Bryan Rankin, Head of Student Operations at Chartered Accountants Ireland, shares practical advice on mastering study techniques, managing times and using Institute resources to confidently take your exams
The requirements for professional-level exams can be a big step up for many, requiring more time and better techniques than are typically needed at university. Add to this is the fact that many students are juggling full-time work and study commitments, and you’ll see why time spent learning good study techniques is so valuable.
Know your resources
Before getting stuck into a study routine, take a step back and take note of all of the Institute’s available study resources.
At this stage, you’ll be aware of the Learning Hub and your textbooks. But other resources may also prove very useful as we enter the final weeks of study.
The Competency Statement is a list of every topic examinable in a subject, and the level expected of the candidate. It’s effectively your table of contents for each subject, so make it the first thing you look at to start your plan.
You can regularly return to the
Competency Statement to cross off completed tasks and highlight areas of weakness.
Similarly, you’ll want to work through
all the sample papers, which are produced by the Exam team and contain exam-standard questions. Solutions are also provided. You can get the sample papers and the solutions on the Institute's website.
Your
mock exam paper is effectively another sample paper for you to attempt, with exam-standard questions.
Don’t forget the Professional Examination Committee (PEC) reports, where the examiners gave feedback last year, highlighting where students made common mistakes. All exam students should reference the PEC Report and the corresponding Final Admitting Examination Committee Report for FAE students.
Managing your time
When preparing for any exam, you’ll know that time is your most important resource – use it wisely. You’ll need to be organised and efficient, so before starting any revision, your first task should be to draw up a study plan to cover the final month before the exams. This plan will be crucial in organising your time and ensuring that you focus on areas of challenge.
Allocate your first day of study to compose your plan – a skill you’ll use throughout your Chartered Accountancy studies.
Your plan will list all the subjects you must study and allocate specific time slots for each.
With your study plan in place, you’ll feel organised, a little less stressed and you’ll hold yourself more accountable.
With this plan in place, if you miss a study session, you’ll know specifically what you need to go over later.
Study times
So, how long should each study session last? Best practice suggests that, after 40 minutes, our brain becomes less effective in taking in knowledge. Aim for slots no longer than 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break to grab some fresh air or make a cup of tea.
Instead of setting a goal of studying for a minimum duration, try the opposite and set a maximum time limit, something that we all find much more motivating and energising.
If you’re really fighting against procrastination, try the two-minute rule, where you commit to working for just two minutes and then take a break. Often, starting is the hardest part, but once you begin, you’ll be more likely to continue.
After four sessions, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. Use your breaks to relax, stretch or have a snack.
To stay focused, avoid picking up your phone during each break as scrolling can extend beyond the intended downtime.
Your plan will give you clear and achievable goals for each study session, and can help to keep you motivated and focused.
Keep an eye on your progress as each week ends, and celebrate each achievement to keep you motivated and on track.
Use active learning techniques
At this stage, you’ll probably want to move away from reading over slides and watching videos on the Learning Hub.
Instead, as we approach exam time, it’s time to get active with our learning.
Active learning techniques involve ‘doing’ rather than more passively reading or listening. Studies show that people remember 10 percent of what they hear and 20 percent of what they read, but about 80 percent of what they perform. When you attempt questions during a study session, it helps improve your understanding and retention of information.
One example of active learning could be starting each session with a blank piece of paper and writing down everything you can remember, unprompted, on a topic. Try the same exercise at the end of the session to get a benchmark of how effective your session has been.
You should also attempt to answer questions in every session in the Learning Hub, then review the answers. Don’t be discouraged if you end up getting some questions wrong – making mistakes in practice is a great way to learn.
By following these study tips and staying committed to your preparation, you can approach your exams with confidence and achieve exam success.
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