FAE 2018

AtticusFinch86 · 16-05-2018 08:09PM

I've updated the links now so they should work. Apologies to the person that PM'd me, I can't seem to send you a private mail. If they don;t work, PM me your email address and I'll send the documents via that.

Brownbread88 · 16-05-2018 11:09PM

Fair play AtticusFinch for taking the time to post here.

Quick question on the case studies, is there any of them particularly more difficult than the others did you find? (Eg. are the ICD’s harder than the step cases?)

Finding myself extremely rusty on a lot of the material, would like the idea of starting off on easier cases and working towards more difficult ones if possible. Thanks a million

AtticusFinch86 · 17-05-2018 10:35AM

ICD cases were by far the most difficult, and deliberately so. I'd say the order of difficulty was

ICD > Study pack cases > Mock papers > Steps + Finals. Obviously there's a bit of leeway there e.g. some ICD cases may have been less difficult than mocks, but those were exceptions

Eveamae · 20-05-2018 10:00PM

I am looking at Pursuit steps. The first 2 pages, I couldn’t pick anything up, am I only here having difficult? I’m not at accounting firm or knowing anyone doing FAE

ACASlayer · 20-05-2018 10:31PM

Eveamae wrote: »

I am looking at Pursuit steps. The first 2 pages, I couldn’t pick anything up, am I only here having difficult? I’m not at accounting firm or knowing anyone doing FAE

The first four indicators are at the first half of page 3, keep reading. There’s a lot of really crucial information on the first two pages that you need to get a good score in the indicators though.

ACAguy · 28-05-2018 04:37PM

One point on the marking scheme changes in relation to Mgc Acc Finance Audit and Tax for the core. In past years there was two indicators for each that would have to come up across two different cases. From my understanding there could now be as much as 3 indicators of one of them and it's possible they could all come up in the same case. This would seem to mean that there may be 1/2 of them left out of one of the SIMS cases essentially.

Monet321 · 28-05-2018 04:38PM

ACAguy wrote: »

Couple of general questions mainly as I don't really know anyone else doing the FAEs as I work in industry.
1. What date is everyone going on study leave.
2. Is everyone up to date on all lectures.
3. What are the study plans between now and study leave.
4. How are you all splitting your time between the elective and each of the super 6.
Would really appreciate if as many could answer as possible as It think this forum could be a huge help over the coming months.

1. Going on study leave in a week and a half.
2. I'm only concerned with the Elective online lectures. Not going to watch the Core ones as it will just eat into valuable study time and they seem kind of useless tbh.
3. Only going to start study when I'm on study leave. I plan to study Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) and take weekends off until end of July and August where I might do a bit on Sat and Sun. Going to dive straight into ICD Papers, Mock papers before moving onto past exam papers (these are easier apparently so if you can do the ICD and Mock papers then you should be strong on the past exam papers). My approach is to do a SIM every morning under exam conditions and then in the afternoon just cover one of the super 6 areas by revising notes or doing some CAP2 papers on that area to cover technical questions.
General consensus from talking with people who have done FAE's before is doing more than one paper a day is not very productive because you won't have the same focus levels in the afternoon after doing a paper in the morning.
4. Monday to Thursday is CORE work and then the Elective on Friday.

If anyone has any tips or amendments on my approach above I'd be more than happy to hear it. It's only what I plan to do but it will more than likely change as I get further into study leave.

ACAguy · 01-06-2018 04:44PM

Do people plan to get much study done this weekend?
Does anyone has a timetable set out for their study for the core?
I’m finding most of the lectures useless apart from BL as he’s gives good advice also.

Would love to hear people’s thoughts

ACASlayer · 01-06-2018 08:56PM

ACAguy wrote: »

Do people plan to get much study done this weekend?
Does anyone has a timetable set out for their study for the core?
I’m finding most of the lectures useless apart from BL as he’s gives good advice also.

Would love to hear people’s thoughts

Can I ask a serious question - why do you care so much what everyone has done? I genuinely want to know. Especially asking if anyone is going to study one random weekend three months before the exams. It’s mad, you must be trying to place man, good luck.

ACAguy · 06-06-2018 11:19AM

Just curious is anyone working in Peer Group or have a plan to do something similar?

