How to Prepare for an Open Book Exam (AD3, PD3)

The open book exam format is relevant to AD3 and PD3. The exam consists of a selection of unseen questions based on pre-released case studies. Open book exams are designed to test your ability to identify and apply information and your own knowledge.

In the same way that you would prepare for a closed-book exam you will need to research, manage your time effectively, focus your thinking and in this case, you can also take in a selection of pre-prepared notes to help you.

Preparation is key

You will have had 4 weeks to analyse the case study (each case approx. 15 pages in length). During this time, you will need to analyse:

·        The focal organisations macro environment (STEEPLE)

·        The competitive environment (Porter’s five forces)

·        A resource audit (not only people)

·        A SWOT analysis

Most of the case studies feature well known organisations and we would recommend that you research these online as well as using the many articles that are listed in the bibliography.

We highly recommend that you prepare a set of notes to take into the exam with you. It is often handy to refer to the learning objectives when writing these notes.

Avoid bringing your books into the exam. You will spend more time flicking through pages trying to find information rather than focusing on the task at hand. Instead bring along your annotated case study and a carefully prepared set of notes.

The examiners want to read your interpretation of the answers, not a carbon copy of the model questions in your text books. Try to just refer to the case study rather than going into detail. The examiners will be familiar with the cases. You must demonstrate your problem-solving skills, critical thinking and how you would apply this in relation to the case you have been given.

Open book exams may appear like an easy option - don’t fool yourself. In order to be best equipped you will need to really focus on a deep and detailed analysis of the case study and prepare a set of notes heavily focused on the learning objectives. If you do all of the above you will be successful.

General exam advice

• Always bring at least 3 pens

• A bottle of water

• Arrive at least 20 minutes before your exam starts

• Make sure you double check where your exam is taking place.

• Remember you cannot take your phone in with you!

January 2019 Results

Blended Learning

Our Blended Learning students did a great job across all of our study centres, but we wanted to say a special congratulations to our two Norwich Diploma cohorts for achieving a 100% pass rate with an average mark of 70!

We were also delighted to see that all of our new Professional Diploma students had moved seamlessly onto the highest level of study, receiving a 100% pass rate on their first exam.

Distance Learning Students

Congratulations to our Distance Learning students for achieving an excellent 92% pass rate for the January exam series.

All of these students have worked hard for months, and made consistent use of our Open Tutorial hours, and it’s great to see that it has all paid off.

A special congratulations to one of our students for achieving an outstanding 91% for their Sourcing in Procurement and Supply exam - a record setting mark for this exam at ABA (and not this student’s first record setter either!)

NEXT EXAM

Good luck to all of you awaiting your March exam results, which will be released on May 29th.

And good luck to anyone sitting an exam in May, please remember that this will be your last chance to sit an exam on the current CIPS syllabus, so make sure to check your MyCIPS to be certain that you’re booked in!

CIPS New Syllabus

There are a lot of changes coming from CIPS at the moment and understandably it’s left a lot of students confused! We are still awaiting further information from CIPS but believe it is important to pass on what we have got so far.

Exam Timeline:

May - Last sitting for the current syllabus exams

July - First sitting for the new computer based exams. Many of the exam centres are changing so it’s important to check where your exam is.

What are the new exams?

There are two types of Computer Based Exams (CBEs):

1) Objective Response (OR) these are computer-based, which allow you to select a response from a list of possible answers.  With the exception of L6M4, all 6 credit exams are in the OR format.

OR exams are 1.5 hours long, and usually you will be sitting two of these modules per exam series.

OR exams don’t have a traditional timetable, but instead have a week of open exams (at 9, 12, and 3), with exam centres choosing how many sittings and how many days they will open for. Due to this, until we book your exam we are no longer able to tell you which day in the week your exam will be.

2) Constructed Response (CR) these exams require a longer, essay-type response to questions.

CR exams are three hours long and are essentially computer versions of the exams you’re used to.

CR exams have set timetables which are available on the CIPS website.

When are the new exams?

Exam sittings are now 6 times a year: November, January, March, May, July, and September. We recommend following the usual November - July academic year and utilising September for resits where needed.

Resources

Resources are being released gradually by CIPS between March and August. If you have new syllabus modules scheduled with us we will send you your resources as soon as they are made available to us. If you are sitting an off-timetable exam please get in touch with us to check resource release dates.

