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Which is the best combination of ACCA Papers?

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

2 ACCA papers best combination

2 ACCA papers

3 ACCA Papers – the best combination

3 ACCA Papers best combination

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Mike

    I have attempted F7 four time but still haven’t pass. Got 42% this time. Any tips please. Also, since there is a change in syllabus and exam structure from Dec 2014, I have books for June 2013 attempt. Should these books be good or I should buy the latest one.

    Thanks

    • No, the books should be fine. You’ll need to make sure you get up to speed with IAS 41 Agriculture. The course notes have ben revised to include a chapter on Agriculture

      As for tips, question practice.

      The revised course notes now include LOADS of mini exercises – get stuck into those as soon as you can

      I wouldn’t now spend time going through any text books (other than a reputable revision kit) – you must already have done that at least twice if you’ve failed the exam three times.

      Just question practice, question practice and then some question practice until you are heartily sick of F7 questions. When you reach that point then ….. do some more question practice

      Hope that helps

    • The syllabus has not changed and so the books you used for June are still valid.

      However it could be worth getting hold of a new Revision Kit because the format of the exam will change, with the introduction of multiple choice questions in Section A. The more practice you get of the new style of question the better.

    • Personally I can’t think of a better choice. Maybe you could consider doing F4 cbe if there’s a centre close to home. That way you can forget the time pressure of December and tackle F4 before the December exam week, or after

    • You don’t have that choice! You could enter for all three P1, P2, P3 and P7 and one option paper and then simply not turn up for one (or even two or three) of the others

      But the basic rule is that you shall have passed P1 – P3 (or at least be entered for them) before you can start into the option papers

      OK?

      • Hi Nageen

        The answer to that really depends on what else you have in your life. Are you a full-time student? Do you work at a job? Are you a mother whose time is limited by the demands of children?

        If you can get yourself organised and if you have few other diversions, then P1 – P3 is achievable.

        If there are other demands on your time or if you don’t wish to submit yourself to the pressure of 3 P level exams then settle for just P1 and / or P2 and / or P3

        Hope that helps

  7. Thank you, I do have the bpp revision books (get them for every paper) but as I found f5 so hard I concentrated on that. I have June 2014 regions book for f8, should I buy a new book as it will have questions similar to the December 2014 exam or can I stick to the June 2014 book and just use open tuition like I did for June 2014 exam. Thank you – you do work late on a Saturday night!!

    • You should really get a new Revision Kit. Not because the syllabus has changed, but because there will be multiple choice questions and, again, the more practice that you get the better.

      (And yes – it is late 馃檪 I am going to bed now!)

  8. Hi, I had my first fail in f8 46 percent but I didn’t do any question practise, just listened to lectures and read the past f8 exa papers. would f7 or f9 be better to do with f8? If i do f9 it is the day after f8 in December 2014, whereas f7 has a days break in between the two. My only hesitation in f7 is that I absolutely hated f5 (which I did pass with shock) but had to work so hard at it hence why I didn’t do enough work for f8. I loved f6 and found f4 so interesting (past both of those). Obviously the days break is better so it would be f7 and f8 but I want to give enough time for f8 this time and still deep In the knowledge of how hard I found f5 and how much work I had to do for it to pass. I don’t come from a costing back ground I work for an accoutant. So what would you do, can’t bear another fail. Thank you.

    • F7 has no connection to F5. F7 is financial accounts and so costing is not relevant.
      I think therefore that you would be best taking F7 and F8.

      You said that you did not do any question practice for F8. Question practice is vital for all papers. You really must get hold of a Revision/Exam Kit and practice as many questions as possible (for both papers).

  9. Hello.
    I was so eager to complete my level 2 but unfortunately I did not pass in F8, it’s very hard on me as I was much prepared and found the exam okay..and it’s the first I fail so! I was taking F7 and F9 too.
    I’ve started P1 and P3 and was looking to sit both in Dec but now I have to resit F8.
    Is it good doing them 3? F8, P1 and P3?
    Thanks

    • That’s a LOT of writing / theory. F8 Auditing is 100%, P1 Governance Risk and Ethics is almost certain to be 100% written and (from what little I know about P3) P3 is nearly (?) all written

      I would think seriously about attempting just F8 and P1 in December, then P2 and P3 in June 2015 and finish off with your two option papers in December 2015

      Sound good?

      • I wanted to do P2 all on its own because I’m not a fan of F7 and I heard P2 is a hell compared to F7. And I also want to (hopefully) finish with the exams next year.

        You are meaning that it would be difficult to memorise all the theory? Would it be really too much?
        F8 is one week before P1 and P3 and there’s a day between them both..my hand could rest with all the writing, haha.
        And I have plenty of time to study, no job or whatsover except p1 and p3 classes once per week. Up to now both are okay but I don’t know what is coming up in the next classes.

        Concerning F8, I am not planning to take classes again. I plan revising my notes, read my Kaplan book, watch lectures here and practising questions. Would that be enough since structure of the paper has now changed?

        Thanks.

      • Hi Sertu

        With that added information about no distractions and unlimited study time, ok, you could do it. It sounds like you are more wordy orientated than numbers so possibly 3 non-numerical papers could be the answer.

        Go for it!

    • The ACCA suggest that the papers should be tackled in sequence (though that’s not really a big issue)

      P3 (so far as I am aware) is totally written as also is P1. Maybe the 35% numbers in P2 could give a welcome interlude between the total theory that would be represented by a combination of P1 and P3

      • Thank you Sir. So shall I go with P1 and P2 ?
        Moreover is there any benefit of having passed F7 just in june 2014 sitting that would help little bit in P2 ?

