In April Velocity, we published tips for using the 20 minute reading time for P3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. In this article, experts from BPP offer their tips for the remaining five papers.
In exams, using your 20 minute reading time well can mean the difference between success and failure.
During that time you are not allowed to open or write in your answer book or to use your calculator, but there’s plenty you can do to identify which questions you will tackle and to plan your approach. Here’s what experts from tuition provider BPP suggest.
P1
Spend the first ten to 15 minutes choosing the right optional question for you from section C – this can make a big difference between passing and failing.
For both section C questions, read the requirements and the detail and work out which one you are likely to score most highly on. Do not hastily decide it’s a topic you don’t like and dismiss it. Optional questions on popular subjects often look attractive at a quick glance, but cause problems when you study the detailed requirements later on. Questions on more difficult areas of the syllabus are often not as bad as they first seem.
Pay particular attention to each requirement. You may find one or two that stand alone from the others and do not involve carry through calculations or references to a scenario.
Optional questions that include stand alone requirements allow you more flexibility when you come to answer them. You could do the stand alone parts first if you find them easiest.
Next, look at section B. Highlight key words in the requirements and jot down a short plan and key words to include in your answers. This will increase your confidence as you’ll know that you’ve got some answers already prepared for when you come back to section B. If you have any time left, you could look through section A and identify some ‘narrative’ questions that you can answer without a calculator.
P2
For P2, use the first ten to 15 minutes of reading time to consider the optional questions in section C. 50% of this paper’s marks come from the two optional questions so it’s vital to choose those which play to your strengths.
Again avoid a hasty decision to go for topics you like the sound of. Your final choice should be a carefully balanced decision based on your knowledge of the area, the split of the requirements and the details within the scenario. To help you make the right choice, follow these steps.
Read the requirements
Highlight all the key elements, whether you are being asked to describe or identify, and what you have to describe. If there are two elements to a question, make sure you highlight them both.
Read the scenario
You should now know what information you are looking for within the scenario. Make sure you read through the scenario, highlighting anything that is pertinent as you go.
Jot down key words and thoughts
This is particularly important for the discussion elements but can also act as a useful prompt for calculations - key formulae, steps to take and so on.
Make your choice
You should now have a good idea of what each question involves and how well placed you are to answer each requirement. Use your remaining reading time to plan your answers for section B. (The key words you have already jotted down for section C will serve as a plan when you answer these.)
P7
All the questions in P7 are compulsory. But you do need to decide which order to tackle them in. You should have a good idea of what your approach will be before you enter the exam hall.
Many students say that section B is their least favourite section of the exam and that they complete this section last.
This theory seems to be confirmed by examiners, as they often state that students do not attempt one or two section B questions. This either suggests that these questions are on technical areas which students have not studied, or that students attempted section B last and simply ran out of time.
If you choose to answer sections A, then C then B, you might overrun on section C as these questions tend to be time consuming. It might be better to tackle the exam in the order that it is written - A then B then C. Tackling section A first should calm your nerves as you are completing a series of questions worth between two and four marks – use these smaller questions to ease yourself into the exam. Completing section B next will also ensure you have enough time to make a good attempt at this section.
With the reading time, spend ten minutes looking at the section C question.
Read the requirements and make a note of the pro formas you’ll need to produce.
Next, spend a little time reviewing the financial information given – this may be the trial balance for the year or an opening balance sheet. If you are presented with a trial balance, highlight any unusual captions such as ‘cash received on disposal of land’. Make a note to look for extra information on these as you turn to the additional information in the question.
Next analyse the additional information to help you decide:
a) the order in which you will tackle the adjustments (not necessarily starting at item 1 and working your way to the end) and
b) whether you should leave out any adjustments.
Finally, decide in which order to answer the section B questions. Questions to consider include:
- Do you prefer written or numerical questions?
- Do you know the appropriate layouts/pro formas required for your answer?
- Do you know which accounting standards are relevant to the questions?
- Do you know how much to write in order to properly explain your points?
- Do you know which calculations are needed/are the formulas provided?
After you have gone through this analysis, rank the questions in the order you will do them, playing to your areas of technical strength and preferences.
P9
Split your reading time into two ten minute slots. The section A question is worth 50 marks so it’s important to devote some of your reading time to it. BUT because it’s such a big question carrying so many marks, it can be off putting and demotivating to read this one first.
Instead, use the first ten minutes to analyse the four shorter optional questions in section B and choose which two you will attempt. Choose the questions that play to your strengths. Read all the requirements to the question before making your choice.
You should now be feeling more confident and ready to tackle section A - spend the remaining reading time on the section A scenario and requirements and answer this one first when the exam begins.
When attempting section A, the following approach should be useful.
Read the background
The first two paragraphs give the background of the company and what it is trying to achieve. Familiarise yourself with this and tailor your answers to this organisation’s particular situation.
Read the requirements
Skip past the detail and read the requirements - until you know what the requirements are, the detail in the question won’t mean much. Some of the requirements will test areas where you feel confident but others will look more challenging. Highlight the requirements where you expect to score well, and remind yourself that 50% is all you need to pass.
Read the question, highlighting data relevant to part a
Questions normally start with some calculations worth around 15 marks. Although you cannot use your calculator during reading time, you can make a note of which calculations you will need to perform.
Links
How to use exam reading time, April Velocity
Contact us
You can contact us with your feedback and suggestions for Velocity at velocity@cimaglobal.com.
October 2009