Exams

Bryan Rankin, Head of Student Operations at Chartered Accountants Ireland, shares the education team’s top exam tips to help students navigate their studies, maximise resources and prepare effectively for success It seems only a short time since you started this current academic year, but our programmes have already passed the midway point. The finish line is in sight and mock exams are coming up next for CAP1 students.  At this time, students often ask the education team for guidance for the upcoming exams. Not only are the following suggestions relevant to all three programmes, they are also based on the experience of past students and on data collected about their results.  Since the move to exclusively online education delivery through our education platform, the Learning Hub, we have been able to track a whole range of engagement data, including the exam resources with which successful students engaged. We have also looked at data in an effort to understand what resources unsuccessful students did not take up.  We have listed what we think are your priority items to get you best prepared for Chartered exams.  Sample papers Let’s talk about sample papers.  The PDFs are full, exam-standard papers accompanied by the solution. At time of writing, several CAP1 sample papers are already on the Institute website (you’ll need to log in to the Student Centre).  Sample papers are Chartered Accountants Ireland’s version of ‘past papers’. They’re much more valuable than traditional past papers, which can quickly go out of date as exam formats evolve.  Our sample papers and the solutions are updated annually. They cover a broad range of topics and are kept in line with the competency statements weightings. For CAP1 students, your sample papers will be of particular importance as the new, autoscored format comes into effect for all CAP1 exams.  You should be familiar with the question formats at this stage, as every CAP1 session in the Learning Hub contains an ‘exam practice question’ pack, and your live webinars have also brought you through examples of the new question types. However, the sample paper brings it all together with an exam-standard script as compiled by the Institute’s Exam team.  We encourage you to attempt each sample paper in exam conditions. For example, attempt the paper in the location you plan to sit the assessment and limit yourself to doing it in the time allowed.  There is little value in glancing down the sample paper, looking at the topics covered followed by a quick perusal of the corresponding solution. The sample papers are key resources, so you should dedicate some time to them now.  We advise that you attempt one sample paper in preparation for the mock exams, and the others as part of your exam study regime.  Practice papers Each subject has a dedicated practice paper, which is an exam standard paper that is uploaded on the exam platform (Cirrus). The CAP1 students practice paper will be available on Cirrus from 6 March 2025. Practice papers for CAP2 and FAE students will be available soon. Students should check their email regularly for information. You should make each practice paper count. For the main exams, you will have access to one practice paper for all subjects and a maximum of four attempts at each practice paper. It’s a good idea to watch our e-assessment videos explaining how to navigate Cirrus, so you understand the platform long before you undergo any assessment.  Again, we recommend that you keep a number of practice attempts to use in advance of your main exams so you can test your knowledge and timings in an exam setting. No additional attempts will be given. Mocks Do not underestimate the importance of undertaking your mock examination (starting with CAP1 in April, and CAP2 in May 2025).  The mocks should be seen as an essential dry-run exercise for the main exams. As well as a great opportunity to test your knowledge on an exam-standard paper on Cirrus, it’s also another fresh sample paper.  Through the mocks, students are able to test their current knowledge, replicate their exam setting, gain vital first-hand experience and ensure their technology is working before the summer exams arrive. You can sit the CAP1 mocks during the CAP1 mock exams window from 5–13 April, and CAP2 mocks from 3 –11 May 2025. The mock exams may be sat via Cirrus at a time that suits you during that window.  Please note that the mock exams will not be invigilated.  In-person events The last exam prep resource to mention are our in-person student events. The Institute organises two series of in-person events: one at the start of the academic year, which includes an induction event, and the second event having an exams focus. These face-to-face events are about connecting you with other students and offering you proven exam advice. Topics will include study planning, exam preparation and resources, exam day technique, time management and much more. You should treat these events as an essential part of your studies. Your training firms and employers have also been advised about the events (see dates and locations below). Students who joined us last year found them to be extremely beneficial in preparation for the main exams. Places are limited so register via the home page of the Chartered Accountants Ireland website to confirm your attendance. We wish all our students the best of luck in their ongoing studies.   

