*** March 2022 ACCA APM exam – Instant Poll and comments ***

Found it difficult overall, especially question 2 re Building block model. Couldn’t wrap my head around what was being asked in regards to the standards

Wasn’t quite what I expected. Question 1 with the balanced scorecard seemed okay. Question 2 I had the BCG matrix, which to me was worded a bit funny so took me a while to understand what they wanted, but once I did seemed okay.

Question 3 I struggled the most with the building block model, found it difficult to relate all dimensions back to the report. Also 10 marks on computing software took me by surprise!

Overall felt like a pass, here’s hoping anyways ?

Anyone who got big data, political environment, BSC and transfer pricing?

Yes, I had the same paper. I found the question on transfer pricing difficult to answer.
Q1 was okay. I found the first part of Q2 b was worded strangely but the second part was straightforward enough.

Q3 Law firm in 8 cities of Teeland offering services for patents etc.

(a) Build Block dimensions and relate them with the performance report – 9 marks
I think was easy.
Second part standards and the report – 6 marks
no idea what to answer, only definitions

(b) Cloud computing financial benefits – 10 marks
1. fixed cost become variable
2. focus on core
3.outsourcing will be cheaper
4. access from around the world and 24 hours thus efficiency
5.offer partial access to customer thus better product thus higher revenue….

Yes I got those questions too. I found question 2 strangely worded! I was struggling to answer the first part. How did you find the paper?

A very tough exam

Ran out of time

Question two on standards for building block was strangely worded and took me ages to figure out what was being asked.

Have not come across financial benefits of cloud technology, in any material only general benefits.

Anyone knows the answer to the transfer pricing question? The paper looked simple at first, but now I’m confused whether I answered all the requirements as needed.

What did you guys wrote on political environment, customer satisfaction proposal, BSC and transfer pricing?

Criteria for Transfer price policy. No amount of past paper practice would have prepared me for that.

Very hard to tell with that exam.

I had the 50 mark question on the medical regulator and balanced scorecard. There was a spreadsheet there for calculations but there wasn’t really any need for it as far as I could tell as the information provided in appendix was very light and really just % and generic measures with little comparison. Probably went a bit overtime on it.

The Building Blocks model I found a bit confusing so my answer was probably a bit meandering. It was very vague but I did attempt to link back to objectives as much as I could in the answer.

The BCG model question was my worst one I’d say. Didn’t get near the EVA question which confused me so left 9 marks behind.

There’s not a lot of knowledge needed for this exam in terms of learning off. They pretty much give you all the headings and it really relates to your application of them to the case study.

Very subjective on how the examiner scores it but I’d say I’ll fall somewhere between the 40s/50s.

q1 – Budgeting for Car Sales
q2 – transfer pricing
q3 – BSC

Q3 A lot of people had this exam. BSC question was really tricky, first part of the requirement really caught me out which I’m annoyed about.
Q1 I didn’t finish my report, I just moved on to the next question to stick to my timings as closely as possible.
Q2 Transfer Pricing, I took a purely common sense approach to this question, so who knows.

Very, very frustrating by this exam now, it’s purely how quick can you write points that may or may not score marks. Exam technique or whatever you want to call it, I’m finding little use for this exam in real life after resitting again and again. It feels like a money spinner for ACCA sometimes…

It was my first time writing APM and I didn’t have much exam practice. So my answers dont really explain any of the concepts like BSC or transfer pricing. It just goes straight to the point. Also, it’s not written as paragraphs, sub headings and explanations relating to the scenario! It’s going to affect my marks isn’t it?

The exam was really hard – especially the time given to process these 3 huge case studies was REALLY tough – I almost had no time to think – I was literally thinking simultaneously as I was writing.
The first question on BMR was ok-ish but then BCG question was so confusing – I am still not sure I fully understood the 9P question 😀
Cloud Computing & Lean questions were also – interesting…
Let’s see – that was my last exam and really hope to get a pass mark

The anxiety is building faster as we approach 18 of April. Guys how are you coping, especially finalists?