      • Hi, yes, a recent pass in F7 will make the passage into P2 that little bit easier (but P2 is a BIG step up from F7!)

        Yes, go for P1 with P2 – I can’t think of a good reason to try and talk you out of that choice

  12. Hi,

    I was exempted from F1, but not from F2, F3. I passed F6 + F7 last June 2014. I would like to sit F4 + F5 in Dec 2014. However, as I did not take F2 yet, I consider F5 is not an appropriate choice. Is it better if I sit F4 + F8 in Dec this year, then later on sit F2 followed by F5? Please help to advise.

    Thank you in advance.

    • I assume that you have passed F3?

      You are not allowed to take F4 and F5 until you have passed F2 (unless you take all three at the same time).

      I would suggest therefore that you would be best taking F2 and F4.

      • Actually I have not taken F2 and F3 yet, but are still eligible to sit F6 + F7 and passed. As these exams are held monthly as computer-based papers, I can arrange to take them before Dec 2014.

        Other papers can only be held twice per year, so it’s more difficult to decide which ones are the best combination.

        What is your advice?

      • Ah – that is OK then. No problem 馃檪

        Assuming that you do take F2 CBE before December, then I really would take F5 in December. It continues from F2 and so many topics will still be fresh in your mind.

        Assuming you have the time for studying, then certainly F4 and F5. Now that F4 is becoming CBE also from 19 November, you could always take F5 in December and then F4 shortly afterwards to give a bit more time if you find you need it.

      • I am afraid that I do not have enough time for studying F2 then F5 for this Dec exam, so I consider another combination F4 + F8. However, after your reply, I think I need to concentrate on studying F2 from now on to prepare for F5.

        It is new to me that F4 will be a CBE soon, so it’s easier for me to plan studying schedule.

        Thank you so much for your advice. It is very helpful 馃檪

      • Well, I mean that I will finish F2 CBE in Sep or Oct, then sit F4 + F5 in Dec exam (hope I have enough time). It sounds good, right?

      • Yes – that sounds good 馃檪

        (and because F4 will be CBE, then if you find you have too much work then you could delay F4 until January or February if you need to)

  14. Hi! I am a full time student. I failed F5 for the third time and F8 and F9 for the first time. I would like to ask that should I resit F5, F8 and F9 for December 2014 exam? Please help to advise me. Thank you.

    • Why not concentrate on your nemesis F5? Maybe, just maybe, combine it with one other – I suggest F8.

      To fail F5 three times suggests that you are not fully understanding the subject and, by concentrating on just F5 using F8 as a variation in your studies, you can get your level of understanding up to examination standard.

      But trying three in a single session appears to be too much.

      Hope that helps

  15. I’m planning to sit F2 very soon and I was thinking about studying for December exams F5 and F6 starting from September. I’d like to sit F3 and F4 ( as it is soon going to be available as CBE) later, like in February / March 2015.

    What do you think about this paper combination? Is it very difficult to pass them if they are in this order?

    • I don’t the the sequence in which you take the exams is going to make a major difference although ACCA themselves recommend that you attempt them in sequence

      You do have a problem with taking F5 and F6 in December because you have not yet cleared the first three papers F1 – F3

      I suggest that you study for F3 and attempt that later this year. If you find it easy (and the free course notes and lectures on this site should make it a straight-forward exercise) then you may be able to study for F5 and F6 at the same time ready for December

      I am concerned that you may be being a little ambitious. You have no idea about the amount of work involved in these later F level papers (F4 – F9) so I wonder whether it may be “safer” to aim for F3 and F5 for this year followed by F4 in early 2015 with F6 and F7 in June next year

      Hope that helps

      • Thank you so much ! I’ve already passed F1 .

        I will listen to your advice and after passing F2, try F3 as CBE and F5 in December. I will leave the rest for the next year.
        I’m a full time student, so I can study how much I want 馃槈

        Thanks again !

      • Ok, that’s good news that you have unlimited study time.

        Should you need to, please feel free to post any questions on this site and we’ll get back to you

  17. Hello,
    I just did my paper f4,f5 and f6 last semester and passed them all. I am considering to take paper f7, f8 and f9 this December 2014. Should I drop f8? Since all of my friends telling me that taking all 3 of them is hard. I’m a full time student. Thank You.

    • A full time student should be able to take and pass three exams given that you have 4 months to prepare. And if your friends were to say that Iceland is very sunny, would you believe them? The degree of difficulty is up to you. If you prepare yourself fully you should be easily capable of passing three papers in December and prove your friends wrong

      And if you have any problems, post on this site and I, Gromit and John will give you answers to your various questions

  18. Hi, I see that F7 & F8 is a popular choice for most. I’m thinking of doing this in December. However, there seems to be a lot to learn in F7 and the F8 pass rate is rather low. Could someone advise me on the best strategy to ensure I pass? Cheers!

    • The best strategy? Start work now. Read the free course notes, listen / watch the audio video lectures, get stuck into flash cards on this site, get hold of a reputable up-to-date revision kit (or download past exam questions and answers from this site, read through the questions and answers, over and over and over again.

      Get totally familiar with the contents and keep doing that repeatedly until you come out of that exam room in December knowing that you’ve nailed both papers

      And if you get stuck on anything, anything at all, post your question on Ask the Tutor and I or Gromit will get back to you as soon as we are able

      Does that help?

    • The combination is certainly OK, and I would not consider changing papers now. If you studied for them for June, then keep studying for them for December – do not waste the time you have already spent. If you take other papers instead you will forget what you have already learned.

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