APM*** ACCA APM September 2018 Exam Results ***

When you expect to fail you pass, and when you expect to pass you fail. Really gutted because I felt I did good enough to pass this paper and become an affiliate. And yes the e business theory works, it’s good that I had my heads up before results day. I think I’ll do more practice this time for P5.

52% Thank God!!!!!!! I AM FINALLY ACCA Qualified

68% APM, 83% AAA - both first time. Now just SBL to go in Dec!

Left 6 marks, still got 50 yahoo!

@silmenadil said: Dear nadz24 can you help me please

Dear Silmenadil, I'm a full time employee in a bank and I had a very little time to study even in the weekends. First of all, you should boost your confidence that you could pass this exam. That confidence really helped me to study. I would always imagine myself passing the exam with high marks so that I was mentally prepared for studying. I did self studying with Kaplan books and opentuition text. First I read the open tuition chapters one by one and after finishing a chapter I would listen to their video if that chapter is too theoretical. After finishing off the OT Text which was like a summary of the Kaplan study text, I read the Kaplan study text twice. At the end of each chapter I made a mind map ONLY WITH THE ESSENTIAL FACTS. Thereafter I spent most of the time reading the Kaplan revision Kit. So when I told I was reading the revision Kit I did it in a way that got me to pass APM. 1. After reading the scenario, I would highlight all the minute details that form answer. 2. Then I would imagine if i was in the same situation what would I do 3. After making a list of things in my mind that I would do , then only I read the answer. 4. When I read the answer I only look at how logically the answer was built up. How the answer has provided its argument to prove the point. It's amazing to see sometimes how the answer has built on some minute factors! The key to pass APM is to get used to this logically argument building. For that you need to broaden your thinking. When you provide a solution to a particular scenario, write a one line of how this could go wrong/right depending on what the question has sked. Show the examiner that you have rounded knowledge. But don't get carried away by writing so many unnecessary stuff too. Do read the past papers and the answers. That exposes you to so many situations and trust me! at the end of it you would naturally get in to the style of writing a passable answer for APM. Last two days before the exam I only read the past papers and answers, So to make sure my thinking is broadened like a real accountant. **Also I studied an older version of Kaplan Text and the revision which 2015 edition. So Please do tell if you need any help to pass :)

@nadz24: What are minute factors and minute details? What do you mean by them? Thank you.

@ds3ce: I remember your results from last time as I also got 34% in June. I cannot say specifically what you can do to get that final 20% to the pass mark. All I can really say is that when I failed at the same level, I had a very strong knowledge of the subject area but severally lacked any exam practice. It is really important to read over the Examiner's Report for the exam which unfortunately was a fail. I felt this helped me to see that you have to be very specific with your answer, really make sure you know what the examiner is asking. If the question points you to what a CEO has asked in the scenario then read it a few times to make sure you answer what has been asked. In line with this, it is almost not worth wasting time explaining a model or trying to make a model fit when it isn't required. If a model is mentioned in the scenario, stick to it as closely as possible, if one isn't mentioned then unless if fits absolutely perfectly, don't use it and instead approach it from a common sense perspective. Often the questions are a financial professional explaining something to the board so it doesn't need to be filled with jargon terms. Whatever you do though, explaining any model in detail isn't required and as the examiner says, the history is important but irrelevant. Other people say exam practice and that is a personal choice, I can't stand it so don't do any. Yes possibly a mistake to some, however in the absence of exam practice, i read through 2 or 3 exams to make sure I knew what sort of answer was required. It seemed to be that the more concise the answer the better, it is worth taking time to plan you answer if even just for a minute. Finally on that planning point, as soon as we were allowed to write in the exam, I went through and calculated the time to move from one question to the next, down to the exact minute for every mark. It took maybe 2 or 3 minutes to do. Try to stick to it as closely as possible only deviating if you know it's worth spending an extra minute if you are making a good point. The first 50% of marks in a question are the easiest to get so make sure you get them, try to not miss a single question. If it's for 10 marks and you really don;t know what to say, just spend 15 minutes and get some points down using common sense and the information in the scenario, you may just get 3 or 4 marks. Remember that the 4 professional marks are there too, use that for creating your introduction to the report to management and think of some subheadings ready to use based on what the question requirement is. Only you will know what you did or didn't do right on the day but I strongly believe that to get >30% shows you have the knowledge and applying it is the problem.

