Following the trial of the PEBX system last week, the PEB has now released an updated version of the Essential Information for candidates. The latest information can be found here. The PEB has made an effort to address some of the outstanding questions and concerns raised by candidates following the trial, for example as were raised in the comments on IPKat last week (see here and here).
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In a new additional paragraph, the latest Essential Information stresses that "[i]n the event that you make a Special Consideration request or apply for an Enquiry about Results, or your script is reviewed as part of a Malpractice Investigation, you will not be able to support any case you might wish to make on the basis that you relied on information about the examinations from sources other than PEB, such as internet blogs or posts on social media". This Kat wonders if "sources other than the PEB" does or does not include the information provided by the Chief Examiner herself (Sarah Boxall) on IPKat last week. The PEB advises candidates to download a hard copy of the Essential Information for easy reference during the exam.
In a welcome update to the Essential Information, the PEB has now exercised some common sense by providing candidates with a phone number they can call if they experience a complete internet outage during the exam. However, the PEB also note that "Covid-19 restrictions mean that the CIPA/PEB office will not be fully staffed and there may be a delay in dealing with your call".
Another important new piece of information in the Essential Information is that the deadline for submitting a request for Special Consideration following the exam will be very short. In particular, the Essential Information states that "You should submit any application for Special Consideration to peb@cipa.org.uk by 12 noon on the day following the examination." Why is it necessary to have such a short deadline?
The new Essential Information does not address the question of what candidates planning to take the examination at work should do in the event of increased COVID-19 restrictions or if they are legally required to self-isolate. Will the PEB be willing to accommodate requests to take the exams at home due to a COVID-19 related event? The PEB merely directs candidates to Government Health and Safety Executive guidance.
Finally, we are reassured that "candidates will have the opportunity to provide feedback through the Student Survey".
There are now less than 2 weeks left until the exams. Good luck everyone!
Reviewed by Rose Hughes
on
Thursday, October 01, 2020
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Posts
"You should submit any application for Special Consideration to peb@cipa.org.uk by 12 noon on the day following the examination."
ReplyDeleteThis is terrible and completely lacks common sense. Some people have exam on consecutive days. Why so short? Can they at least extend it till end of the week.
From the PEB's own website;
DeleteDeadline for applying for special consideration
Special consideration must be applied for no later than two weeks after the examination for Qualifying Examinations, and no later one week after the examination for PAC and Litigation Skills.
Two weeks down to less than 24 hours? Where did that requirement come from?
24 hours is completely not fair. They have no idea. I think it should be appealed as it is very unfair on a candidate. The burden place on a candidate to provide evidence of Internet failure within 24 hours is unjust. if you have total power failure, engineers don't come round that quick and how can you get a report off them within 24 hours.
DeleteAlso - like the person above said - people have other exams the next day.
This 24 hours period to submit and provide evidence makes no sense whatsoever.
DeleteThe updated Essential Information for Candidates states that it should be read in conjunction with a "Report on the Trial of the PEBX System". I can't see this report on the PEB website - hopefully it will be published soon.
ReplyDeleteThe report has now been published under the COVID information
DeleteThank you for letting us know.
DeleteIt is explained that the deadline for Special Consideration has been shortened for the following reason:
"If uploading is late because of technical issues, Special Consideration can be requested. Any such request on technical (IT) grounds must be made by noon the next day, to ensure that PEB has full information to hand when it reviews PEBX system logs to decide which Answer documents will be marked"
Whilst reviewing the PEBx system will take time, I still think the deadline of noon the day after the exam is not justified.
I'm getting very nervous with the local lockdown happening everywhere in the UK.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to concentrate and focus with the changing circumstances. It certainly adds alot more stress.
DeleteSlightly worried about candidates taking exams in the office who may be showing signs of covid-19 symptoms in the next week or so. Not sure if PEB would allow candidates to change from office to home if this is the case.
DeleteAgreed. Challenge 1 is just starting the exam.
DeleteI don't understand why the PEB are being so secretive about what happens if you need to switch from the office to zoom due to track and trace etc.. It's clearly causing candidates a lot of worry.
Our designated contacts asked this in their meetings this week and were told that there is NOT any scope to change venue at this stage. So it's break the law or forfeit the exams.
DeleteBut PEB would be responsible. Event organisers have been fined across the country for actively encouraging/allowing to host people which breaks the law.
DeleteI think they should have some flexibility ezosxially to those who really need to self isolate in the next week or so.
Just reading the Report on the PEBX Trial document and it says "A few candidates had clearly tried to devise unusual, and sometimes creative, ways to circumvent aspects of the PEBX system".
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression PEBX was merely a portal for uploading and downloading documents; is it in fact more than that? What is there to "circumvent" other than tricking it into giving you extra time? Are PEB keystroke logging or recording your screen? This could have a major impact for those working for the MoD and in similar high security organisations, and even outside of that raises privacy concerns - nothing in the declaration gave permission for such activity.
I really think further clarification is required on this point. I work in the defence industry and this comment left me worried they were keylogging somehow, and that keylogging has been happening whenever the pebx browser was open? (e.g. when i was testing and doing normal work).
DeleteCan someone from the PEB confirm whether this is just someone changing the file names to permit it to be uploaded, or whether PEB are collecting more data than they have obtained permission for?
Just done FD1 today. I must say that it was very difficult to re read your answers again and found it very hard to spot mistakes of your script on the screen under time pressure.
ReplyDeleteI suspect there will be alot more errors in candidates scripts this year because it was difficult to spot mistakes. Hopefully the Examiners would understand that this year.
Yes I too found this. Much harder to spot errors etc... online under time pressure. Its the same when you email. Very hard to spot small errors. Most attorneys and us print them off to check offline.
DeleteJust hope the rest of PEB exams can go ahead with new announcement by prime minister today.
ReplyDelete