Surveys of candidates' intentions and attitudes

Surveys were conducted by the Accreditation Board before the 2009 and 2011 exams.

The survey prior to the 2009 exam asked respondents to indicate whether they intended to sit the exam ‘this year’ or ‘next year’. The option for ‘next year’ included indicating a preference for a ‘hard copy or, if available, onscreen version’. Of the respondents who answered this question, the following proportions indicated their preference for an onscreen version: Canberra 75%, Victoria 53%, South Australia 40%, and Western Australia 75%. In New South Wales, 38% of comments from respondents who indicated interest in the exam ‘next year’ noted a preference for an onscreen version.

 [Missing data from Queensland and Tasmania.]

A survey of societies of editors’ members was conducted in October 2010 to ascertain the number of candidates intending to sit the 2011 exam. The second aim of the survey was to evaluate the interest in onscreen delivery of the exam and specifically, whether a particular format (pen and paper, or onscreen) would deter candidates from sitting the exam.

Of the 158 respondents to the survey, 78 (49%) indicated that they intended to sit the exam in 2011. These respondents’ preference was fairly evenly spread between a ‘pen and paper at a city examination centre’ (47%) or ‘onscreen at a city examination centre’ (53%).

Further questions elicited a more specific—and very similar—response. In answer to the question, ‘If the exam is only available on paper, would this affect your decision to sit the exam?’, 17% answered ‘yes’. A similar number (16%) answered ‘yes’ to the question, ‘If the exam is only available onscreen, would this affect your decision to sit the exam?’ In fact, very few respondents would be deterred from taking the exam because of its mode of delivery.

A much higher percentage of respondents indicated a sensitivity to cost. Forty (40) per cent of respondents answered affirmatively to, ‘An onscreen exam may involve additional cost. Would this affect your decision to sit the exam?’ Clearly, the cost of the exam will be a critical factor in the decision about exam format in the future.