FAE (New)- Autumn Exams how is everyone feeling about it

JSACC

Hey folks,

Just thought i'd start up a thread so we can all help each other out on passing these exams come August/September. I realise everyone will be heading on study leave in the next few weeks so we can all comment on where we are going to attempt to start on this mammoth exam.

Also this is a place we can post up notes that we may think would be useful to fellow students. Good luck in the coming months!!!

ahtfulal

I think following the planning and delivery schedule is the best way to go about it and practice the case studies.

Financial & Management are the key areas along with business leadership in first 2 days so I reckon go through case study books for these. Think it would be a waste of time going through all Prof 2 stuff.

Tax, Auditing & IT should be straighforward according to Paul Maloney so will just have to trust him on that, maybe just nail down audit reports and read the tax book and lecture notes/questions.

JSACC

Its a complete joke that we will only have two sample papers to work with. Typical institute

maddogcollins

I know, especially after the initial meetings where we were informed that we would have 3 or 4 sample papers to get us through!Typical institute make it up as they go along!

JSACC

Joke.

Any of ye on study leave yet

biddyfly

Greetings all - agree with everything that's being said yeh seriously what's going on?

very concerned about how to nail down all the discussion points etc to answer the indicators, there seems to be a teeny tiny line between reaching competence and competent..aaargh!

ahtfulal

As long as I don't see incompetent on my script but then again ya just never know!

Paul Monaghan put up a videolink on the institute website re mocks etc.. If he wasn't around I dunno what we would do. Seems to be a difference of opinion with lecturers as to how to approach the case studies so i'm just gonna go by Monaghan as he seems to know what he's on about.

Pisco Sour

Is it just me or do the books (provided to us by the ICAI) fail to cover many of the competencies on the syllabus?

biddyfly

yeh the competencies are in a word ..vague some of the indicators are strange alright?

indeed paul m seems to be the ONLY one who really knows what is going on as some of the lecturers seemed to forget there are no requirements or marks as such in this exam?!

sh2

In terms of the actual exam, apart from actually picking out the indicators, how will we know what weighting to give to each? i'm worried i'll write two pages on something they want 3 lines on. it's so vague. aargh, don't wanna do these exams

biddyfly

Exactly?! that's what I am really worried about, the uncertainty around what is ACTUALLY required ah I don't know anyways roll on study leave ...

maddogcollins

I may be blind but I did not see the attachment that Paul M. attached to his email issued by the institute...Does anybody know where the extra paper is available?

JSACC

Mocks aren't too far off now folks like all others they are a waste of time

ahtfulal

If its the David Dogood (another great name) case study and solution it should be on your student notes page, its on mine anyways!

ahtfulal

And the stupid thing is that the results for mocks wont be out til nearly august so doesnt really give us much time to try recover!

Saint Sonner

As i haven't done anything yet and i mean anything i'm feeling fine about the exams as i don't know what i'm in for. Ignorance is bliss! Watch me freak out as time goes on though! lol

smurifit

Dont think many people have much done yet! just on study leave now and dont know where to start! wat are people doing for the mocks?

Saint Sonner

smurifit wrote: »

Dont think many people have much done yet! just on study leave now and dont know where to start! wat are people doing for the mocks?

here whats the craic with everyone elses study leave? My firm gave us off on the 23 July giving us 5 weeks study! i think thats a bit sthingy!

smurifit

we just got off this week. 5 weeks seems pretty short for study leave really. u planning on doing much before ya get off?

Ideo

smurifit wrote: »

we just got off this week. 5 weeks seems pretty short for study leave really. u planning on doing much before ya get off?

Is the minimum not recommended by the ICAI 7 weeks?

maddogcollins

If you and your company signed the trainee contract, the minimum your firm must give you is 7 weeks...id fight for it, they agreed once they signed the contract.

Saint Sonner

maddogcollins wrote: »

If you and your company signed the trainee contract, the minimum your firm must give you is 7 weeks...id fight for it, they agreed once they signed the contract.

Yeah we signed a training contract but the way they explained it to us was that it says 7 weeks on the website and that we already have been off on 2 weeks block release for class.
Don't like rocking the boat in worrying times in employment.

smurifit

5 weeks still seems very short for these exams. How is everyone approaching the study for them? It seems to be very general advice we are required to give as opposed to detailed computations like in cap 2 which is some relief!

ahtfulal

Hopefully less computation in the first day anyway but I have a bad feeling about the shorter case studies in the second day. I reckon they'll make these tough something along the lines of that overcoatings question. I'm gonna try get my head around the standards for a start.

Is anybody gonna risk not looking at consolidation? Might be a waste like why would they examine it again in the fae's?

cunning stunts

im from a masters background and all my masters notes are related to the old prof3 course and are largely irrelevant...have looked at the syllabus and it seems that its basically an extension of cap2, examined in a different way.

