Steve Scott, Examiner for Paper 2.5, provides guidance on how to pass the
accounting and audit examinations, and gives general advice on how to achieve
success in any of your examinations this June.
It’s all in the timing
The most important aspect of examination technique is time management. It is
vital that you spend an appropriate amount of time on each question you are
required to answer. Generally, it is easier to attain the first half of the
marks for a question than the second half. Don’t waste excessive time chasing
the sometimes difficult last marks on a question at the cost of missing easier
marks on the next one. You can always return to an unfinished question if you
have time after you have attempted the required number of questions. Avoid spreading
parts of a question throughout the script booklet. This can be avoided by leaving
space to complete any unfinished sections.
Wishful thinking
Make sure you answer the question that has been set. Read the question very
carefully – particularly the ‘requirement’. This is especially
true of case study / scenario-based questions and written questions. A useful
technique is to re-read the requirement regularly whilst answering the question.
It is quite common for students to begin their answers relevant to the question
but then to go off at a tangent. Make sure you refer to the circumstances outlined
in the question and don’t answer the question which you wish had been set.
Markers cannot award marks for points that are not asked for in the question,
no matter how correct or well expressed they may be. Unless the question specifies
a particular format, the use of bullet points (in written answers) is probably
preferable. This helps to make sure you don’t repeat yourself. It is also
is clearer for the marker.
Keep it neat
It is important to present your answers well and in clear handwriting. Markers
are experienced in reading many different styles of handwriting, but there are
a minority of scripts that are almost impossible to read – don’t let
yours fall into this category. Markers cannot award any marks for sections of
an answer that they cannot read.
If in dount, don't leave it out
If you are unsure whether a point you wish to make is correct, write it down
– there is no negative marking. If you are correct you gain the marks.
If you are wrong you have only lost a short period of time. However, don’t
take this advice as an excuse to ‘waffle’ or to make the same point
in different ways.
Occasionally you may feel that a question contains some form of ambiguity.
Often this is because you haven’t read the question properly. If you are
still in doubt, it is important to spell out in your answer any assumptions
that you have made in relation to the perceived ambiguity. Even if you make
a wrong assumption, some credit may be available based upon your interpretation
of the question.
Marks for method
‘Knock-on’ errors are only penalised once. This is sometimes referred
to as method marking. What this means is that an error in an earlier calculation
can cause subsequent calculations to be incorrect. Where this happens, only
the first error is penalised. The subsequent calculation will be marked as being
correct (assuming it is based on the correct method). For example, if a calculation
of consolidated goodwill is required and you make an error in this part of the
question, some marks will be lost. If the question then requires a calculation
for goodwill amortisation and you calculate this correctly, but based on the
wrong figure for goodwill, full marks will still be given for the amortisation
calculation.
Another example occurred in a recent consolidation question in which there
were pre- and post-acquisition periods of 3 and 9 months respectively. A number
of candidates interpreted this as 2 and 10 months respectively. Applying this
error, nearly all the figures in the answer would be wrong, but it is only one
(fairly minor) error and would only be penalised once. In this particular case
some candidates, on realising their error, crossed out their answer and started
again. This is not good practice. Instead you should make a note that you have
realised your error and carry on answering the questions.
What is it worth?
Pay attention to the marks allocated to each section of a question. They show
how much time you should spend on them. Writing two pages for a five mark introductory
section and then only a couple of sentences for the main body of the answer
– which might carry 15 marks – won’t do you any favours.
Following this advice should help you develop more effective techniques and
strategies for achieving higher marks in your ACCA examination papers and give
you a far greater chance of success. Good luck!
Ingredients
800g of time management
750g of reading the question carefully
500g of readable handwriting
Method
- Familiar yourself with the syllabus and recommended reading materials.
- Aim to cover the whole syllabus. Question topics are not examined in rotation,
‘question spotting’ is dangerous.
- Ignore any ‘hot’ tips. Examination papers are subject to very
high levels of security. Tutors have no prior knowledge of question content.
- Practice past examination questions, preferably under examination conditions.
If your tutors will set and mark a mock examination, take advantage of this.
Be aware that the same question will not be asked again, but a similar one
may be.
- Read relevant articles, Exam notes (published in February and September)
and Examiner’s feedback (published in April and October) in student
accountant and on the ACCA website.
Serve immediately
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