SBL*** P3 December 2013 Exam was.. Post your comments ***

I attempted this paper for the 7th time(yes SEVEN!!!!), previously I was rounding to score 41-47 in each session, this session as usual the main concern is time pressure, I did Q 1)-a & b fully, part c) was poorly done (explained the model & ball points on each country), I chose Q2) & did both parts under time pressure(40 min), & Q 4) with only interactivity & individuality was done in part a & nothing done in b. I hope to have the magic 50 marks I hate the ACCA exams, this the 4th time to set the exam & expect my self as affiliate, in all past three sessions I was upset, hope this time to get 50 marks in each of the night mares P7 & P3. may Almighty Allah help me

Mahadi, don't give up. Pray to Allah for a linient marker to mark your papers.

Hi all, does anyone know is it a big problem if i didn't tick chosen questions on the title page of the exam? but ticked all pages with relevant question answered

My answers for Q3 Short term Reduce price to match competitors. Change Marketing material from Stuffy old guy no one was interested in, to the actual gardens themselves. Request locval newspaper runs a follow up article. Apply for Grant from National trust/Government Improve food in Cafe to include locally grown produce from Garden. Tickets booked online were given a 10% discount voucher to use in Cafe Longer term Introduce season tickets at $9 Dollars. Could be proven to raise revenue. Move Cafe back to original venue. Open up a shop selling plants and vegtables/fruits grown in Gardens. Rotate staff between cafe and shop to improve moral. Introduce a friends of Wessex Gardens Season ticket that included a discount for Cafe and shop. Cancel subscription to magazine advert. Could be proven to cost money. Have a regualr column in local newspaper about Gardening to help raise awareness. Increase car parking space to entice more custumbers from futher afield. Open longer nuring the winter. Ask for volunteers to give guided tours and walks. Some otther stuff as well that I cannot remember. Trouble was only a few of those ideas could be proven cost effective using the data provided, so not sure if I was on the right track at all.

OMG i didn apply portfolio to Q1. was it really ? portfolio managment? i thut it was more generic n financial n on acqusition n mergers and growth

i didn write turn around strategy for q3. generic points only.

Q1 wasn't portfolio that model is for when you're assessing an existing portfolio of products or divisions

there was no project management, it seemed more like a marketing paper, than business analysis

So I think I am not the only one who felt it was time pressured, majority thought it was. I dont know why some people in here are saying which model to use in question 1 or even other questions..since this time they already gave the models to us to use.. q1) a) internal growth, strategic alliance and acquistion b) SAF model given c) porters diamond given q4) I think this was on the 6I's integration, individualisation...This was given again b) maybe in here a model could have being used..but it was just advantages and disadvantages,, q3) about the garden was about marketing strategy where could have used the 7S's model..or the 5P's I hope I didn't perceive these questions wrong as it was not completely clear..

Question 1 (a) A decent evaluation on the 3 aspects asked and link back to scenario. Good 14-15 marks can score for well prepared candidate 1(b) Approach was given, had to do it logically taking each aspect, using ratios a bit, scenario linking, adv and disadv general and the portfolio manager etc concept application. 4 marks report format and can gain good marks of 22 (c) Porters Diamond mainly theory should be 6-7 marks and linkage should get rest of the marks. 2 really bad had no idea, just skipped and went to the 4th Question first 4 (a) 4 aspects given can write a few points under each and apply to scenario (b) seemed a bit general connecting to that person's comment and evaluation his ideas Came to Question 3 with half hour left (a) Didnt understand wht exactly to write but just going through the scenario suggested some raw simple suggestions and gave reason why thought so and a little but cost and revenue ups and downs calculation in the answer (b) started writing generally about some suggestions and realied it was specifically asking for 'marketing strategies' when 3-4 minutes were left.. couldnt really complete and last 10 marks were mess. In Total it was very important to keep on track of the time. Taking 3 extra booklets i made sure i write most but in time. Completed Question 1 in 1 hour 45 mints which means 1 hour 15 mins left for last 2 questions of which last one had only 30 mins with the reading time. All the Best to everyone Around.

This Skidmore guy is very unpredictable. Out of all the topics in the syllabus (Basiness Analysis) he chose to test Regression, marketing etc. May Allah have mercy on us.

for questions pls visit: https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/acca/global/PDF-students/acca/p3/exampapers/p3-2013-dec-q.pdf

Hi every, would anyone tell me what can i apply the business model on Q4(b), actually, i really don't know what does the question want to ask. Thank you! I think i need to prepare now and re-exam on June 2014

Eric, I don't think that there should be applied any model on Q4 (b). I just commented about effects to subscribers and advertisers.

Well. i thought i had tried, but its funny, i tried number 2, which most people never even looked at. i just pray for a miracle. God will intervene. Most confused 5 forces with porters diamond.

@Denys - no this is not a problem. No need to worry.

In Q1b) what did you suggest? To acquire the company or not?Both ways (acquire or not ) looked reasonable...

Did you suggest in Qib) to make the acquisition or not?

Are you meant to start every part to every question on a new page. I didnt and am worried I ll get penalised? I did put Q part next to each answer though???? PLEASE HELP SOMEONE

I applied six sigma on Question 3A in providing solution to the short term issue while I used the 7Ps element for Question 3B. Question 4B looked confusing, but I used change contextual factors. Hope all is well!

Time management in the exams hall was not the best despite 4 Mocks that I wrote to test my speed.

The standards of the paper was quite different however the paper was not really difficult. Hoping to pass.

hello account english french ok good well paper comphrension well multiple choice account well reading oral study hard ok sent email sms 23059822964 ok

I wasted enough time on Q1,couldn't finish d third Q well. Feeling very bad, but with God by my side,I believe I have passed

Q 1 was based on the methods of entry into foreign markets but pipo still wanted models to use. The problem is u always want model in question 1. This is professional stage. Expect anything.

I intend to take the P3 exam on June 2014. Could I learn this paper by myself ? Please give me some advice. Thanks in advance.

Dear friend we are together.