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Hello!
So I managed to get a job with full training for ACCA, starting in 2 weeks time. The original job did’t include any training, I basically asked about it in the job interview and they said yes.
They are a small firm who haven’t trained an accountant before, but they have at least 2 fully qualified acountants working for them, so I am not worried about them not getting the at work training right.
But basically, they asked me to come up with my own training plan. So there are two aspects I’m stuck on:
1. I was under the impression before I started researching that people did all the learning/revising in their own time, but I saw somewhere that someones employer gave them 30 hours per exam. Is this typical? How do you normally structure it? I mean obviously you need time off for exams and I agreed with them if I had evening classes and needed to leave early (like half an hour early) I could make up the time elsewhere… basically I want to look like a good employee, I have no accountancy background and have been job hunting for a year so I am really determined to work hard and look like a good employee, but I don’t know if I’m shooting myself in the foot by not asking for any ‘study time’.
2. I have to do F1,F2, and F3 becuase my degree is unrelated to accountancy. Do people generally home study these? I can’t evenfind evening classes for them! I was thinking I could home study these then get evening classes for the harder modules. I’m sure I could home study if i had to, but i think I’d find the structure easier if I know that on Mondays and Wednesday I have classes, then have to do X hours per week after that.
3. Time scales! Can anyone tell me how long is ‘normal’ to study for the exams? F1,F2,F3,F4 are all computer based so can be sat anytime right? So how long did ti take you to teach yourself the course? I’m keen to get as many as I can under my belt this year, given I’ll be starting my new job mid-Feb and hoping to put of starting studying for 2 weeks after that so I can settle into my new job , is it realistic to get all 4 done? I saw somewhere F1,F2,F3, only take 8 weeks each to study… Do people generally take 2 exams per session after that? I also don’t want to be unrealistic and fail some by thinking I can pass an exam in 6 weeks if it should take me more like 12. I can’t find any sort of estimated time scales for the exams….
4.Similar to the two above questions, how many hours do you spend studying? I will be working 9-5:30 so am prepared for a tough slog. But working 42 hours + studying 15 hours per week seems pretty hardcore if its every week and will take 3 yearsish to complete the exams….
5. What kind of agreement do you have with your employer in regards to resits? I’m getting the impression its standard for your employer to only pay for your first sitting and then some employers will fire you if you fail twice?
6. Given the distance learning thing, what’s the nromal thing to do, do you still sign up with a provider and they send you text books etc? Or did you buy the books yourself then home study? Did your employer buy your books?
Wow i have so many questions it seems! I hope you can help me. I’d be super grateful for any advice you can give me, even if you only respond to one of my questions.
Hi Isabelle, congratulations on the new job!
I work full time as well, but only my final three exams were supported by my employer because I changed my role. They pay for my study texts and exam entry, however they will only pay for the first attempt with no penalty for fails (as far as I know).
The first exam I did was F2 and I used a distance learning course (Kaplan I think). To be honest, I didn’t really see the benefit over just using the books. They gave me a study text, revision kit, and some online tests. However, I still had to pay for exam entry and book it myself.
After that exam I’ve only ever used a study text, revsion kit and open tuition lectures. The upside was that when I paid for it myself it was the cheapest option, the downside was that I had to be very disciplined. If your employer will pay for a college course they will provide structure and a timescale for you. I think BPP usually say 80 hours per course in the front of the text books.
The way I plan my study: count up how many mocks, past papers, revsion kit sessions and study text chapters there are for each course. That is my number of sessions (I’d say each session around 2 hours), then I’d count back from the exam date. That way I could see if I needed 1/2/3 sessions per week or could do it in 3 months etc.
My one bit of advice is to book a date for your CBEs at the same time you start to study. It gives you focus and mimics the conditions you face when you start to study for the paper based exams.
I feel like I’ve waffled a lot! If there is anything else I can help with let me know 😀
1. Time off is usually given in practices, but not so much in industry in my experience. My last company gave us 6 study days a year, but other than that I have never had an employer that gives study time off. Exam days, yes, but otherwise its own time. If they are paying for you 100% and are small, they may allow it, as if you fail it means more cost to them
2. I think you might find a lot of people on this site home study / self study, ie just learn out of books and off this site in their spare time. I know thats what I have done and I am on my last exam
3. I would say its quite dangerous to assume a time limit on a paper, it might make you complacent, and not study hard enough as you have ‘done the required time’. Some people breeze exams, others struggle, it depends on how you learn and your level of interest. Seeing as you have no accounting experience, it might take longer to grasp the basic concepts
4. Again, you need to study enough for YOU to pass the exam, asking others how long they spend means nothing. 2 hours good study would be better than 5 hours poor study, time means nothing, you dont pass based on the amount of hours you spend learning it
5. Again discretionary, most of my employers paid for resits, on the agreement I pay it back when i leave…which i never have as they forget to take it
6. Obtain the books through a provider, ie BPP or kaplan. I claim the cost back from my employer. Then read them at home. I recommend getting the text, Q+A kit and passcardsHaha I somehow knew it was a topic for you @carl29 😉 and I will see your post here very soon.
If your employer can pay for a tuition provider then go and take them up on the option. That will give you the discipline of attending classes as per timetable. If you can go to classes and do 2 hours a week in each F1, F2, F3 subject outside of classes, 3 /4 weeks out from exam do plenty of past questions / routine questions and increase your study time, especially at weekends. With good revision / question practice you will be fine for these 3…
In the absence of going to classes, you can use open-tuition resources aswell. You have to have extreme discipline and do up a timetable that’s achievable over a 10-12 week period for each exam with 3-5 hours per subject, depending on how strong you are in each area…Regular Revision & question practice is the key for exam preparation.
@seagoat. Oh, I’m not sure how to take that comment…
@carl29 absolutely positive. As far as I’m aware you are in senior position with a lot of experience and the topic was also about relationship between employee and employer so I expected your post here.
@Isabelle
From my experience I can add that you have to be prepared to sacrifice some if not all of your private holiday. With full time job I find 2 exams* as optimal choice per sitting – although I heard some people were taking 3 or even 4! But in the end it is not about how many you attempt it is about how many you pass.*F1-F4 it’s a little bit different and you can really take as many as you feel you can pass. But believe me you will notice the difference between F1-F4 and F5-F9 exams.
Ah, thats OK. I like to share my experience, as I have very much worked from the bottom up to a position I am proud of, and am still yet to get fully qualified
If I can offer anyone advice, I like to
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