You can log into the IPA website here.
In the run up to the Foundation exam, we have formulated a list of FAQs to help answer all your queries, from accessing your learning, information about your exam, to special requirements and our out of hours service.
If you have any additional queries then please contact the learning team, email: learning@ipa.co.uk
You can log into the IPA website here.
From there, once you are logged in, head to your profile (the icon in the top right hand), and under Events & CPD you will see Training listed. On this page you will see the Foundation Certificate listed, click Start/Continue to access the learning.
The percentage is a personal learning tool that indicates how much of the content you have accessed. The IPA does not use this as an indicator for assessing the qualification in any way.
Your exam will be held online and can be accessed via your IPA Training Portal.
In order to access the exam activity, you will need to head into the ‘About this Qualification & Exam’ section of your online learning dashboard. Here under the ‘Your Online’ tab, you will see your exam activity. If you cannot see your exam activity here please get in touch with learning@ipa.co.uk to let us know immediately.
If you do experience any technical difficulties immediately before or during or your online exam, please contact the team at learning@ipa.co.uk, including a brief description of the problem and a phone number that we can call you at if we need to.
This inbox is monitored during online examinations and a member of the team will be in touch to assist once we have troubleshot your issue. If the issue is at our end, we will fix it asap and extend your exam end time to accommodate the lost time. If it is at your end, we will wait for you to re-enter the exam and extend your exam end time to accommodate the lost time.
Your exam date will be dependent on which intake you have been booked onto. If you are unsure of your exam date, please ensure you consult your exam reminder emails which will provide the date and details of your exam sitting.
Your exam start time will be communicated in your two-week exam reminder email. Please note, your exam time may be different from your colleagues / other candidates as we may allocate different start times for larger exam cohorts.
If you are less than two-weeks away from the exam and have not yet received your email confirming start time, please get in touch with learning@ipa.co.uk as soon as possible.
The Foundation Certificate is a 2-hour, closed book exam.
Candidates with dyslexia or dyspraxia are entitled to 25% extra time in their examination unless a different amount of additional time is stipulated in any supporting paperwork.
If you do require additional time or any other adjustments in your online exam, please ensure you have completed the online special requirements form. You will receive confirmation of your exam adjustment request in your two-week exam reminder email.
Cancellations
If you change your mind about the exam, you are able to cancel your exam free of charge and receive a full refund within the 14-day cancellation period from when the booking was made. To request a cancellation please email learning@ipa.co.uk.
Please note that cancellation requests after the 14-day period will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the IPA. You can find out the full details regarding cancellations via the Qualification Policies.
Deferrals
You are able to defer your exam date to the next available exam date free of charge up until the booking deadline of the original exam date booked.
Exam deferrals requested beyond this booking deadline incur a fee of £150 + VAT. Please note you may only defer your exam once. All further information regarding exam deferrals can be found in the Qualification Policies.
Eventuating Circumstances
Only candidates deferring due to extenuating circumstances will have the fee waived.
Extenuating circumstances are considered at the discretion of your Support Contact and include things such as illness or bereavement. Work or annual leave commitments do not fall under extenuating circumstances.
If you wish for extenuating circumstances to be considered with your request, please email us at learning@ipa.co.uk detailing your circumstances. These circumstances must be verified, for example with a letter from your Doctor or an email from your HR. Verification must be provided in writing via email, no calls will be accepted.
If you wish to request exam adjustments or special requirements in your online exam, you will need to complete the online form. Candidates with dyslexia or dyspraxia are entitled to 25% extra time in their examination unless a different amount of additional time is stipulated in any supporting paperwork.
For all exams there is a deadline date by which you must have submitted the form in order for your adjustments request to be processed before the exam date. This specific deadline date will be detailed in your exam communication emails.
If you are applying for exam adjustments after the deadline, please ensure you still complete the form but also email learning@ipa.co.uk to let us know. Please note: we cannot always guarantee your request if it has been submitted after the specified deadline. You will receive confirmation of your request in your two-week exam reminder email.
English as a second language in a non-English speaking country
If you are a non-native English speaker, you are only permitted extra time in the exam if you live and work in a non-English speaking country. For exams sat in non-English speaking countries 50% extra time is granted automatically, you do not need to apply.
English as a second language in an English speaking country
If you live and work in an English-speaking country, no extra time is permitted due to language differences. You are however permitted the use of a translation dictionary.
If you are sitting an offline exam, an invigilator will need to see and approve your translation dictionary before the exam begins. If you are sitting an online exam, please inform your Support Contact if you will be using a dictionary. If you are sitting an online exam, you may use a physical translation dictionary or a locally downloaded translation dictionary app. You may not use an online dictionary (for example, Google Translate). Candidates using the internet during their exam for anything other than accessing the online exam risk disqualification.
The last two weekends before the exam day the IPA learning inbox (learning@ipa.co.uk) will be manned. Urgent queries about access to the learning will be managed in order of receipt. Queries about content will be answered in order of receipt during IPA working hours, these are Monday – Friday 9.30AM – 5.30PM.
Please note, by proceeding with the exam, you understand and agree to sit the exam under an honest code of conduct as outlined by the IPA in the Examination Honour Code as laid out in the Qualification Policies. Should you engage in any activity that could result in gaining an unfair advantage, before, during or after the exam you understand that you risk disqualification.
You will receive your marks approximately six weeks after the exam. However, you can expect to receive a more specific results release date over email in the weeks following your exam sitting.
If you do unfortunately fail the exam and would like to re-sit, please contact learning@ipa.co.uk to book onto the next exam.
Please note the price for examination re-sits is £150 + VAT. Further information can be found in the Qualification Policies.