Oh i assume the student asked bcos he never attend any lecturer for reporting or self study. Joe fang method is good if you have followed his class before since he developed his own methods of consolidation. Unless you are his ex student i don't think it is easy to accomodate his 6 session revision class. Almost all his ex student / current student told me about this.

Keith farmer is another good lecturer for revision. I recommend haneef since any students can jump in even without any strong basics in reporting paper. I don't think many people will doubt his quality in elaborating on standards part. Since he / she asked about revision in "standards" i will recommend based on his selection criteria. I think some joe fang student also take haneef revision class to strengthen their standards part & haneef students vice-versa joining JF class for any potential fast technics.

I never expressly stated haneef is the best lecturer , these perception will be different depending on people's needs & wants. If anyone asked me about fast exam techniques i will surely recommend someone else. No offense to any joe fang students . Not forgetting keith farmer too if anyone decided to take defamation suit against me .

This post has been edited by Topace111: Nov 8 2008, 12:02 AM

I think you should read my post above first to be fair & objective :
Haneef teach 2 class to accomodate full time & part time student , full time just finished so only part time left (so class size is not big : 75)
Date is : 22 , 23 , 24, 25 & price is not sure since it was listed on need to contact, it shoul be around RM 350 - RM 450.

Joe fang teach combined class (size should be around 250 student) , fees is RM 300
Date is : 17 , 18 , 19 but also got video class (for those student clash with andrew P5) on 18, 19, 20 , 21 , 24 , 25 .

Keith farmer also combined class (size should also be around 250) , fees is RM 300
Date is : 14, 15 , 16

What i mean is if they introduce something new, students will not know how to cope with it so examiner will be persuaded to examine with lower detail & difficulty, our examiner is a very cunning person. Like P1 first time tested requires 2 pilot paper. Maybe you can consider this sitting a blessing in disguise since examiner has implied he will not test so thoroughly on non controlling interest area. However this does not mean he will not kill other area, knowing graham he will screw us anyway HA HA HA (Why am i laughing, study stress )

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Added on November 8, 2008, 12:01 amIt means you have paid early isn't it, therefore on that period before they received your payment they already post the requirement payment. Not to worry i have experienced this before. What you should do is check / call acca malaysia at wisma denmark to confirm. The web-site always got problem, this could be due to large influx of student.

one more thing i am just curious, isn't acca have limit on limting papers taken each sitting at 4. You can take 5 papers...........

This post has been edited by Topace111: Nov 8 2008, 12:04 AM

Roughly like that, its very normal. I have experienced it twice already (don't worry too much about it)

To be in marker list is extremely difficult especially acca papers that bores the international tag.
Unless the paper is malaysia stream like tax & law its more likely.
I know a tax marker cum lecturer : Siva nair at FTMS.
He can share you so many stories how students make a fool of himself at the answer script.

Technically i think he is the most experienced tax lecturer, he has been teaching at mit, acca or any tax related fields.
If you have been to his class, you will probably heard all kind of stories about tax examiners.
Apparently, he & both f6 & P6 examiner are on first name basis (very close relationship)
Whenever i have any difficult tax question throw at him, he can answer without a blink of an eye or thinking (all tax rules under his arms already)

Unfortunately i don't think many people (em hem) especially young students will find him to be suitable lecturer for them, he can go very fast & the way he conduct class can be a bit troublesome (he will ask every student to try a question by giving oral presentation, so it can drag very long & he will not release you until you get it correct). I think his class will be more suitable for older student / those have been working, when i go to revision most of his students are either working in big 4 or over 25.

I know but he is not teaching ACCA currently & only for revision. Some of my friends are big fans (all of them have his book). Just too sad he is no longer teaching normal classes. Revision class is for those attending other lecturer normal class or self study. By the way how is the e - IRC works, is it effective ?

I heard Keith farmer wants to try it once at FTMS but the idea seems to radical at that time. He is practicing it partially for his catch-up class at P2 now. P2 is a tough paper to crack compared to the other 2 core paper. Its very hard to master everything.....

one more good reason for most students to complete their studies first before working. Once start working lifes gone dude.

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Added on November 12, 2008, 12:49 amYes substance always prevails over form, only short-sighted employers don't recognise that fact.

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Added on November 12, 2008, 12:50 amF7 has just undergone major change in IAS 1 / IFRS 3 which brings domino effect unto others. Revision is definitely necessary.

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Added on November 12, 2008, 12:53 amF6 got no shortcut examiner always manage to test over 90% area of syllabus, practice a lot of past year will do.
F5 got the lowest passs rate last sitting, you must really understand the theories part & remember to elaborate .
1 key point with full elaboration is better than 3 key points alone.

