Staying motivated on the Chartered Accountancy journey

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