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Hi All,
This question is mostly towards people doing this part-time and in full time employment.
I signed up to study for the ACCA exams about 3 years ago. During that time due to personal reasons I had to take a full year off and then end of 2014 I took half a year off as I was getting married. At the moment I’m waiting for my F7 results (3rd time sitting this) and then i’ve just got F8 & F9 and then the 5 P papers left to do.
i’m really starting to struggle with balancing this with work and just life in general. There’s a lot of sacrifices made in order to study for the exams (I don’t have any kids) and the last year or so i’ve really been finding it harder to be motivated to finish this. To be honest, i’m quite tempted to do F8 & F9 and maybe just be done with it. I really can’t do this for another 2 years. IF I decide to finish it I really want to try and finish it by end of next year. I find life just gets put on hold for the ACCA and I don’t want to have to do this for more than another year after this one. i’ve really only been doing 1 paper each term as I find it hard enough balancing everything studying for just 1 paper never mind 2 but next year I figure if I decide to finish I need to just go hard at it and do 2 of the P papers per term (i’d like to sit the first P paper this Dec).
Anyone else have the same struggles? I have a very good job in finance at the moment(working in the same company for over 10 years) and finishing the ACCA at this point isn’t just about the financial benefits. I think it would be a waste not to but it just takes up so much time and once I’m qualified I don’t want to end up leaving where I work now just to take a high paid job that I might not even like. I actually have no idea really what I want to be or what part of finance I want to work in once I am fully qualified. i’ve done accounts for the last 18 years so really have never known anything else.
Any opinions or advice?
Thanks
I think you will find that a lot of people are in the same boat, in fact, out of everyone i know that has studied accountancy, they have done so whilst working full time. I did, i have a family at home too and was managing a finance department. Evenings and weekends, the time when most can study, were pretty full at times too, so it was a struggle. We had a baby, plus got married during the time i was studying, so it is do-able, even if it takes longer
I suppose you have to decide if its for you? are you prepared to give up most of your free time for a couple more years (wait till you get to the option papers…), or is it not for you?
Career wise, its definitely worth it, even if not just for the added salary
You just have to tell yourself it wont be for long. You would have to make the sacrifices now if that is what you want to do. I too have a family at home and recently got married and my son at times complain that I dont do things with him but I keep telling myself as soon as I am done I will have all the time in the world to spend with him.
Hi Erin
I feel and share your suffering with finishing ACCA, Ive juggled firstly CAT and now ACCA with working and raising a family and its a nightmare!!! Im waiting for results on F9 and will call it a day with ACCA at this stage (Advanced Diploma hopefully come midnight) I too work in finance and love what I do and have no desire to be director, senior manager etc. for me Im wanting a decent work life balance, my exams to date have enabled that to happen. No shame in calling it a day, family is what should matter the most. All the bestoh Erin – I’m totally there with you!
I’m just incredibly fed up with it all. I have 2 children – my son being 1 yr old – and I just feel like my family life is suffering 🙁 it’s really getting me down.
I work full time, starting at 6 and finish at 3 – so I can do the school pick up – home by 3.30 and my husband then goes to work. I have to do dinners, homework, baths, bedtime, all on my own, then, find some energy from somewhere to work out and study!! I would really love to meet those women who claim to ‘have it all’ because, I’m sorry, I don’t think they can!
Weeks gearing up to the exams my husband and children tell me how much they miss me, as I’m walking out the door to go to the library, and the guilt is really upsetting.
Compounded with the fact that I it don’t really see my husband in the week (9pm is my bedtime due to early rise and he finished at 8) – I miss him too!
But me being me I will not show this weakness. I will not complain or moan to my workplace (who are eager for me to complete ACCA asap). I have a desire to be more than I am in the workplace too – FC or director in automotive (ideally F1). I’m currently an assistant account to FC with 3 staff under me.
My husband and I tell each other that its only for a couple more years and then we can enjoy a better life.
As Ali once said:
“Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”Thought AAT and ACCA I’ve had 2 children, moved 3 times and got married. phew! I’m exhausted!
I’m currently waiting for F9 results (not feeling very confident about that!) then onto P papers.