This post has been edited by Topace111: Nov 12 2008, 12:53 AM

syllabus change already, now examiners can test a major portion of contents.
Just have to study everything......

That's a very optimistic plan right there .
Its very good to aim high in order to push all your way through to achieve it.
However any unexpected twist / snag your entire plan will land you in jeorpardy so bad it breaks many hopefuls.
As far as i am concerned when at lower levels all my friends have the similar dream like yours (straight passes + high marks for OBU)
PS : I also belong to that kiasu group

However there's a major flaw in the plan as no one was expecting a failure so there was no back up plan for it. When my 4 papers friends taker failed any 1 or 2 of their papers, their motivation was effectively gone & hot by another setback to resit those papers with extra burden in mind (stress will attack very quickly) I know several very bright friends who scored straight a's in all their major exam but also stuck with some tricky papers like audit & performance management. They can even pass professional papers but stuck at fundamentals.

I always admired those taking 4 papers but i pity them since all of them always share a sad sentiment, their life was pretty much overxrowded with ACCA & have no regards for something else (lifestyle). Their student life was effectively gone & when they start working that's it no going back.
I knew a few theat managed to go through 4 papers but suffice to say that their marks will not even reach the 60 border mark unless you are very very brilliant student.

Regarding OBU, this degree ony serves as the "form" for acca to supplement the "substance" of acca. Ask any layman out there they will admire & respect someone with double qualifications. Ask any professional or experienced OBU is just a "window-dressing". Ask lecturers discreetly they also admit OBU is no longer that important compared to others (ICAEW, CIMA). Although i averaged for 70 from f4 to f9 i also think OBU was a waste of time, my lecturer encourage me to go for CFA instead.

As i am still sitting for my P1 & P3 i cannot recommend on scoring yet but i can dwell on the contents. P1 syllabus is considered the least compared to other core papers. It mainly encompasses corporate governance, ethics, risk managements & audit. However memory power is need to in tackling corporate governance (laws & section to remember)
P3 syllabus is considered wide but only for application. The memorising part is verly little actually notwithstanding the author's models or framework.
If you have extensive knowledge, experience & can "think outside the box", a revision class will be enough already. Those with weak elaboration, writing & english command will find this paper quite difficult for their liking.

Unless you are somebody who are either :
1) > 21 years old OR
2) possessed a degree or equivalent
I strongly recommend you start with 3 papers first, if gone smooth its viable to go for 4. Remember that failing can be cery devastating to one's morale, just ask anyone who has failed b4. This idea of kiasu (fear of losing) has push me not to fail any of my papers to date. however study isn't everything, relationship & social life is also important. No employer will just look at your qualification & hire you on spot.

(I hope its not too long, i am very energetic on morning )

This post has been edited by Topace111: Nov 13 2008, 11:10 AM

Syllabus wise F4 law & F8 audit covers a lot more compared to other F papers.
However F6 tax & F7 reporting can test almost every part of the paper (> 80%)
F5 management & F9 finance requires balancing in theories & calculation.

P1 & P3 requires elaboration & arguing skill to sneak through.
P2 requires understanding & apllication of standards to muscle through.

The paper difficulty depends on your skills, some find tax easy while some find it to be very tough (it depends : heterogenuinity theory).
Since examiner are armed with the "license to kill" in professional papers, some may find the transition from F papers to P papers not that easy.
Speaking of college, which college you go to ? Do you plan to take all your papers at a single college ?

Lower levels (F1 to F3 or CAT) = How to prepare calculations using predetermined figures
Mid levels (F4 to F9 or degree) = How to calculate predetermined figures & then prepare those calculations with brief elaboration.
Advance level (P1 to P7) = How to read the calculations & explain.
(In lower levels many people can still boast or aim high but when they went to advanced level, knowledge outscore memory skills)

As always advance level can easily filter out the "substance" from the "form" only. Normally students with "consistent" mark can go through advance level.

Speaking of optional papers i get some interesting opion from some students :
Most of them admit tax is very important & it is the core among the 4 optional papers.
Finance can be considered the most difficult & many student avoid taking these paper even its very beneficial for work application later on.
Apparently many opt for performance management as these was the easiest paper, anyhow they just want to pass only.
Audit has some takers but those reluctant bcos lack of lecturers around.

That's why i said earlier it depends on student liking & level of knowledge. For me costing was very difficult but i am comfortable with area like tax.
Tax requires a huge memory power to remember all those law on income & expenses while finance requires an understanding on models & framework. Maybe next sitting after going through the syllabus i can share the experience (i can be wrong too ).