ACASlayer · 06-06-2018 11:23AM

ACAguy wrote: »

Just curious is anyone working in Peer Group or have a plan to do something similar?

You've not answered my above question, do you mind?

OttoPilot · 06-06-2018 11:36AM

ACAguy wrote: »

Just curious is anyone working in Peer Group or have a plan to do something similar?

Probably going to arrange one once I finish work on Tuesday

DP79511 · 11-06-2018 10:20PM

Hi,

I am repeating FAE Core and APM after a poor attempt last August(spend loads of time 'studying' but performed very poorly. A lot to do with my own confidence and approach to study and exam technique. I haven't done a business degree (as I am on the elevation programme so came through cap 1 cap 2 -eventually!) I don't work in an accountancy firm and don't know of anyone doing the exams this year. I am really struggling with all the material and my approach to case studies and feel I am no better off than this time last year again. Is there anyone with any advice/study groups/grinds even! that would be of any help what so ever I would be very grateful. I feel I am way off where I should be with technical knowledge never mind the standard for answering the case studies. Any help or a push in the direction of something would be greatly appreciated.

fishy_fishy · 11-06-2018 10:40PM

DP79511 wrote: »

Hi,

I am repeating FAE Core and APM after a poor attempt last August(spend loads of time 'studying' but performed very poorly. A lot to do with my own confidence and approach to study and exam technique. I haven't done a business degree (as I am on the elevation programme so came through cap 1 cap 2 -eventually!) I don't work in an accountancy firm and don't know of anyone doing the exams this year. I am really struggling with all the material and my approach to case studies and feel I am no better off than this time last year again. Is there anyone with any advice/study groups/grinds even! that would be of any help what so ever I would be very grateful. I feel I am way off where I should be with technical knowledge never mind the standard for answering the case studies. Any help or a push in the direction of something would be greatly appreciated.

Just on the point I've bolded there, the technical standard at FAE is lower than CAP2.

Have you been going to lectures? What about the case days? The case days are pretty clear about what's required tbh.

It sounds like you're doing an absolute sh!t-tonne of technical work to prep yourself but from anyone I've talked to it's the completely incorrect approach. Just keep doing cases seems to be the trick.

What stage are you at with cases?
- Can you identify all the indicators?
- Can you identify connections between indicators?
- Can you do a rough draft of how to approach each indicator?

DP79511 · 11-06-2018 11:50PM

fishy_fishy wrote: »

Just on the point I've bolded there, the technical standard at FAE is lower than CAP2.

Have you been going to lectures? What about the case days? The case days are pretty clear about what's required tbh.

It sounds like you're doing an absolute sh!t-tonne of technical work to prep yourself but from anyone I've talked to it's the completely incorrect approach. Just keep doing cases seems to be the trick.

What stage are you at with cases?
- Can you identify all the indicators?
- Can you identify connections between indicators?
- Can you do a rough draft of how to approach each indicator?

I am a repeat student so I dont get to attend the lectures or case days this year. I would have attended them all last year. I am considering attending the chartered grinds school for some subjects in the hope it might boost my confidence with the subjects themselves.

As regards the case study s . I can identify the indicators and starting to see the linkage between them too. I havent really got to the stage of doing a rough draft but where i have it has been somewhat away from what the solution is or it may be 'wrong' when it comes to financial reporting etc thats when I start to feel like iam in way over my head!!! It takes me a long time to even do this much as well. I think i realise I need to sit cases study s cold ain exam conditions its just difficult to do so when I feel i dont know the material in the first place!! I het very little study leave as well so time is the big enemy too and only adds to my panic!! Thanks for ur reply !

heretothere · 12-06-2018 12:49PM

DP79511 wrote: »

I am a repeat student so I dont get to attend the lectures or case days this year. I would have attended them all last year. I am considering attending the chartered grinds school for some subjects in the hope it might boost my confidence with the subjects themselves.

As regards the case study s . I can identify the indicators and starting to see the linkage between them too. I havent really got to the stage of doing a rough draft but where i have it has been somewhat away from what the solution is or it may be 'wrong' when it comes to financial reporting etc thats when I start to feel like iam in way over my head!!! It takes me a long time to even do this much as well. I think i realise I need to sit cases study s cold ain exam conditions its just difficult to do so when I feel i dont know the material in the first place!! I het very little study leave as well so time is the big enemy too and only adds to my panic!! Thanks for ur reply !