You can do it Erin! Just head down and take 1 paper at a time. If you only do 1 per year/6 months then fine – there’s no prizes for completing it quickly….. 🙂
Just think of how far you’ve come!Hi All,
I think at moment I am in the same boat as you are. I am 29, got 5 exemptions, so 9 exams left. I sat F5 anf F8 twice and I failed. Due to personal issues I didnt have enough time to study. I am working full time and finding it extremly difficult to study after work. I have ”hit a wall” and cant progress. I am doing past papers but dont see any progress. Everytime I open a book I am freaking out as there is more and more to learn. This is very demotivating. On top of that my work is so boring that makes me even less moivated to do anything.
I dont know what to do. It is so hard to get back up after such a defeat. I dont know how approach the study process. I used to be very good at study after work. I have done all my third level education part-time but for some reason ACCA is not going that well.Any advise?
Thank you,
Paula
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@Paula28
Focus on one exam at a time. So, for example, start with F5 for the September exam session. Don’t use the study text, it is boring and very long. Download the F5 course notes here on OT and watch all of John Moffat’s lectures with the notes.
Download the F5 study guide, you tick off as you complete the tasks.
After each chapter, you can practice the suggested past exam questions in the study guide.
I passed F5 using only OT notes and lectures, watching the F5 revision lectures, and practicing from a revision kit.
Make a schedule, if it is hard to study after work, perhaps you can try to study early morning before work.Hi Suf23,
Thank you very much for your help! This is what I need – a clear and concise plan of study. I will make a schedule based on your tips.
Good luck to you with the rest of the exmas 🙂
Paulina
Hi Erin, do one exam a sitting. dont push yourself to any deadlines and have a study plan. You can study in the mornings and have social life afterwards. You just need to find the way which works best for you.
I had to always explain to people and my friends that I was not available for anything for a month and did not make an exemption for anybody apart from my partner. Then you have usually a few months off studying before sitting another exam.Watch lectures and do as many past papers as possible. Read what is needed for each particular exam as it varies.
To be perfectly honest the ACCA qualification is not for everybody, it does take a lot of time and you need to sactify a lot. I sat my last 3 P exams when my daughter was born and without a great support of my “future” husband I would be able to finish it. You need to have people on your side.
I passed my last exam yesterday and literally I had tears in my eyes as the journey has come to the end for me after 5 years of studying 🙂 the feeling is fantastic! It is not because I want higher salary but I want my options to be open to me in the future so I wont be in the position I will be questioned why I am actually not qualified.
It is HARD but worth doing it!!!!
Good luck whatever you decide to do but dont push yourself to something you are not comfortable. It is after all your decision and your life.
Helena
Hi there I sat my first Acca exam in December 2007!!! Still going mare!! Have chucked it so many times and for whatever reason have started again. I am 44 and don’t need for my work but just really want the achievement. I have 2 p options to do and just failed p6 on 1st attempt. So tempted to call it a day but I am so close……
Hi All
Feel like I should share my story also to show that hard work and determination do pay off in the end!
I registered with ACCA in December 2006, a young 23 year old… I sat and failed P6 4 times, passed P5 on second attempt and P3 on second attempt (while pregnant with my first son) at the end of 2009. 3 years to pass 2 exams!
I then took a year off and sat and passed P1 in June 2011 before taking further time off to get married. I then moved jobs twice, and had my second son last year.
At this point, I toyed with the idea of giving up (I too have no desire to become a high flying exec) but I really wanted to finish what I started! So after the introduction of the 4 sessions per year, I decided to set myself a target of 6 months to complete my last 2 exams.
I work full time Mon-Fri, finish at 5 and home to do the dinner, bath, bed routine after which I would sit down and study for 1-2 hours each night (using Kaplan Live Online and OT) and then for a few hours each Sat and Sun (squeezing in family time when I could).
I sat and passed P6 in March (5th time lucky) and went on to sit P2 in June and cried with joy yesterday morning when I got my result… I had passed and now ACCA affiliate!
So yeah you will always have your doubts and wonder whether it all is really worth it when trying to juggle study, full time work and family life. But it can be done… even if it takes almost 10 years in my case! Don’t give up, because receiving that email to congratulate you on completion, is up there with with my wedding day and the birth of my two boys 🙂
Hi
I just wanted to share my journey , I finally became an affiliate at the age of 42 on Monday.
I self studied for all 14 exams , whilst working full time and up,until a couple of years ago I also had a second job.
