of exams directly to the
Centre well in advance. The Internal Examinations can be conducted maximum 2 times a
month based on exam load.

b) Minimum Exam Load: Please note that minimum load of 30 examination is required to
get an External exam date at any centre. For Internal Examination, the load should be
minimum 15.

c) Scope of Exam for each subject: A student can appear for any subject only 3 times and if
he/she wants to give 4th time or avail another scope, the centre needs to upload the JNR (JOB
GUARANTEE gets cancelled) in PO login. The CRM will confirm the same and only then will
be given approval for the same.

d) Load as per Capacity Set: Capacity is set as per infra-available and calculating man-hours
of QAO at centre level
 Objective:

The centre would understand the parameter of number of exams to be conducted per requisition
per exam date. We have defined the process with 6 exam slot per day with number of machines
available.

For Example:

If a centre has 10 machines at Lab, then it can conduct 10*6=60 exams per day per requisition.

In case a centre increases the number of machines (if there is demand for the same with rise in
no of exams at the same) the capacity will also increase in the system ultimately affecting
the Centre Grading. There is no room for manual intervention for the same.

**Capacity of 1 Exam Requisition of 1 Exam Date.

d) Online Exam Requisition and confirmation: The centre shall create the Online Examination
for External and Internal Examination Requisition through ERP. The concerned QA officer will
lock the requisition at least 3 days (working) before the scheduled examination date. (Refer
Annexure V)
The exam slots will be sent once the requisition is locked which needs to be dedicatedly
maintained.

e) Centre Level Rescheduling: Any change in examination schedule is subject to availability

of the
invigilators/examiners and other exam schedule as per examination department. If the exam
is
cancelled/rescheduled before 7 days or less from date of exam, centre will be liable for
cancellation
charges (Refer Annexure).

f) Offline Exams through Student Login: This is live & explained in detail below.

How to give offline exams through student login page:

Our constant effort has been to make our system easier and user friendly.

In this respect to make the process flow of offline exams more simplified we are introducing

Offline Exams Through Student Login

By using this student can download the resource file for exam from their student’s login
and upload the solutions.

After the above reviewer can evaluate the date by downloading the solutions from admin login
and give marks and upload the same.

Benefits:

1) No need to take backups

2) Reviewer can directly upload the marks from Admin login-thus helping the students to
check their results before TAT also.
* Please ensure Internet connection min 4 MBPS speed Bandwidth (during uploading and downloading) &
separate exam requisition for external and internal exams henceforth (mandatory).

Process in Annexure VI

Eligibility and Attendance

a) Module completion: Students who have completed respective modules are eligible for
appearing for exams of the said modules. In any way if it is found that a student who
did/could not complete the classes and has been sent for examination, QA officer has the
right to cancel the exam on the spot on which due charges will be applicable.

With a promise of a better process and OBM regularization we have linked OBM with exam
requisition at centre level

In this regard, a student who is not in batch (as per OBM) and his/her batch is not closed then his name
'cannot be raised in exam requisition'.

The below pointers will give more clarity:

If a student does not have >=60% attendance in a module in OBM then his/her name cannot be raised in
requisition for that very module

Also, the below mentioned reason for not eligible for exam requisition:

Reason:
1. Absentee Fees Pending 5. >40 JET Exam Pending – Final Exam Requisition
2. Re-Exam Fees 6. Batch not Closed
3. Not allocate in Batch
4. >2 Exams Pending
 b) Fee Payment: All payments applicable (i.e., Absentee fees & Re-exam fees) should be
cleared by the student, failing which the student’s name will not be accepted by the ERP
during Online Exam Requisition.

c) Exam registration: Only students who have registered for the upcoming exams through
Online
Exam Requisition will be allowed to appear for exams. Exam Requisition (Internal &
External) will lock by QAO before 3 days ago from exam date. No spot registrations for
exams are allowed.

d) Student ID: Students will be required to carry Student ID card during the examination.
In case the student does not carry the Student ID card, he/she will not be allowed to
appear for examination under any circumstances.

Absenteeism and Rescheduling exams for students

Any student who has registered for exams but does not appear in Examination is liable to pay
Absentee
Fees, failing which he / she will not be allowed to appear for any other exam.
Refer to Annexure IV – Charges for applicable Absentee Fees.
In exceptional cases (medical reason), if the student submits proper medical document and the
centre director allows, the exam dept. may waive off the fee charged.

