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P4 First sit

Forums › ACCA Forums › ACCA AFM Advanced Financial Management Forums › P4 First sit

  • This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by Kim Smith.
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • April 27, 2018 at 6:37 am #449040
    alfie702
    Member
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 6
    • ☆

    Hi everyone,

    I’ll be sitting for P4 first time this June and I’m wondering how to structure my answer properly. I saw the Q1 often come with a report first and then only the calculations (i.e.appendices). Is it compulsory to structure it this way? And if yes, how many pages do you usually leave for the report as obviously I need to do my calculation first before drawing my conclusion and recommendation for the report. Anyone could share some thoughts in this? Thanks.

    April 27, 2018 at 7:26 am #449042
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 132
    • Replies: 8266
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    If you plan your answer so you know what workings you need in the Appendix to the report it is perfectly acceptable to have the appendix (clearly labelled) on the pages before the report. That’s preferable to finding that you haven’t left enough space for the report and then having to split it with a continuation to a later page after the appendices.

    April 27, 2018 at 7:42 am #449044
    alfie702
    Member
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 6
    • ☆

    Thank you for the insight, I really appreciate it. As this is my first attempt, I want to make sure I’m on the right track. I have been attempting lots and lots of past years questions for the last few weeks, I want to make sure I won’t be penalized for minor presentation error and loss any unnecessary marks cause every since mark makes a big difference between a pass and a fail.

    April 27, 2018 at 8:08 am #449049
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 132
    • Replies: 8266
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    Have you checked out the technical articles written “by a member of the examining team” on ACCA’s www? For example, this one https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/p4/technical-articles/hedging.html It’s based on sample Q4 in the S/D17 hybrid exam. One of the many things that prompts the examining team to write these articles is that they see that candidates struggled with it in the exam.
    In the exam technique section on this page https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/p4/technical-articles.html you will find a short article “Examiner’s approach to P4”, “How to earn professional marks” and a recent initiative from ACCA “How to use examiner’s reports”. The article “Stepping up from F9 to P4” is also a useful reminder of the importance of underpinning F9 topics.

    April 27, 2018 at 8:17 am #449050
    alfie702
    Member
    • Topics: 3
    • Replies: 6
    • ☆

    Thank you for these great info. I’ll read them tonight after my revision.

    May 14, 2018 at 6:01 am #451774
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    • Topics: 0
    • Replies: 9
    • ☆

    I have to take exam for P4 on June 18. I have no time (just 23 days only).
    How should I do? Should I read or calculate what note & kit? kindly advice me. Now I’m so worries.

    May 14, 2018 at 6:54 pm #451911
    samirrules
    Participant
    • Topics: 18
    • Replies: 188
    • ☆☆☆

    @kikee said:
    I have to take exam for P4 on June 18. I have no time (just 23 days only).
    How should I do? Should I read or calculate what note & kit? kindly advice me. Now I’m so worries.

    I would spent a day or two learning the syllabus and then spend the rest of the time practicing as many questions as possible and making sure you are reading and understanding the answers and by doing so you will get a better understanding of how to approach each type of question.

    June 8, 2018 at 2:18 am #457684
    kelkar
    Participant
    • Topics: 8
    • Replies: 47
    • ☆☆

    I sat P 6 UK variant for 3rd time. If I did not passP 6 this time I would go for P 5.
    P 7 was done very easily by me, so I do not understand why P 7 has this low pass rate.

    If someone studied both P 4 and P 5 which one from them you would recommend ?

    June 11, 2018 at 3:50 pm #458331
    Kim Smith
    Keymaster
    • Topics: 132
    • Replies: 8266
    • ☆☆☆☆☆

    For each of the option papers ACCA publishes articles to help students choose their options – e.g. https://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/p4/technical-articles/options-choices.html
    When P4/P5 were first introduced P4 was perceived to be the more difficult and for that reason many firms chose for their trainees to prepare for P5 rather than P4. However, the exams have moved on and pass rates are very similar. Certainly for P4 I think candidates need to be confident about their “maths” for many of the computational topics. However, there are other factors to consider – like how well did you perform in the underpinning papers (F5 and F9) and how long ago.

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