10 ways to study

Adopting an effective study technique is one of the most important ways to achieve success in exams. We asked you for your top study tips and here are some of the best

1 Make study a habit

Even at the best of times, studying and working can be tough. But, in the run up to exams, the need to study as much as possible can add to the pressure. Savin Mao, a Part 2 Professional Scheme student from Cambodia, advises students to make the best use of their time. ‘At the beginning of your studies, discipline yourself and produce a clear schedule of the extra study you need to do for your exams. After a couple of weeks, the extra hours of work will become a habit. Once it becomes a habit, it will feel normal to read or practise for your exams, and if you fail to study for even one day you will feel you are missing something.’

2 Use the resources at hand

Mohammad Shoaib, a Part 2 Professional Scheme student from Pakistan, recommends using the resources available on the ACCA website and in student accountant. ‘Analyse the exam papers from the past five years or so. Study the examiners’ feedback published in student accountant too. This is important because it enables students to find out what is expected in future exams.’ Examiners’ feedback is published twice a year in the April and October issues of student accountant. It is also available on the ACCA website, together with past exam papers and answers, and technical articles. ‘The more you analyse the more you benefit,’ concludes Mohammad.

3 Working together

Group learning or studying with a friend can be a good way to reinforce what you know, and find out what you don’t know. Donamie Providence, a CAT passed finalist and Part 2 Professional Scheme student from St Vincent recommends studying with others so that you can look at topics from different angles. ‘Working in a small group of three or four allows you to discuss topics and get ideas from one another,’ she says. ‘In addition, talking about your daily work enables you to share your skills and knowledge, and this could help you apply your experience to the exam questions.’

4 Ask if you don’t understand

If you attend lectures, it is important to know that you understand all you have been taught. Choong Woon Wei, a Part 2 Professional Scheme student from Malaysia, advises students to make sure they have understood everything and not to be afraid to ask tutors and lecturers questions. ‘It is vital to have complete comprehension of the subject, so that your mistakes or misunderstandings are not compounded as the course continues,’ says Choong Woon Wei. ‘The best way to check your understanding is to see if you can teach the subject to a friend, and explain every aspect of it effectively and accurately. If you can, then you should be able to convey your knowledge to the examiner too.’

5 Practice, practice, practice

Jane Kamoche, a Part 2 Professional Scheme student from Kenya, believes in the old adage ‘practice makes perfect’. ‘Although we have heard this said many times, it really works,’ says Jane. Her advice is to try to do three or four practice questions after every topic studied. ‘By doing as many revision papers and questions as you can, what you have learned will stay in your head.’

6 PQRST

CAT student Rohail Amjad from Pakistan uses the PQRST method for his study – P = preview, Q = question, R = revise, S = summary, T = test. ‘I first preview the topic to find out what I need to know, then I note down any queries or questions. Nearer to the exams, I revise the topic and make short notes in summary form. Testing myself on these helps me to see where I am with the subject and what knowledge gaps I have.’

7 Look after yourself

It is well documented that your brain works best when you eat healthily and sleep well – and if you don’t get enough sleep, you may lose a lot of cognitive power. Caroline Tromans, a Part 3 Professional Scheme student from the UK, believes that getting your body into the best possible shape can give you the edge when it comes to your studies. ‘Don’t forget to eat, exercise, rest and sleep properly. If you are tired, hungry and sluggish you will not perform at your best.’

"At the beginning of your studies, discipline yourself and produce a clear schedule of the extra study you need to do for your exams"