Advisories Change to Time Allotted to Write NCA Exams
The NCA will be phasing in a return to 3-hour exams beginning in January 2022.
All NCA exams are designed to be completed in 3 hours. When the NCA moved to online exams in August 2020, the time for completion was extended to 4 hours. This was an exceptional and temporary measure introduced solely to ensure as smooth a transition to the online format as possible and to minimize the possibility that unforeseen circumstances might interfere with the ability of writers to complete the exam in the allotted time.
Based on feedback and experience with the online system, in 2022 the NCA will be returning to a 3-hour timeframe for completing exams. The change will be phased in as follows:
- For the January 2022 exam session, the time allotment will be reduced from 4 hours to 3.5 hours.
- In July 2022 the allotment will be reduced a further half hour, to 3 hours.
Exam writers are encouraged to take advantage of the tools provided by the NCA to assist with the online exam format. These include a practice exam that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The NCA also provides exam writers with access to an online proctored exam practice session during the week before each exam session. There are also many free, online resources to assist exam writers to improve typing speed and accuracy.
Exam writers may also wish to consult the following resources: Tips for Writing the NCA Torts Exam and How to Answer Fact-based Law Exam Questions.