International Company Directors Course Participant Assessment Information
Participant Assessment Information Table of contents Introduction... 3 Assessment Top FAQs... 4 Assessment outcomes... 5 Grades... 5 International Company Directors Course award... 6 Participants who are not successful... 6 Assessment tasks... 8 Access to completed assessment tasks... 8 Practice quiz and long answer examination... 9 Timeframe for completion... 9 Extensions... 9 Feedback... 10 Resits... 10 Assistance with assessment tasks... 11 Accessibility... 11 Accessing My Learning... 12 Login to My Learning... 12 Technical requirements for the online quiz and exam... 13 Quiz and examination... 14 Tips for taking quizzes and exams... 14 Assignment terms and conditions... 15 Submitting assignments... 16 Word limits... 16 Assignment formatting... 17 Naming Standard... 17 Frequently asked questions... 18 General... 18 Quiz and examination... 19 Assignment... 20 Page 1 of 21
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Introduction At the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) assessment is an opportunity for participants to consolidate their course learning and to benchmark their understanding against the standard set by AICD. This guide provides information relating to the assessable components of the International Company Directors Course (CDC 1 ). It is strongly recommended that prior to attempting any assessment task, participants plan their approach. All participants are expected to: Thoroughly read the assessment information making note of submission deadlines and requirements. Read each module of the course notes. Consider the case study examples and review questions in the course materials and review the suggested responses. Read the ebook Study and Assessment Techniques resources provided with the course materials in My Learning. Highlight issues for clarification. Complete practice quiz and examination. Complete The Director Mindset and Interpreting Financial Statements online courses. View the Preparing for Success Assessment video. 1 Includes International Company Directors Course, Company Directors Update, and Company Directors Course by correspondence. Page 3 of 21
Assessment Top FAQs Participant assessment information Q. Do I receive my actual mark? A. All results are reported as a grade only. Actual marks are not provided. See Grades Q. How long do I have to complete my assessments? A. Completion of all assessment tasks (including any resits) is 3 months from attendance at module 10. See Timeframe for completion Q. Can I get my submission back? A. Submissions are not returned to protect the integrity of the assessment process. See Access to completed assessment tasks Q. What if I don t pass my second attempt? A. You can purchase the next set of course materials and enter the associated assessment cycle. See Participants who are not successful. Q. Can I take copies of the assessment? A. This is a breach of the Terms and Conditions of the assessment. Penalties may apply. Please read the Assessment Policy and Code of Conduct for further information. http://aicd.companydirectors.com.au/education/courses-for-thedirector/company-directors-course/assessment Q. Can I get an extension if I am busy at work? A. Participants should note that work-related reasons are generally not considered an acceptable reason for granting an extension. Serious illness or misadventure, or extreme and unpredictable circumstances, may constitute grounds for an extension. See Extensions Q. What feedback do I get if I need to resit? A. If you are asked to resit, your notification email will contain the learning objectives, any fees that may apply and dates for completion. Your first attempt is not returned to you. See Feedback Q. Are Interpreting Financial Statements and The Director Mindset elearning courses part of my assessment? A. No, they are not part of the formal assessment. They should be completed as valuable pre-work for both the course and assessment. Page 4 of 21
Assessment outcomes Assessment outcomes fall into three categories (or grades). 1. 2. International Company Directors Course Order of Merit International Company Directors Course Pass 80% and above for the quiz, examination and assignment on first attempt 65-79% for the quiz, examination or assignment 3. Not Successful Less than 65% for any or all of the three assessment tasks AICD aims to release results for assessment tasks within the following timeframes: Assessment type Multiple choice quiz Long answer examination Assignment Results notification Within 1 week of submission Within 3 weeks of submission Within 3 weeks of submission Grades Assessment results are reported as a grade only. Actual marks are not provided. Pass 65%-79% Pass with Order of Merit 80%-100% Resit Not Successful less than 65% on first attempt less than 65% on second attempt Assessment grades stand for two years from the start date of the course attended. If unsuccessful in any component of the three assessments, you are only required to re-attempt the remaining assessments within this two year period. Page 5 of 21
Participant assessment information International Company Directors Course award If you successfully pass all assessment tasks (achieving a Pass or Pass with Order of Merit) you will receive an International Company Directors Course award. In order to achieve a Pass with Order of Merit, you must achieve this result on each of your first three attempts at the Quiz, Exam and Assignment. Participants who are not successful If you attended the course and are either not successful or didn t attempt one or all of the assessment tasks, you have the following options: 1. Assessment attempt Within six (6) months of the start date of your course attempt the task(s) again FEES APPLY. The fee includes two (2) attempts. If you are unsuccessful on this occasion your option is to purchase New Notes and Assessment. Quiz Exam Assignment First Attempt Second Attempt First Attempt Second Attempt First Attempt Second Attempt $50 included $200 included $200 included Quiz Exam Assignment Cost $50 $250 $250 $200 $400 $200 $450 NOTE: This option is available from 1 February 2017 onwards and for participants completing assessments post 1 July 2016. Page 6 of 21