Oh i never say tax is not hard.
Since you also admit tax is "one" of the hardest, therefore i assume there are others.
If you ask most students in acca, you will probably get feedback that finance is indeed more difficult than other not so easy papers.
What i mean as memory power is the ability to remember the format as well (adjusted to stationary income & stuff)
I have personally approach my 2 ex-tax lecturer to get their opinion & they fairly agreed that tax is a "bit" simpler to "pass" compared to finance.
They argue that more formality & format marks will be given compared to elaborations skills.
In finance if you don't know the model or framework you are basicly busted.

However they agreed it is very hard to score in tax since you need to get everything right to obtain maximum marks.
Don't worry i will also take this 2 next sitting (if god willing ).

I never thought my opinion can be turn into warfare .
Anyhow i will be taking tax & finance next sitting so whichever is harder i will also be "stranded" already .
while most found P5 is easier but i was always weak at costing & i have no intention of studying audit again.

Most of my lecturer told me the 2 most helpful paper in my work together is tax & finance (these 2 are also the most difficult).
I know there will be synergy if take P5 & P4 togehter but after some survey of my own P5 in real life is very less application.
Only when you reach senior manager level (which is another > 8 years or so) then you "may" consider using those stuff in deciding your strategy

Example : forecasting, scenario based analysis, decision tree, budgeting, standard costing....... (I don't think any manager will delegate this job to you so quickly unless you parent owns the company). Furthermore according to my lecturer (who also teach P5) this area is more for those striving to be management accountant (then CIMA is better consideration compared to ACCA).

By then you can also take MBA paper which is better to complement with ACCA after adding working experience. I have approached a few lecturer in teaching P5 & they also admit its very theoretical & academical in nature & very little application in work.
That's why you can see some lecturer teaching F9 but continued in P5 while other teaching F5 but continued in P4. I think Mco practice that approach.

Lewin touches on 2 theory = 1) Force-field theory & 2) Change process model.

1) Force-field theory
We need to identify the forces that requires company to change & forces restrainging the changes.
Example : You want to eat at 5 star hotel but usually you ate at hawker stall.
Forces requiring change = You want to appear more elegant.
Forces restraining change = You don't have enough money.

2) Change process model
We need to "unfreeze" old way of doing things (make them feel dillusioned about current way).
Then we perform the "change" necessary (on 7S)
The we "refreeze" the new culture (so that they won't revert back to original state).

Next is Kotter (& Schlesinger) on HOW TO Weaken restraining forces :
1) Education & communication = create awareness
2) Participation & involvement = create sense of belonging
3) Facilitation & support = Offer reward & coaching
4) Negotiation = Reach "win-win" situation.
5) Manipulation = Bribe Or appease the informal leader of resistance
6) Coercion = Serve warning / get tough.

Now to answer on your question of how they are linked :

Force field theory & Kotter :
In force field theory we need to identify potential resistance.
Then we need to tak poactive steps to weaken it (hence come Kotter 6 steps).
Finally we implement the changes.

In Change process model
The unfreeze part = we use (education & communication) and (particaption & involvement).
The refreeze part = we use (faciliation & support).

If you have any doubt PM me or if you want reference you can refer to Past year question June 2007, Question no 2. Sayonara

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Added on November 16, 2008, 11:13 pm[quote=karhoe,Nov 16 2008, 08:21 PM]
I guess i'm comfortable with Sunway, why do you guys say that the lecturers are inexperienced? I think the lecturers are very dedicated and I can understand what they teach.

I think the lecturer are fine but there are better lecturers out there (you need some effort to find appropriate one).
Most of the people go to Sunway because they want the "sunway" tag at their resume & dedication of lecturer (facilities are added bonus).
However if you want strictly the best lecturer they are considered "2nd best" in terms of experience, wealth of knowledge & reputation compared to those lecturer recommended at this forum (well most of them ).

Even sunway student take some papers outside (namely audit if i am not mistaken).
I undertand concern of student because they want the best out of everything so they go for "simplicity" mode by taking at the "best" centre.
However if you want the optimal result, you need to practice this motto "I choose lecturer not college".
Remember we are not talking about degree (where you study everything under one roof) but professional qualification where you are "given" option to self study or choose your own lecturer.
Of course you rather to tell your relatives you are studying at sunway than KSA ? (Ha HA me too but that time i am still immatured)

This system will create a "HYPER" competition which breeds efficiency among lecturers. You will ask why if these so famous lecturer never teach at big & classy university but settled on less known centres ?
I will answer these in detail next time but its due to 3 main factors : Low stress, Higher return & flexible period.
Most of these lecturer earn 10 - 20 times more than sunway lecturer (even offer better quality too).
However i vehemently support your "dedication of teaching by sunway lecturers" but they are more concern about your marks (hopefully prize )



