TPE Laptop User Guide
May 2016
©ICAS 2016
ICAS 2016
This guide has been prepared in advance of the TPE Exam on Tuesday 10 May 2016 to provide a short
resume of the key points.
The use of laptops at TPE exam is mandatory. No handwritten pages will be marked. All students must
read this document fully in advance of attendance at both mock(s) and actual exam venues.
Before the Exam
The reliability and the performance of the laptop and all software is entirely your responsibility, no back up
computers or peripherals will be provided on exam day. No dispensation will be given for a laptop which
fails on mock(s) or exam day.
In advance of the exam it is important that you check your laptop to ensure that it is in an appropriate
condition to perform on the day. If your laptop fails on the day of the mock(s) or exam, you will be asked to
submit a handwritten paper.
Software Requirements
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Microsoft Windows Operating System with Microsoft Office package
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No Apple or other operating systems are permitted
No Open Office or other office package software is permitted
Peripherals
Peripherals that require their own power source, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth will not be permitted.
Word and Excel are the only permitted applications. Content submitted on any other application will not be
marked. Company logos are not permitted within your response and might result in disqualification.
You must retain the files created on your laptop hard drive for a period of 40 days after mock date and TPE
exam result date.
Extra Time
Students who are entitled to extra time should already have contacted the TPE Exams Manager to discuss
their preferred exam location. Candidates may be required to travel to Edinburgh or London exam centres.
If you require extra time and have any additional questions please contact Hayley Reid, TPE Exams
Manager at examinations@icas.com.
Mock/Exam Day
On exam and mock exam days you must arrive at the exam hall 30 minutes prior to the start of the exam to
set up your laptop and organise your desk for the exam, late arrival may result in entry being refused.
Once you have entered the hall and located your desk, please ensure that your laptop is switched on before
connecting to the external power source that has been provided for you.
Wi-Fi
During the exam you will be required to switch off your Wi-Fi. At the end of the exam you will be required to
switch Wi-Fi on to submit your final response files. Wi-Fi access is achieved in different ways on each
laptop, so please ensure that you know how to turn the Wi-Fi on and off on your computer.
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The invigilation team will check throughout the exam to ensure that you have no applications running and
that your Wi-Fi remains switched off. Failure to comply will result in a report being made to the TPE Exam
Board.
Switch off sound
This will vary from computer to computer. Please ensure that you know how to turn this functionality off.
Creating and saving the file
It is your responsibility to know the destination of the hard drive. If your laptop is set up to save to the cloud
or remote server you must liaise with your IT team to ensure that this can be changed for the duration of the
exam. It is imperative that you can not only save to the hard drive but also have full access to it in case you
need to access autorecover.
Prior to the start of you mock or exam you may be required to show the invigilation team that you have
followed the process outlined on the checklist.
Do NOT turn over your exam paper until instructed by the invigilator.
Important Exam Notes

If a member of the invigilation team is working on your laptop you must remain seated and continue to
work using pen and paper whilst the problem is assessed.
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You must leave your laptop open with the screen on view at all times – rooms are secure during lunch.
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It is your responsibility to ensure that Word and Excel documents are saved regularly.
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Ensure that all tables and embedded objects are within the margins of your documents and that your
excel work does not stretch beyond column N.
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As soon as you are instructed by the invigilator to stop typing you must:
1.
Click the save button;
2.
Enter a page break leaving a blank screen on view;
3.
Do not exit Word or Excel; and
4.
Do not close, shutdown or switch off your laptop.
Further Help
For additional information please refer to the TPE section of the ICAS website.
If these documents do not resolve your problem please contact one of the following:
1.
2.
3.
Your firm’s IT staff if you are using your firm’s computer;
Technical enquiries (tpe@icas.com ); or
If you cannot submit your request by email or if your enquiry is urgent please contact either:

Hayley Reid, TPE Exams Manager (0131 347 0191 / examinations@icas.com); or

Robbie Burns, Senior Operations Manager (0131 347 0193 / rburns@icas.com)
TPE Laptop User Guide – May 2016
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Checklist
This checklist assumes that you are using Microsoft Word and Excel 2010.
If you require a password for your encryption software, it must be set to ‘Icas2016$’.
When creating a new document in both Word and Excel there must be no macros, formulae or preformatted
content contained within the template used.
Laptop
Switch on laptop
Connect laptop to a power source
Switch off Wi-Fi, sound and chat / messenger applications.
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Word
Word application is started
Save a word document using the following naming convention:
“candidate number_TPE_Today’s date” i.e. “C1234_TPE_03112015” or
“student number_TPE_ Mock 1, 2 or 3” i.e “S12345_TPE_Mock1, 2 or 3”
Word Autorecover is switched on and set for 1 minute
Word Autorecover saves to your hard drive
In the header, insert: “candidate number_TPE_Today’s date” i.e. “C1234_TPE_03112015” or
“student number_TPE_ Mock 1, 2 or 3” i.e “S12345_TPE_Mock1, 2 or 3”
Insert page numbers at the foot of the document (page X of Y)
Excel
Excel application is started
Ensure there is a single worksheet in the workbook/tab
Save a workbook as: “candidate number_TPE_Today’s date” i.e. “C1234_TPE_03112015” or
“student number_TPE_ Mock 1, 2 or 3” i.e “S12345_TPE_Mock1, 2 or 3”
Excel Autorecover is switched on and set for 1 minute
Excel Autorecover saves your hard drive
Select and shade column N
Ensure worksheet orientation is saved as landscape
In the header, insert: “candidate number_TPE_Today’s date” i.e. “C1234_TPE_03112015” or
“student number_TPE_ Mock 1, 2 or 3” i.e “S12345_TPE_Mock1, 2 or 3”
Insert page numbers at the foot of the document (page X of Y)
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During the exam
Word document and Excel worksheet is saved regularly
Ensure tables and embedded objects are within the margins
Excel work must not exceed the boundaries of column N
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Lunch time checklist
Ensure document and workbook are saved to your hard drive
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At the end of the exam you must check that your full script has been saved to your hard drive. Do not close
your documents until you are certain that your full, final response has been saved. It is your responsibility to
check that your final script has been saved prior to validation. You will not have the opportunity post exam
to submit any alternative or additional documents.
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Exam submission
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Word document is saved to your hard drive
Excel worksheet is saved to your hard drive
Mock only: via venue Wi-Fi email your final Word and Excel response file to:

Scotland and Channel Islands – tpeexams@icas.com

London - tpequeries@bpp.com
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England excluding London - to be confirmed on day 1 of class
TPE Exam: via venue Wi-Fi email your final word and excel response file to be confirmed on TPE
exam day.
The response submitted to ICAS is your full and final response – this is the only version that will be
marked. No other documents will be accepted post exam under any circumstances.
Your covering email must contain the following subject heading:
Mock only : Teaching City – Mock 1, 2 or 3 – Student Number (i.e. Edinburgh Mock 1 S12345)
TPE Exam : Exam Centre – TPE – C1234 (i.e. Edinburgh TPE C1234)
And must include the following text:
Candidate Number or Student Number:
Date:
Venue:
Total pages submitted (Word):
Total excel tabs (0 or 1):
S12345 or C1234
Friday 31 July 2015
Edinburgh
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I confirm that I have checked the response file(s) submitted and that it represents my full
and final submission. I acknowledge that this is the only version of my script that will be
marked and that no alternate script or additional material can be provided after submission.
I confirm that a full copy of my script has been retained on my hard drive and will be held
for 40 days from the date of submission of mock and 40 days from the date of TPE result
date.
You must only submit your work once, unless instructed otherwise by the examinations team.
Confirmation of receipt received from ICAS. You are not permitted to leave the exam hall until you
have received a confirmation email from ICAS to confirm your response has been received.
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The validation period at the end of the exam could take around 1 hour to conclude. During this time you will
be expected to remain in the exam hall under exam conditions until you receive confirmation you can leave.
If there are issues with the validation of your script you will be asked to remain in the hall until the end of the
process to allow a member of the invigilation team to work with you to resolve them.
You will not be permitted to access your laptop for any purpose during this time. Failure to comply with these
instructions may result in your being reported to the TPE Exam Board.
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