OCAQ - UFE candidates

The 2010 UFE candidates

Important dates
Application for the 2010 UFE
THE UFE
Important notification - Omission in the Securexam (CA) - FolioViews Infobase
March 31, 2010 technical update
Important message concerning paper versions of reference documentation
Observations and comments of the Board of evaluators on the 2008 UFE – still current!

IMPORTANT DATES

2010 UFE: September 14, 15 and 16, 2010
Registration deadline: July 23, 2010
Publication of results: December 3, 2010

APPLICATION FOR THE 2010 UFE

Useful information to all candidates – Application for the 2010 Uniform Evaluation (this document includes the application form for the 2010 UFE and the release agreement)

THE UFE

The UFE is set by the CA profession's Board of Evaluators and is based on the expectations outlined in The UFE Candidates' Competency Map. It consists of three papers written over three days, one each day. These papers will challenge you to demonstrate your competence in simulations/business scenarios that represent the kinds of challenges you have faced during your work experience and professional education, or will soon be facing in your professional career as a CA.

The first paper is a five-hour paper consisting of a single comprehensive business simulation.

The second and third papers are four-hour papers, each consisting of two or more simulations.

The complexity of all three papers is carefully considered to ensure you have sufficient time to present your responses.

The CICA prepares a number of publications to assist candidates in preparing for the UFE. Candidates considering sitting the UFE should refer to these documents.

Using a Computer in the UFE: click here

Calculators in the UFE

You will be permitted to bring into the UFE a silent calculator with a one-line or two-line display, incapable of alpha storage and wireless communication.

Relative weight of the CA competencies for 2010

The business simulations of the 2010 UFE will reflect the following weightings of the CA competency areas:

Pervasive Qualities and skills	All simulations will require you to demonstrate proficiency in these qualities and skills
Specific competencies	Relative Weight
Governance, Strategy and Risk Management	5 -10%
Finance	10 -20%
Taxation	10 -20%
Assurance	25 -35%
Performance Measurement & Reporting	20 -30%
Management Decision Making	10 -20%
2 of the primary indicators on the UFE must relate to Information Technology (IT) competencies (as shown on the Information Technology Competency list in The UFE Candidates' Competency Map).

You will be challenged to demonstrate the appropriate level of proficiency in each competency area as defined in The UFE Candidates' Competency Map.

Because the CA competencies are interrelated and multi-dimensional, each simulation will challenge you to demonstrate your skills and abilities in a number of areas. There are, as noted previously, two categories of CA competencies.

In every simulation, you will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the pervasive qualities and skills, as well as in the specific competencies. You will be asked to respond in the manner expected of a newly qualified CA.

You must demonstrate a required level of proficiency in EVERY area of specific competency in order to be successful in the UFE.

Pervasive qualities and skills

There is no prescribed weighting of the pervasive qualities and skills; you must demonstrate them at all times and in a manner relevant to each simulation. You will be required to demonstrate a number of professional skills. Consider skills such as “Develops solutions”, “analyzes information and ideas” and “communicates effectively and efficiently.” These skills all contain a number of subsets that will be essential in composing successful responses to UFE simulations.

In addition, you will be required to demonstrate the skill “combines or synthesizes and/ or integrates ideas and information from various sources” in developing successful, professional responses to UFE simulations. Integration is also an inherent component of many other professional skills (e.g., “decides/ recommends/provides advice”). Each simulation will contain a number of issues that you must examine in relation to one another and as a whole.

A professional response to simulations will also require you to exercise professional judgement — an inherent component of many of the skills described in The UFE Candidates’ Competency Map. “Judgement” is the process of making a choice or decision leading to action. “Professional judgement” is judgement exercised within a framework provided by applicable professional standards. You are expected to exercise professional judgement to the extent appropriate in responding to UFE simulations. Because there is often no single irrefutable answer to a business problem, the exercise of professional judgement is critical in identifying the “best” answer given the particulars of the specific simulation.

Competency restrictions in the UFE scope

Some CA competencies — such as oral communications and team participation skills — cannot be tested with a written evaluation. They tend to be developed on a preliminary basis during your education program and honed during work experience, where they are assessed on an ongoing basis by your on-the-job managers and mentors. The UFE Candidates’ Competency Map clearly notes which competencies are not examinable on the UFE.

Standards and Legislation

To the extent that the following material is integral to the demonstration of the CA competencies discussed above, you can expect the 2010 UFE to cover the following material in the context of normal circumstances.

Normal circumstances are circumstances where:

The entity, situation, event or transaction is of a size or degree of complexity likely to be encountered by an entry-level CA, and

The entity is a business in the private sector, formed as a proprietorship, as a partnership, as a private corporation; or
The entity is a small public corporation, or a division of a large corporation; or
The entity is in the public sector or is a not-for-profit organization or a division of either; or
The entity is an individual

For qualification purposes, CA candidates are expected to demonstrate specified levels of proficiency in normal circumstances. Proficiency levels that are assigned to the competencies in this document set out what should be reasonably expected of the entry-level CA candidates at the point of writing the UFE.

CICA Pronouncements to March 31, 2010

Note: Effective for the 2010 UFE, candidates are not allowed to bring in paper copies of the reference material into the exam room. Only electronic access, through Securexam (CA), is allowed.

You are not responsible for changes relevant to CICA pronouncements published in printed or electronic media after March 31, 2010.

Federal Taxation Legislation enacted as of March 31, 2010

You are responsible for federal taxation legislation enacted as of March 31, 2010. If, as of that date, there is proposed federal taxation legislation that, if enacted, would change certain provisions for which you are responsible, you may respond in accordance with either the enacted or the proposed provisions.

You are permitted electronic access, through Securexam (CA), to a UFE version of the Federal Income Tax Act, which includes Income Tax Act, Income Tax Regulations, and Income Tax Application Rules.

Other Sources of Information

You may acquire information from many sources during the course of your studies and work experience. In addition to those sources noted above for which are you are responsible, you may integrate into your responses any relevant knowledge you have gained from any source published in printed or electronic media on or before March 31, 2010.

You are not responsible for:

Provincial tax legislation; or
Accounting and auditing terminology, pronouncements and practices, or tax law applicable only to specific industries.

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION - OMISSION IN THE SECUREXAM (CA) - FOLIOVIEWS INFOBASE

Please read carefully the notification by clicking here.

MARCH 31, 2010 TECHNICAL UPDATE

IMPORTANT, please read carefully the document “March 31, 2010 Technical Update for Candidates writing the 2010 UFE”

IMPORTANT MESSAGE CONCERNING PAPER VERSIONS OF REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION

Please note that starting with the 2010 UFE, paper copies of the CICA Handbook and the Federal Income Tax Act will no longer be permitted in the writing centre. Candidates will have to consult the electronic versions of these documents using the Securexam (CA) software.

OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS OF THE BOARD OF EVALUATORS ON THE 2007 UFE - STILL CURRENT!

Although the situation has greatly improved at the 2009 UFE, we invite you to read the Board’s observations concerning the candidates’ written communication style.