CAP 2 Exams 2011 Feedback

mano79 · 17-08-2011 07:55AM

newportlad wrote: »

Have any of you who took these CAP2 exams done so through the Elevation porgramme?

If so would you recommend the program?

I am considering registering for it for all four CAP 2 classes beginning in October but dont know anyone who attended it before

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice

Ya I have just passed them all and am in elevation programme. Unless ur in the elevation class in Dublin everything else is the same. I did lectures in Galway and most of the lecturers don't even know what elevation is!! U will get NO extra help it's just a way of getting more people into the courses and then they leave ya to ur own devices.

For me not having a training contract is great cause my boss would not be very reliable to pay the fees etc so I stayed on my full salary and pay the fees myself. I take the same study leave time as if I was in contract by using holidays and taking unpaid leave. The study leave is key to passing in my opinion. I don't think it's possible to get the exams without it. Lectures ran right up until end of May so no matter how hard u work at home u haven't even finished the course until a few weeks before exams.

I'd recommend it cause it works for me but just don't be under any illusion that we "elevations" get any sort of special treatment or help once ya sign up and pay the fees ur treated exactly same as a contract student. Depends where u would b doing ur lectures as I said mayb the Dublin group is different.

Good luck with it

Trainee2010 · 19-08-2011 10:15AM

Can anyone offer any advise as to what topics they covered for the Management Accounting aspect of SFMA?

EveT · 19-08-2011 10:16AM

Trainee2010 wrote: »

Can anyone offer any advise as to what topics they covered for the Management Accounting aspect of SFMA?

off top of head....

variances
performance - eva, roi, analyse a business performance

emm think they were main ones.

so_bored.com · 19-08-2011 12:35PM

I have to repeat FR and decided to do the resit course for this as the dates for the CGS for FR didnt suit me! Has anyone done the resit course before?

I actually don't know where to start with FR so i am hoping this course will help?!

KingEnda · 19-08-2011 06:22PM

Dont hear good thing about the Institutes courses. Try to get your hand on the CGS course notes
Good luck

Trainee2010 · 20-08-2011 11:43PM

Has anyone who went to CGS for FR, and used the notes and Questions handed out by CGS alone, along with some recent exam papers pass the exam?
Trying to limit the Questions that i practice whilst still covering everything.
Think thats where I went wrong the last time, tried to cover every question I had, but didnt know anything well enough.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.;)

EveT · 21-08-2011 07:18PM

Trainee2010 wrote: »

Has anyone who went to CGS for FR, and used the notes and Questions handed out by CGS alone, along with some recent exam papers pass the exam?
Trying to limit the Questions that i practice whilst still covering everything.
Think thats where I went wrong the last time, tried to cover every question I had, but didnt know anything well enough.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.;)

I didnt do the institute stuff for consol, only the CGS stuff and exam Q's, but for the IASs I didnt think there was enough in CGS q wise so for a good few of them I did the institute q packs too but they are quick enough to do, I only did CGS and exam q's for cashflow too but that didnt come up.

smiley00 · 22-08-2011 07:32PM

Repeating tax and just wondering does anyone have any ideas on the best approach for this subject when it comes to studying for it?

R0N BURGUNDY · 23-08-2011 10:24AM

North or South?

aorourke23 · 23-08-2011 12:15PM

I am repeating Taxation CAP 2 for the 4th time and I dont know where I am going wrong. I was disappointed with the Summer Paper with hardly any CT question. Does any one have any advice on the best approach or topics to study for taxation as I cannot fail the exam again!!!!

R0N BURGUNDY · 23-08-2011 03:50PM

again - north or south?

aorourke23 · 23-08-2011 03:52PM

Taxation ROI

ecos88 · 24-08-2011 09:31PM

FR is wrecking my head, so hard to get back into it!!! Thank god its only the 1 exam i have to do in october!!

Any thoughts on what may or may not up??

Whemair0128 · 24-08-2011 10:47PM

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering would any of ye out there who passed CAP 2 Audit give me pointers as to how to pass this exam?

I don't know what I am doing, I read the basics and background to it but then when I read a case, I seem to be a different planet compared to the solutions, i got 40% and I feel there is not a hope in hell I will get the 50%:(, if any1 has good tips or what way to approach the exam, I would really appreciate it.

Also, what to bring in2 exam (i.e. what way i should prepare the folder etc)

Thanks:)

Username2011 · 25-08-2011 10:35AM

Whemair0128 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering would any of ye out there who passed CAP 2 Audit give me pointers as to how to pass this exam?

