Nature of the ACCA F5 paper
The ACCA F5 Paper – Performance Management – continues from Paper F2 and is concerned with managing the business so as to achieve better performance. Most of the topics were introduced in Paper F2, but are examined in more detail and to a greater depth.
Structure of the ACCA F5 paper
There are three sections to the exam – Section A will comprise 15 multiple choice questions of 2 marks each; Section B of the exam comprises three scenarios, each with 5 multiple choice questions. Section C has two ‘long form’ questions (a full question requiring a full answer) of 20 marks each.These two questions will come from decision making techniques, budgeting and control, and/or performance measurement areas of the syllabus.The Section A and B questions can (and will!) cover any areas of the syllabus.
There are 3 hours for the exam, plus 15 minutes of reading time if you are taking the paper based (as opposed to the computer based) exam.
Overall, approximately 50% of the exam involves calculations, and approximately 50% is written.
Emphasis of the ACCA F5 exam
Although most of the arithmetic involved is not difficult in itself, the calculation parts of questions are designed to check that you understand the techniques, and can decide what information is relevant, rather than checking that you have just learned rules.
For the written parts of questions there is some learning involved, but most of them are again checking that you understand the techniques – that you can explain them, that you can discuss advantages and disadvantages, and that you can identify the problems of applying them in practice.
How to use OpenTuition to study for the ACCA F5 Exam
Use the OpenTuition ACCA F5 lectures along with the ACCA F5 Lecture Notes. Make sure that you are happy with the arithmetic, but also listen carefully to the lectures and check that you really do understand the techniques.
When you are confident of a topic then practice as many past exam questions as you can. To help you we have recorded F5 revision lectures and F5 Revision lectures based on past F5 exam questions.
How to pass ACCA F5 Exam
However much you have studied, your approach in the exam room can make a big difference. For Sections A and B, look for the short and easy questions and answer them first. In whatever time you have left then spend more time on the longer and harder questions. Try not to spend too long on either section – you should be allowing yourself about 27 minutes for each of Sections A and B. When the time for the whole exam is almost up, go back and guess the answer to any questions that you have not completed – guessing a few questions may only result in one correct answer, but 2 marks is huge if you would otherwise have failed on 48. Don’t waste time doing neat workings for Sections A and B – nobody will look at them.
In Section C allow yourself about 36 minutes for each question. Make sure that you write something for each part of each question – you might get stuck or you might run out of time, but you can always write something, and writing anything sensible will likely get you a mark. For the calculation parts of questions, make sure your workings are neat and easy to follow – the marks in Section C are for the workings rather than for the final answer.
See also:
F5 Forum Support – post your questions to get help from other students
Exam formulae & maths tables
F5 Past exam papers
F5 Technical articles
F5 Examiners’ reports
F5 Examiner’s approach interview
F5 Examiner’s approach article
F5 Examiner’s analysis interview
F5 Pass rates
Where can i find pre december 2021 mock for pm and fm ???
I am unable to find in past paper practice platform as there is no option for pre december mocks..
Hi sir,
I did my PM on march and got 46.
now I understood where I failed and how should we approach the theoretical questions. those are the ones I’ve struggled at?
which kit must I practice to pass F5?
The two ACCA approved publishers are BPP and Kaplan, and they are both good.
However, if you use the link on this page you can get a 20% discount from BPP (on both hard copies or soft copies) 🙂
Hi, I was exempt from the MA and I’m planning to do the exam for PM in June. Do you think it’s necessary to revise the MA before starting the PM or can I start the PM without revising and research if I don’t remember something?
Hello sir, I am from India and I am sitting for my December attempt for f5 I have about a month in hand… I Use bpp text books… I go for classes but I haven’t started yet…. is it possible for me to start now and clear f5 within a month… how should I go about it? What should I start with? Am really scared.
