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Sorry guys…I didn’t have any special notes for these. I marked these topics/models in textbook and read directly from textbook. But I’ve spent a major portion of my study time in practicing past papers to apply these theories/models. I had a Kaplan text for this subject which I got from a previous student, but I heard that, BPP textbook is also good.
In almost every sitting I’ve done that (paying exam fee for a middle paper and not turning up) to get some gap between 2 papers. I must admit that, I got great benefit from that (And I can live with paying an extra exam fees though).
To me, feelings and benefits of passing a paper is thousands times greater than an exam fees.
Since I joined my new company, I’ve to update my progress file after each exam, since my employer is paying for my tuitions+paid days off for study. I believe that, my line manager/HR manager check these later on in their own time.
But they’ve not asked for my previous exam results breakdown when joined them. On the interview, they just asked me how many subjects I’ve passed/exempted so far, but not the marks or number of attempts.
And I don’t thinks so that, ACCA will provide any such info regarding my exam results directly to my employer. Or my employer will ask for any such info to ACCA either. And I think, it is between student (employee) and employer depending on the contract in place.
I always wrote 1 or 2 sentenced introduction; and 1 or 2 sentenced conclusion for each answer. And one full sentence(point) for each mark.And sometimes 2 sentences.
But I always made sure that, I moved to the next question after spending 15 to 18 minutes for an 8 to 10 marks question.
For example, for a 10 marks question, I quickly wrote 1 or 2 sentence introduction and as many points I could wrote in next 15 minutes. Once my 15 minutes up, I concluded that question with 1 or 2 sentence and move to the next question. And off course some questions take bit more time to complete and some take bit less time, but maintaining the balance in timing for overall paper is extremely important. Because the simple fact is that, if you don’t write, you don’t get marks; it does not matter how much/depth you knew about a subject.
P1+P3 are relatively easy:with bit common sense in applying models; and with above average English, one should not have problem in these
P4 is relatively tough- plenty reason for that, time pressure is one of them.
Although I never failed any exam so far and most of papers were self studied, but a proper tuition provider seems to right answer for this P5. And I would definitely go for online tuition provider, although have not decided which one yet.
I am getting scared again like I was scared in Dec’13 for P4. Than the answer should be study, study and study I guess ……. to pass.
I just compared the annual report of 2012 of both ACCA and ICAEW to confirm my suspicion as in my previous post. And guess what, my suspicion were true.
If anyone has still has doubt why ACCA will not put any limit on the number of attempts per subjects or time limit to complete the whole qualifications or most importantly, put some criteria to limit the student intake (to better quality, if I can say so); please just compare the student numbers and the percentage of the revenue generation from these numbers.
It seems that, ACCA is purely relying on quantity and they will keep this so called mockery on, if not take this mockery to a extreme level for more cash cow, like putting 7 years time limit on passing “P” level exams (as I read from other threads/blogs).That will be a final nail on coffin and whole ACCA qualification will be a mockery itself, I am afraid.
Anyway, my point here is that, not putting the limit on the number of attempts per subject or 10 years time limit to complete the whole qualification (and can be press the refresh button after 10 years and can be done all over again…..what a joke) is not bless towards students, but to ACCA .
I also think that, this policy is making a student lazy and not to take exams seriously (there are plenty points to support this arguments, but at this point, I just want to stick with this thread topic only). A simple fact that, although an employer looks for various skills in candidates, but certainly that employer will prefer to recruit someone who passed first time than who failed few times, if everything else same.
I strongly support this :
Since this thread has already mentioned more or less all the points I could have said on time limit and number of attempts. So I though, I’ll take a bit different approach in this discussion, since this is an important issue.
Although ACCA try to promote itself as a global, when the real fact is that, most of the first world countries (where they have strong accounting bodies) do not mutually recognise ACCA in the same way as they recognise ICAEW/ICAS. And these countries recognise ACCA; they also recognise others. In another word, ICAEW/ICAS is more reputed in terms of mutual recognition. (Sorry, I am not putting forward the idea that, ICAEW/ICAS is better than ACCA)
Although quality, contents and status of these qualifications are more or less same in UK, but to me, for the following reasons ACCA is not as highly regarded as ICAEW/ICAS in UK/Worldwide.
