ACCA advice?

muggles

I was previously an ICAI student and completed all but two subjects in FAE exams. I completed the required training period within a Big 4 firm but due to personal circumstances did not manage to resit and pass the last two exams (Audit and Financial/Tax) within the permitted time frame. Although I trained in a tax department, I have since worked in the financial side and much prefer it.

I recently registered with the ACCA and although work wise things are going fine, I am still eager to get a qualification under my belt. I have exemptions from all the Fundamental level module so just have to complete the Professional level one.

Based on the type of work I'm invloved in (and hope to remain in for the foreseeable future) along with previous practical and exam experience, I am hoping to choose P4 and P5 along with the 3 compulsory papers of course.

As December is fast approaching and bearing in mind I work full time, would sitting three papers be a reasonable goal to aim towards or am I over anticipating even at that?

On the other hand, should I just chance 4 papers anyway and even if I go down on one or two I can always repeat next year but if I pass I'll only have one paper remaining which will be a massive hurdle to have out of the way?

Which way would you split the papers if to be completed within two sittings?

Finally, I know Option papers are (or should be) a personal preference but based on those who have already been here and done that, are my choices ok do you think?

Thank you for any advice you can send my way.

backtothebooks

Hi Muggles, am I correct in assuming that you have not been to any lectures for the different subjects that you're hoping to sit in December? If so, I think that even one paper in December is a big call.

muggles

Hi backtothebooks,

Yes, you are correct. I didn't register for any of the courses. I guess with the volume of notes etc I have collected over the years with ICAI and finding some of those lectures a bit hit and miss, I thought I'd take the lone route for these.

Is it the actual lectures themselves you think I am missing out on or the notes I would collect at them??

djk1000

backtothebooks wrote: »

Hi Muggles, am I correct in assuming that you have not been to any lectures for the different subjects that you're hoping to sit in December? If so, I think that even one paper in December is a big call.

I've never attended lectures, I study at home and do revision weekends. I haven't failed an ACCA exam yet. I'm starting to do a bit of study now for the December exams to finish off the fundamental level ones. It's a matter of personal preference and lectures are by no means essential.

I would suggest downloading a few past papers and give them a go, you will probably have covered parts of the syllabus in your FAE's. Mark yourself honestly and see how close to a pass you are. You can then make a more informed decision.

Will you be able to take a week or so off before the exams? If so, maybe 3 would be manageable, but even full time students would find 4 exams tough.

I'd suggest tackling 3 now and 2 next June, or the other way around. If you try to cram for 4, you might fail them all by 1 or 2%, which would probably have been a pass if you tried 3!

muggles

Thank you very much for the reply djk1000.

I would hope to take the best part of two weeks off to study beforehand. From the advice so far I'll definitely stick to 3 papers at most and maybe even just settle for the 2 at this stage. I'll take a look at some of the papers this evening as you suggested. Again, thank you.

Cookie_Monster

You would have to do 1,2 & 3 together as you canot sit 4 and 5 until they are done.

1 and 3 are handy enough, nice waffly one with very broad answers that are subjective a lot of the time. 2 is painful.

I would do 1 and 3 now, then 2 then 4 and 5 together then if I were to do that tbh.

muggles

Hi Cookie Monster,

I had a good look through each of the syllabi last night and also the papers as suggested by djk1000 and yes, I agree with your comments.

Definietly putting P4 on the back burner anyway for a while - I might go through and reconsider the other option papers at a later stage again.

P1 is familiar enough to me as is P2 but there is stuff in P3 either I haven't come across before or if I have I have it forgotten. Of course for FAE's we were allowed to bring in reference material which for the likes of Ethics was a good crutch to have. From what I understand this is not possible under ACCA exams?

Also, one more question.......for P2, did you all sit the Irish paper or did any of you choose the International variant or what is the general take up on this for Irish students?

Cookie_Monster

muggles wrote: »

Also, one more question.......for P2, did you all sit the Irish paper or did any of you choose the International variant or what is the general take up on this for Irish students?

no material allowed in the exam.
Don't forget about the ethic module online either, though this is laughably simple

In regards to P2, I did Irish first and failed and decided to do international on the repeat. I'd say 90% the same but the international treat several issues in a more straightforward and simple way. I'd recommend international. The other thing is that the Irish variant exam is likely to focus on the areas that are different which are usually more complicated than international which has to cater for a much broader world audience.

muggles

Cookie Monster, your answers have been invaluable, thank you very much for taking the time out to reply.