What about students already studying?

Don’t worry, there are transfer arrangements in place. If the course is changing part way through your year, the timetable will have been set so that you cover everything.
If you need to take a resit on the new syllabus there is info on the CIPS website about the equivalent subjects, alternatively just get in touch with us and we’ll help you figure it out.

The Bottom Line

There is, undeniably, some uncertainty for all students around these qualifications but we are doing our best to get clarity on all of it from CIPS. If you’re not sure about anything at all, even if you think it’s silly, just get in touch with us and we’ll help you.

Job Vacancy - Maternity Cover

Office Administrator – Fixed term maternity cover

As a part time Administrator you will be playing a key role in the running of our office and development of the business. Hours will be 3 days per week, usually 8:30-16:30, some additional hours are possibly required during exam periods (held six times per year).

This maternity cover position will run until March 2020, with the potential of a permanent role for the right candidate.

About Us

Our small Norwich based team coordinate procurement and business skills training across the UK, run our exam centre, and organise short skills training courses.

The team comprises three people: The Director, Operations Manager and Administrator. The team provide the development and day to day support to Clients, Students, and Tutors.

Covering Letter: As we are such a small team, the ideal candidate for this role is one whose personality fits best with us. We'd like you to use your covering letter to tell us about you, not about your work history - tell us about your hobbies, interests, and what makes you, you!

Key Responsibilities

Office Admin

• General administration functions including filing, email management, student bookings, invoices etc.

• Assist in preparing our annual study centre audit

• Booking travel and accommodation

Student Admin

• Record keeping including via Access Database

• Responding to enquiries and preparing quotations and invoices

• Bookings student exams, running the exam centre, and invigilating

• Acting as the Point of Contact for all students enrolled with ABA

Staff and Tutor Admin

• Managing the office diaries to ensure everyone is in the right place at the right time, including tutors and venues, as well as exams.

• Keeping tutors up to date with important information

• Tracking homework set, received, and marked

The Candidate

Holding a good standard of education and an excellent sense of humour, you will have: strong attention to detail; interpersonal and organisational skills; office experience in a small team is also desirable. Experience working with education environment and/or with apprenticeships would be an advantage.

Advert closing: 22/03
1st round interviews: 02/04 and 03/04
Final Interviews: 15/04

Salary: £16,500 - £17,500 pro rata

Job Type: Part-time

Job Types: Part-time, Temporary

Apply

Simply head to indeed.co.uk or send your CV and covering letter direct to cips@aba-procurement.com

November 2018 Results

Distance Learning Students

Congratulations to our Distance Learning students for achieving an amazing 100% pass rate for the November exam series.

All of these students have worked hard for months, and made consistent use of our Open Tutorial hours, and it’s great to see that it has all paid off.

A special congratulations to one of our students for achieving 88% for their Business Needs exam - a record setting mark for this exam at ABA!

Blended Learning

For many of our students this was their first CIPS exam, or their first at a new level, so a big congratulations to everyone for doing so well and for maintaining a pass rate well above the CIPS average.

It is particularly impressive to see so many of our Diploma students achieving a mark of 70% and above as not only was this their first ever CIPS exam, for many of them it was their first exam of any kind for a number of years.

Next Exam

Good luck to all of you awaiting your January exam results, which will be released at the end of March - we can’t wait to see how all of you got on!

Ridgeons Timber Mill Tour

Available to all CIPS Branch Members: Tour of Ridgeons Timber Mill on February 12th.

Ridgeons is one of the largest independently owned timber and builders’ merchants in the UK, employing around 900 employees and trading from 26 local branches in the East of England. At this event you have the exciting prospect of a site tour of their timber mill, there will also be time to learn about their global sourcing, strategic supply chains and sustainability initiatives.

Further details of the event and details on how to book can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/RidgeonsTour

Event Details

12th February, running 9am - 2pm (approx)

Address:
Ridgeons Ltd
Herringswell Sawmills
Kennet Road
Newmarket
Suffolk
IP28 6SS

Student of the Year

On October 22nd we awarded our 2018 Student of the Year to Bobbi Cross (Twiflex) who has just moved up to our Cambridge Advanced Diploma class.

