Nature of the ACCA P4 paper
ACCA P4 Paper – Advanced Financial Management – is concerned with managing the finances of a business, and is a continuation of Paper F9. There are a few new topics to learn, but most of the topics were introduced in Paper F9.
Structure of the ACCA P4 paper
There are two sections to the exam.
Section A contains ONE compulsory question of 50 marks.
Section B is a choice of TWO from three questions, each carrying 25 marks. There are 3 hours for the exam, plus 15 minutes of reading time.
Most of the questions are mainly calculation, although there are a fair number of written sections in each. One of the three choice questions is always completely written.
Emphasis of the ACCA P4 exam
Although a large part of the syllabus has already been examined in Paper F9, this examination is testing much more the application of this earlier knowledge. The compulsory question will almost certainly involve writing a report and will present you with a large amount of information. The difficulty is as much interpreting the given information, and deciding what is important, as being able to apply learned techniques.
How to pass ACCA P4 exam
Use the OpenTuition ACCA P4 lectures along with the P4 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.
It is then of vital importance that you practise as many past exam questions as you can – especially from Section A. Do not expect to get the answers completely correct! In fact more often than not there is no ‘correct’ answer. It depends on what assumptions are made, and provided you make sensible assumptions (and that you state your assumptions) you will still get the marks – even if some of your assumptions differ from those made in the model answer.
See also:
P4 Advanced Financial Management Forums – post your questions to get help from other members and tutors
Paper P4 Syllabus
Why choose Paper P4
P4 Past exam papers and Pilot Paper
P4 Examiners’ reports
P4 Examiner’s approach interview
P4 Examiner’s approach article
P4 Examiner’s analysis interview
P4 Technical articles
P4 pass rates
Exam Formulae & Maths Tables
Hi John,
I’m appearing for P4 in exactly a month, my very first ACCA exam (because I’m exempt from the 9 fundamental ones through my accounting degree). I’ve gone through your notes and lectures, and am now moving on to practice questions. I keep seeing comments about how people still cannot pass despite their third and fourth attempts, which is terrifying.
Is one month enough for practice to pass this exam? And secondly I have the BPP revision kit of this paper for 2016. Is it absolutely necessary that I get the updated version? I’m already practicing from past paper questions from the ACCA website.
Hi unfortunately I have not passed p4 for the third time, the first attempt was 37% the second one is 45% and third one 44% I am very frustrated I don’t know my weakness points although I studied harder than the last time what shall I do?
Hi. How much should one write in 1.8 minutes for narrative questions? Thank you.
It is not the amount you write that matters – it is whether or not you are answering what is asked sensibly.
Look at the marking schemes for past exam questions and see what the marks were given for.
Is it beneficial to take p4 after completing f9 on previous session?
It is not really necessary (as long as you don’t leave too long a gap and forget everything 🙂 )
HI Mike,
Am trying to make the most appropriate decision. Whether I should do the P4 paper.Waited until my exams results today. I have never attempted this paper is it wise to attempt in June sitting?
Mike does not teach P4 (and never has) 🙂
A lot depends on how much time you have available for studying, whether you are taking just one paper or more, and how easy or difficult you found Paper F9.
Subject to the above, you should have time to prepare for June.