ACCA September 2020

silent_spark · 04-09-2020 5:30pm #1

Is anyone else scheduled for an exam next week?

I’ve my final paper to sit and have taken a few days annual leave to prepare. I started off great - calm! relatively focused! - but now I’m in full blown panic mode. I accomplished absolutely nothing today. So frustrated with myself, and so much to do.

/vent

Dubdub20 · 04-09-2020 8:04pm

silent_spark wrote: »

Is anyone else scheduled for an exam next week?

I’ve my final paper to sit and have taken a few days annual leave to prepare. I started off great - calm! relatively focused! - but now I’m in full blown panic mode. I accomplished absolutely nothing today. So frustrated with myself, and so much to do.

/vent

Same as myself.

Actually did a lot of work over the last few months with two lecturers and have still managed to make a balls of it.

At this stage I am just hoping there are no major IT issues. First time sitting a CBE and heard some horror stories from March.

silent_spark · 04-09-2020 8:37pm

I have a tendency to leave things to the last minute, not great for the anxiety!

The CBE interface does seem pretty woeful. At least everyone else is using it too. Imagine how much easier standard pdf, word and excel docs would be... I can type quicker than I write, though!

shano_88 · 04-09-2020 11:24pm

I am also, AFM and SBR. It's a struggle.

It's hard enough to try and cover both subjects thoroughly but having to use the awful software on exam day makes things so much harder.

silent_spark · 05-09-2020 9:34am

shano_88 wrote: »

I am also, AFM and SBR. It's a struggle.

It's hard enough to try and cover both subjects thoroughly but having to use the awful software on exam day makes things so much harder.

Fair play on doing two papers, I wouldn’t even have attempted that. You must have had a serious workload.

shano_88 · 05-09-2020 9:39pm

silent_spark wrote: »

Fair play on doing two papers, I wouldn’t even have attempted that. You must have had a serious workload.

I'm not sure if I'd recommend it. I started well before June though with Covid, still alot to cover in the couple of weeks leading up to it.

Less than a week to go though, plan on pushing hard over the next few days. What exam are you talking?

CassieManson · 06-09-2020 12:13pm

silent_spark wrote:

Is anyone else scheduled for an exam next week?

How are they allowed to run exams with the covid rules?

silent_spark · 06-09-2020 2:23pm

CassieManson wrote: »

How are they allowed to run exams with the covid rules?

They fall under adult education rules. We have to fill in a health declaration on arrival and wear a mask for the full duration. Computers will be spaced for social distancing.

silent_spark · 06-09-2020 2:25pm

shano_88 wrote: »

I'm not sure if I'd recommend it. I started well before June though with Covid, still alot to cover in the couple of weeks leading up to it.

Less than a week to go though, plan on pushing hard over the next few days. What exam are you talking?

I’ve really nothing to be moaning about - I’m sitting APM, not exactly earth shattering in terms of content!

Dubdub20 · 06-09-2020 10:19pm

Well my exam is 9am tomorrow in the Exam360 place so fingers crossed between the Covid restrictions and the CBEs there are no headaches!

silent_spark · 07-09-2020 8:30am

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Well my exam is 9am tomorrow in the Exam360 place so fingers crossed between the Covid restrictions and the CBEs there are no headaches!

Good luck!

Ciara26 · 07-09-2020 1:59pm

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Well my exam is 9am tomorrow in the Exam360 place so fingers crossed between the Covid restrictions and the CBEs there are no headaches!

How did the exam go? Was there any heart aches with new rules for covid and cbe?

Dubdub20 · 07-09-2020 3:03pm

Triple A so was so so.

In relation to the exam centre really positive experience. Staff were far more friendly and approachable than I have found to staff to be in Croke Park previously. They check your ID and exam docket at the door then take you phone number and give your a questionnaire to fill out that takes about 20 seconds.

Computer screens were a good size and everything worked fine. Lots of social distancing and mask wearing of course but that is standard these days.

Ciara26 · 07-09-2020 3:30pm

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Triple A so was so so.

In relation to the exam centre really positive experience. Staff were far more friendly and approachable than I have found to staff to be in Croke Park previously. They check your ID and exam docket at the door then take you phone number and give your a questionnaire to fill out that takes about 20 seconds

Computer screens were a good size and everything worked fine. Lots of social distancing and mask wearing of course but that is standard these days.

Best of luck with the results

silent_spark · 07-09-2020 3:49pm

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Triple A so was so so.

In relation to the exam centre really positive experience. Staff were far more friendly and approachable than I have found to staff to be in Croke Park previously. They check your ID and exam docket at the door then take you phone number and give your a questionnaire to fill out that takes about 20 seconds.

Computer screens were a good size and everything worked fine. Lots of social distancing and mask wearing of course but that is standard these days.

Thanks for the update on Exam360, it’s really appreciated. And well done on getting AAA out of the way!

silent_spark · 09-09-2020 4:32pm

APM was a very fair paper this morning. I messed up my time management though, very annoying when the question left behind was so answerable.

