Prospective Chartered Accountants Ireland students ponder the timeless question: how much study time is enough? Bryan Rankin, Head of Student Operations at Chartered Accountants Ireland, reveals his recommended hours and expert tips to ace your journey to qualification
The burning question for prospective Chartered Accountants Ireland students is often, “How much time should I dedicate to my studies?”
While the answer comes with a few caveats, we recommend approximately 150 hours of focused study per subject throughout the academic year. This commitment goes hand in hand with viewing live webinars and preparation, setting the stage for your success in the field.
The breakdown
During CAP1, the first year of professional studies, there are five subjects, including law, which may be considered a half-subject in terms of the volume of learning content.
The Institute’s learning platform, the Learning Hub, provides on-demand learning content. Each subject is broken down into 11 to 14 different sessions.
For each subject across the academic year, approximately 30 hours of learning video content and about 20 hours of live webinars need to be viewed.
In addition, there are several other types of learning material with which students will be expected to engage, including slide decks, discussion forums where you can connect with academic team members, and ‘knowledge check’ quizzes.
We place great importance on studying by answering questions from the question packs. It would be best to focus on ‘active learning’ early to aid recall.
You will be expected to attend induction webinars to kick off the academic year and undertake sample papers (similar to past papers) and mock examinations later in the year.
You will also want to try out your skills on the online exam platform Cirrus using a ‘practice paper’ where you’ll have four attempts at each subject.
So, students can see how vital it is to start the academic year ready to maintain a steady, committed approach to their studies.
For the above approximation, I have used the typical study routine for CAP1. Expect the second year, CAP2, to require around 15 to 20 percent additional study time, and again similar in the final year, FAE.
Start as you mean to go on
It is essential to work hard during the initial months before Christmas. Our qualification is hard-won with challenging, internationally regulated exams, which represent a significant step up from third-level qualifications based on the sheer amount of material it covers.
Cramming won‘t cut it; instead, adopt effective study techniques, establish a study calendar, and consider forming a study group or finding a study buddy early on.
Organise your time and notes meticulously, and be ready to devote a weekend morning and a couple of weeknight hours to studying alongside your daily commitments.
The caveats
Now for the caveats!
For obvious reasons, it’s tough to put one figure on the required hours of study. Every student who enrols with Chartered Accountants Ireland is different: some with primary degrees in accountancy, some with prior experience working in the sector, some more mature and with more life commitments to balance.
This is only a guideline aimed to help prospective students on what to expect, and neither a minimum nor a maximum requirement. Who you are, your past experience, commitment level and study techniques all contribute to your success. On top of that, there is no guarantee that, because a student is committed, they will automatically pass exams.
While the hours recommended above may seem daunting, it’s worth noting that all professional-level qualifications in accountancy require serious commitment. Other accountancy bodies recommend their students devote very comparable levels of home study during their first-year programmes.
Embrace the challenge, and remember that a well-deserved summer break awaits once you conquer those exams.
Best of luck on your Chartered Accountants Ireland qualification journey – we hope you enjoy it!
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