Exam tips required for ACCA P1 Professional Accountant exam

johndaman66

Hi,

I have my ACCA P1 professional accountant exam coming up in a few weeks time. While I have a considerable amount of study done and think I am fairly on top of the subject I have a few reservations about the exam. My lecturer has emphasised over and over the need to make a certain number of points to answer each question and have a certain number of sentences on each point depending on the marks being awarded in order to gain the marks. To do this he has emphasised the importance of the verb in the question. For example in a part of a question for 10 marks where the verb is "criticise" or "evaluate" it is necessary to make 10 points @ 4 sentences a piece. He also stessed that it is important in general to not have much more than 10 words per sentence.

While this may suit some people it will definately not suit my writing style. Limiting a sentence to 10 words each will be very tricky for me. And while I am generally ok at generating ideas the time will really come against me and I reckon my answers are going to be very sloppy as a result.

Is there a real importance in sticking to the format required? While I may be able to generate the 10 points and come close to the 400 words in the 18 minutes one should be allocating to the above I think i may only end up with 25 sentences perhaps. Will such an approcah go badly against me?

slave1

ACCA exam markers are allocated 10-15 minutes per script, keep that in mind

Also, 3 hour exam / X number of questions, work out time per question, when you reach the limit MOVE TO NEXT QUESTION

Generically speaking, it's MUCH easier to get the first 40% of marks available from a new question than the last 40% from the last one

Do an answer plan, stick to it

Either black or blue pen, nothing else anywhere

Relax and best of luck

johndaman66

Thanks Slave1,

Good point regarding allocating x time per question based on the marks available for it and the total time available for the exam. I suppose I am getting too bogged down in the number of words/ sentences/ points made per answer perhaps.

kikililly

Hey

If you know the subject matter, write what you know clearly and concisely without too much bulls**t (some will be required its the nature of the paper) Make every sentence count for something and space out each point with a two line gap.

There is not enough time to waste to be counting words in sentences or rearranging sentences to have the set number of words in them. I think your lecturer was probably just trying to discourage you writing longwinded essay answers with unnesecary fillers.

Focus on relevant, valuable comments, show your knowledge and you will pass.