Student’s Responsibilities
Students are responsible for checking the date, time, and place of giving of each of their
examination by consulting examination schedules – available with the centre. Students are
expected to arrive at the examination hall on time.
No student will be admitted more than 10 minutes after the examination has commenced or if
any student has already left the examination room.
No student may leave within the first thirty minutes after the examination has commenced.
During exams, students are not allowed to talk, adopt unfair means, use Phone/Mobile Phone
/ Pager / Other electronic gadget or communication device, carry or eat Food, refer to Books
/ Study Materials / Aids or adopt any unfair means that may jeopardise the integrity of the
examinations.
If any student is found indulging in above practices, ICA holds the right to terminate the
student.

Invigilator/Examiner Responsibilities
Invigilators are required:

a) To be familiar with the examination policy and procedures.

b) To restrict more than 4 Examination appearances in a single day of one student.

c) To use the current month Question Paper only as given by RnD and approved by
MTs (Master Trainers)

d) To ensure exams are conducted based on pre-decided slots (module-wise) so that

any student does not have access to the question papers (directly or indirectly)
before the commencement of the exam and for a structured administration.
 All question papers must be taken back after the completion of the exam and the
students / centre are not allowed to retain or take copies of the question papers.

e) To see that an examination starts, takes place, and finishes in an orderly and timely
manner in accordance with the Examination Policy and Procedures.

f) To ensure that the seating arrangements for the students and space between desks
respect the integrity of the examination process.

g) To safeguard the integrity of the examination. This includes monitoring student

conduct during examination and acting upon all observed instances of cheating,
contravention of the student responsibilities for examination conduct as set out
above.

h) To ensure that students sign into the examination and identify themselves through
presentation of a valid photo ID.

i) To remain in the exam room throughout the exam.

j) Submit all originals of attendance sheets, answer sheets / backs to the Head office
within a maximum of 3 days from the date of conducting Internal exam.

It should be noted that any HO personnel can accompany the Examiner or visit the centre for
quality check without prior intimation.

Examination Format
Internal Assessment/Examination

Modules that needs to be internally conducted are:

a) Additional Accounting Package

b) Banking, CM & Audit
c) FM
d) MCA
e) IFRS
f) SAP
g) ITP (Written Exam)

The trainers shall conduct examination for these modules as per defined process and shall
share the marks and attendance sheet with Exam Dept. within 7 days of the exam.

All projects are an integral part of ICA Certification too.

Linking of Projects with Examination

For ease and better results, we have linked the Projects with concerned subjects. We mean
centres do not have to send us Projects separately for evaluation. The trainer members need to
do the Projects with the students as the External exams will be project oriented. We are not
treating the projects as separate subjects or modules anymore but blending them with related
modules. As a student gives exam in that module the related project marks will be auto
uploaded with the subject’s marks.
 Linking Subject to the concerned Project:

Project Name Subject

Project 1 Business Accounting, Tally, Excel

Project 2 Advance Accounts, Tally, Excel & Taxation

Project 3 Excel, Advance Accounts, Banking, MCA &
Taxation

For Example:

If a student has given exam in Tally and he/she gets 60/100 his/her Project 1 gets auto uploaded
with the same marks. However, all the students’ needs to do all the Projects else would fail
to answer in connected subjects as the question papers would be project oriented.

Online Examination
The students are required to log on to the Home Page in the presence of the Invigilator at
Centre level during online assessment.

Exams cannot be accessed unless the Invigilator provides the unique Exam password to start
the Online Examination. Online exams contain several of questions such as Multiple-Choice
Questions (MCQ), Fill in the blanks (FIB), Mix and Match (MAM), Image and Paragraph type
of questions. Online Examination. Result are displayed immediately.