Well try not to panic! That will get you no where. If you feel overwhelmed just get up, and go to the bathroom for 5 minutes. Don't look at your phone or anything because you cannot do that in the exam.

The only thing you can do is keep on practising. Sit down, read the paper thoroughly, map out your indicators, I personally like the 'box' approach you know divide the page into 4 and have an indicator in each square. Then when you have identified all of your indicators allocate how much time they will take to complete. A corp gov question isn't going to take as long as most other questions. Most importantly stick to your time.

Stop doubting yourself, I cant remember what it was in the mocks last year but half way thro my answer I was like this is the wrong model but ploughed on with the model I had been using the comment said they were looking for porters 5 forces I think but that I presented enough using the other model for a C. If I had kept doubting or even gone back and changed the answer I'd have been lucky to get a BC. So decide your course of action and stick to it. And if one thing I learnt from my last attempt DO NOT CHANGE YOUR FIGURES!! Once you've done an answer just run with it, put in a disclaimer if you have to.

It must be hard repeating core, I'm just repeating APM but thankfully got core. Just keep the chin up and keep trying questions and most importantly timing. Chartered Grind school is meant to be very good.

DP79511 · 12-06-2018 02:21PM

Hi,

Thanks for your message! I am repeating core and apm so its great craic! every now and again I hit a wall and its all negative thoughts from there! But hearing what others have to say is a help! I am going to be disciplined and keep trying cases, steps, past papers etc from here on in and under exam conditions. Hopefully chartered grinds school will help with the technical part of the subjects too. I don't work in an accountancy firm and get very little study time so this doesn't help me think positive at times among other reasons but thanks for your input it really does help!

DP79511 · 12-06-2018 02:35PM

Hi,

Would it be possible to get the notes in the links in printable form? I understand its better to do your own notes but they look like they might provide a guide to what my own should look like?!

fishy_fishy · 12-06-2018 06:49PM

Hey DP, I sent you a PM with a few hints that have been going around the office.

Mostly though I think you need to just keep cool. You've 3 months to the exams. Focus on past papers and planning comps rather than drilling way down into detail in the subject matter. A working knowledge of the areas and the ability to pull it all together is what you need, not minute detail of everything.

It'll be okay!

shanmo · 13-06-2018 07:22PM

Hi all,

Was wondering if anybody here had insight into deferring the exams? I'd appreciate any and all information.

Thanks

wave202 · 13-06-2018 10:48PM

Hi all

I wonder if anyone could upload audit elective notes including additional material, please

ACASlayer · 14-06-2018 10:12PM

wave202 wrote: »

Hi all

I wonder if anyone could upload audit elective notes including additional material, please

Notes from the CAI website or notes we've made ourselves?

OttoPilot · 15-06-2018 12:45AM

The elective interim results are available online

acalass · 15-06-2018 04:51PM

How did everyone get on in APM?

The J Stands for Jay · 15-06-2018 07:49PM

acalass wrote: »

How did everyone get on in APM?

9.98. Slightly disappointed.

pixie11123 · 15-06-2018 07:51PM

McGaggs wrote: »

acalass wrote: »

How did everyone get on in APM?

9.98. Slightly disappointed.

Slightly disappointed as well but average was only 50.3% and the pass rate was quite low compared to the others. Seems they marked quite tough this time

shanmo · 15-06-2018 09:21PM

pixie11123 wrote: »

Slightly disappointed as well but average was only 50.3% and the pass rate was quite low compared to the others. Seems they marked quite tough this time

Where are the averages? Thanks.

pixie11123 · 15-06-2018 09:23PM

shanmo wrote: »

pixie11123 wrote: »

Slightly disappointed as well but average was only 50.3% and the pass rate was quite low compared to the others. Seems they marked quite tough this time

Where are the averages? Thanks.

The board report was somewhere on the website with solutions etc

acalass · 15-06-2018 10:20PM

If anyone manages to find the board report could they post it here please. the website is impossible

pixie11123 · 15-06-2018 10:32PM

acalass wrote: »

If anyone manages to find the board report could they post it here please. the website is impossible

https://www.charteredaccountants.ie/Current-Student/Exams/Exam-Info-FAE

FAE 2018

Comments