What are the differences between the computer-based exam and the paper-based exam of the Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries (LE)?

There are differences between the computer-based exam and the paper-based exam? Some people say that the computer-based exam / paper-based exam will be easier?

Many people are curious about the differences between the HKSI LE’s computer-based exam and the paper-based exam. First of all, HKSI does not hold many paper-based examinations. In many cases, they will only hold paper-based examinations for Paper 1. If you have special needs, such as not being competent in computers, or have a vision deficit etc., you can contact HKSI to arrange for special consideration and ask for paper-based exams. 

As for whether the computer test and the written test are the same, in terms of content alone, they are actually the same. The paper-based exam and the computer-based exam use the same study manual and the exam questions are drawn in the same question bank. Some people say that they have taken a computer-based exam or the paper-based exam, and think one of them is easier, but we think it is actually a matter of luck. The difficulty of the questions depends on the students’ luck. If you are lucky, there are super easy questions that will enable you to pass the exam relatively easily. If you are unlucky, there are more critical thinking application questions, and unclear questions that will affect your performance more easily. We disagree that there is a connection between the exam mode and the exam’s difficulties. 

However, the paper-based exam and the computer-based exam are really different in other aspects. 

What are the differences between a paper-based exam and a computer-based exam? 

1. The most important difference is the speed of the issue of the results.

If you take the computer-based exam, you can know the score immediately after submitting the exam paper for electronic marking, so that you don’t have to worry about the results for days. Result notifications will also be uploaded to the HKSI website. But if you decide to partake in the paper-based exam, you will have to wait for 8 working days for the results to be released; by then, your memory toward the exam questions will be blurry.  

      2. You can bring less items into the exam if you partake in the computer-based exam

The second difference is that for computer-based exams you basically only need to bring the relevant identification documents, and possibly a calculator. If you take the paper-based exam, you not only need to bring a pencil, eraser and other stationery, but also you need to print the admission ticket and take it to the exam arena. If you do not bring the admission ticket, you will need to fill in the information after the exam. 

      3. If you partake in the computer-based exam, there is no need to arrive early

A candidate can start their exams immediately once they have inputted their identification number. However, it is highly recommended that the candidate arrive early for the paper-based exam, as the paper-based exam requires candidates to manually fill their application code, centre number by blackening boxes. If a candidate is quick in doing form filling related things, he/she may be able to complete the exam paper filling process in a minute, but normally, the form filling process will take several minutes to complete. If you do not arrive early, you need to sacrifice the time of the exam to do the form filling. If the form filling process is not done by the time you submit the exam, the examiner will not give you time to fill in the basic information.

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