Factors affecting the use of the Canadian Uniform Final Examination as a means of assessing CA candidates

Abstract

This study is interested in the assessment of professional readiness, specifically the use of the Uniform Final Examination (UFE), which is the final hurdle that must be passed before admission as chartered accounts (CAs) in Canada. Examinations such as the UFE are generally intended to measure candidates' level of technical knowledge, but factors other than the amount of candidates' knowledge may affect performance as well. This study considers whether the Canadian UFE does provide a measure of candidates' level of technical knowledge. It also considers the effect of motivation as a potential mediating factor on performance. A motivation questionnaire was developed using expectancy theory and was administered to 167 candidates shortly before they wrote the examination. The results indicate that level of technical accounting, auditing and tax knowledge, as reflected in past performance in other courses, is the best predictor of performance in the UFE. This indicates that the UFE is indeed measuring candidates' levels of technical knowledge. The level of overall motivation, by itself, did not have a significant effect on performance. However, the different aspects of motivation included in expectancy theory did interact with the level of technical knowledge in a fairly complex manner to affect the overall performance, indicating that motivation does play a mediating role in the assessment process.

Keywords:

• UFE
• assessment
• CA candidates
• motivation