ACCA now offers remotely invigilated exams — sat online from your own room under webcam supervision — as an alternative to sitting at an approved centre. Availability depends on the exam and your country, and ACCA's booking system shows which sittings you can take remotely. The choice matters more than it looks: a remote exam removes the journey but adds rules and risks that catch people out. This guide sets the two side by side so you can pick with your eyes open.
How ACCA remote exams work
You book a remote sitting through your ACCA account, install the proctoring software, and on the day run a system check, show your photo ID and your room to the camera, and sit the exam while an invigilator watches through your webcam and microphone. The paper itself is the same computer-based exam you would sit at a centre.
The conditions are strict:
- A private, quiet room with a clear desk — nobody may enter during the exam.
- A laptop or desktop that passes the system test (webcam, microphone, a permitted operating system and browser) — not a tablet or phone.
- A stable internet connection for the full duration.
- No notes, no second screen, no headphones, and no leaving the camera's view except where the rules allow a break.
Breaking any of these can end the exam and be treated as malpractice.
How centre-based ACCA exams work
You book a seat at an ACCA-approved computer-based exam centre, arrive with your ID, and sit the same exam on the centre's equipment under in-person invigilation. The centre provides the hardware, the connection and the invigilator; your only responsibility is to turn up on time. Our guide to ACCA computer-based exams covers what to expect on the day, and we can arrange a seat at an approved centre in London.
Remote vs centre: the honest comparison
| Remote exam | Exam centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | None | Journey to the centre |
| Equipment risk | Yours — a failed system check or a dropped connection is your problem | The centre's — hardware and connection are provided and tested |
| Environment rules | Strict; interruptions can void the attempt | Managed by the centre |
| Booking flexibility | Often more slots, especially for on-demand exams | Depends on centre capacity; session exams fill early |
| Availability | Varies by exam and country | All exams |
| If something goes wrong | You must report it to ACCA and may need to rebook | The invigilator handles it on the spot |
Where remote exams go wrong
The pattern in the problems candidates report is consistent: a system check that passed the week before fails on the day; a household member opens the door; the connection drops for thirty seconds; a phone notification is heard. Each of these can mean a terminated exam, an inconclusive result and a rebooking. A remote sitting is only a good choice when you genuinely control the room and the technology for the whole exam.
How to decide
- Choose remote if you have a reliable private space, a compliant computer you have already tested, and a connection you trust — and the exam is offered remotely in your country.
- Choose a centre if any of those is doubtful, if you are sitting a session exam you cannot afford to rebook, or if you simply want to walk in and sit down.
- Either way, book early. Session exams (March, June, September, December) have entry deadlines and centre seats fill; see our deadlines page and fees.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sit ACCA exams online in the UK?
Many can be sat remotely, subject to availability for the specific exam. Your ACCA account shows the remote and centre options when you book.
Are remote ACCA exams easier?
No. It is the same exam with the same time limit and marking. Only the invigilation method differs.
What happens if my internet drops during a remote ACCA exam?
Short drops may be recoverable; longer ones can end the sitting. You report it to ACCA, who decide whether the attempt stands or you rebook.
Does the seven-year rule apply the same way?
Yes — where and how you sit makes no difference. See do ACCA exams expire.
Prefer the certainty of a centre? Book an ACCA sitting and we'll confirm the venue.