CBE was great. Decent size adjustable monitor at Exam360 - makes all the difference when working with multiple documents. We were seated at 8.30am and could remove our masks while at our desk. They had a good system for getting the attention of staff (for technical problems or a bathroom break) and it ran very smoothly overall.

robo · 10-09-2020 1:14pm

Agree also with Exam360 centre - monitors were a good size and the centre and staff were very good.

Jem123 · 15-09-2020 11:03am

I took AFM in the Dublin North centre. The staff were great and very helpful. Felt really safe.

Now hoping for a good result ( 3rd attempt :eek:)

silent_spark · 17-10-2020 10:30am

Have people been following yesterday’s ACCA mailing error? They inadvertently sent a batch of ‘congratulations on becoming an affiliate!’ emails to some finalists who passed their September paper - even though results aren’t due until Monday! I wouldn’t like to be in their communications department right now...

Dubdub20 · 17-10-2020 11:11am

silent_spark wrote: »

Have people been following yesterday’s ACCA mailing error? They inadvertently sent a batch of ‘congratulations on becoming an affiliate!’ emails to some finalists who passed their September paper - even though results aren’t due until Monday! I wouldn’t like to be in their communications department right now...

Glued to it.

Awaiting final exam result and I received one of those emails.

Apparently the exam results for September are being released a week later then normal. Those emails should have been released next Friday but instead were released yesterday by accident ahead of Sunday's results.

I am also hearing that ACCA were able to stop the emails before all were sent out so if your reading this and you didn't get one yesterday please don't despair.

The confusion has just made the wait far worse for me. Until I get the text stating I passed AAA I won't be celebrating.

Ciara26 · 17-10-2020 11:23am

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Glued to it.

Awaiting final exam result and I received one of those emails.

Apparently the exam results for September are being released a week later then normal. Those emails should have been released next Friday but instead were released yesterday by accident ahead of Sunday's results.

I am also hearing that ACCA were able to stop the emails before all were sent out so if your reading this and you didn't get one yesterday please don't despair.

The confusion has just made the wait far worse for me. Until I get the text stating I passed AAA I won't be celebrating.

Best of luck, it’s hard enough waiting for results without this been added to the mix

silent_spark · 17-10-2020 11:30am

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Glued to it.

I’m trying not to obsess, but failing miserably. A few sources are saying the emails are correct but early, but I won’t be able to exhale until tomorrow night.

Dubdub20 · 17-10-2020 12:13pm

It is going to be a rough restless weekend for us all.

I have the tin of Roses bought, hopefully I can stay out of them until at least tomorrow afternoon!

silent_spark · 17-10-2020 7:12pm

ACCA posted on their Facebook page with the same response reported on PQ magazine, so I’ve decided I definitely passed. It wasn’t a paper I felt very confident about, so it will be interesting to see what my mark is. Now to get on that PER...

Dubdub20 · 17-10-2020 7:41pm

Wish I could do that but I just don't trust ACCA at this point and knowing my luck I could be the one exception.

silent_spark · 17-10-2020 7:48pm

Yeah. They don’t exactly fill you with confidence, do they?

Ciara26 · 17-10-2020 8:22pm

Do you have the link to Acca reply regarding it? I can’t find it

silent_spark · 17-10-2020 8:54pm

Ciara26 wrote: »

Do you have the link to Acca reply regarding it? I can’t find it

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157397565321776&id=23657126775

shano_88 · 18-10-2020 9:58pm

Good luck to anyone getting results tonight 😬

silent_spark · 19-10-2020 8:02am

My worst mark ever (APM). I doubt it will fill any future employer with confidence.

Anyway, done! Affiliate! A tonne of PER to do now. I really need to switch jobs. How did everyone else do?

Jem123 · 19-10-2020 9:57am

I failed AFM for the 3rd time.

So disappointing. I have never had such trouble with an exam. I am going to switch to either APM or AAA and hopefully will have more luck with that.

silent_spark · 19-10-2020 10:03am

Jem123 wrote: »

I failed AFM for the 3rd time. So disappointing. I have never had such trouble with an exam. I am going to switch to either APM or AAA and hopefully will have more luck with that.

Sorry to hear that. Were you short by much?

I did AAA and APM - neither is very difficult in terms of volume or content, but you definitely need to have your exam technique well honed. In both exams I scored at least ten marks less than I did with any other paper.

Jem123 · 19-10-2020 10:12am

silent_spark wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. Were you short by much?

I did AAA and APM - neither is very difficult in terms of volume or content, but you definitely need to have your exam technique well honed. In both exams I scored at least ten marks less than I did with any other paper.