Along the way I had failures ( F9’took me 7 attempts to pass ) , and there were times when I wanted to quit !!!
The fire in my belly to get qualified kept me going , I has taken me over 9 years , but I got there and boy oh boy am I proud of myself .
It is very very hard , but it is worth it in the end.
I tell my team at work , they don’t know how lucky there are getting college tuition ???.
Keep going , take one exam at a time , it’s a marathon not a sprint .
Good Luck xxxxx
I’m loving these stories!!
They’re really inspiring me to keep going. Even through everyday struggles, and road blocks along the way, you all managed to find a way and managed to DO IT!!!Congrats to all that are finally there – and best of luck to those who are still going x
I also want to share my story, I have become affiliate this session, it was tough and long way took me 10 years, with 2 kids and full time job i could not managed to make it shorter, but i am glad that i did not give up even if there were times where i wanted. I failed not a once, but continue to fight. I am a little proud of myself)
so if you are not target yourself with some deadlines to pass, just take your time, try to make as much as possible and an the end you will get what you needSometimes you might feel you are alone in the ACCA journey until you read and hear of others experiences. I started this journey about 2000 which might look odd to most people. I was really focused into finishing in a record 2-3 years which never came to be. I went into employment and was distracted and derailed I started skipping exams. It got worse when I relocated to another country and took up more job related assignments which required a lot of travelling and for 5 years I never sat any exams.
But at the back of my mind there was something amiss and I felt like I needed to finish off the ACCA journey. So in 2012 I started the walk again as I had P1, P2 and P5 left having been converted from the old syllabus. I did P1 and P2 and passed P1. It was to take me 3 attempts for P2 and 5 attempts for P5 till March 16 when I became an affiliate. You can just imagine the joy and the relief that came with this. Now having finished the PER I am a member waiting for Council sitting in September to get my certificate. I hope I will live long to enjoy the fruits of my struggle. Aluta continua!!!
My journey is similar to most of you only that I still have 6 papers to complete. I started ACCA in 2004, and in between 2004 and 2005 I had passed 5 papers. Struggled with Corporate and Business law took me a ridiculous 8 sittings before I passed it in 2014. In 2012, I gave up as I thought ACCA was not for me and wrote ACCA to remove me from their mailing list. I was very well convinced that ACCA was a scam and that they fail student intentionally to increase revenue.My scores were around 47 to 49. There were two consecutive sittings when I scored 49 and I thought to myself “how un-compassionate are these bastards”? Its been extremely though and believe me Erin I understand where you are coming from but all I can say is dont give up.
I am 41 and still soldiering on!
It gives me a great deal of inspiration reading these stories. I have decided to give P6 another go in September 16. I am determined to pass. This then leaves me one more option. Not sure what one to do but will hope to get P6 out the way first then decide. Fingers crossed by this time next year it will all be over and I will be qualified at 45!!!
Thank you for all stories it absolutely helps me to know I am not alone in this struggle!!
Hey Paula28!
I passed my F9 re-take in September.
I’m missing the December sitting as I’ll be on holiday, so I’ve got 2 P papers (P2/P4) planned for March.I’m planning a ‘big push’ next ear to get everything done by Dec 2017……we’ll see lol!
Slow doesn’t matter – forward is forward 🙂
Hi Wispy1984,
Congrats on passing your exam! And good luck with the next one. I still have 9 left! This is a struggle for me!
@paula28 said:
Hi Wispy1984,Congrats on passing your exam! And good luck with the next one. I still have 9 left! This is a struggle for me!
Thank you 🙂
I remember feeling exactly like you and still do if I’m honest, but the key for me (just me) was to stop comparing myself to others. I kept hearing all these stories about these super students who did the whole ACCA qualification 1/1.5 years!! I got so frustrated it was taking me so long!!! That’s why I loved the stories above – it reminded me that there are others out there, who feel/have felt exactly the same as us, that have made it 🙂
I’ve accepted that I will complete ACCA when I’m ready – and that’s it. If people want to spend every waking moment behind a text book then that’s their objective, not mine. Keep your head down, concentrate on one at a time and before you know it the finish line will be in sight. Never feel bad about the time it takes – you won’t get any prizes for finishing it quickly 😉Just believe in yourself!
