ACCA guidance - HELP

mark057

Hi,

I'm currently studying for the F4 (Corporate & business law) paper.

I've started practising some mock exam questions and although I feel I'm getting the general theme right, I'm concerned my answers are light weight compared to those on the book.

They just seem to explain and organise their answers so much better.

What's the best way to approach a good ACCA answer?

burg

I did ACCA for one sitting before deciding it wasn't for me. I did F4, F5 & F6. F5 (Performance Management) was ok and I could structure answers quite well, I got about 60%.
F6 (Taxation) was mainly about the numbers and so I found a lot easier, got about 85% on this. However Law is very different. You need to be able to remember not only the case titles (i.e. x V y) but some details relating to the case law. Then you need to be able to take the scenario in question and relate it back to the relevant case law when constructing your answer. Generally I and many others found it a hard paper as it is so different to the others.
I would say it needs a lot of practice on simply remembering case laws and answer structure. Try and get as many answers assessed by tutors to help guide you on the manner required for forming the answers. By the way I failed this at about 40%

Best of luck.

Bluewednesday

The answers in the book are perfect, non time constrained answers. You will never replicate them in timed conditions, they are really meant for revision.

Law is different to every other ACCA paper. Usually you are told to answer the question not just write everything you know about the subject but in the law paper it's the absolute opposite.

You need to identify the point of law then write everything you know about that law including any established cases, if you can't remember the name of the case you write 'in a decided case' and then list the details to back it up. Then in one paragraph at the end you write your actual answer to the question.

I remember thinking this surely couldn't be right but I used that formula and passed with a decent mark!!

Good luck

Richard

I sat F4 in December, and managed to pass first time which I never, ever thought would happen! It was the first paper I studied for ACCA and was almost ready to give up as it looked so difficult.

Anyway, I stuck with it, and with a lot of work, and practice, managed to pass the exam.

The exam consists of 10, 10mark questions - to gain 10 marks all you need to do is make ten valid points. So to gain full marks in a question, you would only be expected to write about 15 - 20 good, concise sentences. I know I'm making it sound easy, but I felt exactly the same about the model answers as you - there is no way you would be expected to produce an answer of that standard under exam conditions.

If possible, try and get yourself on a revision course. I attended BPP, and they teach you the techniques you need to master this exam.

Good luck!

Edit: to give you an idea of how much time to spend on each question, allow 1.8mins per mark. So for the Law exam, don't spend anymore than 18mins on each question.

mark057

Thanks very much for the advice.

Believe me it is useful to know these things as this exam is daunting.

Was worried a little if I had the aptitude to pass.

Mark

nicki25

I am also due to sit my F4 exam in December along with F5. I made a post on the ACCA website yesterday asking for some advice on revision tips for F4, in particular. I am finding it really hard to remember all of the case law. Do you have to remember them all, any tips? What are the key areas to be remembered for F4?

It is nice to know other people felt daunted by this exam but then went on to pass, I will try and remember that while I am having a tantrum!! HAHA

Sorry to intrude on post!

Bluewednesday

If you go onto accountancy students someone has put a revision spreadsheet on with all the essential cases that you can download.

Andypandy

Just what I was after too

Andypandy

"Is thinking we could do with a little AAT-ACCAers section somewhere."

Bluewednesday

hopefully known as www.accountancystudents.co.uk

111beckstar111

Acca

Andypandy wrote: »

"Is thinking we could do with a little AAT-ACCAers section somewhere."

Yes exactly what I was thinking!!!
Is there any where like this?

taskey

111beckstar111 wrote: »

Yes exactly what I was thinking!!!
Is there any where like this?

http://www.accountancystudents.co.uk/

Andypandy

Right..........off to start a new thread over there.

Moodley

F4 & f6

hello everyone. Just finished aat in June and the first 2 acca papers im sitting in dec is F4 and F6. Yea F4 has definately scared me too.

id like to know if anyone is taking class for these papers as id like to know if its possible to borrow there class notes given by the provider (im using kaplan). Its just that i took class for my aat and used to get these notes and they very helpful. I juast had a baby so am doing distance learning and its really difficult to go thru reading the entire text and trying to make summaries. I would really appreciate the help and be very greatful. Also would be happy to exchange study material with you as well. I have 2 accessments. text books and pocket notes, will also recieve revision pack soon.

thanks

messedup89

Moodley wrote: »

hello everyone. Just finished aat in June and the first 2 acca papers im sitting in dec is F4 and F6. Yea F4 has definately scared me too.

id like to know if anyone is taking class for these papers as id like to know if its possible to borrow there class notes given by the provider (im using kaplan). Its just that i took class for my aat and used to get these notes and they very helpful. I juast had a baby so am doing distance learning and its really difficult to go thru reading the entire text and trying to make summaries. I would really appreciate the help and be very greatful. Also would be happy to exchange study material with you as well. I have 2 accessments. text books and pocket notes, will also recieve revision pack soon.

thanks

I did aat with Kaplan and got the study notes. I have just done my first ACCA exams with kaplan (F5 and F7) and we didnt get notes like we did with aat, its just photocopies of the textbook

Andypandy

Just wanted to remind you about opentuition & the newish free LSBF facebook site with notes & advice for every paper.