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HI.
This Dec17 will be my first attempt at p4 and im freaking out because i have heard almost everyone say that p4 is a really difficult paper to pass. Is that really the case?
Also, im not familiar with the pattern. Can someone please tell me what to expect from q1? It is for 50 marks and is the first question based on investment appraisal or what?
Same goes from q2 q3 and q4- which questions to expect from each part?Also, any tips to clear the paper would be appreciated since this would be my last paper to become an affliate, hoping that i clear p7 from sep17.
Thanks.
Hi
I’m doing P4 for the first time too & will write in December as well. A lot of people say ACCA on the whole is really hard & some even drop out, but we reached this far right? Sure a lot of people don’t pass it, but there are those who do! Soooo let’s just focus on what we have to do, sort out all our weak areas & just get cracking.I’ve heard about 3 areas in particular that are very popular… hedging, investment appraisal and M&A.
I don’t think anyone could really tell you what comes for Q2, 3 & 4 lol… that’s where we’ll just have to be prepared & don’t question spot! 🙂
On this P4 forum, someone gave some really great advice (think O.T pinned it)
All the best! Hope you get affiliate status come January ‘18!@mariumsalman said:
HI.This Dec17 will be my first attempt at p4 and im freaking out because i have heard almost everyone say that p4 is a really difficult paper to pass. Is that really the case?
Also, im not familiar with the pattern. Can someone please tell me what to expect from q1? It is for 50 marks and is the first question based on investment appraisal or what?
Same goes from q2 q3 and q4- which questions to expect from each part?Also, any tips to clear the paper would be appreciated since this would be my last paper to become an affliate, hoping that i clear p7 from sep17.
Thanks.
Hi Muriam.
There is no set pattern in this module. The 50 mark question can be based on any of the core topics such as valuations, investment appraisal, hedging/risk management, reconstructions. So it is important to revise the whole syllabus. Valuations and investment appraisals tend to feature most often, but look at past papers and you will see that the 50 mark question varies.
Q2, 3 & 4 can be any topic, so again, there is no fixed pattern here.
P4 is possible to pass. It is just a very time pressured exam so it is important to practice in order to master exam technique and finish the exam as quickly as you can. Best wishes for December.
I’m also doing P4 in December, I’m terrified )))) Especially because hedging, it’s just killing me, I don’t know what is wrong with my brain but I just can’t get this syllabus area at all.
As far as I understand from past papers and examiner’s articles most common subjects in Q1 are investment appraisal, M&A and reconstruction. Q2-Q4 can be anything. But again, looking in the past they often have at least 1 question which is fully theoretical.P4 is by far one of the easiest paper content-wise (Few topics to cover) but what makes it difficult is; it is one of the most time-draught paper and hence strategy is key to passing this paper. The examiner himself has admitted over and again that the vast majority of students don’t cover all the three questions and yet kept on producing questions that will require at least 5 hours to complete and hence genuinely test your actual knowledge of the subject area. Obviously, ACCA is not interested in additional costs and hence limit the time to 3 hours and condemn passing P4 down to doing the best you can in your limited time and hope for the generosity of the marker. In some tuition class, they are even suggesting that if you get stuck with calculations, assume a percentage number and work it out. The examiner team for P4 is the worst it could get (a know-it-all accountant messing with Finance) and It is systematically encouraging students to hand pick topics, practice on them and hope to pass. My advice is thus dont freak out as there is nothing you gain from it. Focus on Investment appraisals (including on how to calculate cost of equity, WACC,converting currencies for international projects), Company valuations (using market, cash and asset basis) and Risk Management (SWAP and Islamic Finance is a focus for DEC 17). Produce fair attempt on two questions and you are guaranteed, you will pass. Trying to answer all the questions may compromise your chance of passing this paper as you can’t possibly produce good answers to all three in that limited time, in the end failing the exam. What an Irony!!
I was in your position before the June exam, and I was amazed to pass it! It’s true it’s very time pressured (needlessly so in my opinion), but I think you need to complete as much as you can from each of the three questions in order to gain the necessary marks.
Also, don’t neglect the the discursive part, especially in question one. Set out the answer properly (report, memo etc) to gain the professional marks. Also, read the question very carefully to ensure you understand exactly what’s being asked, because often it’s not at all obvious. My view is, if you make sufficient valid points in your answer, you’ll get the necessary points you need in order to pass the paper. So focus on the process of answering the question, rather than worrying too much about obtaining the prefect result, if that makes sense.
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