@James Thank you so much for the lengthy answer and explanation. I will take your points on board. Do you think I can pass by myself? I can't really afford to pay for any tuition provider and don't have the time to attend revision classes either as a single mum with no help from the other parent hence why I self study online. I think you are spot on, I do have the knowledge,my issue lies somewhere in the application or non-application of the theory. English only being my second language doesn't help either and the fact I hate essay style writing. I have never been good at writing long answers and essays etc , even at uni it was a struggle. How shall I practise past papers? Bullet point answers and then trying to expand on them? Shall I copy some answers word by word to "get the hang of it"? Are 6weeks enough to prepare evenings and weekends with a full time job and pass in December?

@jamessalisbury said: @ds3ce: I remember your results from last time as I also got 34% in June. I cannot say specifically what you can do to get that final 20% to the pass mark. All I can really say is that when I failed at the same level, I had a very strong knowledge of the subject area but severally lacked any exam practice. It is really important to read over the Examiner's Report for the exam which unfortunately was a fail. I felt this helped me to see that you have to be very specific with your answer, really make sure you know what the examiner is asking. If the question points you to what a CEO has asked in the scenario then read it a few times to make sure you answer what has been asked. In line with this, it is almost not worth wasting time explaining a model or trying to make a model fit when it isn't required. If a model is mentioned in the scenario, stick to it as closely as possible, if one isn't mentioned then unless if fits absolutely perfectly, don't use it and instead approach it from a common sense perspective. Often the questions are a financial professional explaining something to the board so it doesn't need to be filled with jargon terms. Whatever you do though, explaining any model in detail isn't required and as the examiner says, the history is important but irrelevant. Other people say exam practice and that is a personal choice, I can't stand it so don't do any. Yes possibly a mistake to some, however in the absence of exam practice, i read through 2 or 3 exams to make sure I knew what sort of answer was required. It seemed to be that the more concise the answer the better, it is worth taking time to plan you answer if even just for a minute. Finally on that planning point, as soon as we were allowed to write in the exam, I went through and calculated the time to move from one question to the next, down to the exact minute for every mark. It took maybe 2 or 3 minutes to do. Try to stick to it as closely as possible only deviating if you know it's worth spending an extra minute if you are making a good point. The first 50% of marks in a question are the easiest to get so make sure you get them, try to not miss a single question. If it's for 10 marks and you really don;t know what to say, just spend 15 minutes and get some points down using common sense and the information in the scenario, you may just get 3 or 4 marks. Remember that the 4 professional marks are there too, use that for creating your introduction to the report to management and think of some subheadings ready to use based on what the question requirement is. Only you will know what you did or didn't do right on the day but I strongly believe that to get >30% shows you have the knowledge and applying it is the problem.

@James And a big congratulations for finally passing P5 :) Well done.

wow…it’s impressive results. @robertoh, could you please share your tips?

@robertoh said: 68% APM, 83% AAA - both first time. Now just SBL to go in Dec!

What was your approach. Plz share. Are opentuition notes good to pass?

@ds3ce said: @James Thank you so much for the lengthy answer and explanation. I will take your points on board. Do you think I can pass by myself? I can't really afford to pay for any tuition provider and don't have the time to attend revision classes either as a single mum with no help from the other parent hence why I self study online. I think you are spot on, I do have the knowledge,my issue lies somewhere in the application or non-application of the theory. English only being my second language doesn't help either and the fact I hate essay style writing. I have never been good at writing long answers and essays etc , even at uni it was a struggle. How shall I practise past papers? Bullet point answers and then trying to expand on them? Shall I copy some answers word by word to "get the hang of it"? Are 6weeks enough to prepare evenings and weekends with a full time job and pass in December?

