Nature of the ACCA F9 paper
ACCA F9 Paper – Financial Management – is concerned with managing the finances of a business. Some topics were introduced in Paper F2, particularly discounted cash flow and inventory control. These, and other new topics, are examined at a higher level.
Structure of the ACCA F9 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 the working capital management, investment appraisal, and business finance areas of the syllabus.The Section A and B questions can (and will!) cover all 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 F9 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 are several financial management theories that can be examined, but many of them are again checking that you understand the techniques and their assumptions and limitations.
How to use OpenTuition to study for the ACCA F9 exam
Use the OpenTuition ACCA F9 lectures along with the F9 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 and the theories
When you are confident of a topic then practise as many past exam questions as you can. See also F9 revision lectures based on past exams
How to pass ACCA F9 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:
F9 Forum Support – post your questions to get help from other students
Paper F9 Syllabus & Study Guide
Exam formulae & maths tables
F9 Past exam papers
F9 Examiners’ reports
F9 Examiner’s approach interview
F9 Examiner’s approach article
F9 Examiner’s analysis interview
F9 Technical articles
F9 Pass rates
Hello I am thinking of doing exam sitting for FM in December 22 but start studying now. Please can I check whether the lecture notes / videos are updated for December exam sitting? Many thanks x
The only addition to the syllabus is very minor and does not involve calculations. Nothing has been removed and the existing notes and lectures are therefore fine for the December exam.
Great, thanks ?
An additional question in regards to calculating in thousands/ rounding
If the question states values in $, are we allowed to show our workings in “$ in thousands” – then with one decimal? Or could this rounding be seen as inaccurate or the rounding difference in giving solutions as incorrect answer?
Dear Opentuition Team,
Thank you very much for your awesome content. Based on your information, I feel well prepared for the exam.
I get most answers in Section C correct – In order to save time I do most workings only in my calculator and my workings are kind of messy. How important are clear workings for F9? As long as I get the end result correct, no or messy workings shouldnt negatively impact the points I get – am I correct?
Best regards,
Stefan
As an example: Lease vs Buy
Would it be sufficient to just show the PV of Lease and Buy instead of the different workings?
BR
Hi,
Sir i can’t find the exact version of the MS Excel that is being used in F9/FM CBE exam , it is very different from the ones available, can you please direct me to a page from where i can buy or download the exact version of that Excel used in Acca exam so that i can practise at home .
Thank you
The ACCA exams do not use Excel and the spreadsheet in their software is not available to buy.
All you can do is practice using the specimen computer based exams that are on the ACCA website.
I see, thanks a lot sir 🙂
You are welcome 🙂
Thanks for sharing the ACCA F9 exam study. It helps to clear doubts about the F9 exam.
You are welcome 🙂
Good day what is a simple effective way to study and pass F9 please.
You need to watch all our free lectures (with the lecture notes in front of you) in chapter order. They cover everything needed to be able to pass the exam well.
In addition, you need to buy a Revision Kit from one of the ACCA approved publishers. They contain lots of exam standard questions for practice, and practice is vital to passing the exam.
If you have any problems, then ask in the Ask the Tutor Forum and I will help you,
Hi All,
I just registered for acca and got exempted from f1- f4. I will be writing F5 in december 2015 but would like to take an exam in the September 2015 diet..which exams btw f6, f7,f8, and f9 would you recommend i take first?i would prefer to write the easiest first. PS: I am better at theories than calculations
Thanks
This is my 3rd attempt in f7,f8,f9
n i still not discover my faliur reasons,infact i make above 65% score in mock exam conducted by my tution accadmy..plz tell me what would be the reasons,i think it is due to my hand writing..
I am afraid it is impossible for us to know the reason. It could be your writing. Has your tuition academy not suggested any reasons?
no, i think this time i perform well coz in each paper there are 40 marks alotted to mcqs..
Sometimes it is possible to fail right inside the exam hall because of your mentality towards the paper,,its good not to panic in front of the paper…
The only way to pass is to study and to practice – there is no other way.
I appreciate you work full-time, but so do many others (and so did I when I was studying for the exams), You must start studying now and you must plan you time to be able to spend several hours a week – whether it is evenings or weekends does not matter.
