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I passed the 5 Certificate level exams (4 first time + 1 resit), passed P1 at the second attempt and passed E1 first time. I have just taken the F1 exam for the second time and failed. I’m just so disillusioned again, I felt completely ready for this exam and feel I know a lot of the syllabus yet it seemed again that nothing I knew was asked in the questions.
Again, I have done a lot of work for this exam. I used First Intuition’s study materials and bought the two Aptitude test’s from CIMAstudy. I have studied hard since May/June with a huge focus on question practice and mocks.
I felt like I know a lot of the syllabus yet the exam questions were so different to pretty much everything I revised. Also, yet again, I struggled for time and the clock ran down to 0:00.
I don’t know where I go from here, I know I will be told “just keep going”, but after putting 3 months of solid work in to revise but still failing I don’t know what to do next? It’s impossible to know the whole syllabus inside and out but what do I do now? I’ve failed 2 out of the 3 modules first time now and I can’t keep doing this throughout the rest of the qualification – I’m self funding so I’ll have spent a fortune! Not to mention the angst and frustration of keep failing.
Hi,
F1 isn’t just about knowing the syllabus, it is about being able to apply that knowledge across the different areas of the syllabus within the time constraints in the exam. This is a challenge but is one that you can overcome.
How did you get on in your aptitude tests? Hoe did you get on with the mock exams? Were you able to pass them?
What is your approach in the final exam? Do you start with the first question and work it through in order?
Thanks
Thanks for the reply. I get what you are saying about being able to apply the knowledge in an exam scenario but it just felt like the questions were like nothing I’ve faced before.
I ‘only’ failed by 7 marks so I’m close. I’ve been consistently getting a raw score of 60-70% in the mocks and aptitude tests which is the main reason why I feel so demoralised right now.
My exam approach is to start with the first question and go through in order just doing the ones I know are 100% correct, then I work back through the unanswered questions and try to figure them out. I’m very time conscious but once you get stuck on something you think you can do its easy for 5-6 minutes to fly by. I will keep going, and I know I will pass at some point, but it’s extra pressure for me of being self funded and at £90 an exam, I will have already spent £270 when I rebook!
Hi Reacon
F1 was really tough for me too but I managed to just make it. Maybe you can also try to look at your exam technique, maybe try the theory questions first. then go back and do the easier calculations then finish with the longer questions. I think that is what helped me pass F1, the technique more than anything else.
Thanks for the advice, I have my 3rd re-sit this week so hopefully I can get that pass this time! Your exam strategy makes sense so I’m going to give it a go
Hi,
I hope the change of exam technique worked. I cannot emphasize how important exam technique is.
Thanks
I like to give some ideas about studying for the CIMA exams. This is the method that I
currently use to study for CIMA exams and it worked for me most of the times.
I think using the Kaplan study text and questions kit is a mandatory requirement for this and I’m also going to a local tuition provider. But when starting to study for the exams,1.Watch the opentuition video lectures while cross referring to study text. So you will not miss any subject area.
2.After each unit do the “test your understanding” questions in Kaplan study text and opentuition unit tests.( If you have, do the unit questions given by tuition provider.)
3.Kaplan questions kit have questions categorized under main syllabus topics. Do these questions as each main topic ends.(It’s better to do these questions within 1.5 minutes each)
4.Most of the Kaplan questions kit got mock exams at the end of the book except for operational level. Therefore keep some questions remain(all together 60 questions) according to the main topic weighting(listed in the questions kit) to do two days before exam date.
5.Two days before exam date do the questions kit mock exam or remained questions by timing to 90 minutes. Check where you stand.
6.If you get passed no problem. Spend the remaining two days by doing some past paper questions(OTQ) downloaded from CIMA website and go through opentuition notes as a finale touch.
7.If you feel that you are not ready postpone the exam and study more for the areas which went wrong in the mock exam.
I use this method for every subject and if you are currently unemployed this will only take 14-16 days. Also this will reduce the need to read the whole study text.(for case study reading the study text is mandatory)
For subjects in financial pillar and performance pillar getting thorough with the basics of the subject is a must.
Also as the Reacon and Sir said, the above stated exam technique is very important when facing to the exam.
Actually I like to thank for opentuition for making studying process efficient and effective.
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