Suggestions for essay writing questions

A significant part of the high-level ACCA papers comprise discursive elements and candidates need to develop skills in answering discursive questions. The following paragraphs include suggestions that may be helpful to candidates when they are attempting discursive questions.

The examiners’ feedback from the October 2006 issue of student accountant stated that: ‘Many candidates wasted valuable time by writing out all parts of the question at the beginning of their answers when they doing essay writing questions.’ This is not necessary and should be avoided as simply repeating the facts of the question without any elaboration does not gain any marks.

The article went on to say that: ‘Many other candidates answered essay questions in a very brief form, or simply produced lists. Neither approach is acceptable, because candidates are expected to display appropriate written communication skills.’ As students, we must appreciate that the volume of writing does not necessarily equate to obtaining a pass standard for an essay writing question – it is better to stick to the point rather than wasting time in writing irrelevant content.

When attempting an essay writing question, the first part of the answer should be an introduction of the background, followed by the main body which is the solution to the question. Concise headings and sub-headings can be used to structure and focus answers. When the solution part is finished, students need to write a conclusion to make a summary. And, as students, we should be professional when answering a high-level essay writing question, because these questions always contain professional marks. Sometimes we are required to write a report, so we need to memorise the format of a report as there are always marks allocated to the format of the report.

When the time allocated to an essay question is over, it’s better to move on and start a new question even if we haven’t finished the question we are working on, leaving sufficient space to come back and finish that question if time allows.

Sometimes a discursive question is much more difficult for non-English speakers, so good exam skills for essay writing questions become especially important.

Comments

[Mabinty Conteh]

Hi,

If anyone is going for a P3 revision class especially at FTC Kaplan, please let me know the questions that will covered.

I'm doing P3 for the third time in December 2009. I attended a revision and question-based course for the last sitting and have all the study materials so all I need is the questions to focus on for the Dcember exam.

Your help will be appreciated. Thanks

[K. Amin]

To Jill from Trinidad

Hi Jill,

I am writting only P3 so I hope you can be my study mate this December 09.

Amin from Ghana.

[Saad]

Hi Kavita,

I can relate to your situation since the same happenned to me while attempting P7. Before that happened I always knew why I failed a certain paper but only now I know how you feel when you don't even know the reason behind your failure. It is a curse!

[karim]

Hi Janine, you can get some notes on this website: www.opentuition.com/acca

Good luck.

[Kavita]

Hi,

I am writing CAT T8 and T5 and I need suggestions on how to answer these questions as I do not have any work experience in either field.

[Htet]

Hi,

I've failed F8 two times. First time with 48 and second time with 46 marks. I really don't know how to pass this paper. Very tough for me. I understand the concept but why I can't get a passing score in the exam?

Can anyone please advise me?

Regards,
Htet

[Jill]

I'm from Trinidad WI and I'd like a study partner for F8 and P3 if anyone is interested?

[Sabetree]

Hey Permalink, thank you for your tips on answering essay type questions.

[Janine]

Anyone studying towards P1 in June 2009? I am looking for a study partner.

[Janine]

Hi, I am doing P1 in June 2009. Can someone help me with exam preparation and studying towards June 2009?

[kana aurelien]

Hi, I am writing F5 for the fourth time. You see, in my country, we do not have tuition providers so I would like to receive somebody's notes which belong to a recognised tuition provider. Can anybody help please?

[kana aurelien]

Hello, I am writing Papers F5, F8, and P2. I need suggestions on all those papers and also if somebody is doing the same papers.

Thanks

[syndi]

If anyone has a mock or past paper for Paper F3, can you please forward it to us at this address, please?

Thank you.

[Thu Hien]

I will take part in F7, F9 in June 2009, please join with me!

[Saif]

Hi, I'm from Pakistan.

I'm taking four papers (F4, F5, F6, and F7) - any suggestions for me, especially F4 and F5?

[Mohammed Tabarok Hossain]

Hi

I wish to get help on F4, Global, please.

[Lazina Afrin]

Hi Ajijah (Malaysia),

I am from Bangladesh. I have taken F5 and F6 and will appear exam on June 2009, Inshallah. Would you like to discuss these two papers with me?

[Lazina Afrin]

Thanks a lot for the topic on 'essay writing questions'. It will help us a lot as part of exam preparation.

[Ajijah Abd Rasid]

Hi,

I am looking for someone to study with on F5, F6 and F7 and someone who has taken the papers. I will be taking the paper in June 2009 in Malaysia.

[thuytien]

Hi, I will take the exam in December 2008 in Vietnam for Paper 4 (CAT). I really pity that I can not test by computer. My friends tested by computer with high pass rates and marks. I hope the writing test is the same as the easy computer test because I am worried about my ability of my writing and disclose. English is not my mother Language. But I promise at the next exam i will improve it better.

[haphuongly]

Hi! I will take the next exam in December 2008 in Vietnam for Papers 2,4 and 6 (CAT). I am worried about my ability of writing because English is not my mother language. I really hope the test will not be fully theory. At the next time, I promise I will improve it better, after this test.

[Tang]

Hi, I am looking for someone to study with on Paper P1. I will undertake the exam in December 2008 in Sydney.

[Research Paper Writing]

Thanks for your topic on 'essay writing questions'. I think it will add a great value to refine my skills and abilities.

[Write term paper]

That's nice. Great to know about suggestions for essay writing questions, too. Thanks