ACCA produces a wealth of resources designed specifically to support candidates sitting the Advanced Performance Management exam. These resources have been developed to address areas which candidates typically find challenging based on a review of previous exam sittings.
Here, we help to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes made by candidates in past exams by directing you to specific resources on the ACCA website, explaining how they should be used and what issues they specifically address
Example 1: (Taken from Q1, December 2014) Q1(ii) Briefly justify appropriate management approaches to each of the stakeholders and, based on this analysis, evaluate the appropriateness of the performance measures suggested in Appendix 1. (14 marks)
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Example 2: (Taken from Q1, June 2014)
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In addition to the examples given here, the technical article 'Improving your Advanced Performance Management answers – part 1' (see 'Related links') gives a more detailed analysis relating to example 2 above, as well as an example of a weak answer to this question, which further illustrates what not to do in the exam.
A second article, 'Improving your Advanced Performance Management answers – part 2' (see 'Related links') provides an example of a candidate answer which would pass this question, demonstrating the key points needed to gain sufficient marks to pass, along with a model answer.
All of the Advanced Performance Management examiner’s reports are available on the ACCA website (see 'Related links').
Example 3: (Taken from Q1 from the sample questions from September 2015/December 2015)
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Example 4: (Taken from Q3 from the sample questions from September 2017/December 2017)
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The technical article, 'Reading the question requirements of APM' (see 'Related links') gives several more examples of how to read the requirements of APM exam questions – providing valuable insight into what is expected of you in your exam.
Example 5: (Taken from Q1 from the sample questions from March 2018/ Credit was given for a brief description of the purpose of the value chain but then candidates were expected to consider how to use the value chain to simplify the supply chain. Lengthy discussion about every section of the value chain score very little and wasted time, especially as the model diagram had been given in the scenario. |
Example 6: (Taken from Q3 from the sample questions from September 2015/December 2015) Q3(a) Advise the board how the six sigma project at Posie to reduce returns from customers could be implemented using DMAIC methodology. (15 marks) Candidates were able to explain the DMAIC methodology which is an appropriate way to begin answering this requirement. The DMAIC method should then have been used to structure the answer otherwise the methodology is not being used to advise the board. |
This application of key theories is a crucial skill to passing Advanced Performance Management. It is not enough just to know the theory; you need to be able to practically apply it.
APM draws on knowledge from FM. There is a key article which you should read.
Four professional marks are awarded in APM and the short video 'Professional marks – the difference between a pass and a fail' gives some pointers to ensure you are awarded these crucial marks.
It is also recommended that you watch the 'APM effective study and exam technique' video (watch the streaming video if you don't have access to YouTube) all the way through. This covers all of the advice given, as well as further pointers to help you pass APM – for example, in terms of how best to approach this exam.
Written by a member of the Advanced Performance Management examining team