Study Systems!

Every Individual is unique and has his or her own preferences and choices. ACCA students pursue and prefer various techniques at studying the subjects on the syllabus.

Unlike earlier blogs of mine, where I expressed my personal opinions on certain topics relevant to an ACCA student, this month’s blog merely enlists the very few methods of studying that I am aware of. I presume this would perhaps give an opportunity to my co-affiliates and students to adopt a technique of study from the same. I am very much aware that this is not an exhaustive(complete) list and my student and affiliate friends across the world will have more to add to this. Each subject in the ACCA syllabus often needs to be tackled differently. Some of the methods of study that I used when I did my ACCA exams and some others which I learnt and heard from my friends are listed below:

Cover and Practice – A common method used by many students and used by me in a few theoretical papers is to read and cover the study material and gain an understanding of the paper content and then follow it up with sufficient practice of exam type questions, which may be obtained from previous exam diets. But this a time-taking exercise and may not be adopted unless sufficient time is on hand.

Group Discussion – Perhaps the simplest way of gaining a new perspective of approaching questions is to engage ourselves in a discussion or debate with fellow students. One may note that papers like P4 (AFM) often test the understanding of students and the workings and assumptions are more important than the final answer. This paves way for students to analyze and answer questions in any fashion and using any approach that they may like, clearly stating the assumptions and limitations, to gain very good marks in the exam. It is here that discussions play a vital role by expanding a student’s thinking horizon and increasing awareness.

Practice and Practice- This is an effective approach when faced with shortage of time. It involves nothing but practicing questions from practice kits and earlier exam sittings. It is often difficult to read and learn from the exhaustive texts and study materials. By practicing questions and comparing ones answers with the suggested ones, a student begins to learn the knowledge elements without having to consult the exhaustive study material. This method certainly scores over others for without practice it is impossible to get through an ACCA paper.

Exam-based learning – This is a risky but highly effective method of studying. It involves practice and learning of previous exam papers only. Texts, Kits and all other materials are ignored and previous year(s) question papers are attempted within the stipulated time period and marked against suggested answers. Perhaps one significant advantage of this technique is the enhancement of the ability to answer within the stipulated time. However it is not in the best interest of the student to confine to topics covered in the previous few examinations.

Read and Over Read – This technique of gaining knowledge would work most effectively when used on pocket Notes and combined with the previous technique. It typically would comprise of reading summarized noted and reviewing them on a sustained basis until proficiency is obtained on a topic.

I hope this blog will help at least a few ACCA students in their pursuit for knowledge and learning and to pass their examinations. I welcome and request each of the students reading this blog to post their views and comments on an appropriate study method.

Comments

[Vignesh]

Hi Vishal/Vijay

Glad to note that Mr Johnston has clarified your queries with regard to the ACCA qualification. Wish you good luck!

Regards
Vignesh

[Ravi Bhall]

Hi Vignesh

This is Ravi from india I'm a commerce graduate, and I want to pursue ACCA. I wanted to know in what kind of organisation I can do my training in India?

Thank you

[James Johnston]

Hi Vishal,

As mentioned in the previous reply to a comment now underneath yours, you can simply find out how many exemptions you have by accessing our global exemptions database. Here is the link http://www.accaglobal.com/join/acca/exemptions
Please access this and type in your Instition and country in the space provided.

In terms of where to study in London, you can also access our tuition providers database from our graduate website www.accaglobal.com/graduates there various institutions offering ACCA in London and the main ones being BPP or Kaplan Financial.

I hope this helps, and best of luck.

James Johnston
Business Relationship Manager
ACCA - UK

[vishal sehdev]

Hi, this is Vishal here this is my final year of b.com and i am interested to do ACCA from london so please tell me that how much exemptions I get and which institute is good in London to do this course.

[James Johnston]

Dear Vijay,

Thanks for your post and interest in ACCA - to check out any exemptions please access our exemptions database from the following weblink http://www.accaglobal.com/join/acca/exemptions

From here you will be able to type in Banglore University and find out what programmes ACCA offer exemptions for.

Thank you

James Johnston
Business Relationship Manager

ACCA - UK

[Vijay]

Hi Vignesh,

I have completed my B.com and PGDBA from Bangalore Univeristy.

Let me know the exemptions provided, study centers for ACCA exams in Bangalore.

[Vignesh]

Hi Parinder,

I totally agree with your views on the vitality of keeping oneself up-to-date with developments and keeping abreast with variations and ammendments.

Thanks for your comments on the blog and look forward to many many more...

[Surachna]

Hi vignesh ,
I am an ACCA affiliate based in HK I learned from your blog that you are being supervised by a local finance proffessional as ur workplace mentor is away. I know that it is permisible as per rules but I wish to clarify & want to ask whether it is possible that your training supervisor may have any qualfied finance proffessional not related to company you are working with? I am asking this because I am based in Hk and I am finding it difficult to get the opportunity ..as I did not join any learning provider institution, and I passed all my exams only by self studying. Apart from this I also stood among top 20 Hk affiliates... I was the only Indian. This has given me a ray of hope that if it is possible what u have mentioned then I can join in any Hk based Indian company and get my PER countersigned from the Qualified fimance proffessional. Please feel free to answer.
SURACHNA

[Parvinder]

To those of you reading not just this article but also the comments, I am refering to the old comments posted by a few asking if its neccesary to absorb page by page of the materials. Well im asking you all one question before you let yourself ask such a question again. Are you studying ACCA to pass the exams for the sake of the exams? Or do you think beyond just passing? Its not always about the exams. It should never be from my point of view. I feel we should extract knowledge from wherever possibble and relate to our profession and education. Only then we expand our knowledge. Read the text books... Read them page by page for the understanding. Master it if you have the time. Needless to say you shouldn't do this if you're studying last minute. But if you have the time then why not? I beleieve this is the best possible way to obtain knowledge. This profession is boundless always affected by changes. From the time you get that text book until the moment you sit for the exams, there would be so many changes in the accounting and finance world. Can you afford to let yourself miss all that? Negelecting these changes may not affect you today in exams but it sure will when you start a career tomorrow because in today's ever changing world. Everyone keeps harping on only one thing. We need dynamic employees. The world changes every time u blink.. so does the profession. ;) Think about it!

[James Johnston]

Dear M Mohamed Afzal

Thank you for your comment, please visit www.accaglobal.com/graduates for advice on how to register for ACCA online.

I hope this finds you well.

Best wishes,

James Johnston

Business Relationship Manager

ACCA - UK

[m.mohamed afzal]

hello myself from india how to join ACCA couse pls some one send information to [email protected]

[Vishal]

hi Vignesh,
I attempted P4 and P5 in the June sitting but did not managed to pass it, i'm now resiting them and they would be my last 2 papers left. I would really like to know the correct ways of learning both the papers, and how to score well in both the papers. A quick and detailed response would be really appreciated.

[Vignesh]

Hey Tanveer,

As stated in my blog, the study method often varies from person to person. You may select any method that you think you are confident with... But you frnd has rightly said that for passing the exams you dont need to know page-by-page.

Rgds.

[Musab Tanveer]

Hi Vignesh...
One of my colleagues suggested that i should keep reviewing study text topics instead of trying to absorb the material from every single page! Do you think this is an aporpriate strategy for clearing exams?