If you are an ACA, Level 4 or Level 7 student, you will be allocated access to the new online practice software. The software is online and easy to access. You should use the new version instead of downloading the offline packaged software. It's best practice to clear your computer's cache and cookies before accessing the practice software, just to ensure you are using the most up to date content.

• Access the online practice exam software

You can now access questions from the 2024 ICAEW question bank. Your username is the letter Q + your ICAEW student number eg, Q1234567. The password is qb2022.

To access mock exams, add your username – the letter M + your ICAEW student number, for example, M1234567. Please contact your tuition provider for the password (there is a separate password per mock exam). Should you not be in tuition please contact the student support team.

When opening the ICAEW Bookshelf or the data analytics software within the practice software, you will be asked to log in. In your real exam you will be logged in automatically using single sign on.

• Differences between the practice and exam software

Please be aware that the online practice software will be unavailable on exam session days.

• View the online practice software

• View the schedule for learning materials

Practice Software updates for 2024 resources

The practice exam software will now save your work consistently every two minutes throughout practice exam sittings. This has been developed to mitigate the potential risk of lost work when facing internet difficulties.

If you experience any internet connectivity issues, you should:

• Reconnect to a stable internet connection for work to be saved, this must be done before the exam system times out after two hours, and;
• Keep your browser window open, exiting the software will stop the system from attempting to save.

Mock exams will be completed and exported on the same practice exam system already familiar to you, receiving PDF copies of your answers. Once exported and PDFs saved,  they can be manually cleared and resat as many times as required.

• The ability to arrange and adjust question and response areas in a variety of layout options.
• Spreadsheet software that reflects commonly used applications and contains standard functionality that allow you to make your calculations and adjust them if needed, just as you would in the workplace.
• A word processor that auto adjust to the size of the response that you are writing and allows you to copy in the data from the spreadsheet as part of the report.
• An easy-to-use question flagging system so you can easily navigate through the exam.
• A suite of tools such as a calculator, notepad and highlighter so that you have everything you need to complete the exam and make notes as you go.
• New options to zoom and amend the colour contrast giving you the best accessibility options yet.

Formulas within the exam software
 
Please find a complete list of the formulas that will work in the spreadsheet area of the exam here.
 
Please note, the following shortcuts do not work in the software as they would in Excel as these are browser commands needed for the exam delivery systems:

1. F4 (Repeat Last Action)
2. Alt + = (AutoSum)
3. Ctrl + Shift + "+" or "-" (Insert or Delete Row/Column)
4. Function Keys (F1-F12)
5. Ctrl + Backspace (navigate to active cell)

You should become familiar with these ahead of your exam.