ACCA - Beginner

globe1

Hi all,

Can i please get some advice from peeps in the know.

I am about to register with ACCA and was expecting to receive exemptions for F1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9.

Was told I most likely will not be able to receive any bar F1 :mad:

My degree is 10 years old so that is most probably the reason.

I am a fund accountant at the moment and don't want to get pigeonholed into that profession so my first question is:

how feasible is it for a fund accountant who qualifies (eventually) to transition into other careers such as practice? As I understand, fund accountants only reach a certain level in any organization and then that is pretty much it.

My job will pay for my exams etc but i was wondering if any of you believe if it is possible to sit f2, f3, f4 and f5 together in one sitting this June.

if so, do you believe it is possible to do so through home study?

I am ok on Accounting subjects and have already done company law so am hoping I wil be up to the challenge.

Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

btw Im 34 so don't want to spend too much time (i.e. taking 2 exams per year, especially the early levels)

Many thanks

SBWife

Given you can take F2 and F3 using the CBE option it should be possible. My advise is get yourself registered with ACCA ASAP, pick up the F2 and F3 manuals at Hodges Fidges and get these two out of the way by mid to late April at the latest.

F5 is the second management accounting exam and there's a fair amount of material covered but none which is of a very high level of difficulty. The law exam is bulky but straightforward. If you commit to putting in a significant amount of hours it should be possible to pass these with 8 to 10 weeks of study.

globe1

Hi SBWife,

Many thanks for the quick reply. you always give great advice.

For some reason I believe with work i am not allowed to do the computer based exams when first doing them.

Cannot think of the reason why but do remember a colleague saying something like that.

If i can then I will.

Thanks again

onehorse

Be sure and do the CBEs, the pass rates seem to be very high on them and if you do fail you can repeat the exam almost immediately and not wait 6 months as you would with the paper based

Climber

Yes do the Computer based exams as soon as possible, you can repeat them as often as you want until you pass, I think they can be done four-five times a year.

Your colleague is talking S%#te and should be ignored.

I did five exams in my first year. One CBE in March, two paper exams in June and two more in December. Tough no doubt, but I totally concur with your point re not letting the exams drag on for too long.

Also, I used to work in fund accounting and now work in financial accounting (much better). It's possible to make the move out of Funds, you just need to try a little bit harder to make yourself seen. My tip: Avoid recruitment agencies like the plague, they will only ever offer you more Funds roles!

Good luck

globe1

Thanks for the sound advice all.

Yes I will take the F2 and F3 CBE's no later than April if not March and sit F4 and F5 in the June sitting.

Are Kaplan ok for homestudy for F2 and F3 exams? As I understand re Kaplan, there are a few different books i.e notepad, exam questions and manuals. Are all required to successfully pass?

Re F4 and F5, I am unsure whether to homestudy or not, seeing as work will pay for the courses. Any advice please?

btw, Dublin Business School or BPP woould probably suit me best (location wise, living in Dublin 12 at the mo.)

Cheers

SBWife

The text and manual from Kaplan are sufficient. The little book of notes is handy at the higher levels but it's an add on rather than a necessity IMO. Given your background you shouldn't need to take a course I'd only do this if I thought I'd have a hard time keeping on schedule without it.

globe1

SBWife wrote: »

The text and manual from Kaplan are sufficient. The little book of notes is handy at the higher levels but it's an add on rather than a necessity IMO. Given your background you shouldn't need to take a course I'd only do this if I thought I'd have a hard time keeping on schedule without it.

Great Stuff,

SBWife, when you say don't take a course are you referring to F4 and F5 also?
If so, would you advise homstudy for most of the exams? How did you approach them? Are you all done now?

Additionally, I am in the middle of registering with ACCA (although advised I'll only be exempt form F1), it states that I might be exempt from F2, F3, F5 and F9. For arguement sake, lets say I am exempt form the above...would you advise to accept them given that it has been over 10 years since I did accounting subjects?

I only ask as from researching various threads, I may find it much more difficult when I reach the higher level papers.

Can you share your thoughts?

Thanks again

SBWife

I was referring to F4 and F5. If you are given the exemptions take them, but pick up the material and go through the F5 syllabus as one of the required P level papers will follow on from this. Provided you don't take P4 you shouldn't have to revisit F9.

I home studied for all the exams. Took the mature entry route and didn't get any exemptions as my degree is from a US university and more than 10 years old. In June 2010 I took the F2 and F3 equivalents, then F1,5,7 and 9 in December, followed by F4,6,8 and P2 in June, and I'm currently awaiting the results of P1,3,4 and 5 with I sat in December.

SBWife

DP

globe1

SBWife wrote: »

I was referring to F4 and F5. If you are given the exemptions take them, but pick up the material and go through the F5 syllabus as one of the required P level papers will follow on from this. Provided you don't take P4 you shouldn't have to revisit F9.

I home studied for all the exams. Took the mature entry route and didn't get any exemptions as my degree is from a US university and more than 10 years old. In June 2010 I took the F2 and F3 equivalents, then F1,5,7 and 9 in December, followed by F4,6,8 and P2 in June, and I'm currently awaiting the results of P1,3,4 and 5 with I sat in December.

OMG, you are a machine SBWife:D

May I ask were you working fulltime whilst doing these and did you rely on just Kaplan notes for them all material wise?

Thanks

SBWife

I was working but not always full time.

Apart from F4 and F6 I used Kaplan materials. I used BPP for these two as they are the only publisher that do IRE materials. In addition to the Kaplan Texts and Kits, I read all of the applicable ACCA Student Accountant articles, reviewed the most recent exam papers and examiner reports and if I felt it was needed reviewed the notes on Open Tuition.

Clanno

SBWife wrote: »

I was working but not always full time.

Apart from F4 and F6 I used Kaplan materials. I used BPP for these two as they are the only publisher that do IRE materials. In addition to the Kaplan Texts and Kits, I read all of the applicable ACCA Student Accountant articles, reviewed the most recent exam papers and examiner reports and if I felt it was needed reviewed the notes on Open Tuition.

PM Sent

loveacca

SBWife wrote: »

I was referring to F4 and F5. If you are given the exemptions take them, but pick up the material and go through the F5 syllabus as one of the required P level papers will follow on from this. Provided you don't take P4 you shouldn't have to revisit F9.

I home studied for all the exams. Took the mature entry route and didn't get any exemptions as my degree is from a US university and more than 10 years old. In June 2010 I took the F2 and F3 equivalents, then F1,5,7 and 9 in December, followed by F4,6,8 and P2 in June, and I'm currently awaiting the results of P1,3,4 and 5 with I sat in December.

If you succeed passing those last 4 exams you should become an exam guru. That is an amazing progression through these very tough exams especially as you did it all by Homestudy
You are a legend SBWife .................... Well done and good luck with your last 4