Passed my P5 in 1st attempt

Hi, congratulations. Just saw your post and also want to share my experience on passing P5 1st attempt. This is to show my thanks for all of the advises and experiences I have read on this forum.

I am a full time working mother with 3 years old kid. Just a quick description so that you’ll know I couldn’t devote my whole time prepare for the test. I was never a top student to be able to take several exams at the same time. Therefore, as at P level, I only take 1 exam every time and it worked good until now. I have passed P1, P3, P5 with the same techniques and time spent on study. I used to decide and register the next exam when I receive the result for previous one. I can only move on if I knew that I have passed the last one. Thus, I started to prepare for P5 in mid of Apr. Study every night about 1-1.5 hrs after my kid go to bed. I have whole every Saturday to study and booked 1 day leave before the test day. With this said, in total I have about 100 -125 hrs self-study for 1 exam.

1. Resources:

I only uses BPP textbook and revision kit. Starting with reading briefly through the textbook to get overview of the exam in 2 weeks. Again, stupid me, I couldn’t read it faster as I always worried of missing some things.

After reading the text book, I use the revision kit. My experience with the Kit is: I attempt every single questions in the revision kit and write it down after understand the answer. I really literally write down all the answers to get used with the speed of writing and know how to use some very technical words.

As I don’t have enough time, I only practices the questions in revision kit. I knew that the technical articles and examiner reports are extremely important but until now on my path with ACCA, I’ve never checked any of them. I do not recommend skipping these as a lot of people agreed that these sources are crucial to your success. I just don’t have enough time so I have to choose what fit my schedule and my study best.

2. Test day

No special arrangements. Just sleep enough the day before and enter the test center with a bottle of water.

I am kind of good at computation and maths, never excellent at writing as English is not our 1st language. (You can easily point it out after reading what I wrote here). But because I have practiced a lot of questions and really written it down, I know how to use the words in the test.

There is 1 important thing I’ve learned when presenting your answers that I would like to share with you: I always write down which questions, which part of the questions I am attending and underlining the title. Try to make this clear so that the examiners will see it from 1st glance. (sorry I couldn’t make the underline here)

For example: Questions 1. a. Calculate the NPV

Questions 1.b. Comment on the use of NPV

……

Always leave some spaces for each part of each questions so that you can always add some points later. (However, the chance of this may be low as most of people are running out of time for P level exams).

For 4 professional marks, always start your report with Introduction and end it by Conclusion. Never forget this as it may enable you some professional marks and turn you from Fail to Pass.

3. Time management and allocation: crucial for a pass.

Unfortunately, I was never good at time management. I have spent almost 2 hours just to fully complete Q1, leaving only 30 minutes for each of 2 optional questions. This almost killed me as I left 11 marks without touching and other 11 marks with only 3 lines of writing. Because there is no time any more, I had to decide quickly which part of Q3 and Q4 to attempt. I decided to skip the calculation part and start to comment and analysis.

I was 100% sure that I was failed this time as almost 22 marks are left blank. Please do strictly follow the time allocation, don’t try to write as much as possible for 1 questions because you will ruin other questions. Check the score allocated for each part and decide quickly how much time you are allowed to spend on it. (Even I said that, I was still bad at doing this. Please learn from my mistakes).

4. Comment on Jun 2017 P5

The Jun 2017 P5 was… I don’t know how to say, may be so frustrated. I was studying the whole text book and Revision kit; I was expecting to see a lot of models, KPIs…. but then they asked to make a rolling budget and incremental budget for 50 marks questions… People are really upset with the questions and I totally understand your frustrations if you couldn’t pass it this time.

I passed with a not too bad mark (57%) with the facts that I have skips 22 marks without touching. However, may be my work for Q1 was not too bad. (This is somehow make sense as I have spent 2 hours for it). But please don’t follow my ways. I will also have to make sure the time allocation for my next tests.

I still have 2 exams to go. Hopefully I can pass them all this year. Also good luck every one.

Excellent comment this motivates me i feel everything you say about studing reflects me.
Congratulations. I hope to pass P5 this sitting.

Just what I wanted to read today. I am about to get married in next couple of months, i was scared whether I’ll be able to finish my studies. Reading your post has given me the confidence that nothing can stop you from building your career if you have the will and the desire to achieve your goal.

Thank you for this post and God Bless You! 🙂

Wow the experiences are really encouraging. am motivated to study. I can do it too.

Hi Guys, Hope you all are doing well.
I am doing full time job (8:30 am – 6:30 pm).I need some suggestions for attempting APM may be in September or December 2022.
How should I start study for APM, should i go first for tutor(online classes) and then studying text book or should I first go through text book and then watch tutor videos. I didn’t study PM because of exemption.
Need really serious advice.
Thanks in advance.