Hi there
I did pass P6 in September and now getting ready to sit P7 on Monday. My final exam, can’t believe it, I am almost there, one final big push!! Please don’t give up it is so worth it the buzz you get when you pass!! Will actually miss that but certainly won’t miss the epic downer when you fail!! Lets hope come January I will be having the ultimate buzz!!
Hi everyone!
I read all these posts and I was smiling thinking about all these people struggling like me! But I am glad that most of you finished and achieved their goals. I think I need some support and advice too!
I am 29 years old and I started AAT two years ago. I was alone at the time and bored, I had a not interesting job in customer service and wanted to change. So during level 2 I got my first job in finance and I completed level 3 in June this year, but then for a series of events, I have been convinced to go to ACCA instead. The main reasons were that at the moment I am at the lowest level of the accounting career and I would like to go up the ladder a bit, however I am not interested in becoming a director. Second thing, AAT changed rules this year and to complete level 4 it would have taken 1 year and half, so I thought “well, 1 year and half of AAT is half the journey of ACCA, so it is probably worth not to waste this time with AAT level 4”. Finally, my employer clearly made me understand that I would not go anywhere in the company with AAT level 4… It basically does not count anything (for him at least)… So in the end here I am, without any exemptions, preparing for F2 on December 22nd. On one side I am happy that I started from F1, as I believe I need this basic knowledge to progress with the future exams and on the other hand, I thank god I did AAT as it taught me lots of concepts so useful to understand ACCA… However, I never thought it would be so hard. All people I asked advice to, told me I could do it and it would be ok, none of them studied more than hour a day, it was not too hard etc. Liars!! I feel like they fooled me!! 🙂 I am starting to believe this is way too much than what I wanted to do. I got married in the meantime and I would like to have a baby soon.
So, I was wondering whether I can actually stop with the Advanced Diploma after F9. Has anyone of you found himself/herself in the same situation? Has actually stopped there? I think it would already improve my career, what do you think?Wow!! i’ve only just logged in here after taking last year off college altogether and I’m just blown away by the response! This makes me feel SO much better to read all your stories and see such a similarity between my struggles and what other people are going through. Plus, to all the parents that are also studying ACCA – seriously, big pat on the back..I really admire your determination.
Soooo….latest update on me is I decided after taking last year off (was totally burnt out and decided I needed the break to get my head sorted and decide what I wanted to do) i’ve decided to at least finish the next three F papers this year. i’m taking advantage of the extra exam sessions this year as well. My original plan was to do F8 this term & sit the exam in March, then F9 in June and finally, the one I dread….F7 in Sep. I had to sign up with a totally new college this year and I decided also to do it all from home watching the live lectures. I didn’t want to waste time sitting in traffic on the way to college or having to get a train into the city centre and then travelling home late so decided why not do it from the comfort of home where I could sit there in my pj’s if I wanted..lol
So, I signed up with The Accountancy School now based in Lad Lane and i’m very impressed so far. Not the best start I have to say as I’;m not slightly behind with the lectures and have to spend this week catching up on half of last week’s lecture plus about 5 hours from last Sunday! I just need to set up a plan, going to invest in a wall calendar this year too and slot all my study sessions and revision in and try and stick to it!
I did start to panic a little though as I realised this term is quite short and the F8 exam is the 6th March so I decided to sit this and F9 in June which gives me plenty of time to do both, F9 doesn’t start until 22nd Feb.
i’ll save the hardest to last! The dreaded F7.My short term goal is to finish the F papers. I’m struggling with whether or not to go on and do the P papers then…once I finish all the F’s and my PER i’ll have my advanced diploma and honestly, that might be enough for me…I just couldn’t NOT finish the F papers.
I love where I work, I’m working here now for 12 years this Oct and I realise now that I have no intentions of ever leaving here – I did chat with 2 of the directors who are basically my mentors about college and the only thing they did say was that if they ever had a need for a fully qualified accountant, they would have to probably hire someone to work with me so I need to decide if I’ll be ok with that.
So, for now it’s just the next 3 F’s and then maybe if I pass those and build up a bit of confidence I may decide to attempt the P papers next year.
Thanks to everyone for responding, it really had helped reading through all your stories 🙂 We should all keep in touch here and keep motivating each other.
Good luck this year everyone and to those that have now finished – fair play
Erin.
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