Many students have problems choosing which combination of ACCA exams to sit. We have conducted a survey, and over a 1,000 students participated.
Here are the results:
2 ACCA Papers – the best combination
3 ACCA Papers – the best combination
Which is the best combination of ACCA Papers?
Hi, I have exemptions from F1-F4 & F6. Just did F5 in June 14 and failed. I’m going to re-sit in Dec 2014. What is the best paper to take it with? I was thinking F5 & F9.
Probably F5 with F7 would be better. Maybe even F5 with F8 – a numbers paper and a theory paper
F5 and F9 are often confused as being similar – they’re not!
F5 and F9 are recommended as the 5th best combination on this poll so it must be good for some? They both follow on from F2 but in different ways I’ve been told.
That is true – they follow on a different ways.
F5 is performance management (variances etc). F9 is financial management (investment appraisal, foreign exchange risk etc). They are very different papers.
Andrea – yes, it’s the fifth most popular. But that’s out of only six choices! Only F8 is less popular and that could be a symptom of many students having no experience at all of auditing and displaying an element of fear of the unknown
5th best is not such a recommendation when there are only 6 papers to combine with 🙂
Yes I saw that it was recommended as better than doing F5 & F7. F7 is supposed to be quite solid so wasn’t sure it was the best with F5. But possibly with F8 if you are saying. I was told that F5 and F9 compliment each other in some ways. Also, is it essential to buy another updated F5 textbook?
F5 and F9 do not compliment each other.
You do not need a new F5 textbook – the syllabus for December is the same as for June.
Thanks for your help.
Hi…am dne with f1-4,7 buh I want 2 retake f5 is it advisable to do it with F6 nd 8 this dec 2014
F5 (still reasonably fresh in your mind) with F6 is often seen as a good combination. I’m slightly concerned that you may find three papers in one session to be too much.
F5 with F8 could also be appropriate as it mixes a numbers paper with a wordy paper.
Think seriously about whether three in one session is a good idea. If you are committed to the idea the, yes, F5, F6 and F8 is an acceptable combination
Thanks a lot…I appreciate
You’re welcome
i didnt pass f6 but intend to resit in dec. which other paper can i combine with it
You have not said which papers you have already passed (or been exempted from).
You can take it with any other F paper, but the ACCA do recommend you take them in number order, which is sensible.
Hello,
I have F1,2,3,4,6 and 8 done. Want to re-take F5. Should I do it together with F7 or F9?
Thanks
I would actually suggest F7.
Many people do not realise how different F5 and F9 are – doing these two together can cause confusion.
Thanks a million!!!! Appreciate your advice
Hi,
Kudos to all the Open Tuition crew. You are doing such tremendous work!
I have F9 and the P papers to write. I am looking to qualify by June 2015 hence I plan to write 3 papers( F9, P1 and P2) in Dec 2014 and the final 3 papers( P3, P4 and P7) in June 2015. Are these combinations wise without me shooting myself in the foot. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments.
Yes – the combinations that you mention are very sensible.
Thank you!
Thank you!
hello everyone
I want to start reading and preparing for June 2015 exams (for paper F4 + F5+ F6 do you think its too early?) by November this year due to the fact that I am having my wedding on 13 September. what do u think
It is never too early to start 🙂
However, be aware that the rules for F6 will be different next year (it is tax, and the tax rules and rates change each year) so do not start F6 yet.
Hello John, I’ve loved your lectures in past and passed F9 with them. I attempted P1 and P3 in June, Passed P1 and failed P3. What exams should i go for any suggestion should be helpful? Should i go for just P2 and P3 or take P4 with them as well.
Hi,
Thank you for the comment, and congratulations on passing P1 🙂
It really depends on how much time you have available for studying. However P2 and P4 are both hard exams, so I would suggest just taking P2 and P3 in December. Then you will just be left with P4 and one other to take next June.
Thank you, that was what i was thinking as well. I’ve heard a lot about P2 so i guess i’ll take up your suggestion. I do have enough time available but i usually end up studying only a month for exams so P2 and P3. 😀
Best of luck In December anyway 🙂
Thank you, I hope i will start bothering you with P4 related questions post february 😀
Hello sir,i am planning to sit paper p1 this dec.also hav f8 and f9 left in skills both were attempted bt failed this time.can you suggest which to combine with p1?