Bobbi achieved three Distinctions, and two Merits with an average mark of 74.6 in her Diploma year, which is a fantastic achievement and places her in the upper quartile for all CIPS students worldwide.

Her effort and focus during her Diploma year were exemplary, and combined with her perfect attendance record and excellent homework submissions provided a leading example to other students wishing to study the CIPS qualifications. 

It has been a pleasure having her as part of our Cambridge group so far, and we look forward to seeing how her learning and career progress throughout the rest of her study with ABA.

Congratulations Bobbi, from all the ABA team.

An Apprentice's Point of View

ABA Procurement have been leading the way in offering Procurement and Supply Apprenticeships in the East Of England.

We caught up with Steve Worley, one of their first Apprenticeship students, along with the Head of Procurement for the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, Neil Bloomfield.

 So, why an apprenticeship with ABA Procurement?

Neil: After meeting with David [Pratt, ABA Managing Director] we felt ABA offered well rounded commercial training, as well as allowing us to achieve a quick return on our investment. Most importantly, training with ABA meant out apprentices became a part of the local Norfolk cohort of procurement practitioners.

Steve: The ABA Apprenticeship gave me the perfect opportunity to validate my experience with a qualification while enabling me to learn new skills for my career.

How have you found your Apprenticeship journey so far?

S: It’s a misunderstanding that all apprentices are 18, I’m certainly not that age! Having worked in Procurement for 8 years, the ABA Blended Learning approach let me build my qualification around my workload by giving me quality time with a tutor.

Steve, what has been your proudest achievement to date?

S: Having not sat an exam for some time, coming out of my first one with a distinction was certainly welcome! What I’ve learned has also increased my capability at work, helping me deliver higher annual savings.

 N: Since starting the course, our Apprentices have grown in confidence and ability, allowing them to covert this teaching into results. To show you what I mean:
Our annualised savings result this year is £1061K, up from £453K the previous year.

So what are the future plans?

S: Being ambitious, I want to progress as far as I can and study through to obtain the MCIPS qualification.

What would you like to say to others considering joining the Apprenticeship scheme?

S: For me, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re prepared to put in the work and learn, then the ABA apprenticeship scheme is definitely for you. ABA provides a fantastic learning environment to study in and the support from the tutors and the operations team has been first class.

The question for me isn’t why should you, it’s why wouldn’t you?

As well as Procurement Apprenticeships, ABA also offer the full ladder of CIPS Qualifications.

Charity Abseil for EACH

Last Friday the office team took part in a charity Abseil down The Forum in Norwich in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. EACH does amazing work caring for children & young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambs, Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk and supports their families.

Lu signed the team up for the abseil, and created the fundraising page before anyone could drop out! Not until the day, whilst watching other companies did the fear hit us, the smiles in the photo, I can assure you are faked (just check out the clenched fists). Lu was up first, and nervously showed us how it was done. Then Evie found some confidence deep down, and actually enjoyed it. Finally, David breezed through it, jumping his way down the building.

So far we have smashed our target and raised £530 for the charity. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, and came to watch. If you would still like to donate please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/abaprocurement

New Year, New ABA!

Today sees the start of a brand new year, and with it are lots of exciting changes for ABA!

What’s new?

Website
Of course, you’re visiting our brand new website! We’ve had a complete redesign with the aim of making everything cleaner, sleeker, and simpler. You can now navigate easily along the top of the screen and whether you’re interested in joining us and looking for information, or a current student looking for their class details, everything is now in one convenient place.

Logo
The ABA logo has had a face lift. We’ve chosen puzzle pieces for our logo, given that we focus on bringing your work, study, and professional lives together neatly.
We will be utilising the puzzle piece imagery to neatly mark out which resources are aimed at which level of study, so you will now also have visual cues on your resources.

Apprenticeships
ABA is welcoming our first Apprentices this September, who’s companies are making the most of the funds available to them from the apprenticeship levy. Our apprentices join the same classes as traditional Blended Learning students and will sit the same exams. In addition to this, they will also complete a Project and and End Point Assessment, giving them a well rounded qualification which also contributes to their work place.

What’s next?
ABA is going to carry on adapting and changing in the coming year to give our students the best possible experience - keep an eye out for more exciting things coming soon!