This post has been edited by Topace111: Nov 16 2008, 11:15 PM

The 4 factor of resistance by (Kotter) is :
1) Desire not to lose something valuable (staff scared lose job security / comfort)
2) Misunderstanding (lack of communication between staff & boss)
3) Non-sensical to staff (top management has no holistic view or fault in decision making)
4) Low tolerance to change (these are "coconut head" people)

You can also apply Kanter, Schein & Jick factors (I think its easier to remember ) :
1) Loss of control
2) Fear of the unknown
3) Distrust
4) Fear of losing job security
5) Lack of confidence
6) Increased in workload (leading to stress)

I heard advanced audit is very application based. I known a friend who passed professional audit with ease (he has the knowledge & experience) but still stuck in fundamental audit (bcos its very formulaic approach = right wording, tabular form....etc). He said the paper did not add that much value to students knowledge.

That's why sheila & phillip stop teaching this paper bcos there is not much to teach. Anyhow my audit lecturer in fundamanetal level also recognise the fact that audit is not something should be learned but experienced since every comp have a different system.

Anyhow it depends on the student's liking & scope of work. . The reason i think P5 will not add much knowledge bcos from students feedback P3 & F5 alone covers more than 50% of the syllabus already.

Well i can think of few good analogies to support your argument :
If you decided where to eat your meal, you will think of those high class restaurant which offer 5 star service with highly priced food you can get somewhere else at fraction of a cost. Imagine curry noddles at RM 25 and a glass of coke at RM 7 (you get the idea)
That is sunway to summed it up (great service at a price)

Now if you want good food but also with economic value you can think of those normal restaurant / hawker stall around Jalan Alor or Petaling Street.
Not fancy isn't it but those stalls has newspaper recommendation clippings on it, superstar visiting it, politicians savouring it. Think of curry noodles at RM 4 and coke at RM 1.5. (But comes with poor service most of the time = less dedication compared to others).
That is KSA, MCO (em hem FTMS & KB).

At first i cannot imagine myself studying at "centres" instead of college / universities. I think 90% of all of you have been tired explaining to everyone :
1) What is ACCA ?
2) Where do you study ? (3 centres per sitting anyone)
I have been tired explaining to my "engineer" cousins why taking ACCA at college / univerisities is "NOT" the best option. They just don;t listen

Doubt my words (I bet new students will ) : Here comes practical example :
1) Daniel Ho = he got such a large student base at Hong Kong & China that adds up together alone will outnumber all those sunway lecturers combined (few thousands if i am not mistaken)

2) Chong Kwai Fatt (ex-examiner & book publisher) : If you even read newpaper at all you will find jis name pop up at biz section.

3) Andrew pang & Chow chee yen = well they are also ex-sunway lecturers.

This argument can span 2 pages HA HA . Perhaps i should throw my hat at the party too (quite stress right now ).

Again we come to "You know who ?".
I don't think college cv is that important but i known from an elder friend that PWC "prefer" student who had university / college life experience in prior years. Its because from recruitment & selection process many acca candidate cannot express themselves quite well (knowledge is there just the communication). Currently its quite flexible already.

Working in Big 4 is good but strictly for short term only (3 years). If you are callibre enough you will be snapped by major corporations & $$$ will come very quickly. Big 4 auditors earns very little & gain very few experience in work (especially creative accounting which was price at commercial world). Yep corporate governance is very bad in MAlaysia (still strongly rooted in family culture), just look at genting & YTL.

What is more powerful than CV , HA of course again "You know who". Why ? they will discreetly ask you this 2 question :
1) Do you know any datuk (hire on the spot)
2) Any recommendations from their ex-auditor (if has this it will be a great bonus).

I think basicly wherever you came from its the same comcept (whether you come from sunway or not).
In Malaysia, sunway reign supreme in acca but comes with new syllabus i can see they will fill face a horrid time in catching up (spotting is very difficult business indeed). Remember the examiner always (purposely) make the exam easier at the early / late period of paper. After 4 sitting you will see the pass rate drop drastically. Just check the statistics (it was so obvious).

Whats the difference if a normal layman / prospective employer ask me if the student come from sunway or normal centres ?
1) Can you tell me the difference in taste of pepsi found at 7-11 for Rm1.5 compared to those at hotel for Rm 8. No (just the packaging)
2) Is there a difference somebody who pass ACCA in the deep jungles at amazon than a London centre. No (more credit to the former )

By the way i don't think EY is the only Big 4 in concern right ?
Who said you must work in Big 4 to be successful ?