Part qualified?

Having just done two exams I’m relieved they are over. I’ve been studying for over two years now but still the pressure of taking exams doesn’t get any easier. I know I have mentioned this before but I always feel cheated that after many months work whether I pass or fail just depends on a 3 hour exam. I still believe there is some scope for some of the course work particularly at the professional level where understanding and interpretation is required at a much higher intellectual level.

I have just taken F9 and hopefully if I pass I will be part qualified. I work with a number of people who qualified to this level but never went any further. Until I started studying I never understood why people who were part qualified decided not to take the professional exams. Now it is very clear why people feel they can go no further with their studies. It’s not necessarily that they are unable to intellectually cope with the professional exams, it’s the stress of taking exam after exam after exam!! Becoming an accountant is not just about having the intelligence and gaining the knowledge and experience, it’s an endurance test.

Well I’m not the sort of person to give up easily and I certainly intend to continue with the remaining courses. Being part qualified however is recognised by employers, and with the recession taking hold in the UK and in many places around the world, qualifications are important. With friends and acquaintances having already lost their jobs, it is now even more important to have relevant and up to date qualifications.

On the plus side taking so many exams has enabled me to travel to all sorts of places around London that I would never have visited otherwise. Every time I take my exams I request London south east but as yet I have not been to the same place twice. So far the exams have been held at Crystal Place, Brixton, Balham and this time the Ibis Hotel in Earl’s Court. The crystal chandeliers and huge Christmas tree nicely distracted me from getting too nervous as I sat waiting for the exam to begin.

With the exams now over I am going to take a few weeks off my studying and enjoy Christmas. With Woolworth’s going into administration I better get there quick before everything is gone, otherwise there will be no presents for the kids.

Comments

[Monty]

Hello,
I was just wondering if anyone had done a accounting and finance degree and then did their ACCA?
I wanted to know how hard they thought ACCA is after the degree and exemptions you get because of it?
Thanks
Monty

[Agu]

I was overjoyed when I saw my online ACCA results for December 2008.The truth is that ACCA is never an easy run. I work in a financial industry-Bank and it can be very tedious (late closure from work and all that).

I started in December 2006 and passed all 3 part 1 papers. I took 2.1,2.2 and 2.3 in June 2007 and had 45% in Taxation(2.3), because of that I had to sit for 4 papers in December 2007-F6,F7,F8 and F9 and by divine favour passed all 4. I started feeling like a part-qualified accountant but found out it doesn't mean much to my coy as it couldn't earn my deployment to their financial control or treasury unit. I registered for P1,P2 and P3 in June 2008 and this time around got 44% in P3. The goodnews now is that I sat for P3,P4 and P7 in December 2008 and passed all.

It feels good having to leave all the preparations for exams and the stressful examinations. I know it will feel better having the letters ACCA after my name. Persevere! that is my advice,you will get there.

[Toyin]

Hoilday almost over, lectures to begin in March.

I started my ACCA in 2007, now I wonder why I didn't start any sooner ££££. Took F5 & F6 in Dec and the exams were fine.

I can't wait to be fully qualified and move onto higher and brigher horizons.

Taking my ACCA have been a real challenge, I currently work in the finance industry but not exposed to pure accounting. So I haven't achieved any of the stages on the PER.

My next papers are F7,F8 & F9. I am still contemplating if I can take 3 at once whilst working full-time. Am sure I can, after all the maximum are 4 papers.

Are the professional stages much harder? Compared to F5 & F7

[Sam Art]

I just took F7, F8 and F9. i hope i'll pass all too to complete foundation level. I'm waiting for the result. Now i'm taking P1, P2 and P5. Studying ACCA is very hard. My eyes nearly got problem because of it. And i hope i'll finish it this year 2009.

I'm trying not to fail any papers.

I'm trying to sit only one time for each paper.

Anyways part qualified is meaningless here, Cambodia. So i must to complete all.

[Sam]

Understood what you meant by 'exam after exam after exam!'. You just wish you could finish them all, then rest!

I'm a Chinese. I came to London in 2003. Started studying for ACCA immediately. Luckily I passed Part 1 and Part 2 quite smoothly. Almost 1st-sit pass.

My speed was slowed down when I entered Last three 'core paper'. I passed P2 on 3rd sit. and need to sit P3 for 4th time! I felt so frustrated as all my results of P3 were around 45%-47%! How can I make a 5% process? Tough! Especially I felt my bosses and colleagues might think I'm an idiot! I have to just ignore their thoughts and concentrate on my own study.

Just sat P1 & P3 (AGAIN!!) this month. Please let me at least pass P3!

I felt very weak after exam. Went to see doctor, found out I have severe anaemic! Signed off for two weeks. Might be longer subject to my blood test result.

Hopefully I could recover quickly so that I can go back to work and carry on studying if I unfortunately fail!

Hope my story will make you feel better. Everybody has to fight hard to get the finishing line.

Never easy, isn't it?