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Perspectives on the Uniform CPA Examination: Report from Prometric Victor Carter-Bey Director/Team Lead - Prometric Financial Services Segment

October 28, 2008 Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Agenda

• • • • Prometric Overview Improving the Candidate Experience Enhancing Test Center and Exam Security Exam Volumes Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Prometric Background

• • • Test Delivery, Development, and Assessment Company Founded in 1990 Headquartered in Baltimore, MD – Test sites in over 135 countries – 3000 employees worldwide • Serves clients in six primary market segments – IT,

Financial

, Healthcare, Academic, Government, and Professional Associations • Wholly-owned, independently-operated, for-profit subsidiary of Educational Testing Service (ETS) Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Improving the Candidate Experience: “Test Center of the Future”

• “Green” – lower energy demands • Flat screen monitors, smaller PCs • • Client viewing area Beta lab • Layout and furniture affords Test Center staff with improved visibility • • Privacy screens block peripheral lines of sight 525% more usable desk space for candidates Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Improving the Candidate Experience: via the CPA End of Exam Survey Data

•Survey was changed in Oct 2007 to better assess the impact of the testing equipment on the candidate’s experience •Survey data are now being used to drive improvements within all Prometric Test Centers Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Improving the Candidate Experience: Prometric Test Drive Program

Enables CPA candidates to become familiar with the Test Center Experience BEFORE exam day

• 30 Minute Appointment with 15 Minutes of Seat Time • Identity Management (Biometrics) Check-In • Image Capture • Exposure to Prometric Test Driver • Tutorial • Non-CPA Specific Items • Survey • End of Test Report • Check Out Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Enhancing Test Center Security via Technology

Multiplexers at every proctor station allow for clear visual monitoring of every candidate.

Electronic monitoring is coupled with a walk through by proctors every 8 to 10 minutes.

Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Enhancing Exam Security: Candidate Identity Management (Biometrics)

• Candidate Identity Management Solution (Biometrics) was implemented for the CPA program in January 2008 • Fingerprints and Images captured successfully over 97% of the time • Identity Management solution is in place throughout Prometric’s global test center network (where permissible by law) • Prometric’s Security and Legal Team (with input from NASBA and AICPA) works daily with our partner, Choicepoint, to make certain that candidate data and personal information are safeguarded via world-class security measures

Capture Candidate Information from ID Scan & Validate ID Capture Fingerprints 8 8

Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

Exam Volume Growth: Month-over-Month

*Source – Prometric Scheduling and Registration System (USR) Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Testing Patterns – Volume Seasonality

*Source – Prometric Scheduling and Registration System (USR) Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Testing Patterns: Window-over-Window

*Source – Prometric Scheduling and Registration System (USR) Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Thank You

[email protected] (Team Lead for the CPA Program) [email protected] (Account Manager for the CPA Program)

Copyright © 2008 Prometric, Inc. All rights reserved.

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