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Choosing optional questions

Forums › Ask ACCA Tutor Forums › Ask the Tutor ACCA SBR Exams › Choosing optional questions

  • This topic has 8 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by MikeLittle.
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • February 24, 2015 at 11:49 am #229970
    yellow
    Participant
    • Topics: 53
    • Replies: 68
    • β˜†β˜†

    Hello dear Mike
    Hope you are fine and thank you with all your help.

    My question is about choosing optional questions in the exam! As far as I know the 2nd and 3rd questions are usually about different IFSRs & IASs and question 4 is about a current issue.
    If the above assumption is right, then do you think whether is it logical and better to just focus on questions two and three because they are about accounting standards , so maybe more repetitive and easier that question 4 which is a current issue and could be about anything!

    I know it is just a matter of choice (otherwise they were not optional πŸ˜€ ) and depends on the student’s knowledge, but would you please let me know YOUR opinion and experience !? Is question 4 usually harder than the other two questions? Is it a good approach to just focus on questions 1,2,3 of past papers?

    Kind Regards
    Thank you in advance

    February 24, 2015 at 12:32 pm #229988
    MikeLittle
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 27
    • Replies: 23309
    • β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

    That seems a sound approach to me and is almost certainly the one that I would adopt we’re I to have to take the exam again!

    Just consider how difficult it is to raise 25 different points on an issue that is currently topical!

    Now think about how much less difficult it is to quote paragraphs from an IAS / IFRS and then apply those paragraphs to a given scenario – particularly when the scenario has (almost by definition) to highlight the contentious issues that the standard is now going to resolve

    I have in the past told students to avoid question 4 if they possibly could and only in the extreme circumstance where their brain froze and they could think of effectively nothing to say in one of the other options then to attempt question 4

    But that’s all personal. It’s not necessarily the way that the majority adopts and it could conceivably be the cause for the majority of fail papers!

    Who can tell? Not me!

    Hope that helps

    February 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm #229990
    yellow
    Participant
    • Topics: 53
    • Replies: 68
    • β˜†β˜†

    Thank you for your VALUABLE advice.

    Well, I myself also think dealing with a 25 mark questions which is about differrent IFRSs and IASs could be easier than a 25 marks question about a current issue πŸ˜‰ .

    Many Thanks Mr Mike

    February 24, 2015 at 4:31 pm #230013
    MikeLittle
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 27
    • Replies: 23309
    • β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

    You’re welcome

    November 12, 2015 at 8:03 am #281890
    ahmedmirza
    Participant
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 29
    • β˜†

    Hello Mike

    I just googled this same question I had and reached at this place. Very helpful response. But I was also expecting to read something like.. “the examiner would appreciate the student attempting a question on topical issues”. Is that possible?

    What I mean is, if we are familiar of the issue in the question we can firstly elaborate on the discussions going on, the fors and againsts, and then put forward our point of views somehow in ways to try adding up to 25 points or plus. Can we expect leniency in marking just because we are attempting question 4?

    Thank you

    Ahmed Mirza

    November 12, 2015 at 8:05 am #281891
    ahmedmirza
    Participant
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 29
    • β˜†

    <Delete>

    November 12, 2015 at 8:10 am #281895
    MikeLittle
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 27
    • Replies: 23309
    • β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

    You can expect no leniency – these are professional exams and there is no room for sentimentality! Sorry

    But you’re correct in this – it’s very difficult to arrive at 25 separate markable points in a discussion question on a topical issue.

    I said for years to my students, if there’s any possibility at all that you can avoid question 4, then avoid it

    November 12, 2015 at 8:29 am #281897
    ahmedmirza
    Participant
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 29
    • β˜†

    Thank you!

    November 12, 2015 at 8:51 am #281904
    MikeLittle
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 27
    • Replies: 23309
    • β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†

    You’re welcome

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