CIOT is to offer a new examinations system which will allow students to sit specialist international tax qualifications electronically as an alternative to the traditional paper -based format.

From June 2014 students studying for the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) will have the option to use specialist on-screen examination software on their own laptops. CIOT says a pilot run this June showed positive feedback, with a number of students reporting the system was easy to understand.

In addition, from December 2014, there will be a second examination session available each year to ADIT students. All December ADIT examinations will be conducted using the new on-screen examination system. Students wishing to sit ADIT examinations using the traditional, handwritten method will still be able to sit during the existing June examination session, which will continue to offer all examination paper options as well as both the handwritten and on-screen methods.

CIOT President, Stephen Coleclough, said: This new system will play a key role in the delivery of the ADIT qualification in the future by providing significantly more flexibility than before. We recognise, and have responded to, the international nature of the ADIT by ensuring that these developments take into account the busy schedules and different circumstances of ADIT students.'

The ADIT is a specialist modular qualification in international and cross-border taxation with 1,700 candidates, holders and affiliates living and working in more than 90 countries. This year 338 candidates from 47 countries passed ADIT exams in June 2013, while a total of 241 students have now completed ADIT since the first exams were held in 2004.