F7 help

Glynis wrote: »

I have decided not to do F7 as it is completely baffling me but i have paid for the exam so I will see if I can get the fee back. I don't know why ACCA makes these exams as hard as they do. I am concentrating on F8 now for June and hoping I get through that.

Good luck with that

I agree with mini schnauzer you have paid the fee you may as well sit the exam.

I'm on countdown for this to be over. It's really making me ill.

As the old saying goes....

- Doctor Doctor - it hurts when I do *this*

- Don't do it then.

You probably think I am being snippy. I'm not. I'm just pointing out that if something is making you ill - then maybe you should stop doing that thing.

If it's any help whilst doing AAT I never got a set of accounts that didn't balance but as soon as I moved to ACCA I never got a set to balance and that included the exams! You get method marks along the way.

However I can't for the life of me understand why you put yourself and your family through this every 6 months! If it makes you ill give it up, you've got your AAT and I can't understand what advantage you think ACCA is going to give you.

PGM wrote: »

I was exactly the same. AAT is relatively straightforward. But it seems pretty rare for ACCA to balance and be correct, due to all the obscure things they throw in.

I'm not doing ACCA, but in all my AAT exams you can get it to balance by trial and error and not really using knowledge. I always just looked for the combination of figures that would balance if my first attempt wasn't correct.

And note this isn't because I'm not capable, it's all just the exam technique!

I think for higher level qualifications you need to make it more about knowledge, so they shouldn't balance really obviously!

stevef wrote: »

A trial and error tactic will not work in ACCA because there are too many obscure entries and you do not have time. You barely have enough time to physically prepare the accounts never mind thinking about it too much or trying combinations of figures oput until they work.
.

That's what I mean, it should be done by knowledge, not combinations.

I agree with Blue Wednesday. For the more mature individual I think passing some ACCA exams will make little or no difference to any career prospects, At this stage in anyones career it would be level of experience and achievements that would count for everything, not passing a few more exams. I think the only benefit would be the self satisfaction of passing the exams, however in this case it appears to be having totally the opposite effect. As a number of posters have suggested I would also suggest it is time to call it a day on ACCA and concentrate on what skills/experience you already have. The ACCA exams will only get tougher. I completed my ACCA exams when I was in my late thirties and whilst obviously proud to have achieved this, not really sure that it made a huge diiference to my career. In fact the practice I was working with at the time offered me just a £1,500 pay rise for passing. It is how you develope your skills after passing exams which is the most important thing. I have known a number of ACCA/ACA qualified accountants working in practice who have just stood still as they havent been able to develope and apply their knowledge to the workplace environment. Hope helps in some way.

Glynis wrote: »

I just feel that the ACCA papers are on a completely different level . How on earth they expect people to get through them is beyond me but I am looking to go on BPP revision for F8.

But they do get through them!

I think a revision course will prove very useful, I did all my papers with BPP and they were brilliant!

I would not be as pessimistic as RAS regarding the opportunities the ACCA qualification provides.

Since passing my AAT and some of the ACCA exams I've noticed more interest from employers and
certainly believe the qualifications will give me opportunities I would otherwise not have.

Experience is very important, maybe too important, in the minds of employers but having the technical
understanding provided by study is invaluable.

I've found my AAT studies have helped me to differentiate between employers who do things the
correct way and others who work in a haphazard environment. I've found my studies have helped me
steer clear of bad habits, which can easily be picked up by relying solely on practical work experience.

Mark

Hi Glynis,

I know this isn't relevant for now, but giving up your studies doesn't make you (or your studies) a failure. It just means you can focus on other things, such as your family, career or the something else you are planning on. It's only a failure if you make it so, but you can turn it into a positive! Think about all the time it would free up to focus on your family, that job you are looking for, rather than temping, and the positive impact this might have on your stress levels!

Whatever happens next, I really hope you will be successful and can get rid of some of the stress you currently feel in your life!