As I have no cap2 notes and the notes they gave out in lectures are largely inadequate and useless im really starting to panic as reckon im at a massive disadvantage!!

Also the horrific cap2s this week have heightened my fear!!

Ne1 have any ideas about how i should go about studying for this thing? i mean its not like im gona have time to do the cap2 course from scratch plus fae course in 9 weeks!!

aahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

smurifit

Im in the same situation..done a masters cannot remember anything!! its like starting from scratch again. Dont really know what to study at the moment..suppose all the questions in the books might be a start

GirlWithBrain

Hey all. Doing the FAEs myself and have just settled into study leave - oh the pain! I went through CAP2s last year and would like to think they'll be of some benefit but honestly don't know what to expect of this year's ones. I'm kinda trying to work out how to approach it all given the million or so subjects coming from all areas and at the mo I've decided to focus on financial, my elective and case studies prior to the mocks and see where that gets me. I'm wary of all the bitty subjects like marketing/IS/ethics but am kinda of the opinion that there's a certain amount of that that you're going to know and that I can build on that afterwards - I'd prefer to get a handle on some technical stuff early on. I'm finding it tough getting a in place though and I'm a little confused as to my approach so any opinions/thoughts are welcome!

sh2

ahtfulal wrote: »

Is anybody gonna risk not looking at consolidation? Might be a waste like why would they examine it again in the fae's?

I don't think I'm gonna start Consol again from scratch. I mean it would take you a week studying to get back to the standard of last year! I reckon i'll know goodwill etc, but I think the 'main' financial reporting indicator(s) will be something like deferred tax, leases, fx translation etc. i think they tested it enough last yr. Pure speculation tho, who the hell knows?

I have a feeling it's gonna be a disaster.. can't get into the study at all. The audit elective sample paper actually looks ok tho? that's something good.. as long as the actual one is the same-ish standard, which knowing the institute, it won't be

ahtfulal

Anybody have a quick summary of the marketing principles lecture? I missed it today. And are they putting solutions to marketing case studies up on web?

scouser82

Hi all, I'm new to these boards. Sitting FAE's this Autumn.

From looking through the sample papers it seems like many of these Primary Indicators are not mentioned at all in the case study. This is crazy. You could spend a considerable amount of time reading through the case study very carefully and identify 3 Primary Indicators. You could answer these very well and come out of the exam very pleased. Then upon failing the exam you find out that 2 of the Indicators that you identified were combined into one by the ICAI, another one of the indicators you identified was split into 2 Indicators by the ICAI, and that another mysterious Primary Indicator not mentioned at all in the case was one in which you "did not address". Do they want us to guess the questions or what? The whole set up of this is a bit of a sham, and is so open to manipulation its crazy. In addition from looking through the solutions to these sample papers its incredible the amount of answers which are based on assumptions that the ICAI pulled straight out of thin air. I think the students are being taken for a bit of ride here to be honest.

ahtfulal

scouser82 wrote: »

Hi all, I'm new to these boards. Sitting FAE's this Autumn.

From looking through the sample papers it seems like many of these Primary Indicators are not mentioned at all in the case study. This is crazy. You could spend a considerable amount of time reading through the case study very carefully and identify 3 Primary Indicators. You could answer these very well and come out of the exam very pleased. Then upon failing the exam you find out that 2 of the Indicators that you identified were combined into one by the ICAI, another one of the indicators you identified was split into 2 Indicators by the ICAI, and that another mysterious Primary Indicator not mentioned at all in the case was one in which you "did not address". Do they want us to guess the questions or what? The whole set up of this is a bit of a sham, and is so open to manipulation its crazy. In addition from looking through the solutions to these sample papers its incredible the amount of answers which are based on assumptions that the ICAI pulled straight out of thin air. I think the students are being taken for a bit of ride here to be honest.

I agree totally, think the whole thing is a bit of a joke. Even looking at the case studies in the resource pack and the red,blue,green ones some of the primary indicators are just pulled from anywhere. Its one thing finding the things but then ensuring you have the proper points mentioned to reach competent. Also regards to studying for these exams, is it just me or does it seem that we're supposed to know everything like they are liable to throw anything at us which is a bit unfair. At least with the old style fae's they knew exactly where they stood. I'm raging because I failed prof 3 mabf and had to do sfma in cap 2 last year. Whats even more annoying is the fact that the old fae people had 3 sittings to pass which was a real luxury (sept 09, May 10 and Dec 10). I reckon the pass rate this yr will be nearer 60% than the 90% in previous fae's. Bit of a pain but sure all we can do is plough on!

