Paper F5 Syllabus changes:
There are no changes to the syllabus, but a few additions just for clarification (the following were already assumed in the syllabus):
Throughput accounting:
discuss and apply the theory of constraints
Quantitative analysis in budgeting:
estimate the learning rate and learning effect
Performance analysis and behaviour aspects:
– analyse and evaluate past performance using the results of variance analysis
– use variance analysis to assess how future performance of an organisation or business can be improved
Performance analysis in private organizations:
– analyse past performance and suggest ways for improving financial and non-financial performance
Budgeting and standard costing are now merged into one syllabus area – budgeting and control.
Paper F5 Format changes:
The exam will remain a three-hour paper, with all questions being compulsory, and with 15 minutes reading time.
There will be two sections to the exam:
Section A will comprise 20 multiple choice questions of 2 marks each.
Section B will comprise three 10 mark questions and two 15 mark questions.
Download Updated Pilot Paper for ACCA F5 exam
The specimen exams indicate how the paper will be assessed, structured and the likely style and range of questions that could be asked. Any student preparing to take this exam should familiarise themselves with the exam style.
Hello,
Can I use the Kaplan F5 Complete Text for 1 Sept 14 – 31 Aug 2015 for the December 2015 exams?
Would I need to purchase the exam kit as well?
You can use the text (although if you are watching our free lectures then you do not need the study text – our lectures are a complete course for Paper F5 !)
You must get an exam kit / revision kit from one of the ACCA approved publishers. They contain lots of exam standard questions and practice on exam standard questions is vital.
Sorry, I forgot to specify. I have the exam kit for the period I mentioned. What I meant to ask is do I need to buy the latest one as there aren’t any changes? Wouldn’t the exam kit be the same too?
Thank you for your fast response.
Your existing kit is fine (it will not have the December 2014 or the June 2015 exam questions in it, but you can download these from the ACCA website).
Hi! I will be taking the f5 exam in june 2015.
I have studied 3out of 4 units of the subject using opentuition course notes and Bpp study text(2011).
I have just gone through different types of practical questions in these units to gain an understanding of the subject. I wanted to ask if doing practical questions will be sufficient for this paper?
Also what else should i do to prepare for this paper?
I have bpp practice and revision kit(2011). Will that be suitable for further practice?
Also, does this paper require mugging up of certain theoretical topic?
Actually i have cleared CA IPCC both groups. will that be of any help apart from getting me exemptions?
Thanks in advance!
You must get a current edition of the Revision Kit and practice all of the questions – practice is vital.
(The reason that you need a current edition is because the layout of the exam has changed since 2011 – 40% of the exam is now multiple choice questions, and it is important to get practice on them.)
Only about 50% of the exam is calculations. The rest is ‘written’ – either actually writing notes for parts of questions in section B of the exam, or by choosing the correct statement from several choices in section A of the exam. For this it is partly just learning, but mainly proving that you understand – the examiner tries to make sure that you understand what you are doing (and why) as opposed to just having learned rules.
thanks a lot sir for such a prompt reply. your advice is valued.
thanks again
Thank you for Open tuition for being ACCA students’ study partner. ..Keep up the good work .
should i do the past exam papers as well for the sake of practice even if the paper pattern has changed ?
Yes – certainly 🙂
The questions in Section B will only be 10 or 15 marks (and therefore shorter) but the style of the questions and the knowledge required will not be different.
Hello,
I have a question please: do the answers for the multiple choice questions need to be explained or not? I.e., I should just state variant A is correct (or whichever the case may be) or I should also explain why I have chosen that variant?
Thank you
You will not be asked to explain your answers. You will need your own workings to be able to answer many of the questions, but your workings will not be looked at – only the final answer.
Sir…which revision kit is better BPP or Kaplan for F5 Dec 2014 . Thanks
They are both as good as each other 🙂
Is bpp f5 study text 2009 still applicable for 2014 and 2015 exams?
No it is not – there have been several changes to the syllabus and to the format of the exam since 2009.
However if you watch our lectures (together with the course notes that go with them) you do not really need a study text.
What you do need is the current edition of a Revision Kit because it is so important to practice questions.
Why do you say ‘no changes’?
The note above explains it all – there is no change to the syllabus, but there are changes to the format/layout of the exam.
And yes – the 20 objective test questions can come from any topics in the syllabus.
thanks
since there are no changes is it still safe to use 2011 study text in-conjunction with other up-to-date study materials? say 2015 revision kit and open tuition lectures and notes or physical class lectures?
There have been changes since 2011.
However, if you are using our free lectures and Lecture Notes, and a current Revision Kit then you will be OK. You do not then really need a Study Text, but you can still use the one you have for any topics that you are not happy with.
Thanks that helps.
Do we have to attempt 40 marks MCQs in Dec 2014 attempt ? if yes what will be the best way to prepare MCQs. thanks.
Yes you do!
Obviously you must study the whole syllabus (using our free Course Notes and free lectures).
To prepare for the type of questions you must get a Revision/Exam Kit from one of the approved publishers – they contain lots of exam-standard question to practice on. Practice is the most important thing of all.
Hello Admin,
I prepared for F5 in the June 2014 exam session but i fail. I am using the GTG study material in which it is written that, this F5 text is valid for exams upto August 2014.
Admin kindly help me to know if this text is applicable for December 2014 exam sitting too or i have to get a new F5 text.
Thank You
All study texts are valid from December to June of the following year…so in your case you need to get an updated text for the December 2014 exams. As always its good to check if there have been any changes since some papers are the same as the last series!
Avnish
The syllabus haa not changed for December and so you do not need a new Study Text.
However because of the new exam format/layout, it would be worth getting a new Revision/exam kit. The new ones contain both Section A and Section B questions.
So there is no changes in f5? 20ot ques covers all topics?