Open book professional Accountancy examinations

Abstract

This article describes the structure and rationale for an open-book approach in
professional accountancy examinations. The concept of knowledge management
and the recognition that some knowledge ought to be embedded in the minds of
professional accountants while other knowledge ought to be readily accessible and
capable of application forms the basis of this approach to open book assessment.
The literature is examined and provides a context for the approach adopted. An
initial analysis of an open-book examination provided a positive indication as to the
feasibility of the proposals. Testing in a post-graduate accounting class was carried
out with the results providing tentative support for this approach to open book
assessment.

South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 20 (5) 2006: pp. 703-717