Exam preparation can be an overwhelming time. Edel Walsh answers the five most commonly asked questions about your study habits and success Whether you are sitting professional accountancy exams for the first time or returning for your next set of exams, the months ahead can feel like a daunting prospect.   1. How many hours of study should I be doing in a week? This is, without doubt, the question I get asked most often by students.  The answer is that there is no “right” number of hours you should be studying in a week. We are all different and we all study differently.  The hours you put in depend on how close your exams are, whether you are studying smart or studying hard, and what other personal commitments you have. It is not about the quantity of hours you study, it is about the quality of the studying you do.  Your study plan or study goal for a particular day might be, “Today, I want to study financial reporting for two hours”. This is an outcome goal.  A more effective way of thinking about your study is to set yourself learning goals.  An example of a learning goal is: “Today, I want to learn the double-entry book-keeping treatment of bad debts”.  After your study session, check to see if you have achieved your goal. You will be able to hold yourself to account and ascertain whether you understand the double-entry book-keeping treatment for bad debts.  Learning goals help you stay focused and on track.  2. How can I study “smart”? Smart study is incorporating self-testing or retrieval practice into all your study sessions.  Instead of passively re-reading notes, actively test yourself on what you’ve learned. This will give you feedback on what you know and don’t know. This could involve answering questions from your questions banks, completing a sample paper or questions under exam conditions and summarising key points without looking at your notes. Make retrieval practice a regular part of your study routine.  Start each session by recalling what you learned in the last study session, then review it to fill in gaps. Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Every mistake gives you information on what you know and what you don’t know. It’s what you do with the mistakes that counts.  3. How can I get motivated to study? Motivation follows action. No matter how much you want to pass your exams, there will be times when you would rather clean the kitchen than study. And that’s okay – feeling demotivated is perfectly normal.  When you are feeling demotivated: Start with a quick win. This might be doing a question from your question bank on the material you learned in the last study session. Break your task down into small manageable chunks. When we think of all the material we need to cover for our exams, it can feel overwhelming. Breaking it all down into bitesize chunks can make study feel more manageable.  Disrupt your pattern. To break an unmotivated period, you need to change your state of mind. Instead of forcing yourself to start studying immediately, just summon the energy to do something different first. Get fresh air, do a stretch and have a large glass of water. 4. How do I handle unexpected work demands? Some students will be in the busy season at work from January to March.  Balancing study with work and personal commitments can be overwhelming, especially during busy periods. Considering the following will help: Know your busy times at work. Talk to your colleagues to get an understanding of the demands of your various work assignments.  Make sure your study plan is flexible and realistic, knowing there will be busy times at work. Communicate with your manager, especially if you are working long hours and need to attend lectures. They may not realise that you must attend lectures on a particular night.  Understand that disruptions are normal. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Flexibility and resilience are the keys to balancing work and study schedules Remember, progress, not perfection. Accept that some days will be more productive than others and adjust accordingly. 5. What can I do if I feel overwhelmed? Prioritise your well-being. Your mental and physical well-being is the foundation of your exam success. Aim for seven to eight hours of quality sleep per night. Sleep consolidates memory and helps with your focus, concentration and general well-being. Fuel your brain with a balanced diet and stay hydrated throughout the day. Incorporate regular physical activity, even if it’s a short walk or a quick workout. Exercise reduces stress and boosts cognitive function. Schedule downtime to recharge. Activities like meditation, yoga or simply enjoying a hobby can help you decompress and stay focused. Edel Walsh is a student coach and mentor. She supports her clients with their studies and exams using a holistic approach of focusing on academic success, personal development and looking after their well-being. For more information, check out www.edelwalsh.ie

As assessments fade into the rearview mirror, it’s tempting to relax, but sustained, structured study now can set Chartered Accountancy students up for long-term success. Bryan Rankin explains how to stay motivated The life of a Chartered Accountants Ireland student can be difficult, particularly in the run-up to exams.   At a time when friends and family have been making merry over the festive season, many of you were studying hard in preparation for interim and on-demand assessments in early January in all three academic programmes.  With these assessments now completed, the idea of continued study may feel unappealing.  We hear all the arguments, but in our experience, this is definitely a time for all students to keep up their studies, albeit at a more sustainable pace.  While there may not be exams in the next few weeks, there is a busy schedule of webinars to attend leading up to the mock examinations. For dates of all webinars and exams, please refer to course timetables on the Institute website.  While there’s certainly a place for some pre-exam ‘cramming’, this works only as a revision tool where you’re returning to lessons already practised and understood. There simply won’t be time to undertake the coursework involved in multiple subjects and work through increasingly complex problems. Rather, what we want to aim for is a study plan that we can maintain and commit to.  So, how should we structure a longer-term study plan that still keeps us productive? A study plan We’ve said it before in this series of articles, but starting out with a study plan is definitely the number one piece of advice for a productive study programme.  If you haven’t made a study plan yet this year, make it your New Year’s resolution.  A schedule provides motivation and structure, as you’re not wasting time at each study session deciding what’s on the agenda this time.   It’s a good idea to base your study sessions on the live webinars coming up in the following weeks. By watching the teaching videos and then attempting several questions at each session in the Learning Hub, you’ll find each webinar more rewarding and engaging while understanding new learning principles at a gradual pace.  Win back time We all have busy lives with many commitments, so start your plan by assessing where you can win back more time during the week for study slots aside from nine-to-five working hours.  