Another failure

I feel for you, I just failed P3 with 45, I know the feeling but I will try again.

I tried all sorts over the years but this is how I did the last paper and how I’m doing my current one…..

As soon as you’ve done 1 exam give yourself the weekend off, then move straight onto the next exam the following week.
Read the study text within 1 month (I have BPP text books for my P papers) doing approx 1hr a day.
Then spend the next couple of months doing past papers/ questions from revision kit & reading articles).

I’ve just started doing practice exams for P4 in December (7 weeks!).

The scenarios in the questions will help apply the knowledge and you’ll be more likely to retain the information (I often find that 1 particular question ‘stick’s in my mind and I use that as a base to answer other scenarios).

Aim to do at least 1 past exam question per day, and then top-up with revision kits/ articles at the weekends (not as time consuming).

If you do it little and often it’s a lot more manageable and less likely to interfere with work/family @ weekends.

People have been saying for years that exam practice is key – and it really is.

Try and do all the past papers at least twice. To start with you wont know how to answer them and it is easy just to look at the answers….but try not to. By the time you do the 2nd circuit of papers you start to become more confident and can start to break-down the information and answer quicker.

Read the articles again a few weeks before an exam and they will be a lot clearer.

Do you feel time pressured during the exams?
Do you have enough time to answer all questions?

Only by answering ALL questions do you stand the best chance of passing.
I wish I’d started doing all this from the beginning….it would’ve saved me many sleepless nights/ heartache.

Do a study plan and STICK TO IT.

Because you are doing re-sits I don’t really think you need to bother that much with study text. Just use it for reference if you don’t understand an answer.
Just practice, practice practice!! Can’t say it enough – practice.

Best of luck.

@pauljaco

ACCA gives 10 years to complete the programme. How far are you along and how many years do you have left? Assuming you are fairly young and there is at least a little job progression whilst you complete your qualification, could you give yourself that 10 years without thinking about giving up? Even if you finish in your late thirties or even 40 years of age, there should be enough years left in your accounting career for a decent ROI.

However, if you are repeatedly failing at the F level, which is not too difficult, the more important question is to ask yourself why you must do ACCA. I know everyone says do not give up. But it would be a mistake to perceive stopping ACCA as giving up. Be honest with your own motivation because only you can answer this question and only you should decide, not someone else.

Also, it is always good idea to have some flexibility of thought, and have a Plan B. How critical is ACCA in the whole scheme of your life. Look at the big picture, and not miss the wood for the trees.

Hi Paul,

I took for my first exam in December 2010 and finally passed as a member after the March 2017 sitting. The road was very long, it was full of ups and downs but I always maintained this biased opinion that I will achieve what I set out to achieve. I suppose I was lucky in a way because I didn’t let the failures bring me down (remember if the exams were easy then everyone would do them….).

I failed my final exam (P7) four times before I passed with marks of 45, 47, 49 and 49…this was so hard to take given my daughter had just been born and I just got married and I just changed jobs!

But, I knew I had the knowledge, it was just my exam technique! Here is a piece of advice which I think you might benefit from….

Every two our three lines you write in your examination paper (and of course your practise papers), review them and ask yourself “HAVE I JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION”? because that is all the examiner cares about. A lot of candidates waste so much time not even answering the question and instead bombard the examiner with facts that are irrelevant and not answering the question! This is exactly why people get awarded marks in the 40’s.

I always used to pretend that the examiner had no clue about Accountancy and therefore I answered the question in such a simplistic and logical way and THEY LOVE IT. Clear, short and concise answers that answer the questions asked. Do not under any circumstances waffle, because you are wasting time, not getting any marks and boring the marker.

The first question you answer on a paper is key, if you get that right the examiner will think “god, this person knows what I want” and that straight away gets them attached to your answers.

I genuinely wish you luck mate, but only you can decide if the journey is worth further hard work and sacrifice. One day you could be the person handing out advice and quite frankly given your current situation it will be advice well received.

All the best.