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ACCA December Exams

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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,

    I have begun preparing for the June 2015 Exams, and am exempted from all the F exams as I already completed an Accounting and Finance degree. I would like to take two exams from the Professional level in June. Any suggestions of combinations? I am thinking of preparing for P1 and P2 but am aware that they are quiet different from each other.

    • Hi

      Your comment “I am thinking of preparing for P1 and P2 but am aware that they are quiet different from each other” intrigues me. I’m not aware that any two exams at the P level are in any way the same (possibly you may claim that there’s some P7 within P1)

      I can see nothing wrong with the combination of P1 with P2. Don’t be mislead into thinking that P2 is a numbers exam – it isn’t! There’s traditionally only 35% or so numbers with the remaining 65% written

      Hope that helps

  3. For my F papers, I am left with F6, F7 and F9.
    Which should i take?
    – F7 and F9 for June15 seating / F6 and P1 for December15 seating? or
    – F6 and F7 for June15 seating / F9 and P1 for December15 seating?

    Please advise. Thanks!

    • I would recommend that you tackle F6 and either F7 or F9 in June with the last F and P1 in December

      F6 in June for sure because, should you happen to fail F6 in June, the rules applicable in June 2015 will continue to be applicable for a resit in December 2015

      If you delay F6 until December 2015 and then fail, the rules for 2016 will change as compared with the rules applicable for 2015

      As for choosing between F7 and F9, neither John (F9) nor I (F7) can comment because we both have little idea about what’s involved in F7 nor F9 respectively

      Hope it helps!

  4. Hi,

    Wondering if someone could give me some advice.. I have just completed my AAT, and now looking to start studying ACCA to become chartered. I have exemptions from F1-3, so looking to start from F4 in the June 2015 sitting. I have a full time job in accountancy, so was looking to start ACCA part time, possibly on evenings/weekends.

    How many papers do you recommend for me to take? And also which papers are recommended to take with F4?

    I look forward to your reply.

    Thanking you in advance 🙂

  5. Please advise about the optional papers – I read the information on acca website and other source however still not sure… 🙁

    Should I select the advanced level papers based on what I enjoyed or what is (may be relatively) easier to pass? Does it matter if I do not do Audit or Taxation for future job in these areas?

    Thanks.

    • hello, Accountaholic. for me to choose subject because of what ur enjoy it will never been a problem since u feel enjoyed with it. Thus, it will help u to pass the paper easily as u can minimise the stress burden. paper that are actually relatively easy dont guarantee u to pass the paper if u felt the paper is mess and u can understand anything about what should have u learn from the paper. so i really recommend u to take paper which do u think best suit urself. if u want to work in the field of tax and audit and i am strongly suggest u to take the p6 and p7. However if u want to work on those field but do not taking those paper it wouldnt affect as u already learn both field during the f paper which f6 and f8. if u still got problem to choose which paper, try to remember which f paper that u score the most and u enjoyed the most among f5,f6,f8 and f9. choose the paper related to those paper.

    • hi asma, some fellows here suggested me for p4 along with p3, as i hav options of p4 or p5, but firstly for u cant take any optional paper if u skip p2, its compulsory to take p2 nd p3 if u wana move to optional paper, u can take 3 papers in this case but not two,

      • thx hassan.i didnt know that we have to pass compulsory exams first n then move to options.wat i knew was we can give exams in any order.

    • yes comulsory first, u can divide papers in 4 levels, to move on to next level u either hav to complete previous level first or take papers alongwith next level, mike little has also answered somebody here regarding this,

    • Only if you either pass or have entered for the first three P level papers

      You can enter P1, 2, 3 and 7 and then just attend for P7 if that’s what you want to do – it wastes three exam fees, but it’s doable.

  8. After successfully passing my Level 1 papers ( F1, 2 & 3) in June 2014, I decided to go for F4, F5 & F7 in Dec 2014 since F2 & F3 are linked to F5 & F7.
    I am now waiting for the results on 8th feb 2015.

    Is it a good combination to go for F6, F8 & F9 ?
    If not, F6 matches with which paper best, F8 or F9 because I feel I want to do F6 in the June 2015 sitting …..?

    • hi mariam, firstly if u wana take 3 paper then u hav no other option than taking remaing three of fundamental level, secondly f6 hav no link with f8 or f9, its about taxation nd hav alots of calculation, f8 is total theory, f9 is mix of both, so now u should choose them according to ur taste, i would recomend f6 nd f8,

    • hey mariam,
      iv done the f6 f8 and f9 papers alhamdulilah and i can tell u they are all completely different with no links whatsoever. f6 is full of formulas to cram, calculations to memorize and lots of other stuff to also cram, f8 is kinda technical theory whicheres a way u should write answers to pass the exam not just ordinary english language lastly f9 is about u acting as a finance manager of a company and doing lots of mathematical calculations. the calculations are not to be confused with the calculations on f6 cuz they have no link whatsoever. these are like futhermaths calculations.
      so i strongly suggest u to do paper f8 and f9 or f6 and f8, u can blend f6 and f9 but then be prepared to do the study of your life

      • THANK YOU Musa

        Lets see what 8th Feb 2015 has in store for me as far as Dec 2014 results are concerned
        Then I’ll see which paper to match with F6 coz its the one I would very much like to deal with in June 2015 since its going to have new tax rules.

