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Hi All,
I hope that study is going well.
As we are getting close to another exam session. I though that it might be useful to set up a topic where we can discuss the study progress (or lack of it ;), issues with time management, our doubts etc.Sometimes, when I look at amount of material which needs to covered and how little time I have, I start panicking and worrying.
I calm myself with the idea, that this particular exam session is just a battle. Completing ACCA is winning the war. If in case, I fail at this attempt whatever I’m learning will help me in the next attempt, or the next. In the long term you want to clear ACCA, no matter what happens now.
When you have that healthy attitude, you are able to stop being panicky and jumpy. You relax and concentrate on the stuff and give it your best shot, while enjoying the process. And as the saying goes, the more practice and hard work you put in, the luckier you get. When you enjoy the process instead of fretting about the results you are motivated to put in more. And as a side effect of the above efforts, you do manage to pass.
But, when you worry too much about the results, then not only you don’t study for this session and make sure you are failing but you are also reducing chances of passing in the second attempt. Remember you are gaining something each time you put in effort. Nothing goes wasted.
So take that revision kit, smile at it, give it a loving and adoring look, and plough in and read it like a novel. Take a break and come back again. If you’ve done enough reading, start answer plans and see whether you are covering enough points for the marks. (Don’t worry about writing complete answers – just answer plans)
When you are confident, primed and ready to go, do a mock exam under timed conditions. See where you go wrong, and come back again with renewed enthusiasm.
Whether you pass the exam or not, make sure you enjoy the studies so much that you just can’t wait to hit the books! This attitude will help you with further studies and career development, and will give a more positive attitude for resits.
Hi Paula,
Great idea! I was thinking of doing this myself so i’m glad someone else thought of it 🙂
I have to say….I LOVE “Accastudentofoman”‘s attitude to revision, studying, the exams and just the ACCA battle in general. I registered with the ACCA I think about 7 years ago at this point? I took a year off at one point, then last year I took another year off and this year I went back to do F7 (for the 4th time!), F8 & F9. i’m sitting F8 and F9 next week (decided as well to do the CBE’s). I also decided this year to study online at home with the Accountancy School in Dublin and it was the best thing i ever did, no wasting time driving to college or sitting on a bus or train…..ability to watch my lectures in the comfort of my own home in my pj’s I might add!
Anyway, i’ve always found the ACCA a total mental battle. I’ve been torn lately with wanting to at least finish the Foundation level exams and deciding whether or not I want to finish any of it. I really don’t know if I’ll go on and do the P papers next year….my aim this year was to get the F’s finished, complete the Ethics module and get my diploma at least. I have to say though, as tough as it’s been, I love the learning process and going through the process has made me a much better accountant where I work (i’m a finance manager).
I’m a panicker though..and I tend to start focusing way too much on the result and on how much I really want to pass and have that good feeling when you open up your email and you see your pass rate….i’ve been on study leave since Wed and rather than thinking “oh my god I’m on study leave now, i’ve only got so many days left until the exam” I’ve been trying to think of it as just my usual revision time…I put a lot of pressure on myself and i’m sure all of us at some point think we haven’t done enough and we get overwhelmed the more we study and revise at just how much material we need to go over. I have to keep thinking “I only need 50%!”. when I really start to panic or if I’m looking over something and I think oh my god..I’m never going to remember that..I need to remind myself that i’m NOT going to remember absolutely everything..thumbs up to anyone that does and managed to get so much more than just a pass rate….i’m only ever aiming for 50%….I just want to pass them.
I totally believe a lot of it is about attitude…studying for these exams and sitting the exams doesn’t just teach us about accountancy & business, I think it also teaches us about ourselves and being resilliant and staying motivated, it’s bloody hard but all we can do is our best. I think having these forums helps too so thanks for starting this thread 🙂 Best of luck guys with the exams!Actually, anyone else doing the CBE’s??
Hi All,
I hope that study is going well.