External Examination

Modules that will be taken by QAO are:

a) BCA
b) Tally
c) Business Accounts
d) Advance Accounts
e) Advance Excel
f) Direct Tax
g) GST
h) Business Communication

These exams are conducted practically offline (i.e., on computer systems, partly online or
through demonstrations like in PDP). Invigilators provide the Question Papers to the student.
Backups are sent to the Head Office and QAOs check the exam backup and declare the results
accordingly within the TAT of 14 days from date of exam (External/Internal)

Revised Timeslot for External Exam

Refer Annexure VII for revised timings of External Exam
Final Examination
Student will be eligible to appear in the Final Examination after successful completion i.e., after
passing of all the modules available in his / her course. Student will get the full course
certificate only after successfully completion of the Final Examination otherwise modular
certificate will be issued.
 Final exam pattern has been shared below:

Module Name Marks Break-up Details

Final Exam 25 Marks - JET Auto Calculated as an average of best 25

JET (Minimum 40 counts required)

25 Marks - Offline (system based) BCA/Tally/Accountancy/Additional

Time allotted- 30 minutes accounting package

50 Marks – Viva (Face 2 Face / Oral round with coverage of entire course
G Meet – External Examiners) the student has enrolled for.

Pass Marks
A student is required to score 50% marks in each exam (individually) to secure a PASS grade
in each subject and in aggregate.

Also, marks declared by Examination Team is final and binding for all students.

Re-evaluation of Answer Scripts

a) Student can apply for re-checking for any Offline subject by giving re-checking fees
within 14 days from the date of announcement of result.

Please note that for online re-checking, the student is supposed to click on ‘Wrong
question’ or ‘Out of syllabus’ option, failing which re-checking will not be possible.

Refer to Annexure IV for applicable fees for re-checking

b) Centre will send the Re-checking MR No. to the concerned person of the Exam Dept. It
will be verified by another Panel Examiner and Exam Dept. will declare the revised result
within 15 days from the date of application.

c) Answer Sheet / Backup will be given to the student as per the Management’s decision.

d) Student is bound to accept the marks after re-checking process and the revised Marks
(increased / decreased) will be updated in ERP by the Exam Dept.

Re examination (in case a student fails in an exam)

In case a student fails in an exam, he/she must re-appear in the exam after due registration. A
student is allowed a maximum of 3 attempts in a subject after which the full course certificate
will not be issued.
The student will be eligible for Modular Certificate only.

Final attempt subject to approval of Examination Department.

Refer to Annexure IV for applicable fees for re-checking

Marks Uploading
a) All the Offline Examination Marks will be uploaded from QA Dept only.

b) Online Marks will be automatically uploaded after the examination and a confirmation
mail will be sent to student’s registered email id immediately.
 c) Examination results will be declared within 14 days from the Date of Examination
provided all the necessary Answer sheets, Backup with original Attendance Sheet are
received by the concerned person of Exam Dept. in due time.

d) Centre will get a confirmation mail for Marks uploading from the Examination Dept.
Centre will check and download the Result from the ERP accordingly.

e) Any Marks related issue, Centre should communicate with QA Dept. within 7 working
days from the confirmation date of Marks uploading, after which any tampering cannot
be done to results declared.

Infrastructure and normal class during exams

Based on the requisition for no. of students (to appear for exam), minimum infrastructure
requirement should be abided by the centre as per HO guidelines. Hence, there is no restriction
on whether normal class should be conducted or not.

9.14 Current Exam Status

Current ICA Examination Pattern

Subject Practical Written Online Verbal Documentation

Offline Marks Marks Marks /
Marks (Offline) (Offline) E-filing

Business Computer Applications 100 - - - -

Tally 100 - - - -

Additional Accounting Package 100 - - - -

Business Accounting - - 70 - 30

Advanced Accounts 100 - - - -

Advanced MS Excel 100 - - - -

Direct Tax - - 60 - 40

GST - - 50 - 50

Banking, Costing & Auditing - - 100 - -

SAP 100

MCA (including XBRL) - - 100 - -

Business Communication - - 30 70* -

Note: The Examination pattern is subject to change depending upon the course and as announced
from time to time.

Bus.Com. Online exam Process:

• Centre will send the requisition for Bus.Com. exam through ERP.
• Bus. Com. Exam will appear through only Google Chrome (Browser)
• Link - https://online.icajobguarantee.com/pdp
• Enter student registered mail ID & password at ICA Student portal
• Select Course & enter the exam password by Invigilator during exams.
• Read the exam procedure carefully.
• Click on check Box & Proceed.
• Then online Bus.Com. will start & duration 30 mints.
• Exam Type – Email writing.
• Total Marks – 30.