2. New Notes & Assessment More than six (6) months from the start date of your course the option is to purchase New Notes and Assessment. The cost varies depending on the tasks to complete. These fees cover the costs of materials and marking. New Notes are available in July of each new financial year. Within two years of competing a full International Company Directors Course* a. To complete the quiz only $395 b. To complete the quiz and assignment $555 c. To complete the quiz and exam $555 d. To complete the quiz, exam and assignment $555 *New Notes and Assessment are not able to be purchased after attending a Company Directors Update Course. 3. Company Directors Update Course More than two years from completing a Company Directors Course option is to attend a Company Directors Update Course. Any existing results will no longer be valid. Page 7 of 21
Assessment tasks Participant assessment information Applicable assessment tasks are as follows: Task Prerequisite for sitting assessment task(s) Multiple choice quiz** Requirement Attendance at a minimum of 8 out of 10 modules 20 questions covering modules 1-9 All questions to be completed within 60 minutes Long answer exam** 4 compulsory questions covering modules 1-9 All questions to be completed within 105 minutes (includes reading and preparation time) Marking time 3 weeks Assignment Submission timing*** 3,000 word, multipart report Marking time 3 weeks Within 3 months of completing attendance requirements For Correspondence participants the time for completion is 6 months from the start date of the course ** These assessments are to be completed online and are subject to time limits. These assessments are open book. *** Period of time available to successfully complete all assessment components. If a participant needs to resit an assessment component(s), this needs to be done within the timeframe stated. Each assessment task must be successfully completed at 65% or above. Access to completed assessment tasks Assessment tasks are not returned to participants. Participants receive a grade. A mark will not be provided, if requested. Page 8 of 21
Practice quiz and long answer examination For the multiple choice and long answer assessments, participants are given access to the practice quiz and exam from the first day of the course. These questions are of a similar length and difficulty to the actual assessment tasks and have been designed to provide participants with a guide as to what to expect in the actual assessment task. These sample papers should also be used to help participants assess the adequacy of their preparation to sit the actual assessment tasks. Timeframe for completion We strongly advise that all assessment tasks are completed and submitted within 4-6 weeks of completion of the final module of the course. Past results indicate that success rates improve with proximity to course attendance. Course International Company Directors Course International Company Directors Course Correspondence Completion of all assessment tasks (including any resits) 3 months from the end of the course (attendance minimum of 8 out of 10 modules) 6 months from receiving the course materials Extensions Extensions of time to complete assessment tasks including resits may not be granted. Participants should note that work-related reasons are generally not considered an acceptable reason for granting an extension. Serious illness or misadventure, or extreme and unpredictable circumstances, may constitute grounds for an extension. If an extension is granted, it will be for one (1) month only. All requests for extensions of time must be received one week prior to the due date for completion of assessment tasks. Requests will be responded to in writing, normally within two working days. Page 9 of 21
Participant assessment information Feedback The ongoing nature of the assessment tasks means that in addition to receiving a grade on their assessment task, participants will also receive feedback based on the learning outcomes relevant to their course. Participants do not receive their mark. Submissions are not returned to participants. Resits Participants are entitled to one resit per assessment task. Resits must be completed and submitted within the normal completion timeframe. It is important that participants submit their initial task(s) as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time to complete a resit including the 3-4 week marking period. Note: a fee of $170 applies for the exam and assignment tasks only. Participants can apply to receive detailed feedback on their assessment performance, including key areas for improvement. It is recommended participants considering a resit, should avail themselves of this service. Note: A fee of $160 applies for this service for a quiz submission A fee of $199 applies for this service for an exam and assignment submission. All fees applied for resits are designed to cover the cost of having the assessment component remarked. This service is only applicable to participants who have been unsuccessful with an assessment task. Page 10 of 21