There are free lectures on here for both papers covering everything you need. You must listen to then one at a time and do the examples in the notes along with me in the lecture.
You must also get a Revision/Exam Kit for each of the papers from one of the approved publishers. They contain lots of exam standard questions and it is vital to practice as many questions as possible.
These exams are bachelor degree level – again, you will only pass by studying and practicing.
i need the capital rationing question of f9 please send the exam type question
In recent years it has only been asked about in the written part of a question.
A good question with calculations is Basril, which was asked in December 2003. You should be able to find it in your Revision/Exam Kit.
I read the notes provided here. there are some examples and exercises. where can I find the answers? thx
At the back of the Course Notes! See the contents page.
I just discovered your website. looks good and promising. I am going to sit for F9 for the first time in June 2013.Personally I like F9 subject. my favorite topics.finance. Thanks for this website.
doing it this june,wish me luck
gud luck 🙂
best of luck dear i m also taking it for june
best of luck iv
This is really nice.keep up the good work…
Very good advice as always OT. This will be my first attempt and hopefully the only one for F9. The resources provided are excellent and I am very grateful for it. Thanks OT team!
F9 is a great concern. This is going to be my 5 attempt on the Paper. Please Advice me. The problem is my writing
this is my 3rd sitting in f9.i have facing problem in writing theory plz give me suggestion about writing theory
@raja777, Most of the written sections in Paper F9 are not in fact theory but are questions testing your general business knowledge and understanding.
The best way to learn for them is to study the examiners answers to the written parts of past exam questions. They are longer that we he expects from students in the exam, but they are shorter than reading text books (and his answers obviously cover the points he wants!).
In terms of style, make sure that you are answers are easy for the marker – they are marking thousands of exams, and however hard they try there is a limit to how much time they will spend trying to understand your answers.
Make sure your writing is easy to read – try giving one of your answers to a friend and see if they can read your writing!
Don’t make several points in one long sentence. Make a point, then leave a blank line, and then make your next point. (If you make several points in one sentence then there is a danger that the marker will miss some of them)
Underline key words in your points to make sure that the marker does not miss them.
Unless the question actually states how many points are wanted, assume 1 mark for each point. So if there are 5 marks for the section then try to make 5 points. It is difficult always to think of enough points, but remember that you are aiming for at least 50% in each part of a question, so if you can only think of 3 points then at least you will be passing on a 5 mark section.
Consider answering the written parts of a question before the arithmetic parts. You might not be able to think of much to write and when you run out of ideas, leave the rest of the page blank and try the calculation parts on the next page. Often, while you are doing the arithmetic you will think of other points to make and you can go back and add them.
good one
tips on how to pass F8, i last attempted it in 2010 & come June 2013, i will attempt it once again, how do i attain success?
@nagutta, I suggest that you ask this in the F8 forum – not F9 🙂
how do i pass F9 on this 4th sitting?
@nagutta, you must! we believe in you!
@anton, Thank u for the encouragement & i believe in ma self too, ma deepest prayer is to pass F9 dis sitting. Stay well
@nagutta,
How to pass ACCA F9 exam – like it says on this page:
Use the OpenTuition ACCA F9 lectures along with the F9 Course 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 and the theories
When you are confident of a topic then practise as many past exam questions as you can. See also F9 revision lectures based on past exams
@admin, so grateful to you & i pray ma efforts along with yo guidelines yield fruit. Best of luck in all. Chao!
Hi Admin,
Open tuition provides a very good sources and support for ACCA students, grateful to you all up there.
Where can I find the answers to the questions in the revision notes? You reply very much appreciated.
we are planning to post updated f9 revision notes with the answers in 1 or 2 weeks
at the moment, some answers are available in the revision lectures
nagutta, you should believe in yourself..No worries. Keep doing pratices and try to understand the notes than memorizing it.. always ask the lectures if you have any doubt and most important do your past year question. i m about start my acca next week. Quite nervous.
I am going to sit F5 and F9 both 2nd time. In June 2014, in fact i sat without any preparation and got bellow 30 in both papers. I am in full time job (9 am to 9 pm). How should I get ready for these papers. I would seek your kind suggestions in this regard.