oh....how can it happen!
I really can't believe that i have failed all of my papers in one sitting.

I thought i was so good in taxation and accounting standards
and yet the result is telling me the opposite.

ALL of my friends also shocked at my result.

Anyway, i have concluded what I've done wrong during the exam,
just hope it will be helpful for the newcomers or friends who going to resit in the coming exam:

(i) misunderstanding of the question('s requirement).

In P7 (section a) Q1(a), what i have done wrong were i forgot to include my ratio calculation and trend analysis into my discussion, instead i wholly focused on the information that provided in the case study to derive the audit risk issue. However, the examiner intended to test the student: how an auditor can link the preliminary analytical procedure to the audit risk.

I failed to do so, and my marks had been restricted to 5~6 marks in accordance with the marking scheme. You will not get any credit if u not answer what you are required to answer.

(ii) Over-writing.

Sometimes, this problem can be caused by over confident in the particular question. This could be found when i was answering my P6 and P7 question that related to accounting standard.

I'm not intended to show off my knowledge, but I was too keen on earning as many marks as possible. Therefore, I focused too much on explaining the rule and spent less time on linking back to scenario.

ACCA question is made up so balance to require candidates not only to explain the knowledge but also apply into the scenario.

(iii) poor time management/ exam technique.

Time management is formed actually part of the exam technique.
The common exam planning is based on mark allocation (i.e. 1.8 min per mark)

Previously, I passed my P2 in December 2012 for the first time, I was so regret that i didn't do well in time management, otherwise the result can be more than what i've gotten: 67.

In last sitting, I decided to change my exam strategy: to play with time budget and stick with time budget. However, the strategy is proven failure because:

P7, I was so focus on doing Q1 and forgot the time have already flown away. After completing Q1, there was only 1 hour left and there were 3 questions undone. ---time management failed!!! (FYI, my writing speed is actually so slow=.=)

P6, okay, i must implement my strategy! But.....what i was done, was skipping the question that i felt so confident to answer and spending too much of budget in doing the difficult and unconfident questions. I couldn't get the max mark that i could have earned and only only scored the limited mark from the difficult question. --- unwise skipping
(FYI, my P6 result is 49, aduihai!!)

P1: The unwise skipping strategy repeatedly happened.


In conclusion, I personally believe every candidate is so prepared to sit for the final exam. However, knowledge is just helping us to answer the question (basic condition) and the exam technique is assisting u to pass the exam (advanced condition).

Hope my experience will be helpful and sorry for my poor English**.
See you all in the coming exam! Fighting +U Ga Yao Gambateh!

** I'm also considering whether my English was so poor until the marker couldn't understand my point and just consider it wrong, since most of my answer are quite similar to the model answer. Anyway, I think it's just my personal problem rather than the majority candidates.

This post has been edited by SnowMiss: Aug 12 2013, 12:27 AM

Finished my P3 exam and just back from Sunway Uni......
Anyway.....all the questions are doable and lots of info have been offered.

Q1 was the "copy and paste" questions from the past year exam - Organic growth, Acquisition and Strategic Alliances+Acquisition with Suitability,Feasibility and acceptability + Diamond.

Q2 was Time Series Analysis, Least Square Regression + importance of Budgeting

Q4 was 4Is from 6I + Marketing mix (But i answer by applying by common sense XDD)


Anyway.....time management is still my weakness and this problem still remain unsolved until today T.T
But I feel my quality of answers were quite nice although missing some marks in every question because of reaching time budget that i sat.

Especially for Q2......i have to recalculate the Time series table and regression table, and evaluate the appropriateness, it is causing significant time allocated to analysis and the easy justification the importance of budgeting i have to leave it blank ----10 marks lost!!!



Hopefully, 70% completion still allow me to pass!!!!

Oh my gosh.....how could u do that???? finish 2 questions in 1 hour!!
teach me plz!!! I wish i can master this by tomorrow and apply to my P1 exam:-)

I not intended to to do Q2, but reading the Q3 for numbers of times and don't get any feel from the requirement.
Especially when the question mentioned the word: longer term changes, my mind immediately thinking of change management. After having discussion with my friend, I just realised it is a simple cost and benefit question and the proposed changes have been provided in the case study.

I blame my careless and end up chose to do the question that require more analytical skill to the formula and the underlying assumption. T.T

I wish to have extra 15 mins in Q1, so i could complete the acceptability and recommendation in (b) as well as subheading for supporting industry and firm strategy, structure and rivalry in © T.T

Forgot to share, my time budget was like:

Q1: Planning 15mins answering 75 mins
Q3: Planning 10mins answering 35 mins
Q4: Planning 15mins (from reading and planning time)answering 45 mins

I think my problem was overspent my time on question Q4 because i have forgotten that i should have allocated more time on Q1 since i have fully utilised the first 15mins in annotating and analysing Q4 case study.

Hopefully, this problem can be overcome in my P1 exam :-)
and all the best for those taking p2 and F3 tomorrow.