I don't know what I am doing, I read the basics and background to it but then when I read a case, I seem to be a different planet compared to the solutions, i got 40% and I feel there is not a hope in hell I will get the 50%:(, if any1 has good tips or what way to approach the exam, I would really appreciate it.

Also, what to bring in2 exam (i.e. what way i should prepare the folder etc)

Thanks:)

I used the Audit Standards Book. Its really important to read each standard over and over and get used to the language they use. Certain phrases are used over and over again. I made my own summary of each ISA to help me.

Easier marks can be got in the Audit report question. Draw a flow chart with the two questions "is it pervasive" and "is it material" with the implications on the audit report of the "yes" and "no" answers. Practice these questions, and you should be able to get 7/8 out of 10. This will hopefully make up for the more difficult parts of the exams.

Controls, risks and recommendations is just practice practice practice.
Important to plan your answer for this as in - if they ask for 3 points, make sure you have three strong points. You might see 5 points in the case study, so rather than write down the first three, see if you can combine some of them to strengthen your answer - plan your answer.

Good luck!

Username2011 · 25-08-2011 10:40AM

aorourke23 wrote: »

I am repeating Taxation CAP 2 for the 4th time and I dont know where I am going wrong. I was disappointed with the Summer Paper with hardly any CT question. Does any one have any advice on the best approach or topics to study for taxation as I cannot fail the exam again!!!!

I studied CGT STAMP AND CAT first and had these perfected. There is only so many reliefs and exemptions in these areas and it is easier to cross these sections off. Know the conditions for each relief and exemption. Make sure you are able to say out loud the conditions and implications of each.

Then in CT there is so much in it. Know your CT computation template inside out (again, be able to recite it out loud). So many marks are given for layout. Then I think it was chapter 2 or 3 of the book but they list loads of add backs and deductions. Prepare a template CT comp and everytime you come across an add back and deduction during your studies put it on your template.

Good Luck!

Trainee2010 · 02-09-2011 10:39PM

I am trying to make a study timetable for the repeat exams and I was wondering how much time would be sufficient to allocate to SFMA to get it all covered?
Any help at all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks;)

Sean Bateman · 03-09-2011 12:47PM

Try not to get too down about the repeats, folks. I've just finished my FAEs and in my view they're easier than CAP2s. CAP2s are probably the hardest exams you'll ever do. Keep your head down, just keep doing sample questions and past papers, have well indexed notes and don't regurgitate stuff from the books or standards but do regurgitate stuff from notes and suggested solutions for past or sample papers. And whatever happens in the exam itself, stay cool. If it's a horror show of a paper, plenty of people will throw a wobbler and blow it. If you can stay cool and fight for every available mark, you can pass.

Sometimes the simple tips are the best...fight like a pikey for every single available mark but don't be afraid to abandon questions either. It's relatively easy to pick up the first 25% of the marks for a question but it's nigh on impossible to pick up the last 25%. Those last 25% are the ones to abandon with timing in mind.

Good luck and stay cool!

Mark1916 · 20-09-2011 10:46AM

Hi Guys,

How is everyone getting on with the repeat studying? Are people looking at anything specific in tax that they think will rear its head?

aka accounts 2010 · 20-09-2011 11:23AM

Mark1916 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

How is everyone getting on with the repeat studying? Are people looking at anything specific in tax that they think will rear its head?

Hey Mark,

Just starting to get into it. Today is my first day of study leave. Did you get much leave yourself?

As for tax, I'm going to work through the main point in CGT,CAT and CT this week and do plenty questions next week, hopefully.

Do you have many to repeat? I have FR also.

Mark1916 · 20-09-2011 11:35AM

aka accounts 2010 wrote: »

Hey Mark,

Just starting to get into it. Today is my first day of study leave. Did you get much leave yourself?

As for tax, I'm going to work through the main point in CGT,CAT and CT this week and do plenty questions next week, hopefully.

Do you have many to repeat? I have FR also.

Also have FR to do, next 2 weeks are going to be hell, feel as if i remember nothing from the summer. Yep same here for tax going over the main parts of CGT CAT and CT, just going over close companies today

FR is and always will be a nightmare, going to try and skim over a good few standards this week as well as starting into a few consolidation (IAS21, Disposal of a Subsid) questions and looking at Cash Flows and EPS. So much to do so little time.

aka accounts 2010 · 20-09-2011 11:41AM

Mark1916 wrote: »

Also have FR to do, next 2 weeks are going to be hell, feel as if i remember nothing from the summer. Yep same here for tax going over the main parts of CGT CAT and CT, just going over close companies today

FR is and always will be a nightmare, going to try and skim over a good few standards this week as well as starting into a few consolidation (IAS21, Disposal of a Subsid) questions and looking at Cash Flows and EPS. So much to do so little time.

