By Joan Abaasa
Communications Intern - ICPAU
The Public Accountants Examinations Board (PAEB) of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) on 26 June 2023 released the results of the May 2023 examinations.
The May 2023 examinations were conducted from 29 May - 2 June at 7 examination centres namely: Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Kampala, Mbale, Mbarara and Nkozi. They were for the Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD), the Certified Tax Advisor (CTA), and the Certified Public Accountants of Uganda [CPA(U)] courses. 6,067 candidates attempted the May 2023 examinations in comparison to 5,279 in December 2022, representing an increment of 14.9%.
The May 2023 exams were the first set of examinations under the revised syllabuses which were launched in January 2023. The syllabuses will run for 5 years.
The Institute introduced computer based examinations for the final paper of the CPA course, that is, Integration of Knowledge Paper 18. 195 candidates attempted the Paper, and 75 passed (38.5%).
119 candidates sat for ATD papers, compared to 150 in December 2022. The average pass rate was 43.5% compared to 48.6% in December 2022. Female candidates outshined their male counterparts, with a pass rate of 61.4%, compared to 38.6% for males.
6 students completed the ATD course, bringing the cumulative completion to 1,831.
117 candidates sat for CTA papers, compared to 98 in December 2022. The average pass rate improved slightly to 47%, from 44.6% in December 2022. The males outshined their female counterparts. Of the papers passed, 64% were by the males, and 36% by the females.
1 student completed the CTA course, bringing the cumulative number of finalists to 78.
For CPA, there were 6,419 candidates, compared to 5,053 in December 2022. The average pass rate declined to 32.6%, from 35.8% in December 2022. Females performed better than the males, with 58.1% of the passes registered, compared to 41.9% for the males.
The majority of passes were registered by students in the 25-29 year bracket.
The age bracket of 25-29 years mostly represents students who enroll for CPA after completing their university degrees.
CPA Constant Mayende, the President ICPAU advised students to pursue education at an earlier age when they still have the flexibility and room to juggle their everyday life. He furthermore applauded the female candidates for their good performance in comparison with the male.
91 students completed the CPA course, bringing the cumulative completion to 4,894.
PAEB noted some factors affecting the performance of candidates, such as, selective reading, failure to study and consider the learning outcomes, and low attendance of student engagement sessions.
“Students’ engagement webinars are purposely to assist and focus the students in their preparation for examinations, therefore, we appeal to students to take these engagement webinars seriously in order to improve their performance,” said CPA Prof. Laura Orobia, the Chairperson of the Education and Research Committee of ICPAU.
The accounting community remains hopeful that these newly minted aspiring CPAs will contribute to the industry's growth and maintain the highest standards of professionalism.
Read full PAEB speech
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27
June