There may be times during the week when you can be more productive. For example, getting up an hour early on Saturday morning is not incredibly difficult and can be very productive.  Equally, the next few months might be a time to set aside some (but not all!) social commitments – just until you pass your exams!  Your plan should show a series of short, intensive 45-minute study sessions with plenty of breaks for exercise and fresh air. Typically, we would envisage students studying two or more evenings during the working week (in addition to attending webinars), as well as two half-days of study at the weekend.   Become goal-oriented For a successful longer-term study programme, keeping highly motivated will be an important consideration.  Whether it’s CAP1 exams in May or FAE in August, these deadlines can feel distant, and you may lose that sense of urgency. Take time to consider what is the driving force pushing you ahead through these tough times, be it the pride your family will take in your achievement, the expectations of your training firm or attaining your qualification and taking your career to another level.  Studies show that by building in plenty of short-term goals and rewards, we keep ourselves motivated from week to week. Whether that’s a coffee date with friends or a trip to the cinema, it’s a well-deserved, guilt-free couple of hours that will keep spirits high, so make time for social contact. Group work Consider combining your own solo studies with some group work. This could be online or in person but learning within a social context will overcome any sense that you’re in this alone.  In fact, there are over a thousand students in each academic programme, all in the same situation as you and working toward the same goal. We suggest splitting out a session in the Learning Hub on a given subject, where one person/group studies one part and presents it back to the others with advice and observations.  Put your phone down Finally, it may seem obvious, but the top inhibitors to successful study are your phone and social media.  It’s all too easy to accidentally scroll for hours without realising how much time has passed.  It’s a good idea to place your phone out of reach while studying or in another room. Make your phone part of your short break away from the desk, then put it down again.  Maintain your focus It would be understandable to feel that, as we finally emerge from a busy winter, it’s time for our studies to be on the back burner for a time. On the contrary, we’re here to encourage you to maintain that focus and momentum through the spring months. We guarantee that you’ll reap the rewards come exam time.  Bryan Rankin is Head of Student Operations at Chartered Accountants Ireland

One of the most effective study strategies you can adopt is frequent self-testing. Edel Walsh discusses the importance of self-testing or retrieval practice When studying, most students will read their course materials and highlight the important points or areas they don’t understand. They may also write out their own notes or design mind maps.  While all these methods are a good starting point, they should not be relied upon for exam preparation. Testing yourself is one of the most effective methods of studying and learning. Incorporating testing into your study routine will not only help you assess your learning progress but also help you to retain critical information for the long term.  Why is testing yourself so important? When you’re studying for professional exams like those in accountancy, understanding concepts is only half the battle. Testing yourself provides immediate feedback on your knowledge.  It reveals what you have understood, and what areas need more work. This allows you to focus your study efforts effectively.  Feedback is essential in identifying knowledge gaps that might otherwise go unnoticed until the exam day. Many students leave testing until close to the exam and some students avoid testing altogether. Testing yourself shines a light on what you know and don’t know. This can feel uncomfortable; however, you are better knowing what you don’t know before your exam rather than on the day of the exam.  How often should you test yourself? There is no magic formula for how often you should test yourself. However, frequent testing of the same material leads to better retention. Here are some guidelines to consider: Test yourself every time you study. This can be done by incorporating short quizzes on the material you’ve covered during your study session. This could be as simple as recalling key definitions, concepts or formulas from memory.  At the end of each module or lesson, set aside time for more in-depth self-testing. This might involve answering past exam questions or solving case studies based on what you’ve studied. This gives you a comprehensive view of your progress and highlights areas that need further revision. Consistency is the key. Testing yourself regularly, rather than cramming right before the exam, reinforces learning over time and improves retention, leaving you better prepared on exam day. Methods of testing or retrieval practice Retrieval practice is another name for self-testing. Retrieval practice is a form of self-testing that requires you to pull information from memory without looking at your notes or textbooks. Retrieval practice engages your brain in recalling what you’ve learned.  Here’s how you can incorporate retrieval practice into your study routine: Flashcards: As you are studying tricky topics, rather than writing out pages of notes on a topic, get some flashcards. Write a short question on the front of the flashcard and the answer on the back. After each lesson or module, you will be left with a bundle of flashcards. Shuffle the cards and test yourself on the questions regularly. This approach works well for keeping information fresh in your mind. Apps like Anki or Quizlet can help you organise digital flashcards. Brain dump: After studying a topic, put away your notes and write a summary from memory. This helps solidify the concepts in your mind and forces you to process the information in your own words.  Practice problems: Doing practice problems or past exam questions without referring to your materials is an excellent way to engage in retrieval practice. This mirrors the exam environment and trains your brain to access information under pressure. Explain the material you have learned to somebody else: Summarise and explain the material to a housemate or family member. If you can explain it clearly to them, and they understand what you are talking about, this signals that you truly understand the material. Benefits of self-testing and retrieval practice  Self-testing can increase your confidence and help reduce anxiety by making the material more familiar and by showing you which areas you need to focus on.  The more you test yourself, the more confident you will feel about the material going into the exam. Testing yourself under exam conditions helps you practise managing your time and thinking under pressure. Effective study strategy Testing yourself is a crucial part of an effective study strategy for professional accountancy students. By incorporating regular testing into your study routine, you ensure consistent progress and retention of key material.  Retrieval practice plays a powerful role in deepening your understanding of your exam material.  Take the time to test yourself regularly, learn from the feedback you receive, and keep refining your approach.

