CIPS is re-introducing the use of pen and paper to support their online exams! Here we explain what this means for your next CIPS exam and some of the benefits this brings.
For the last five years, CIPS exam centres have not been allowed to distribute blank paper and pens to exam candidates. The decision behind this had been to maintain the integrity of the exam assessment and, putting it bluntly, to stop students from making a record of the exam questions to take out of the exam room and give to their friends.
This month, CIPS has announced that from the May 2026 exams onwards they will be allowing exam centres to provide exam candidates with the use of pen and paper, provided it is handed back afterwards.
Exam invigilators will receive updated guidelines and training from CIPS and they will be required to record that each candidate’s pen and paper has been returned at the end of the exam, therefore ensuring that no exam material inadvertently leaves the room.
For candidates taking their exam remotely (known as “remote invigilation” exams) the use of pen and paper will not be an automatic right. If you want to use pen and paper to help you with your exam, you will need to apply for permission in advance via the CIPS Reasonable Adjustments process and giving your reasons.
benefits of pen and paper
This might seem a lot of fuss for not a lot of gain, but many students ask us if we can supply them with pen and paper during a CIPS exam.
Imagine you want to recall a piece of theory or sketch a conceptual diagram to help you with an answer. Alternatively, suppose there is a simple calculation you want to write out by hand. Maybe you want to make notes as you work your way through a case study, or even draft a quick essay plan.
These are all legitimate uses of pen and paper that help you to marshal your thought processes during an exam assessment. Pen and paper helps you with this, just as it would in real-life and it provides no unfair advantage to any other candidate.
Cordie welcomes the reintroduction of pen and paper to the exam room. We are grateful to the CIPS regulation team for re-considering their position on this and we believe this will certainly help a number of exam candidates.
If you would like to know more about how to study for your CIPS exams, or prepare for a specific exam, then do please get in touch as we would love to hear from you.
Until then, we wish you the very best with your CIPS studies!