Assistance with assessment tasks If you have any administrative queries contact the National Assessment Team. Please have your membership number on hand. The team is available Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.30pm AEST. Email: assessment@aicd.com.au Phone: (614) 8248 6600 Accessibility At AICD we believe that all of our participants should have the opportunity to complete the required assessment tasks. For participants who are visually, hearing or mobility impaired please contact the National Assessment Team or your Members and Directors Education Executive or Coordinator to discuss the options we have available. Page 11 of 21
Accessing My Learning Participant assessment information Login to My Learning All assessment tasks are to be completed in My Learning. Access to My Learning is through the AICD website. Before logging onto My Learning: Check for outage notifications on the AICD website. Close all programs not needed for taking the quiz or exam. If you have forgotten your AICD password: (a) (b) (c) access the AICD website enter your email address, select Can t sign on select forgotten password and a link will be email to you. Note: Assessment cannot reset your password. To access My Learning: 1. Login via the AICD website. If unsure of your password, follow the 'Can't sign in?' link, a link to reset your password will emailed to you. 2. Select the drop down arrow from My Site and click My Learning. 3. From My Courses, select your course. Assessment tasks are released within 2 working days of completing your course. Page 12 of 21
Technical requirements for the online quiz and exam My Learning is used to complete the online quiz and exam and is compatible with the following browsers: Browser Version Internet Explorer 10 or 11 Edge Safari Firefox Chrome Latest Latest Latest, ESR Latest The quizzes and exams can be accessed via mobile devices (smart phones and tablets). Device Android Apple Browser Android (Latest) Safari (Latest) Microsoft Surface Internet Explorer 11 Blackberry (mobile only) Blackberry (Latest) It is also suggested that participants use the same computer to complete the practice quiz and exam as planned to use for their assessment. This will allow a test of system compatibility, prior to attempting the assessment task. Whilst the quiz and examination can be accessed via mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) it is strongly recommended that participants use a keyboard for completing the long answer exam. Page 13 of 21
Participant assessment information Quiz and examination 1. Access the quiz and exam select the QUIZZES tab from the navigation bar. 2. From the Quiz List page click the multiple choice quiz or the long answer examination. 3. Read the instructions and details, and when ready click Start Quiz! The timer CANNOT be paused. 4. Answer each question. You can see which questions you have saved answers to in the Questions section of the quiz's left panel. You can also click the question number in the quiz's left panel to go back to the question. 5. Click the corresponding Save button after answering a question. You can also click Save All Responses if you are not finished answering all questions on a single page, or if you are working on a time-consuming question and need to save all previous responses. 6. Click Next Page or Previous Page to navigate between pages. 7. Click Go to Submit Quiz when you are ready to submit. 8. After you attempt and answer all quiz questions, click Submit Quiz. By clicking this button you are confirming the submission is your own work. Tips for taking quizzes and exams 1. Use a recommended browser and version. 2. Close all other programs not needed for taking the quiz or exam. 3. Regularly save your answers during and after answering questions by clicking the SAVE button. Page 14 of 21
4. If your computer freezes or if you lose internet connection during the quiz or exam, follow these steps: (a) (b) During business hours: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm AEDT. Contact assessment@aicd.com.au Outside of business hours Close the browser window without submitting your quiz or exam. Do not log out of My Learning. The timer will continue to countdown during this time. Open a new browser window and log into the AICD website again then proceed to My Learning as before. Continue answering the questions. Submit your quiz or exam. Immediately email the assessment team at assessment@aicd.com.au detailing the issue encountered. Assignment terms and conditions The assignment terms and conditions must be read and understood by the participant. Select only one of the case studies for submission. The assignment is to be completed as an individual exercise. On submission participants will be required to confirm certain submission details. If these terms and conditions are not agreed to, the assignment cannot be submitted. The assignment word count is 3,000 words ± 10%. Retain a copy of your submission for your records. Submitted assignments are will not be returned. All assignments for ICDC must be submitted via My Learning. Page 15 of 21
