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Hi all,
The tl;dr version of the below is: Is scoring high in AFM a reasonable indicator of ability at ATX? And equally SBL struggles, together with multiple fails already on APM an indicator I should bin APM and do ATX instead?
I’m on my final exam. Registered for APM in March – would be my 4th(!!) attempt. I am however doing tuition for the first time,although I find my struggles with the subject persist – thinking up enough ideas, staying on point, etc. I find each quesiton a “lottery” – I can do well or poorly, even on the same subject matter!! I also struggled with SBL (52 at second attempt) which is closest paper to APM in similarity (but a lot easier).
I scored really well @ AFM in Dec (81%) and think this might be an indicator I am more suited to a computational/discussion balanced paper. I realise Tax is Law/rule driven while AFM is more techniques or principles.. but I guess there are some similarities in the type of student who might do well at them. Is that a fair assessment?
I’m tempted to pull out of APM March sitting and get stuck in to Tax instead. Will invovle a hell of a lot of wrk but I fell Tax rewards work while APM is more of a “suits you or doesnt” type exam.
Any thoughts or advise? Note I’d be taking good tuition in Ireland for ATX Ireland version (I realise lack of ATX online tuition can deter some people – not an issue for me)
Thanks
Hi Cathal
I did not get APM for Dec but i sat the two exams and got AAA. I am repeating APM for March too already took up tuition for Dec but i didn’t put enough time in and got 40. I say you should really go for tuition for APM as there is a certain way to answer the questions. have you tried learn signal or FME online for tutors to correct your answers thats what i am doing this time as i hate the way you don’t get feedback for ACCA
I would say if you want to do tax you would have to make up your mind soon and start the course for June I heard it is very vast but rewarding. I am one of the few at work that didn’t pick tax, but they all passed it at work first time
Are you in a rush to qualify.? if not would you give APM another go just 6 weeks more and if not happy pick up tax for December sitting
Hi Awogbod,
Thanks for the above.
I think I’m going to go with Tax in June – I had half an idea to do “both” – APM in March then, if I fail, tax in June but the sheer volume of ATX means this is madness and not doable. So I’ll go for Tax – I’m desperate to qualify and the thought of waiting till December is too much. In the worst scenario I fail in June, I can try APM in September.. but not thinking of that..:)
Just out of interest, would your work colleagues have gone to Julie @ AccountancySchool? She does c. 100 hours tuition, phenomenal… It’ll be tough and I don’t love the subject, but I will grow to like it with repetition (and love it if I pass :))
Best of luck with APM!
No worries Cathal
I am kind of semi regretting i picked APM now. But will put my head down for March.
A miracle can happen and we can both pass APM in March too.June is still a long time away. i dont think the whole tax syllabus will be covered in Feb so even if you sat APM in March, you could still have April and may for tax. but i know the feeling to keep failing a paper and switching papers have worked for many
Yes they all went to Acountancy school and did it with Julie. I do know they had 3-4 mocks to do and her classes are up to 4hours. But that’s the effort she puts to ensure you pass and its probably worth it in the end. she is brilliant i heard
at this point i just want to pass a last option and i am not too bothered about the subject choice. your degree and F papers have already covered all areas in accounting if you asked me to revisit SBL i would fail as all the concepts have left my head. I am in industry and people at work still sat ATX. they just wanted to qualify
ACCA is a journey but at times it just becomes a rat race to finish
all the best, let us know what you decide .
Were almost there 🙂
Hi Cathal;
You’re not wrong in assuming you’d be better off playing to your strengths,
I’ve taken up AAA and AFM due to the fact I find auditing interesting in general even though I scored a marginal pass in AA, and AFM as I’m planning on doing CFA after which is a long term goal of mineFor career options, check out https://www.accaglobal.com/sg/en/qualifications/why-acca/competency-framework/job-profiles.html
I don’t think you’re necessarily obliged to APM for lot of jobs that involve financial planning, it helps but I believe you could always engineer interviews in your favour, as in, if you explain your misfortunes or say you’ve effectively studied for APM through SBL and PM?
All the best
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