(That's not to say you should give up and I wish you good luck for your next exams!)

Glynnis, you should think carefully before giving up on ACCA.

You have worked hard and come a long way since beginning AAT.

Personally I think it is not logical to give up on something because it is hard or because it is just easier
to give up.

I'm struggling to find employment presently yet ut would be foolish for me to say I'm not going to bother
because it is easier not to try.

I remember years ago, when I was studying A levels, I had a very hard time adapting to the exam
techniques. I was only 18 and all my teachers were negative, thinking I didn't have the aptitude to
succeed.

Eventually the whole thing came to a watershed moment when I decided to leave my sixth form and
join a local college. The change in teaching styles and environment was like a breath of fresh air and
before long I was getting good grades and applying to university.

There are plenty of people in this world who will try to put you down but only you know what you can
do. If you genuinely believe you can pass these exams then try changing your approach, get some
formal tuition and just say what the hell and give it a try.

Mark

I am an example of how an ACCA qualification can help even when you are on the north side of 40 when qualifying. I am not super intelligent just hard working and determined and I managed to get through ACCA, also for this tale you need to be aware that working in practice is not the only way to earn a crust, or get job satisfaction as an accountant. I currently and always have, work in the public sector.

When I started out I thought I had had enough of all that studyng malarky and happily swam around in junior finance roles. On getting married I realised that perhaps I needed to take my career a bit more seriously and at the ripe old age of 28 became a qualified Accounting Technician (ATFA in those days). This kept me quite happy crawling up the grades to a post of Senior Internal Auditor. Then one morning I woke up and decided that I was worh more than being a Senior Officer and a part of the furniture. After a lot of hard work and years of burning the studying midnight lamp I became an ACCA Qualified Accountant. This was way back in 1996 when I was 44, getting that qualification mixed with the experience I gained reinvigorated may career, moving me to a Senior accountancy post to Group Accountant to Treausury Management and Pension Investment Manager to my current post of Head of Finance with a Fire and Rescue Service. Passing ACCA in my mid 40's rejuvinated my career, almost doubled my salary and given me so much job satisfaction that it is hard to describe. My employers allow me to get involved in National work by sitting on the CIPFA Local Authority Accounting Panel and Sustainability Working Group, I am encouraged to serve on an ACCA regional panel and work with Accounting for Sustainability (Wales). All in all life is good.

So, I know I been fairly lucky, but you have to work hard to get lucky, but passing ACCA in your 40's can make an amazing difference.

Bluewednesday wrote: »

If it's any help whilst doing AAT I never got a set of accounts that didn't balance but as soon as I moved to ACCA I never got a set to balance and that included the exams! You get method marks along the way.

However I can't for the life of me understand why you put yourself and your family through this every 6 months! If it makes you ill give it up, you've got your AAT and I can't understand what advantage you think ACCA is going to give you.

Are you serious, I love the AAT but there is a reason why the ACCA/ACA/CIMA etc of referred to as further qualifications.

Having done both I feel that AAT literally taught me the very basics of the accounting world.

I know everyone is different but if I didn't do the ACCA after the AAT my salary would currently be around £8000 lower and I have only just qualified. In a professional firm of Chartered accountants it is expected to 'go on' to ACCA/ACAS if you have already done AAT as this is considered the norm for accountants advising clients at this level of diversity and complexity. For someone who has sat ACCA exams I'm surprised you don't see it's value.

Just check the local job adverts and you will see that for 'qualified' positions employers want ACA/ACCA/CIMA (not AAT).

EG


Management Accountant - J087
Gloucestershire
Management Accountant

£28 - 32k

Are you looking for your first step out of practice into industry? The successful candidate will be in their final year or a newly qualified ACA/CIMA/ACCA or equivalent. Relevant experience within a finance department of a commercial organisation is essential. Candidates must have Advanced Excel skills, be able to work in a team and work to deadlines.