*10 years of time limit and unlimited attempts of a paper within that 10 years timeframe (I just wonder, how apprehensive ACCA has to be in its intakes (students) to introduce such ridiculous policy)
*adjusted pass rate (I am not sure, if it is true)
*No formal barrier to entry (such as getting into a sponsor company first).So absolutely any student can get entry into ACCA with minimum qualification.
*non mandatory work experience while completing exams
*High number of exemptions (I got 7 exemptions, but could apply for all available 9, where I could get a maximum of 3 exemptions in ICAEW) .This is one of the main reason for me to take ACCA.I am not in practice and my employer (service industry) doesn’t bother which qualification I do, as long as I don’t fail any subject, so that they don’t have to pay tuition fee/days off again for same subjects.
If anyone thinks that, above points are in the favour of students, than please think twice.
My View
Although personally I believe that, there should be no barrier on education, but reputation of an Institute such as ACCA must be sustain through quality of their policy.
I think that, ACCA is well aware of the disadvantages of the above points for student, but for commercial reason, they deliberately introduced these. To me, ACCA opened the flood gate for skimming from these floods, in the form of exam fees and subscriptions, and to have presence in more countries (quantity over quality).
From my observation what I’ve seen in generally that, if a student fails second time in a subject, than the probability is quite high that, that respective student is likely to fail other subjects as well and more than once. And I think that, ACCA loves to keep these students in its register as long term cash cow.
So, definitely I agree that, ACCA must think about this 10 years time limit for passing all subjects and number of attempts on a single subject. And also an independent body to verify these pass rates with actual marks student obtained in a paper.
If I’ve to quit ACCA because of I can’t pass, than probably I would implement a better study method/ find an alternative tuition provider /have couple of study buddies and so;instead of giving up.
Here is my approach to study a subject (from an older thread), hope this help in some extend.
Step1: Print out the last six (6) exams question papers and suggested solution from ACCA site.
Step2: Follow the lecture
Step3: After each lecture, I glance through the textbook to mark the lecture coverage area of that day in the text book (No more than 15 mins).
Step3: Than straightway I look into these printed past questions papers and try to find out the related questions on these chapters (I take my time to read each questions paper and try to understand each question; and mark only relevant questions from the lecture coverage area of the day).
For the first time when I read these past papers, I usually read these again and again over couple of days. It helps me to understand what this new subject is all about and what I suppose to learn. It also helps to improve the questions reading skills, which is extremely important in exam hall under time pressure.Step4: start doing homework (if any) and solving these marked questions on these chapters
Priority of order in doing homework/solving past question paper
Lecture note?Textbook?ACCA suggested solutions ?friends helpStep 5: Make my own note, cross check with tutors and file it.
Step 6: 10 days before exam,lock myself in home. Make a note of tips from all tuition providers and mark them on these last 6 question papers.
Step7: Over these 10 days, every day I try to attempt 2 question papers from these last 6 papers as in exam condition, and one of them at 10 am. I attempt all questions of a questions paper+ mock exam.
Step8: Take a bottle of freezing cold water (without any level) and go to exam centre (at least 30 mins before)
Step9: In reading time, choose quickly which questions I’m going to attempt (or eliminate the hardest one).And mark them according to the difficulties level. (Should not take more than 2/3 minutes).
Step 10: start taking notes/solving on the questions paper on easiest one. If still any reading time left, than I try to take notes on the next easy one.
Step11: Order of attack in exam
Easy?Hard?HarderResult: I hardly ran out time in exam and not to mention that, I never failed any exam so far. I’ve only 2 more subjects to pass.
65…more than I expected.Cant express how much I’m happy now.Thanks to God and my P4 tutor
Now, I am feeling like sitting on my toe and watching final couples of over of a tightly fought cricket match as the midnight approaching…..over anxious
Good luck to everyone ( and offcourse to me)
There is no reported leakage of Dec’13 results so far, that’s for sure. So I’ll be not surprised if the old guys (ACCA directors) go for a full English breakfast and extra cream in their coffee on Saturday morning, for their success this time. Well-done old guys.
But I just want to see this (viral) thread is making a new record of most popular topic of OT forums of all time. 20 more posts guys…we are almost there.
And I don’t know how much I am loving GANGNAM STYLE now…lol
Guys, I just noticed that, another 65 posts to this topic, it would be the most popular topic in the history of OT forums. And it would break the 2 ½ years old record of 334 posts on a single topic.