You cannot take P1 unless you take F8 and F9 at the same time. (Unless you register for all three and then do not attend for either F8 or F9 – but then you will not get your money back).
I would suggest that depending on your marks in June, you either just retake F8 and F9, or you attempt all three.
Hi I see from the comments here that F4 is CBE from this November. Is that true for all countries? Thanks
Yes it is, but only where there is a tuition provider registered to administer CBE.
Hi,
I need your advice
I just saw my result and I don’t pass f4, 5, 6
What advice can u give me on the the combination for Dec14 exam as it’s MCQ. Pls reply
Well I think you should retake all three papers in December.
F4 will be all MCQ’s; F5 will be part MCQ’s and part longer questions; F6 will not have MCQ’s – it will be the same format as the June exam.
Don’t worry about the MCQ’s – the knowledge required does not change. Just make sure that you practice lots of them to get used to the style.
If you have access to a CBE centre, then you will be able to take F4 as CBE from November 19th. Then you could concentrate on the remaining 2 for December.
hi i just wanted to confirm, i plan on re-sitting f4, f7 and f9, in december i have already cleared p1, which one would you recommend from p2 or p3 to go with in december? or do you recommend that i should do f4 in cbe and do f7, f9 and p2/p3? a quick response would be appreciated.
if u take f8 it is best
Given that three of your papers are to be retaken, I’m wondering whether you may be over facing yourself attempting four in each sitting. Possibly you should concentrate on getting through those three that are causing you problems
Thanks for the reply mike… However if i dont take f4 then which paper would recommend ?
Hi again
I still think you should concentrate on these three. f4 CBE and F7 and F9 in December.
If you are adamant that you want to start into the P level in December then why not look at P1. F7 is almost completely numerical, F9 (I understand) is around 50/50 numbers and written and P1 is entirely written. It could be a good balance
It’s difficult to imagine you coping with P2 when you say you are already struggling with F7 so P1 is looking favourite
In june 14 i will pass the f6 n f9 fail now i will take the 7,8,9 what u think this combination is best r not plzz reply
I will be resitting paper f4 and f9 in December 14 . I m confident that I will pass this time therefore I want to pick one p level paper too . Can you please suggest which P paper would be good to give with f4 and f9. . Many thanks.
Have you thought about taking F4 as a CBE in November and then taking on F9 with a P level paper? If you want a P level paper, what’s the problem with P1?
Didn’t know f4 cbe is in Nov even better . So f9 and p1 are better combination for December?
Thank you for your reply
CBE for F4 is available from November 19th (assuming you have access to a CBE centre). Then as Mike suggests F9 and P1 would be a good combination.
Is p1 and p3 good combination ? Which other p paper can go with p1.
P1 and P3 is fine. The only other paper that you can take with P1 is P2, which is fine also.
(You cannot take the option papers unless you have passed P1, P2, and P3 or are sitting them at the same time.)
Hello MikeLittle
I passed F1 and F3 last month with the help of opentution and Preparing for F2. Hopefully I will finish by the mid of Aug.
One of my friend who helps me in my ACCA suggested me to take F8 with F5 but I am bit confused with F8 since I hate theory and book reading. He says Hold F4. F6 is too lengthy to be taken with F5. So please advise me regarding the combination of F5 with F8 as I see this combination in worse category.
Is it possible to pass F8 and F5 in this dec studying from sep to nov.
I am doing job from 8 to 4. I do self studies.
Hi Ahmad – sure you can pass F8 with F5 – but did you think about F7 with F5? Or even F4 and F5 – now that’s a popular combination. You have to face the facts – at one time or another you’re going to have to pass them all so there’s not a lot of point in delaying any – it still has to be passed.