Bryan Rankin, Head of Student Operations at Chartered Accountants Ireland, introduces a new academic year filled with innovative tools – like a Learning Hub, adaptive learning for CAP1 Law and Finance, and comprehensive resources to support student success On behalf of everyone at Chartered Accountants Ireland, a warm welcome to you as we begin a new academic year together. The months ahead will no doubt be challenging but we hope you find them rewarding, as each step brings you closer to your goal of qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.  We also hope that you’ve already noticed some of the online learning enhancements we’ve just launched and are finding them useful.  Our progressing students will be aware that all Chartered education is provided online, giving you the flexibility to study where and when it suits.  One big change this year is the introduction of a new learning platform. Students across all three programmes now have access to online learning content on a Learning Hub.  As well as offering a better learning experience, the hub includes several new features.  Textbooks online One of the new features is a ‘Bookshelf’ with all your textbooks presented as e-books.  The online textbooks make it easy to reference and navigate your reading, with the facility to highlight and to include your own notes. You can even set a virtual coach to read aloud parts of a textbook.  For this academic year, we will continue to print and distribute textbooks. If you have enrolled and your textbooks have not been delivered, please email textbookqueries@charteredaccountants.ie Study calendar Another convenient feature of the new hub is a calendar pre-populated with dates and registration links for your live webinars. However, please remember to register for each webinar to receive access. We advise you to also use the calendar to plan your study periods during the week.  Whether it’s CAP1, CAP2 or FAE, by now you should be putting in a couple of hours of study on two or more weekday evenings and setting some study time aside at the weekend. Once you commit to this, using the online calendar to plan your study time will keep you on the right track.  Discussion forums We’d also like to draw your attention to online discussion forums.  If you don’t understand something specific in a teaching video or a question solution, the discussion forums are a great way to directly contact your lecturers.  The new platform has introduced some changes to the layout of discussion forums, but judging from high volumes of activity already happening, students are not finding this a hindrance.  We encourage all students to utilise the discussion forums for questions. There is a separate discussion forum for each subject.  CAP1 auto-scored exams CAP1 students will be aware that your May exams will follow an auto-scored format.  In order to assist you with exam preparation, we have auto-scored-style question packs in each session in the Learning Hub, with questions specific to the learning principles covered in that session.  In the new year, we’ll be releasing four full sample papers for each subject in auto-scored format. The Institute does not release past papers. Adaptive learning CAP1 students will also be familiar with a new online learning model deployed at CAP1 Law RoI/Law NI and CAP1 Finance – adaptive learning. This innovative approach is rapidly becoming recognised as the future of education delivery across the professions.  Adaptive learning is a data-driven, personalised and participative learning journey with you in the driving seat. Engaging, high-impact content ensures you follow the right material at your preferred pace. You choose your level of proficiency at the start, then view learning content followed by rounds of probe questions that assess your recall and confidence in understanding at each stage. This combination of content and questions makes our new format a genuinely interactive experience. While it’s still early days at CAP1, there have been high levels of engagement from students enrolled in Law. They are progressing faster through the learning content than in previous years and with high levels of proficiency.  In addition, the anecdotal feedback from CAP1 students on adaptive learning content is positive. The education team is now working on migrating more subjects to the adaptive learning model for the 2025/26 academic year.  Interim assessments By November, academic programme assessments are high on every student’s agenda.  At CAP1, students will be aware that the window to attempt the Double Entry Bookkeeping (DEBK) on-demand assessment has opened on 1 November and closes on 31 January 2025.  Our CAP1 exams team recently emailed all students enrolled on Financial Accounting with important information on how to book your timeslot. Please take the time to carefully read this email.  At CAP2, the interim assessment in Financial Reporting takes place on 4 January 2025.  Finally, FAE students will attempt the interim assessment in Advanced Financial Reporting on 7 December.  In order to assist with all assessments, two practice papers will be available soon for CAP2 and FAE students on the exam platform Cirrus. Watch out for emails from the exams teams for more information.  Whether you’re attempting assessments at CAP1, CAP2 or FAE, we would like to wish you every success in your studies.  If you have any questions, please contact your exams team, CAP1exam/CAP2exam/FAEexam@charteredaccountants.ie.