I think we're all in the same boat. I remember nothing either from June. I'm hoping that the reduced study leave will help keep the mind focused a bit more. Found myself day dreaming and easily distracted during the May/June study leave.

You can only be so prepared. The rest is all down to the exam paper on the day and a bit of luck. I think disposal of sub is a possible runner for FR. Has to be asked soon, either this sitting or next June. I'm mad to get off CAP 2 and onto FAE at this stage. You been through many sittings?

Next 2 weeks will be tough going alright, but it will fly by!!!

RT2010 · 20-09-2011 09:34PM

Best advice I could give for FR is to not dwell on any question too long. Especially the odd theory question that is thrown in. Use bullet points if tight for time.

Dont waste too much time thinking of how your going to structure the question - make a quick plan in the reading time and stick to it.

Don't keep looking at your notes just because its open book - use them if you need to clarify something but if your confident you know something then go with it.

These points helped me to pass after failing.

Best of luck!

Mark1916 · 20-09-2011 11:46PM

aka accounts 2010 wrote: »

I think we're all in the same boat. I remember nothing either from June. I'm hoping that the reduced study leave will help keep the mind focused a bit more. Found myself day dreaming and easily distracted during the May/June study leave.

You can only be so prepared. The rest is all down to the exam paper on the day and a bit of luck. I think disposal of sub is a possible runner for FR. Has to be asked
soon, either this sitting or next June. I'm mad to get off CAP 2 and onto FAE at this stage. You been through many sittings?

Next 2 weeks will be tough going alright, but it will fly by!!!

Yep this is time number 4 for both tax and financial and the job is gone if I fail again which may not be a bad thing as i absolutely despise audit! Gonna just put the effort in and try as many questions as possible and hopefully it pays off!

Pawwed Rig · 21-09-2011 03:03PM

RT2010 wrote: »

Don't keep looking at your notes just because its open book - use them if you need to clarify something but if your confident you know something then go with it.

Agreed. Don't start second guessing yourself. There is not enough time to look up stuff that you know is right.

marbilio · 22-09-2011 08:42PM

Trainee2010 wrote: »

I am trying to make a study timetable for the repeat exams and I was wondering how much time would be sufficient to allocate to SFMA to get it all covered?
Any help at all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks;)

All i can say man is that I struggled with SFMA, i really hated it. The one piece of advice I would give to anybody repeating SFMA is to go over the SFMA toolkit, i found it very useful.

aorourke23 · 10-09-2012 12:40PM

Hello all

Just trying to start a trend for the repeats in October 2012. I have to repeat tax and SFMA.

The tax paper for the summer was about 70% theory which I didnt have enough theory done. I know it was a diff examiner, does anyone have any ideas what might come up this time or do you think it will be theory based again?

I have a feeling close companies and losses may come up. Any tips or ideas would be great as have to start cramming!!!!!!!

Thank in advance

PatACA · 10-09-2012 01:20PM

aorourke23 wrote: »

Hello all

Just trying to start a trend for the repeats in October 2012. I have to repeat tax and SFMA.

The tax paper for the summer was about 70% theory which I didnt have enough theory done. I know it was a diff examiner, does anyone have any ideas what might come up this time or do you think it will be theory based again?

I have a feeling close companies and losses may come up. Any tips or ideas would be great as have to start cramming!!!!!!!

Thank in advance

Anyone need assistance with exam technique ?

aorourke23 · 10-09-2012 01:48PM

Hello

I need assistance to pass the paper. I have requested the tutorial report back about my exam but have not received it yet, so I am hoping that will tell me where I am goin right or wrong!

Have you any advice on what areas are topical or what might come up?

Thanks

PatACA · 10-09-2012 07:20PM

aorourke23 wrote: »

Hello

I need assistance to pass the paper. I have requested the tutorial report back about my exam but have not received it yet, so I am hoping that will tell me where I am goin right or wrong!

Have you any advice on what areas are topical or what might come up?

Thanks

Anyone need assistance with exam technique ?

CAP 2 Exams 2011 Feedback

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