I was closer the first 2 times and this sitting I got 41%. Passed SBR and ATX first go so this is really disheartening. Congratulations on your results

silent_spark · 19-10-2020 11:28am

Jem123 wrote: »

I was closer the first 2 times and this sitting I got 41%. Passed SBR and ATX first go so this is really disheartening. Congratulations on your results

That is frustrating. Be nice to yourself for the rest of the week, you don't need to make a decision today.

silent_spark · 19-10-2020 2:43pm

September 2020 Pass Rates
https://www.accaglobal.com/us/en/news/2020/october/Septexams_2020.html

Perception of Paper V Pass Rates
https://opentuition.com/topic/acca-september-2020-pass-rates/

I find it fascinating how static the pass rates for each paper are. I would love to see a curve on actual results, to see how I did relative to other candidates.

Dubdub20 · 19-10-2020 6:06pm

Passed AAA so thank god finally done with these exams. Now just 3 years worth of PER to do.

Don't give up Jem123 I have failed plenty of exams getting to this stage.

It is curious how ACCA's pass rates stay so "static" but at this stage I am beyond caring.

shano_88 · 19-10-2020 6:53pm

Passed AFM and SBR. Was a tough slog but delighted to be finished with them.

SBL and AAA in December now all going well

shano_88 · 19-10-2020 6:53pm

Jem123 wrote: »

I failed AFM for the 3rd time. So disappointing. I have never had such trouble with an exam. I am going to switch to either APM or AAA and hopefully will have more luck with that.

That's tough. Are you self studying or doing lectures?

silent_spark · 19-10-2020 7:47pm

Dubdub20 wrote: »

Passed AAA so thank god finally done with these exams. Now just 3 years worth of PER to do.

Have you the PER done and just need to record it, or are you only getting started? I’ve a tonne to do, just getting stuck into recording the essentials this week.

Dubdub20 · 19-10-2020 8:23pm

Just need to record it thankfully.

MartyMcFly84 · 20-10-2020 10:05am

I got my results from the Sept sitting. I passed SBR, I thought i was going to have to repeat that one. Two questions went well and two not so well, but luckily enough I made it.

I found it really difficult to maintain momentum with this exam being pushed out to the September sitting. So dont feel bad if you didn't get your exams this time it certainly wasn't a normal exam sitting.

I have AAA next as my final exam, and to be honest I havent been focused the last few weeks thinking I may have to repeat SBR. Good to know I can just focus on my last exam AAA now.

Any tips for AAA?

Jem123 · 20-10-2020 12:39pm

shano_88 wrote: »

That's tough. Are you self studying or doing lectures?

I took lectures and revision courses the first 2 attempts. Using learnsignal and acowtancy since then.

Ciara26 · 20-10-2020 12:51pm

Jem123 wrote: »

I took lectures and revision courses the first 2 attempts. Using learnsignal and acowtancy since then.

I did sbl and APM and failed by few percent. Gutted, I know how you feel

Jem123 · 20-10-2020 1:14pm

Ciara26 wrote: »

I did sbl and APM and failed by few percent. Gutted, I know how you feel

So disappointing

Fair play for attempting 2 P exams at once!

silent_spark · 20-10-2020 3:03pm

Ciara26 wrote: »

I did sbl and APM and failed by few percent. Gutted, I know how you feel

I would never have the head space to attempt two exams in one sitting. Fair play for trying. Are you going to go for both again in December?

Ciara26 · 20-10-2020 3:13pm

silent_spark wrote: »

I would never have the head space to attempt two exams in one sitting. Fair play for trying. Are you going to go for both again in December?

Yeah doing both again, got 43,46 in the exams so thought why not. This time I won’t do self study, booking in for revision classes. Hopefully lectures is the diff between failing and passing for me

MartyMcFly84 · 20-10-2020 3:30pm

Wow that is a lot to do especially with self study. I would not be able to manage two a time. Fair play for going for 2.

You were so close with your marks in the 40s. The lectures should be a good help, often it's things like exam technique and question selection strategy that makes the difference, experienced lectures are good for tips like that.

It takes all of my mental focus and abilities doing them one at a time. So I am extremely impressed by anyone sitting more than one. At the Professional level that is a lot of extra hours outside of work.

shano_88 · 22-10-2020 8:50pm

Did anyone get an email from Acca today? I paid for the SBL and AAA exams this morning and got an email this afternoon saying that all exams in Ireland will be remote.

Jem123 · 23-10-2020 10:36am

shano_88 wrote: »

Did anyone get an email from Acca today? I paid for the SBL and AAA exams this morning and got an email this afternoon saying that all exams in Ireland will be remote.

I got the email. The remote exam in July was an awful mess and would not work for me on the day so will be pushing mine out until March.

shano_88 · 23-10-2020 11:46am

Jem123 wrote: »

I got the email. The remote exam in July was an awful mess and would not work for me on the day so will be pushing mine out until March.

That doesn't fill me with confidence!

What went wrong? I really want to finish in December but the stress of something going wrong on the day would be awful.

ACCA September 2020

Comments