To Accastudentofoman,
You are absolutely right about the battle and war concept. I like the approach for the revision too…..Although I have two exams next week…and I am starting to panic! I thought that I am well prepared for them but now I have my doubts.To Erin,
I haven’t done any of the CBE’s. But I did F8 in March in paper based format…..if I can give you few tips they would be as follows:1. ALWAYS think from auditor’s perspective when you answering the questions
2. don’t write pages and pages as your answer. Stay focused on the topic, read the question over and over again while writing your answer- no sea of words!
3. use key words as you would use in real audit at work eg: cast, verify, test, etc.
4. when answering long questions don’t write about theory…but APPLY theory to the case study.
5.keep a structure when answering a long questions eg. when asked about ethical threats and recommendations – divide the page in two and keep very neat and concise.
6. for long questions- underline as much as you can and make small notes as you reading along the case study.I know that the CBE format is different but they might be a bit handy for you Erin and definately for people doing paper based exam.
Also I see that you are not that far from me 🙂 I am based in South of Ireland. There is not a better thing than F8 exam on Bank Holiday Monday 🙂
I wish you best of luck and let me know how did you guys get on!
Paula
Paula,
Thanks so much for the tips! I have been taking note of all of those things while studying the last couple of days. At this point my brain is shouting “no more”..lol I plan on getting up tomorrow morning to squeeze in a couple of hours of revision before heading to the exam so I’ve been trying to make sure the last couple of days that I’ve covered as many areas as I can…it’s still quite hard though….you get to the point where you start spotting areas you haven’t looked at and then you panic…as I said..I keep reminding myself that i only need 50% .
What exams have you next week?Best of luck with them 🙂 Thanks again for the tips, really appreciate it….Hi Erin,
How did you get on with F8? For CBE do still need to wait few weeks for the results or do you get them on the day?
I am doing f5 and f6…not confident at all…..Hey! Oh god well started off with a technical error with some of the computers lol they had to switch me over to a different one to the one I was assigned to- I felt fairly confident going in but the multiple choice were quite tricky and one question covered an area is hardly looked at, typical and it threw my confidence a little. My brain started to go blank then and I struggled with time management, which I always do. I did my best though, actually found section B easier than A lol just glad it’s over, have F9 on fri.
I’ve done F5 years ago and I repeated F6 twice, time management issues again. I actually liked tax but there was sooo much to go over. Did you get time off work at least to study? I’m still off this week thank God.
make sure you know your pro formas for F6, just do loads of questions. Good luck, let me know how you get on ?Hi Erin,
Glad that its over for you now, at least one 🙂 Yes, I agree MCQ and be very tricky.
You still have few days for f9 to do some revision etc.I found tax to be quite boring….I know my proformas and…all I need is just 50%
Well tbh at the moment I have huge doubts. I am really panicing now about these two exams….I dont think I will make it this time……Hi Erin,
Yes magic number -50 ? im doing f5 and f6…..dont feel confident at all…..best of luck tomorrow ?and fair play that you decided to do CBE. Let me know how did you get on? I wonder do you still need to wait for the results few weeks or do you get them once the CBE is done?Paula
Hi Erin,
Yes 50 is a magic number 🙂 im doing f5 and f6. Not confident at all…. Let me know how did you get on. Best of luck! 🙂
Hi Erin,
I am glad that its over for you now at least one! 🙂 Yes MCQ can be tricky….I remember them when I was studying for my exam! 🙂 I hope that Friday exam will go well for you!
You still have few days to do revision etc.
Actually I am not working at the moment so can focus entirely on the exams ish…. 😉
In terms of tax…..i found it quite boring..and you right- there is a lot of info. I know my pro formas so I just put in the figures 🙂 and magic number of 50% will shop up in the results email 🙂 But all jokes aside ….I am really panicking now….I think I wont pass them this time…I dont know what happened here! I tried to post my response few time but it was not showing up….but now all of them appeared at once! 🙂
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