Responding to COVID-19: insight, support and guidance

CIPFA Exams

CIPFA runs four exam sessions a year to accommodate the needs of our growing Student Network. Students can choose to sit their exams at home with the aid of an online invigilator, or at their place of work with a nominated member of staff invigilating their exam. For further information on sitting your exam with CIPFA, including exam dates, booking deadlines and applying for special arrangements, please follow the guidance outlined below.

June 2023 exams session

In line with government guidelines around COVID-19, CIPFA venues will remain closed for the June 2023 exams session. Students can instead choose to sit their exams with either an online or local invigilator. 

There has been a slight increase in exam fees from June 2023. 

The existing Strategic Public Finance and Strategic Case Study modules and the new 4 strategic level papers in the new CIPFA futures qualification are being increased to £240. All other modules are being increased to £120.

Talk to us

Telephone: 020 7543 5600
Email: studentsupport@cipfa.org

What are online (remote) exams?

We deliver our exams and practice using two online assessment platforms, Calibrand and Rogo.

Students can sit their exams at home, or their place of work, and are invigilated remotely by an online proctor.


How are local exams invigilated?

Local exams are taken on the student's computer and are sat at the student's place of work.

These are invigilated by a member of staff at the student's place of work.


How do I practice?

Practice is the key to exam success. At CIPFA we give our students a unique opportunity to hone your exam skills by using our LIVE exam system with practice tests of exam standard questions.

CIPFA does not publish past exam papers.

Exam dates

Exam dates for the 2023 exam sessions are available for download. For further dates in the CIPFA calendar, please visit key dates.

Exam dates 2023

Book your exam

Online bookings for the June exam session are now open. Bookings made from Monday 08 May will be subject to late fees.

 Dates  Late fees 
 01 May - 07 May    £75
 Thereafter  £225

 

Book now

2023 exam sessions

Sittings Exam week
March 6-10 March
June 5-9 June
September 4-8 September
December 4-8 December

Reasonable adjustments

Students with special needs may be eligible for pre-examination adjustments. Reasonable adjustments allow students with learning, physical, social and health needs to sit our exams with reasonable modifications. Please apply by 30 April.

Applications for the June exam session are now open.

Apply now

 

Deferrals

Students looking to cancel their exams will have to formally apply for a deferral. CIPFA will only consider deferrals that fall under the following categories: local emergency, medical, bereavement. Please view the deferrals policy under Assessment regulations tab.

 

Deferrals for the March exam session are now closed.

Special considerations

If you experienced technical difficulties during your exam, you may wish to apply for special considerations. To apply, please provide a brief overview of the issues you encountered with evidence where possible.

Applications for the March exam session are now open.

Apply now

Strategic Public Finance (SPF)

Past papers from previous SPF exams are available for download:

Strategic Case Study (SCS)

Past papers from previous SCS exams are available for download:

Results days

Exam session Results published 
 March 2023  20 April 2023
 June 2023  20 July 2023
 September 2023  19 October 2023
 December 2023  25 January 2024

Access your results

December exam results will be published on Thursday 19 January. Project Report results will be published on Thursday 19 January.

To view your marks, please select My Latest Results in My Qualification, or click Feedback and Results in CIPFA Assessment (Calibrand).

If you would like to share your results with your employer, you can do so by adding your manager as an exam contact in My Qualification.

Previous exam results

CIPFA no longer provides successful candidates reports.

CIPFA PQ and IPFM exam pass rates Sept-19 to Sept-2022

Appeals

Appeals for the December 2022 results are now closed. You may appeal against your exam result within 10 working days of receiving your results if you believe:
  • there is evidence of bias, prejudice or discrimination as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010
  • new evidence exists of extenuating circumstances which, for valid reasons, the student could not disclose to CIPFA in line with the published timetable for special considerations applications
  • there is evidence of a substantial procedural irregularity with respect to an aspect of the conduct of the exams and/or determination of results
Appeals based on any other grounds will be rejected.

How to apply

  1. Download and read CIPFA's assessment appeals policy.
  2. Send an email to Head of Qualifications and Membership studentsupport@cipfa.org to appeal, including details of your case.
  3. Once your case has been approved, you will be asked to download the appeals application form.
  4. Make a payment of £75 in the 'Appeal your exam result' tab.
If you have any questions, please contact qualitycompliance@cipfa.org

Please confirm that you took each of these precautions prior to sitting your live exam:

  • sat your live exam using Google Chrome browser
  • ensured that you were using the latest version of Google Chrome
  • sat and completed the complimentary CIPFA technical test (remote invigilation only)
  • ensured ProctorU was whitelisted by your internet provider, as instructed in your candidate Admissions mailing, specifically for candidates with TalkTalk and Virgin Media (online invigilation only)

View full list of student regulations, appeals policy and forms

Every year CIPFA recognises our best performing students and celebrates their achievements in a formal ceremony at our Student Conference.

Arthur Collins Memorial Medal 

Is awarded for achieving the highest combined marks in:

  • Strategic Case Study (SCS) 
  • Strategic Public Finance (SPF)

Richard Emmott Memorial Prize

Is awarded for achieving the highest marks in:

  • Strategic Case Study (SCS)

Eric Gilliland Memorial Prize

Is awarded for achieving the highest marks in:

  • Strategic Public Finance (SPF)