Participant assessment information As part of this process all assignments will be checked via Turnitin to ensure work submitted by participants is their own work. Should a participant be suspected of plagiarism they will be subject to a formal investigation, prior to the assignment being submitted for assessment. Submitting assignments 1. To upload your assignment, click Assignment on the navigation bar. The submission should be in PDF format. Only upload your assignment submission. The coversheet is not required. 2. Click on the assignment folder. Click Add a File and follow the instructions provided to upload your assignment. 3. Click Submit. Word limits A participant is entitled to exceed the word limit of 3,000 words by up to 10% (ie 300 words). The actual word count will be based on the count provided by Turnitin, and should exclude any table of contents or references. Where a participant exceeds the word count by more than 10% AICD may decide to apply any of the following penalties, depending on the level of non-compliance: Return the assignment to the participant and ask them to resubmit an assignment that meets the assessment requirements / criteria. Assess the submitted assignment, ignoring components in excess of the word limit. Page 16 of 21
Assignment formatting Font: Arial, 12 point, normal spaced Page: portrait orientation, A4 Footer: Your full name, page number and number of pages (ie Chris Smith, Page 3 of 10) Acceptable file format: Portable Document Format (.pdf) Naming Standard Your assignment file name should follow this naming convention. First name-second name_case study name.pdf Eg Cath-Brimm_GoldenYears.pdf or Cath-Brimm_WAT.pdf Page 17 of 21
Frequently asked questions Participant assessment information General Q: What modules are assessable? A: CDC module content 1 to 9 is assessable. Q: Is there an order for undertaking assessments? A: It is up to the participant to decide which order the assessments are undertaken. Q: Do I get a reminder email that I haven't completed one or more of my assessment tasks? A: No. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the timeframes for your assessment submissions, including any required resits. Login to My Learning to check your submissions. Q: Is my quiz, examination or assignment returned to me? Even if I need to resit? A: No, completed assessments are not returned to candidates after assessment. This protects the integrity of the assessment process, especially as our assessment is continuous thereby preventing sharing and collaboration. Q: Do I get my actual marks back? A: No. Raw marks are not provided to you. Your results are provided as a grade only. Q: When can I get my results? A: If you login to My Learning you can check the status of your submissions there. Page 18 of 21
Quiz and examination Q: Is reading time allowed? A: No. Reading time has been included within the quiz or examination timeframe. Q: Do all participants receive the same questions? A: No. Questions are available within banks. Participants will receive randomly allocated questions, based on the banks available at the time the assessment is undertaken. Participants undertaking a resit are unlikely to receive the same questions they received during their original assessment. Q: What resources am I allowed to access during the exam? A: The CDC quiz and examination are open book. Participants are allowed to use all relevant course material whilst completing the relevant assessment tasks. Q: Can I access past exam papers? A: Past exam papers are not available. However, participants are able to access a practice quiz and exam online. They are indicative of what participants can expect from the actual assessment task. Q: Can I use a wireless internet connection? A: Yes, wireless internet connections can be used, however it should be capable of maintaining a continued and consistent connection throughout the entire duration of the quiz or examination. Q: When does the timer start for the quiz and examination? A: The timer starts when you click the Start Quiz! button. Q: What happens if the page freezes during examination? A: See the information above on Tips and contact the National Assessment Team on (02) 8248 6600. (AEST business hours only) Q: What should I do if my answers to the long answer questions are not saving? A: See the information above on Tips and contact the National Assessment Team on (02) 8248 6600. (AEST business hours only) Page 19 of 21
Participant assessment information Q: Can I check if my examination has been received and when will I receive notification of results? A: Yes, log into My Learning to check on the status of your submissions and your results. Your results are provided as a grade only. Q: If l am asked to resit, do I need to resit the whole task and how many opportunities are there to resit? A: You will only be asked to resit the section you did not pass. You will be provided with one (1) opportunity to resit per assessment task. Q. Can I pause the exam or quiz? A. No, the timer continues to countdown after clicking the Start Quiz! button. Q. What information is provided to me if I have to resit? A. You will receive an email containing the learning outcomes relating to the questions answered incorrectly along with fees and a date to be completed by. You will not receive your submission back. Assignment Q: The case study has inaccuracies I'm not sure if this is intentionally wrong. What should I do? A: Read the assignment question again to ensure clarity. Take the case study material as presented and respond accordingly. Q: I am having difficulty interpreting / understanding the assignment question. A: Read the assignment question again to ensure clarity. Take the case study material as presented and respond accordingly. Think like a director! Q: If I am asked to resit, do I need to resubmit the whole assignment? A: You will be provided with one (1) opportunity to resit. Yes, you are required to resubmit the whole assignment. Page 20 of 21
Q. What format should I upload my assignment in? A. PDF. Q. How do I know my assignment has been successfully submitted. A. You will receive a confirmation email. Q. Do I need to email or post my assignment as well? A. No, all assignments are received electronically via My Learning. Page 21 of 21