I used the BPP Online Classroom for my studying but only for the first attempt, after that I was using the lecture notes provided as I didn't want to pay for further access. In a way it meant that it was self study when I passed. I am happy to send onto you the notes free of charge. I know these things aren't to be sold on so happy to help for free. (They have been written on somewhat and say they are only to June '18 but I don't think there have been any syllabus changes, only the format of the exam). With English being a second language I can see that the understanding of exactly what is asked for in the question could be the issue. Reading through the model answer and linking it to the key words in the question may help with this. The not wanting to write long answers could help as an essay type format in my opinion is different to that of a report. For a report which is almost always what is asked for, I would always say to keep it short and sweet. It is for the board of directors who in the real world would be very busy and not wanting to read an essay style response. I write a lot of reports at work and it's all about making a point and backing it up with the evidence. Translated to the exam, make a point and always use the scenario given to back it up, then say how it affects the performance. At this point the, how it affects performance, is to an extent just a guess. Using the environment of the business that has been described in the question is important so you know roughly what the issues are already that the business faces. Ask yourself, are the suggestions you are making in terms of performance, going to make the issues better or worse. Keep the points concise and move onto the next line for new point. (Try to avoid actually using bullet points though) I am not a fan of using past papers so can't really comment on them, I know some people like to practice them a lot but if time management isn't an issue then I would suggest bullet points for past papers to save time and then compare the main points to the model answer and see if you are making similar point. If you are making the same points as the examiner then look at how the examiner takes these points to the next step to get full credit. The actual exam we sat is online and so are the answers and this time, for Sept '18, the full paper is there and it isn't a hybrid so is useful if you can remember the sort of thing you wrote on the day. A full time job and six weeks is enough time, a lot of the information will be retained in your head and practice getting it on paper should be enough. If you would like the lecture notes and revision book just let me know :) (I am assuming you are in the UK as I will be sending hard copies)

@Z Thanks for your reply. Congratulations on completing your journey. It's a tough old slog isn't it. Well done for getting there and persevering despite the setbacks, it takes courage and determination to get back up and go again. I'm not too sure how quickly the ACCA process the membership application but I guess it's good to be organised on that front and get the PER done as soon as possible.

@maven232 said: Mate same. used to get 47, 48 but this time thankfully got 53. I managed to attempt 75 marks properly; the last 25 mark question I wasn't able to attempt 11 mark and the rest on that question was just me rambling on with minutes to spare. Just filling my PER because I've done more than 36 months of relevant work experience (in big four as well) but the journey was exhausting and there were times I thought I couldn't go on. Should be done by PER this week and submit for membership. Hopefully should be done in a month right? Heard ACCA don't take long in processing your membership application. Extremely wise words from you and appreciate the feedback. Good luck to everyone keep soldiering on you will get your reward.

Failed again after re-writting this paper for many times............ONLY God knows why am going into this tough situation......i don't even know how to start preparing for December 2018 exams sitting....but with hope my day shall come and i shall rejoice in the name of the Lord-AMEN....!!!!

Guys, For everyone feeling very demoralised by a recent fail I know this isn't going to fix how you feel but it might give you a sense of how hard the exams are not that we need any reminding! The pass rate for APM for Sep 18 was 33%, so basically 1 in 3 has passed this exam!! Let that sink in. So you certainly won't be alone in missing out on these exams. I know it's not much but it might give some comfort in knowing you aren't the only person in this position. Most will encounter a setback along the way (myself included) but just keep going. As hard as it might feel today, trust me, in another few days time you'll feel ready to put this most recent sitting firmly in your rear view mirror (some may have already!) and you'll be re-energizing and turning your focus to the December sitting and getting it this time. Keep the faith, keep the belief, and most of all stay positive about your ability and give yourself credit and rewards for rising to the fight once again. Be mindful of yourself these days ahead. I'm back writing on this post as I feel a sense of sorrow for those that are having to go back at it again as I know the feeling all too well so just wanted to offer my support and encouragement. https://www.accaglobal.com/ie/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/pass-rates-professional-exams.html

Passed with 56% after second attempt. Thank you OT. The Flash card was so very helpful, you all are appreciated. Congratulations to all who passed and please don't ever give up no matter how frustrating until you achieve this goal- we feel you. Once again much thanks to all the OT Team. Regards Ann Abe

any tips for apm

Hi James Would you please share what you have done to pass this paper? December is going to be my 3rd attempt, and I have already before practised all the questions and understood the theory. I think I am not good enough in writing well structured answers. Any sort of advise or guidance is highly welcomed. Thanks Iman