Professional Programme Parts I and II News

Published: December 17th 2009

 

CLOSING DATE FOR JUNE 2010 EXAMINATIONS

UPDATED: 03/03/2010

The closing date for entry to the June 2010 examinations is 1st April 2010. All monies and completed examination entry forms need to be received by the Institute by that date.

Script Report Service

The ICSA operates a script report service for the Professional Programme.

The report is prepared by the Chief Examiner, on the requested module, and includes a brief description of how a candidate performed and the reasons why a pass was not achieved in individual questions. Our aim is to provide candidates with as much information as possible to aid their preparation for the next occasion by directing attention to areas where performance can be improved. These reports can be particularly helpful for students who have attempted the assessments on more than one occasion.

The service does not constitute a re-marking exercise, and we regret no further correspondence can be entered into beyond this report. A fee of £60/€70 is charged for each report on any individual module and piece of assessment.

All requests should be sent to the Examinations Unit at 16 Park Crescent, London W1B 1AH.  The closing date for requesting a script report is one month after the release of the examination results.

Please note: to avoid any delays in processing your request, applications must be made in writing, clearly marked ‘Script Report Service’ with the fee enclosed. They should also clearly state your candidate number, the module(s) and assessment to be reported on.  

 

study text errata

UPDATED: 11/12/09

CORPORATE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT STUDY TEXT 6th EDITION: ERRATA

Please be advised of the following amendments in Section 2, and answer 4.9, of the 6th edition of the Corporate Financial Management study text as noted here.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STUDY TEXT 6th EDITION: ERRATA

Please be advised that the definition of a `connected person´ in Section 7.1 (Prohibition on loans to directors and connected persons), page 59 of the 6th edition of the Corporate Governance study text should read as noted here.

CORPORATE SECRETARYSHIP STUDY TEXT 6th EDITION: ERRATA 

Please be advised of the following amendment in Section 6.1 (Application by the directors to strike off a company), page 241 of the 6th edition of the Corporate Secretaryship study text as noted here.

 

JULY 2010 examinations: corporate law and corporate secretaryship

UPDATED: 09/12/09

Study texts for these modules refer to all provisions of the Companies Act 2006, including the new Model Articles. Candidates may answer all questions in the June 2010 exams with full reference to the Companies Act 2006.

The final provisions of the Act were implemented in October 2009 (see Table of Implementation, below). 

Table of Implementation 

 

professional programme study texts 

UPDATED: 09/12/09

The following editions of the Professional Programme study texts are now available and should be used by students sitting the June 2010 examinations:

• Corporate Administration (6th edition)
• Corporate Financial Management (6th edition)
• Corporate Governance (6th edition)
• Corporate Secretaryship (6th edition)
• Corporate Law (7th edition)
• Financial Accounting (6th edition)
• Management Accounting (4th edition)
• Strategic and Operations Management (5th edition)

These editions of the texts, with the exception of Corporate Law, are all available to view online.

You will have received the most recent version of the text when you registered for the module, however if you have delayed taking the examination your text may no longer be the most recent edition. If you need a new text you can purchase it online from the ICSA Bookshop: http://www.icsabookshop.co.uk/category.php?type=CD.

If you have not yet registered for a module, you do not need to purchase a text as you will automatically receive it when you register. 

 

Examination Timetables

Examination timetables can be found within the 'Fees, Forms and Texts' section of our website. http://www.icsa.org.uk/study/getting_started/forms

Please select your course and a timetable will be displayed with the relevant forms.

 

examination results

Exam results are expressed as grade bands which correspond to the percentage ranges shown below:

Distinction: 75% - 100%
Merit: 65% - 74%
Pass: 50% - 64%
Grade A Fail: 46% - 49%
Grade B Fail: 40% - 45%
Grade C Fail: 20% - 39%
Grade D Fail: 0% - 19% 

 

Revised Combined Code: June 2008

The Financial Reporting Council issued a revised version of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance in June 2008.

This edition incorporates changes made following a review of the impact and effectiveness of the Code held during 2007. Two minor changes were made, which:

• remove the restriction on an individual chairing more than one FTSE 100 company; and
• allow the chairman of a listed company below the FTSE 350 to be a member of, but not chair, the audit committee - provided he or she was considered independent on appointment (Code Provision C.3.1).

The amended Code came into force at the end of June 2008, and applies to accounting periods beginning on or after 29 June 2008.

To view the new Code, click on the link below:

The Combined Code on Corporate Governance June 2008 

 

Corporate Law Supplementary Material: Insolvency and Administration

Some additional material has been identified by the Corporate Law Chief Examiner to supplement the 7th edition of the study text. All Corporate Law students are recommended to refer to Chapter 20 of Mayson, French and Ryan on Company Law, Oxford University Press, in relation to insolvency and administration.  

Corporate Law Supplementary Material: Auditors

Some additional material has been prepared on auditors to supplement the 7th edition of the Corporate Law study text. All Corporate Law students are recommended to click here to access the material.   

 

Recommended Standard of English

ICSA recommends that candidates who are non-native speakers of English should have a level of language equivalent to a score of 6.0 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with a score of at least a 6.0 in writing. The equivalent recommended scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are 550 for TOEFL Paper, 213 for TOEFL Computer, and 79-80 for TOEFL iBT.

Having English language skills at this level will allow you to understand the study material for the ICSA modules, and will enhance your ability to perform well in the examinations.  

 

Changes to the Corporate Law syllabus

Following a review of the Corporate Law syllabus, the following changes have been made which take effect from the June 2008 examinations:

Change 1
Candidates are now required to have outline knowledge of the law of meetings, concentrating on the different types of meetings, and the various resolutions that can be passed at them.

Change 2
Candidates are also required to have an understanding of the content of a company prospectus when a company makes an offer of shares to the public. In addition, candidates should be able to identify the remedies available to an investor as a result of a misleading prospectus.

Please be advised that both changes will be examined from the June 2008 examinations.  

Change to the Corporate Secretaryship syllabus

Since January 2007, the provisions within sections 198-202 of the Companies Act 1985, in respect of the disclosure of interests in shares of substantial shareholders, have been repealed. Equivalent provisions have been incorporated into Chapter 5 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (the DTRs). The DTRs also now include the procedures to be followed by listed companies and substantial shareholders in notifying the United Kingdom Listing Authority and a Regulatory Information Service of a substantial shareholding. The previous procedures contained within Chapter 9 of the Listing Rules have been removed as a consequence.

Most of the key notification requirements (for example, a notification requirement is triggered when a shareholder holds 3% or more in a listed company) remain unchanged. For more information about the new procedure, please see Chapter 5 of the DTRs: (http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/handbook/DTR.pdf).

Please be advised that the new arrangements for disclosure will be incorporated into the Corporate Secretaryship syllabus for examination from June 2008.  

 

Opportunity for ICSA students

The Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (WCCSA) takes on up to six apprentices every year. The Company is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Its purposes are charitable (with particular emphasis on education) and social. Those selected for Apprenticeship will gain the benefits of having a member of the Livery Company mentoring their progress towards the Chartered Secretary qualification, the fellowship that membership brings and a privileged, low-cost entry to the Company. Please note that it does not offer paid employment. To qualify for admission as an apprentice, you must:

• be a citizen of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man; 
• be in the age bracket 18-29; 
• studying, or about to start, a course which leads to registration as an Associate or Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators after relevant work experience.

Further details and application forms are available on request from The Clerk of WCCSA on clerk@wccsa.fsnet.co.uk.

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