Saint Sonner

ahtfulal wrote: »

I'm raging because I failed prof 3 mabf and had to do sfma in cap 2 last year.

I'm in the same boat kid! Think they could have squeezed me on through and i'd be finished now but sure its prob my fault but i prefer to blame the institute!

ldillon002

The mocks are invaluable exam practice. Stop complaining and get on with it.

JSACC wrote: »

Mocks aren't too far off now folks like all others they are a waste of time

ldillon002

The only person to blame for failing is yourself - grow up.

Saint Sonner wrote: »

I'm in the same boat kid! Think they could have squeezed me on through and i'd be finished now but sure its prob my fault but i prefer to blame the institute!

Pisco Sour

ldillon002 wrote: »

The mocks are invaluable exam practice. Stop complaining and get on with it.

ldillon002 wrote: »

The only person to blame for failing is yourself - grow up.

Posts #1 and #2

Impressive WUM-ing

Saint Sonner

ldillon002 wrote: »

The only person to blame for failing is yourself - grow up.

Idillon - I see your game already - keep up the good work - a bit sleeeaagging will get me through this summer on this board. I wouldn't be surprised if i knew you! lol

ldillon002

Or vice versa - anyway - back to the books. We should be helping each other not racheting up the worry!

Saint Sonner wrote: »

Idillon - I see your game already - keep up the good work - a bit sleeeaagging will get me through this summer on this board. I wouldn't be surprised if i knew you! lol

ahtfulal

Saint Sonner wrote: »

Idillon - I see your game already - keep up the good work - a bit sleeeaagging will get me through this summer on this board. I wouldn't be surprised if i knew you! lol

I agree can't beat a bit of pressure. Need some sort of motivation. After all its not the most exciting thing in the world is the old accountancy!

smurifit

ya iv a feeling that after these mocks the pressure will kinda kick in when I realise there is so much I dont know! are people doin much study these days for the mocks?

cunning stunts

bout 11-12 hours per day...will have to crank it up after the mocks!!

Saint Sonner

cunning stunts wrote: »

bout 11-12 hours per day...will have to crank it up after the mocks!!

LOL

I aint doing anything for the mocks. i've got too much on at work! once i get the mocks over i think i'll hit it hard then! :eek:

biddyfly

quick question re the mocks they start at 10am? n do we pay for parking or what? i remember last year having to pay for the mocks but not the real exam?? mind you not that I'll be there for four hours next week

miad

just got an email from student services saying we have 30 mins reading time for the CORE papers on top of the four hours..not sure ill need it for the mocks but great news if we have it for the exams in Sept!:D

ahtfulal

miad wrote: »

just got an email from student services saying we have 30 mins reading time for the CORE papers on top of the four hours..not sure ill need it for the mocks but great news if we have it for the exams in Sept!:D

Thats gonna be a long day. I might bring in a packed lunch and flask of tea as hunger will surely strike. Its comical how the institute are making it up as they go along

GirlWithBrain

scouser82 wrote: »

In addition from looking through the solutions to these sample papers its incredible the amount of answers which are based on assumptions that the ICAI pulled straight out of thin air. I think the students are being taken for a bit of ride here to be honest.

If I see one more instance of a shoddy solution giving an answer in the format of a report when they ask for a memo...don't start me!

cunning stunts

the icai's incompetence knows no limits......

Am I the only1 who didnt get a student number on the list they put up on the website earlier?

The_Hustler

miad wrote: »

just got an email from student services saying we have 30 mins reading time for the CORE papers on top of the four hours..not sure ill need it for the mocks but great news if we have it for the exams in Sept!:D

That email never specified the mocks so I'm sure we have that in September.

However, I don't see it as a good thing at all. They are meant to include sufficient reading time into the case studies. They obviously haven't done this and they're asking too much so we'll need the full four hours just to do the necessary writing.

That's how I see it anyway. I suppose it is better than them not realising this and not giving this extra time.

maddogcollins

I agree with The Hustler. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the email. They have over required the exam and now need to give us the time needed to actually complete it. Typical of the institute to change things as they go. 4.5 hours is a long time to be in an exam too.Should be fun.

Belmont02

Hey Everyone, Glad to see this thread exists, I think the only way we're going to pass is to help each other out a little,

Don't know where to start,has anyone had a look at the naturflame boilers case? any idea how they are coming up with the percentage for the warranty claims?

Cookie89

Just wondering does anyone know where I can find Paul Monaghans extra case study "David Doogood" I can't see it as the attachment its supposed to be, and I need all the extra case studies I can find!!!!!!

ahtfulal

Cookie89 wrote: »

Just wondering does anyone know where I can find Paul Monaghans extra case study "David Doogood" I can't see it as the attachment its supposed to be, and I need all the extra case studies I can find!!!!!!

Should be on your student site.