Keep posting whenever you come across something that you don’t understand and we’ll try to explain the matter to you
hello sir.i have passed my F2 exam using your lectures and mocks and i got 71%,
now my initial plan was to take 4 papers for December f4 f5 f6 f7, but some people have told me not to..they told me to take 3 papers f4 f5 f6.
can you please guide me what to do?
now that F4 is confirmed CBE (checked in myacca and its giving me 2 options, paper based and CBE )
im now thinking to take f5 f6 f7 and do my best to clear these three and take f4 seperatly as CBE after december exams, hopefully clearing that aswell will make 4 papers gone in 6 7 months time.
kindly suggest what to do.
thnks.
Congratulations on passing F2 🙂
I do think that taking 4 papers at once is too much. They are at a higher level than F1, F2, and F3 (I assume that you have already passed or been exempted from F1 and F3?).
Leaving F4 until after the December exams is a good idea, and so leaving yourself with 3 for December.
That is certainly possible, but it very much depends on how much time you have available for studying.
What would be sensible would be to start studying now and decide for yourself how easy or difficult you are finding the papers. If you are finding that you are managing well, then register for all three papers. On the other hand, if you find that you are having big problems with one or more of them, then just register for two of them.
Obviously everyone is different as to what they find easy and what they find hard. The only way to find out for yourself is to actually start studying them 🙂
thanks for the reply,
i was in FIA and i got expemtions from F1 F2 F3, but they are all same right?
my classes are starting from 11th augest, so ur suggesting i should take f5 f6 f7 work hard and clear them in one go and take f4 in CBE after december? its a good plan right?
Yes, they are the same 🙂
And yes, try F5, F6 and F7. But why not spend some time before your classes watching a few of the free lectures on here first.
That will give you an idea of the level of difficulty. Hopefully you will find no problem, but if you do decide it is too much then you will be able to change your mind.
(Watching some lectures on here will make your classes easier for you as well 🙂 )
Hi. I completed F2 and F3 in June 2014 (exempt from F1). I was wondering what combination you would recommend to do next? My lecturer recommended F5 and F6. Would anyone think this is a good combination from past experience? Or would F5 be better combined with F9? I want to do F5 next as I hear it follows on from F2 and hopefully what I learned will still be fresh in my head! Does F9 also follow on from F2? Thanks in advance for any advice! Much appreciated!
I would certainly take F5 next while F2 is still fresh in your head.
Although F9 also follows on from F2, I would not take it with F5 – there is very little connection between F5 and F9. (F5 is mainly continuing the costing/budgeting/variance part of F2; F9 is continuing the investment appraisal (DCF) part of F2).
I would take either F4 and F5; or F5 and F6.
(F4 is 100% written – no arithmetic; F5 is 50% arithmetic and 50% written; F6 is almost 100% arithmetic.)
F4 is going to go CBE soon (it is not yet certain when) and when it does then you will be able to take it on demand. That could be a reason for choosing F5 and F6 this December.
Hi John,
Many thanks for your quick reply.
Yes I have heard that F4 might be going CBE here next year so I am thinking of holding of on it.
My lecturer did recommend F5 and F6 together too but a lot of people think that combination is too hard. People say there is a lot to cover in both F5 and F6 and that it is very hard to cover everything while doing both together.
However, if I do end up doing F5 and F6, what subject would you then recommend to do with F9?
Thanks, Andrea
Hi, is it possible if i combine last paper of F4-F9 with either paper in P1-P3? Thanks
Yes, certainly – that is no problem 🙂
what about F5 & f6
What about them?
They are a good combination if that is what you mean 🙂
Hi! Mikelittle! Thanks a million.
You’re welcome
Hi everyone!
I want to write F4, F5 and F6 first, and later write F1 F2 and F3 by CBE. please let me know if it is posible.
Hi, not possible! You must have either passed or be attempting in the same sitting the first three papers before you can start into F4 to F9
Dear sir,
I am trying to be early bird for the exam entry of course it’s cheaper. I choosen F2 F3 CBE and F6 at the same. The two cbe papers, the message shown plz contact your nearest centre. I was charged just F6 alone. What if until the month of Dec i still havent pass or fail F2 F3 will i be able to sit for F6 which was paid. I think this what treasure 22 is trying to ask, i guess.
Hi Jason
Yes – you will still be able to sit for F6.
As long as you have chosen F1, F2 and F3 as well (or have already been exempted or passed) I, then there is no problem.