I can hear a rat started running through my stomach .And I’m really wishing now that…..if all the exams were computer based MCQ type’s exams with instant result. ….
Yes I also received same. ‘Bin the clutter’…that is my approach to most of the ACCA email and posts after a negligible glance…lol.
Here we are going again through the agony of waiting for another result. So I thought I’ll start predicting my result to relief some stress. Anyone else want to predict their results?
I just attempted P4 in Dec13 and expecting marks in between 48-54.
@ John
I know exactly what you meant. Unfortunately, I’ve past my golden old Uni life. Now I’m in my late 20’s, work fulltime and look after my family. So hardly get any chance to go through these notes in between until I take the whole week off (plus two weekends both side) from work just before exams. I am a Finance graduate and never attempted more than two ACCA subjects due to work and family commitments. Last time I attempted two subjects P1 and P3. And this time, I only attempted one subject P4, so I could effort to pile up dust on file and it works for me.But I would like to take this opportunity to advise any student reading these; don’t pile up your study for the last moment, especially if you are attempting two or more subjects at a time and your educational background is not finance/accounting.
How I study a subject:
Step1: Print out the last six (6) exams question papers and suggested solution from ACCA site.
Step2: Follow the lecture
Step3: After each lecture, I glance through the textbook to mark the lecture coverage area of that day in the text book (No more than 15 mins).
Step3: Than straightway I look into these printed past questions papers and try to find out the related questions on these chapters (I take my time to read each questions paper and try to understand each question; and mark only relevant questions from the lecture coverage area of the day).
For the first time when I read these past papers, I usually read these again and again over couple of days. It helps me to understand what this new subject is all about and what I suppose to learn. It also helps to improve the questions reading skills, which is extremely important in exam hall under time pressure.Step4: start doing homework (if any) and solving these marked questions on these chapters
Priority of order in doing homework/solving past question paper
Lecture note?Textbook?ACCA suggested solutions ?friends helpStep 5: Make my own note, cross check with tutors and file it.
Step 6: 10 days before exam, give a good dusting on file (encase any dust on file….lol) and lock myself in home. Make a note of tips from all tuition providers and mark them on these last 6 question papers.
Step7: Over these 10 days, every day I try to attempt 2 question papers from these last 6 papers as in exam condition, and one of them at 10 am. I attempt all questions of a questions paper+ mock exam.
Step8: Take a bottle of freezing cold water (without any level) and go to exam centre (at least 30 mins before)
Step9: In reading time, choose quickly which questions I’m going to attempt (or eliminate the hardest one).And mark them according to the difficulties level. (Should not take more than 2/3 minutes).
Step 10: start taking notes/solving on the questions paper on easiest one. If still any reading time left, than I try to take notes on the next easy one.
Step11: Order of attack in exam
Easy?Hard?HarderResult: I hardly ran out time in exam and not to mention that, I never failed any exam so far.
Hope this help
Off course OT is a good source for quality study material and information. That’s why I am here in the first place, and regularly follow it. I also recommended this site to many of my ACCA study mates. And everyone admitted that, they were benefitted from this site in various capacities. I’ve taken both classroom and online tuitions (including OT) in my ACCA journey and never failed any exam so far. So by this original post, I just wanted to share my own experience in deciding tuition provider, as OT does not allow discussing other tuition providers directly. And the bottom line is, we can promote OT is a quality learning site, but certainly can’t put a limit on people’s choice.
I also received the same email on 29th Jan and didn’t bother to read at all. To me, it was more like a routine email ACCA have sent to remind about the upcoming results.
Regarding the last two paragraph of that email however sounding to me like, old chaps (directors) were asking new blokes (students) to behave in using IT skills. Because they don’t want to admit their lack of IT knowledge and looking forward to pension without any scandal in that way.
Come on old chaps…. (Study P1+P3 yourself and) implement a better IT security (Outsource perhaps!!!)
I promised to my gf that, if I pass, I’ll buy a bling to her. Now she is dealing with God …lol
Just before December 2013 exams, I’ve heard from one of the current Marker and Articles writer of ACCA that, there was a discussion about 4 exams per year. However, this may implement to “P” level exams only. But no definite dates or policy had been finalised by that date.