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Hello mam,
I’m actually extremely paranoid as the exam approaches considering how underprepared I am trying to juggle between job and studies these 2 months. I apologize for a haphazard post that follows………..
Even though I know my audit risks well, Question 1 just puts me off and instantly makes me panic a lot considering how there is a lot of information and then to move between exhibits and interrelate everything for answers
I have read examiner report that clearly says it is not a good strategy to attempt ques 2 and 3 first and then rush with ques 1. I have also read April’s post on how she managed to clear this exam
What is your say on it? I’m demotivated to the point that I’m not even able to practice.
Also I have never utilized reading time ever before in any of ACCA exams, I always frame my answer as I Read through but it is not working here, as I read a risk and then I write about it but later in another exhibit I’ll find more info about it which kind of makes my prior evaluation invalid.
I went wrong as I practiced 2011-2015 after completing exam kit, and the old questions were much more manageable and easy but now as I come to 2018 onwards I’m devastated
I’m having major 2nd thoughts, I haven’t completed anything entirely (except the kit answers) the book or past exams or technical articles remain sadly……… and I really want to help myself in these 9 days. I have read exam technique articles though and I understand
Also under exam pressure it becomes near to impossible to understand when exactly have I written sufficient risks to move on, cuz the mark allocation differs, sometimes it’s capped for a particular risk, sometimes for materiality
Fret not! I’ll write some advice for you in the morning when I am at a computer.
Good morning!
Have you heard this quote?
“I’m sorry I wrote you such a long letter. I didn’t have time to write you a short one.” – Blaise PascalMy first and foremost piece of advice for any written exam – but especially AAA – is “Think more – write less!”
I’ll now comment on your comments in the order in which you mention them – but then I’ll conclude with some additional points.
There are many reasons for starting with the case study Q – e.g. because this is when you should be at your freshest and there should be a lot about it that is familiar. You can still face having to work around different exhibits in Qs 2 & 3. The examiner’s advice will be based on the collective observations of the marking team – so while it shouldn’t matter which question you start with as long as you are very strict with the mark allocation, you are more likely to be thrown by something you weren’t expecting in a Section B question that could case you to overrun.
What is really GOOD about CBE, is that you can plan your answers in the answer space – using the reading and planning time (RAPT) to build up your ideas. Please read my post “How to tackle the AAA exam” and related article (starred at the top of the AAA forum) – RAPT is NOT 15 minutes (!)
“Also I have never utilized reading time ever before in any of ACCA exams, I always frame my answer as I Read through but it is not working here, as I read a risk and then I write about it but later in another exhibit I’ll find more info about it which kind of makes my prior evaluation invalid.” – SO – as you know yourself, it is a false economy to try not to bother with RAPT (!!!)
It’s certainly a shame if you practiced P7 Qs rather than AAA Qs from when the syllabus changed in 2018. You need to aim to properly work through as many as you can now IN the CBE practice platform – giving priority to the recent past exams. It is better to properly attempt and thoroughly review fewer questions WELL rather than skim read lots of Qs & As without having properly attempted any.
You shouldn’t be having 2nd thoughts – you have at least three head starts over the majority of candidates who will be sitting – your AA knowledge is very recent (relatively), you got a great mark in AA – so you have good underpinning knowledge – and you’re sitting for the first time. So let’s make this the only time.
As well as having read the exam technique articles please make sure you have read ALL my * posts at the top of this and the AAA forum – I only draw attention to what I think is most invaluable.
continues ….
…. continued
You will know exactly when you have written sufficient risks if you plan (!) – as a “rule of thumb” you can estimate that for a “standard” audit risk Q, a max of 20% of the marks will be for materiality/trend or other calculation-related points – so you are looking for at least 80% of the marks to be the evaluation of risk – which will require at least 2 and preferably 3 sentences (but don’t worry if you can’t find a 3rd sentence!) If you’ve worked out your’re looking for 8 risks then write:
1
2
3
…
8
into the answer space (!) Then start “filling them in” – first with key words for ideas as you read through the exhibits – and then writing out in full. Yes the hard bit is the thinking/planning – but then the writing out in full should be straightforward.You have time to get your act together – let me tell you if I didn’t before – that I KNEW you had passed AA just by reading a comment you made on the poll (i.e. as soon as you had sat it) – I even told my spouse at home that I knew from the clarity of your comment that you had absolutely “got it” and “nailed” the AA exam. You really do have a very good foundation for AAA.
Also, it helped me when I certainly had my own doubts before my final professional exams, to think of those less fortunate. I know that exams are always personally “a big deal” – but finding some perspective can make it less so – perhaps considering all our students in Afghanistan who not only cannot sit any exams at this time but have no idea when, or even if, they will have that opportunity again.
And finally, if you haven’t seen it, this was all my advice to Magdalena https://opentuition.com/topic/aaa-exam-2
I want to begin writing back with a thank you but without any exaggeration that doesn’t describe how indebted I feel. I’m going to stick with each and everything you have mentioned above in fact I already have attempted an entire Practice test after going through your post in the morning itself. And things do feel a lot more under control, there are so many easy marks in this exam.
And the last bit you have mentioned, you would be surprised to know how my mom always says the same thing and about how grateful I should be to have got atleast these last bit of days off from work to scrape through this exam.
Well I’m still out of words, you are my true AAA tutor. and if anything that makes it easy to understand AAA and not come across anything that I’m not able to grasp is due to the strong foundations YOU helped me build in Audit. I have some brilliant marks until now and 5 national positions but never in my life could I imagine being the Global prizewinner for Audit, it was possible only and only because of you and OT and all the time that you invested in clearing my doubts.
Lots of good wishes and health to you.
Living in a country like Pakistan and having access well not even access but continued support of world class tutors on this platform is such a privilege.
Did I know you were the global prize winner in audit?!?!?!?!? Perhaps you didn’t know that when you posted “How I passed … ” to the forum. Warmest congratulations!
You are Kahaf Moid from Karachi? If not you must tell me who you are (!!!)
Perhaps after the December exam session OpenTuition (rather than me personally) could “interview” you for a feature? You don’t have to think about that now – just crack on with those past exam questions! And remember, if you have any technical queries, you know where I am!
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