Professional accountancy exams will challenge you in ways you haven’t experienced before. By starting your study regime early, you’ll come out the victor in these challenges. Edel Walsh tells us how It has been a while since I started my journey as a Chartered Accountant, but I vividly remember the feeling of excitement, anticipation and apprehension all wrapped up together. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to a new town or city, or beginning a professional accountancy qualification, it can feel like a lot of change in a short space of time.  The journey ahead will be exciting and challenging. It will require dedication, discipline and a realistic approach to your studies. One of the most important ingredients for success is starting your study early.  Rethink the way you study Chartered Accountancy exams are unlike any you have done before. In college and university, assessments and exams test your knowledge of a particular topic or subject. Even if you had a surface-level knowledge of the topic or subject, you still may have done well.  Professional accountancy exams are designed not only to test your knowledge but to assess your ability to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios. Having a surface-level knowledge of a topic will not suffice; these exams require you to have a deep understanding of subjects and scenarios presented to you.  If you think you study best by cramming, it is time to rethink your study strategy. Early preparation is essential for exam success. Engaging in spaced-out learning rather than cramming will build strong foundations of knowledge as well as reduce stress and academic burnout. Building the foundations By starting your study early, you give yourself time to build a strong foundation in each subject, allowing you to approach the more complex topics with confidence. It will also give you time to revisit topics on numerous occasions, which will help reinforce your learning. Our brains love repetition. Looking at a topic once or twice will not result in deep learning. This requires you to continuously repeat and reinforce what you have learned.  When you have that deep understanding, you can apply your knowledge to any scenario. That is what is required for these exams.  Reducing stress and overwhelm Trying to cover vast amounts of material in a short time can be overwhelming. By starting your study early, you can reduce stress significantly.  Advance preparation gives you time to address any difficulties early on as opposed to waiting for a few weeks before the exams when your stress levels will be elevated.   Optimising exam results Beginning early gives you time to practise exam-style questions, make lots of mistakes and use the lessons from your mistakes to refine your study approach. Tips for starting early Establish a realistic routine There will be a lot to navigate as you embark on your new career path. You will be working busy jobs, attending lectures and studying as well as maintaining personal commitments. When you are setting out your study plan, the key is to be realistic.  Every week commit to drawing up a loose plan for the week ahead. Consider your work and personal commitments as well as the lectures you need to cover. Within that plan, see where you can fit in a few hours of study. Even if you only get an hour of study done a week, all these hours will add up in the long term.   Set learning goals For each study session, set learning goals as opposed to outcome goals.  An example of an outcome goal is: “I will review two webinars and read two chapters of the manual”.  Instead of doing this, focus on what you want to retain during your study.  An example of a learning goal is: “Today, I want to understand the double entry book-keeping entries for depreciation”.  By focusing on learning goals, you will get a good appreciation of what you know and what you need to focus on going forward. Stay organised  Keep your study materials, notes and resources well-organised. This will save you time and make it easier to find the information you need when you need it. Prioritise your wellbeing  Your physical and mental wellbeing is the cornerstone to success. Get plenty of rest, eat well and make time for exercise and relaxation. Rest and recovery fuel productivity. Strategy for success Starting your study early is one of the most effective strategies for ensuring success in your professional accountancy exams. It allows you to build strong foundations, reduce stress and ultimately optimise your exam results. Edel Walsh is a student coach and mentor. She supports her clients with their studies and exams using a holistic approach of focusing on academic success, personal development and looking after their wellbeing. For more information, check out www.edelwalsh.ie