I don't really think Sunway provides 36 hours of revision for optional papers.I sat for P4 and P7 at Sunway and they only provide 2 and a half day of classes, which should amount to around 20 hours.

It depends on what you want to do with the degree. Working at the Big4 doesn't really require one but I noticed that some MNC does require a basic degree as a requirement. Imagine when you want to apply for a position online and the education part you put the degree part blank, doesn't sound convincing eh?

Pursuing your masters also requires a basic degree as well. Unless you are sure that you are going to work at Big4 then OBU might not be necessary.

For me, it's kind of redundant. ACCA and CIMA provides the same recognition by MIA.

And I don't think it actually makes the CV nicer as well. I would really like to ask the applicant why did he have 2 qualifications for accounting. Just for the sake of studying?

My advice is just concentrate on passing the remaining papers. A third class degree IMO does not provide any positive feedback to the recruiters.
Don't follow your friends, if you can't manage your time properly and failed your papers, you alone will suffer the consequences.

Memorizing sections might get you additional marks. The good thing about F4 is that the questions are repeated multiple times (not sure of the current trend), so you will be able to note certain sections that are actually tested quite often, memorize those Acts and sections.

I didn't mention much about sections when I sat for the exams, still marginally passed...

It is possible. However you would have to compensate the low grade degree with substantial involvement in co-curricular activities.

I believe big firms want an all rounded person, you would have to explain about your 3rd class degree if given the chance for an interview.

Maybe you just broke off a 10 year relationship (not preferable ), or maybe you were representing your country for some kind of sports, family condition etc to make the employers close one eye on your education.

However, if you are an ACCA straight passer but with marks within the 50% region all the time, then that's another story to tell.

My lecturer used to say about going to low density areas for a higher passing rate.

For me, exam centres are in no way crucial or even playing a minor role in passing the paper.
When you fail, do you blame the centre or blame yourself? And when you pass, do you credit the exam centre for having wonderful air conditioning system etc?

It all boils down to you and you alone.

Last semester my lecturer was telling us a story about the exam centers. There was a construction going on next to it so it was very dusty and noisy during the exams which made the students unable to concentrate during exams.

My lecturer got hold of this news from his students and so he complained about the center after the exams. ACCA responded by marking more leniently on those particular papers. Though I'm not really sure how "lenient" it went.... =/

As a student of Sunway, I think I can answer this question for you.

Sunway has no rights to bar you in any way as they are only the tuition provider.

Sunway has been using this as a way of threatening their students. It might have helped both the student and the centre itself in having a higher passing rate, but I believe we as students should know our rights.

Personally, I have not heard of cases of the college actually barring anyone. Before they "bar" you, you would actually need to have a talk with Mr Teo to convince him that despite your poor performance during the PT and Mock exams, you will be able to pass the paper. Usually most of them didn't get barred in the end after a talk with Mr Teo and they will still fail the paper.

However, they do have the rights to not provide you with tuition if you so happen failed to impress Mr Teo and still insist in sitting for the paper. They will not want to have a "failing" student to affect their passing rates, and so will not accept you as a student if you fail the papers.

But all this is just hear say from friends and lecturers. I have not personally known anyone who have really been barred by the Sunway.

All in all, know your rights and know that Sunway is NOT the only ACCA tuition provider out there.
These tuition providers in KL provide a much better team of lecturers, with almost 50% of the cost at Sunway with less students per class.

I believe it's December 2010. Bob Ryan did mention that certain period of past year questions are not applicable as well.

Oh yes sorry about that, thanks for the reminder.....

That means Bob Ryan's questions are not relevant for the recent exams I believe.

I used to think that too. But I realised that CFA does not require it's candidates to pay the membership fee until after you claim membership. The same cannot be said with ACCA. They require students to pay membership fee annually as well as the affiliates.

I am unsure of the administration of the other professional bodies out there.

I always prefer to drop my resume at career fairs. Have you been to their online application?

PwC even needs to know your family background and several unnecessary info.

And sometimes I feel that dropping off your resume actually provides faster response than online application.

Just the resume should be enough. Those transcript should be submitted when you are going for interview.

Credit card is the fastest and safest way to register for exams.

Maybe you can call up ACCA Malaysia and ask them about it?

Not all institution offers the same amount of exemptions. The maximum exemption is 9 papers, ie. F1-F9.

You have to pay the exemption fee equal to the amount of papers you claimed for exemptions.

You can check this website for additional details.

You can actually ask ACCA to provide you with a transcript detailing your CAT and ACCA scores, but it will not tell whether you are a straight passer or not.

IAS Plus is a good and simple guide for standards.

Used it for my P7. XP

CAT and FIA are not MQA approved. It is not recognised only by the government. If you don't plan on being a government servant then it does not matter to you. The important thing is whether the employers recognise the qualification.

And we are all independent candidates in a sense. The colleges are just tuition providers, we pay the exam fees on our own and sit for the exams in which the college has no jurisdiction to affect the outcome. You don't even need to take your exams in that particular college as well.

Just ask. I requested a transcript twice this year and they responded without any complain.