My classes have finished till decision making technique and is starting with budgeting from tomorrow…. what should I do? How should I go about the pilled up portion… could you help me out
Hello Sir! I am sitting my F5 on the 4th of september and I have about one week to do my revision and mocks . Do you think it is doable? and any recommended ways of doing the revision, thanks in advance. Actually I used LSBF and Kaplan Study materials.
Assuming that you have already studied everything, then you should have enough time.
I assume that you have a Revision Kit from one of the ACCA approved publishers (BPP or Kaplan) and the best way to revise is to work through every question – learn from your mistakes, and where you realise you have completely forgotten something then go back to your Study Text (or watch our lectures on the particular topic – my lectures are a complete free course and cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well.)
Thank you so much sir! you made me confident and motivaated. Hopefully I have learned everything and I am going to do the revision from Kaplan. Thank you sir once more for the advice!
Hi Sir,
Can u pls send my email latest Revision Kit fro FM from one of the ACCA approved publishers BPP. Because I can’t download it. I’m plan to sit dec 2019.
I certainly will not!
Sharing soft copies is illegal, unethical, and is against ACCA regulations.
You can buy either a soft copy or a hard copy from BPP’s website (and if you use the link at the top of this page you will get a 20% discount).
i am planning to sit in Dec 2019 and i am studying Kaplan study text and kit valid till june 2019.
Is it ok to study with that edition.
Yes – no problem. (Although if you watch our free lectures then you do not really need to use the Study Text – the lectures are a complete free course and cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well)
Hi, my exam for paper F2 is gonna held on August 29, 2019. I am planning to go for F5 in december session. So, I’ve got 3 whole months to prepare for F5. Is this duration enough for a part-time student with 2 full hours of study everyday?
It should certainly be enough time (but it is not called F5 any more – it is Paper PM 🙂 )
Hello Sir I plan on giving F5 in the coming June attempt. I have a Kaplan Exam Kit from 2017 and was wondering if it was usable or do I need to buy a new exam kit?
You exam kit is fine for the June exam 🙂
hey can any one help me ?/
You do not say what help you are needing!!!!
I have two weeks to revise f5, does anyone think it’s doable?
Do you really mean revise, or do you mean study? If you do mean revise (because you have already studied, then there should be no problem).
If you haven’t yet started studying then you are going to have to study very hard indeed – PM (the new name for Paper F5) is probably harder than any exam you might have taken at university.
How I can pass paper f5 from the first
that we can use Caplan or BBp
Please ask in the Ask the Tutor Forum and I will answer you there.
Hi, i am taking my f5 exam in December so i have only a month to revise i know i should started my revision 3 months ago but i was busy with f1…
Many of my friends said that i m too late and they are right i am taking more than one day to read and make notes for a chapter. i am so scared i know i will not be able read this study kit in a month…
i m practicing questions but my friends said its not enough i will fail like this
i am so stressed and demotivated for this f5 exam…
please help me… i really need your help… is it possible to prepare for F5 in a month or do i postpone the exam???
Please ask in the Paper F5 Ask the Tutor Forum and I will answer you there 🙂
i have september 2016 F5 study material can i use it in 2017, December exam please?
Yes, that is fine.
Although if you are watching the free lectures then you don’t really need a study text – the lectures are a complete free course and cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well. What you must have – however you choose to study – is a Revision Kit from one of the ACCA approved publishers, because practice at exam standard questions is vital to passing the exam.
I am writing F5 for the third time in September 2017. I am revising the whole syllabus using the BPP textbook and pass cards and doing questions from the BPP textbook and after 3 days i will be doing past papers till the exam day. Please advise me if i am missing out on something or taking a wrong approach. Failing this paper again will mark the end of my ACCA studies.
Your advises will be very appreciated. Thank you!
Please ask this in the Ask the Tutor Forum.
I have a june 2017 kit for f5 can i use it for September 2017 exams?
Yes – no problem 🙂
Hey there!
How far are your studies? I am writing F5 in September 2017 too.