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ACCA P5 Key to success

VIVA

ACCA P5 – Nature of the paper

key
ACCA P5 Paper – Advanced Performance Management – is concerned F2 and is concerned with managing the business so as to achieve better performance. Most of the topics were introduced in Paper F2 and F5, but are examined at a higher level. This does not mean that any calculations are more difficult, but you are now at a management level and should show a greater critical awareness of the difficulties in measuring and management performance.

Structure of the ACCA P5 paper

Part A One compulsory question 50 marks.
Part B Two from three questions each of 25 marks

Emphasis of the P5 exam

You will find that you will have already covered most of the technical content in this exam either in F2 or F5. However, the questions, particularly in Part A, present you with much more information that you would have been presented with in an F5 question. Often you are asked to devise or criticise performance measures, assess performance, criticise and improve the way in which information is presented. As suggested in the first paragraph, you have to think of yourself in the role of chief accountant or finance director rather that being in the role of an accounts assistant.

How to pass ACCA P5 Paper

Use the OpenTuition P5 lectures along with the P5 Course Notes. Make sure you know the theories and techniques and can follow the worked questions in the lectures.

When you are confident of a topic then practise as many past exam questions as you can. You will be expected to work very quickly through any calculations as these are regarded as relatively simple. The real importance in the exam is usually your critical assessment of the results of the calculations. Remember, although Question 1, in particular, often sets out a large and forbidding amount of information, you have 15 minutes reading time at the start of the exam. You should use that time to become thoroughly familiar with the longer question in Part A of the exam.

See also:

P5 Advanced Performance Management Forums – post your questions to get help from other students

Ask the Tutor – P5 Exams

Paper P5 Syllabus
Why choose paper P5
P5 Maths table
P5 Past exam papers and Pilot Paper
P5 Examiners’ reports
P5 Examiners’ guidance
P5 Technical articles
P5 Pass rates

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chimere says

    October 19, 2015 at 5:53 am

    Hi, sadly I failed p5 again after two attempts. I am on the verge of giving up. But is it possible to pass if I enrol for December exams? I have wrote June and September….or is it better to take a break?

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    • rachelfin says

      August 27, 2016 at 11:37 am

      Hi, I’m going to take P5exam in Sep 16.Do you happen to know what topics was asked in the last question in the exam of Jun16?thx.

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  2. elegant11 says

    April 14, 2015 at 9:25 am

    I have come down for the 5th time and am really frustrated. Its been too long i have been stuck in this single paper. I just cant figure out where am going wrong. I managed to pass all other papers but this is just a pain.The last session was the most frustrating and just don’t know as to why the examiner want to fail students in such a harsh manner.
    Some one please advice !!!

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  3. lungilem says

    January 13, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Thanx for all the advice guys. I will be sitting for the P5 paper for the first time in June 2015

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  4. muwowo says

    August 21, 2014 at 11:52 am

    I have failed paper P5 two times. the first time i failed with 45%, i thought i had not covered enough but to my surprise, i had a lower mark of 37% the second time i attempted it and this time i thought i had prepared adquately.

    what should i do? Help

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  5. hafiz says

    August 10, 2014 at 11:29 am

    wow

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  6. Kirsty says

    February 22, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    I sat P5 as my last exam I’ve passed all exams first time but failed in Dec-13 with 42% 🙁 I’m not entirely sure where I have messed up in the exam I know when sitting it it was not what I expected and didn’t really cover slot of the syllabus When reading the answers they seem similar to what I put but I think maybe I waffled a bit or went off on a tangent rather than sticking to the question. Where should I start for my resit just question practice?

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  7. fchibwinja says

    August 13, 2013 at 11:06 am

    I have failed P5 and Icant see precisely were I went wrong.I need guidance on the approach

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    • raranha says

      October 7, 2013 at 9:16 am

      It is very disturbing to see so many messages about P5. I failed the first attempt with 41,but passed it in the second attempt with 71 marks. I would request all to please go through the exam technique and past exam papers available on ACCA website. The course notes and lectures on Opentuition are also very helpful. I did not attempt any mock papers in exam conditions but went through the past exam papers several times. Infact, I was working in my office the earlier day before exam, so be relaxed on the exam day hoping for the worst but give your best in the paper thinking in your mind that worst come worst you will have to resit the paper. Do not be afraid to write what you think, there are no negative marks for the wrong answer. It worked for me and I am an average guy, so it can work with all of you. All the Best.

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      • sohaib says

        February 5, 2014 at 11:17 pm

        nice approach

      • adamkan says

        December 4, 2014 at 9:54 pm

        I like your advice and very much agree. It’s hard to revise for this exam since it’s less about knowledge and more about interpreting the scenario. Do as many original exam papers as you can so you can get a feel for the examiners questions. Do all the calculations on your own the first time and understand the theory behind them, do not just memorise the calculation as it will never be the same again. I’ve failed twice & re-sat today so feel free to ignore my advice!

  8. mushimuti says

    August 9, 2013 at 11:40 am

    @Ksa1945
    Please i also need guidance on how to pass P5. can somebody out there help me please? Can I give you my email?

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