Tips for planning your ACCA studies: Start to finish.

Break the mountain into smaller stages

• The first thing you need to do is make a plan that breaks the ACCA qualification into stages.
• We advise you to take one exam per sitting. However, we know that some people want to try and qualify a little quicker. Others might need to take a break every now and then.
• The important thing is to be realistic about what you can achieve and how you’ll fit it in around your life.
• With 13 exams to complete, if you sit one paper every quarter, it’s going to take over three years to qualify, so sit down and plan out your qualification journey with the end in mind.

Choose the route that’s right for you (choosing your modules)

• When you map out your study plan, our advice is to start with the modules you’re most familiar with.
• If there are modules that correlate to your role at work, this is a good place to start.
• By choosing papers that you feel more comfortable with, you’re more likely to succeed, which builds confidence for what is yet to come.

Get your tactics right

• For each module, make a clear plan on how you’re going to tackle it.
• As well as learning the syllabus, plan time to practise putting your knowledge to the test in the run-up to the exam. Practice questions are a key part of planning for success, as this is a great way to make sure the information you’ve learned sinks in.
• Revision courses and mock exams are an excellent way to ensure you’re well prepared for your exam.
• 85% of FI students who attempt two mock exams pass the real exam, compared to just 52% of students who attempt no mock exams.

Book a question day or online mock exam now

Questions we’re often asked by ACCA students

#1 What should I do if I can’t study or take an exam as planned?

Sometimes delaying your studies is unavoidable. When this happens, you need to review your plan and decide on one of two options. You could choose to take two exams in one sitting but if this feels like too much of a challenge, it may be better to spread your study plan out over a longer period. Once you’ve qualified and are reaping the rewards of your studies, a few extra months will not seem that significant.

#2 I’ve just sat an exam, should I wait for my result before starting to study for my next paper?

The simple answer here is no. There’s a six-week gap between finishing an exam and getting your result. So, whilst we would advise you to take a short break from studying in the week after you’ve finished your exam, this is valuable time you could be using to get well underway with your next paper.

#3 What should I do if I fail?

First of all, don’t panic. It’s just one stumble in your overall journey. If you’ve already started studying for your next paper, what you do next will depend on the result you achieved. For example, If you only missed out by a few percent, we’d advise you to carry on with the new paper and plan in some extra time to revisit the paper you’ve failed.

You may also wish to book onto a revision course or question day to refine your knowledge. Following this, you can then plan to resit at the next available sitting. If you were more than 10% adrift on the paper you failed, put it to one side for now and focus on the new paper you’re studying for. Read more resit advice in our blog.

For more information about our ACCA programmes, here.

You can also visit the ACCA’s website.