        Be blessed ….

    • I suggest u to choose based on ur interest. If u still does have any idea, basically since u want to easily pass the acca, generally paper p4 is quite easy rather than other paper since its has slightly higher percentage of pass rate among those paper. Or u can opt to take p6 but its depend on which variant u take.p7 is the hardest paper but if u like audit than it is better for u to take it.

  13. I am considering to take 2 papers of professional level P1 & P2 or P3 &P2 in June 15 sitting.
    Is anyone who can give me an advice which is the best combination?
    Is there impossible to take all Ps above in a sitting if I only have 1 month to review?
    Thanks in advance.

    • Hello hoa, with only one month to review take 2 papers only, P3s syllabus is bigger than P1, so if u want to leave the easier P1 paper for the next sit then take P2 and P3 this aession.. Both P1 & P3 are theoretical papers so it doesnt matter which one u take with P2 its just good to have two papers one theoretical and the other computational.. Good luck

  14. Hi,

    I’m havent study for 6 years, and now i’m new in taking ACCA. I’m working full time and I have granted 4 exemptions. so i will start from F5-F9. Which is the best combination? F7&F8 or F7&F9 ? I’m thinking to leave F6 for december or should I combined it with F7?

    Ivelyn

  15. I have recently taken F7 & F8 I’m deciding to take P2 in June 2015 but im confused whether to take P1 or P3 along with P2

    Plz suggest me with previous experiences & knowledge;Thanks for your help

    • Please read the thread by MikeLittle in the comments before asking the same question!!!

      YOU CANNOT and I repeat CANNOT, sit any P papers until and unless you clear all the F papers with a suitable pass i.e. all over 50%!!!

      Avnish

      • This is what MikeLittle has said and I quote:

        “You cannot start into the P level papers until you have either successfully passed all the F level papers or you are entered for those missing Fs.

        In addition, you must have either cleared or be entered for P1, P2 and P3 before you can get into the optional papers.

        But if in the past you have entered for, say, F5 together with P1 and P2 but then you didn’t attend (or you failed) F5 and passed the two P level papers, you could now enter again for F5, P3 and P5.

        You could even fail to turn up for F5 and attend and pass P3 and P5.

        So that just leaves you one exam away from qualifying and that exam is F5

        It’s possible (I had one student that had just F8 to pass – he had even passed P7 and just had the F8 to go to be qualified (he passed))

        Yes, it’s certainly possible – but it’s also expensive, keep entering for exams with no intention of turning up to sit those exams”

    • Hi there

      Please read the thread started by Carissa below…

      F papers have to be fully completed in order to do P papers!

      ACCA specifically state that the Fundamental papers prepare you with the foundation of the course and the P papers go into more detail from what you have learnt in the F papers.

      No solid grasp of the F papers will allow P papers to be very difficult!!!

      Hope this helps!

      Avnish

    • Yes, those combinations are possible. However, you cannot start into the P level papers until you have either successfully passed all the F level papers or you are entered for those missing Fs.

      In addition, you must have either cleared or be entered for P1, P2 and P3 before you can get into the optional papers.

      But if in the past you have entered for, say, F5 together with P1 and P2 but then you didn’t attend (or you failed) F5 and passed the two P level papers, you could now enter again for F5, P3 and P5.

      You could even fail to turn up for F5 and attend and pass P3 and P5.

      Next time, enter for F5 and P7, not attend F5 and attend and pass P7

      So that just leaves you one exam away from qualifying and that exam is F5

      It’s possible (I had one student that had just F8 to pass – he had even passed P7 and just had the F8 to go to be qualified (he passed))

      Yes, it’s certainly possible – but it’s also expensive, keep entering for exams with no intention of turning up to sit those exams

    • Hi Carissa

      From my understanding of what I have read up on ACCA’s website, apparently the Fundamental Papers have to be passed in order for the Professional Papers to be sat.

      ACCA have said, and I quote:

      “The exams are divided into two levels – Fundamentals and Professional. The Fundamentals introduce you to both financial and management accounting techniques and cover the main technical areas that all accountants are expected to master. At the Professional level you build on that knowledge and explore advanced skills and techniques.”

      This means that although you have experienced the F7 and F8 papers, you cannot progress to the professional papers until you have sound knowledge of the fundamental papers.

      The professional papers are designed to explore further of what you have covered in the fundamental papers and so it is pointless to move on to the professional papers until you have overcome all papers in the fundamental stage!

      I hope this helps and good luck with your resits!

      Avnish

    • You are allowed to take those four papers at the same time, provided that you have already passed all the other F papers (including F9).

      The rule is that you can only take the P papers if you have either already completed all the F papers, or are taking the remaining F papers at the same time.

    • Hi Clarissa,

      It is really important to master all your fundamental paper before going to the professional level.
      For my understanding you have the right to take those F7, F8, with P1, and P2 according to ACCA;
      BUT, IT IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO;
      Focus on the the Fundamental papers.You can add the P1 paper if you want but not P1 AND P2

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