What's your view? Exam advice

In every issue of The Bottom Line, we ask students for their thoughts on a particular topic.

This month, we want to know: what advice do you have for those who will take 
Chartered Accountancy exams this year?

Armina Golchin

PwC

Having recently completed my CAP1 exams, I'm excited to share some advice for those preparing for their own. Here are my three golden rules:

Do a little bit a lot

Balancing work, busy seasons and personal commitments can push studying to the back burner. Starting can be daunting, but small, consistent efforts will help you become familiar with the material and develop a study routine.

Get by with a little help from your friends

Your network of fellow students is invaluable. Whether they’ve already taken the exams or are preparing alongside you, asking questions can provide clarity and save time. I’d encourage attendance at Chartered Accountant Student Society events to meet other students while enjoying a break from studying!

No hassle in the castle

A catchy and effective motto I’ve adopted from another student. Overstressing prohibits meaningful progress. Trust in your ability to succeed—these exams are passable with early preparation and a diligent work ethic.

Good luck!

Eoin Hartnett

KPMG

Sitting the accountancy exams for the first time while also working can be a daunting experience. Trying to find the balance between work and study can be quite challenging. 

When you were in college, you were a full-time student, and you were able to concentrate all your focus on your exams. Now the majority of your week is devoted to your job.

The best advice I can give is to be efficient and organised. You will have study leave, but to get the most out of the study leave you want to try to be as prepared as you can going into it. 

The best way to do that is to keep on  top of lectures and to keep tipping away. 

A few hours of study a week is plenty during the working week. This allows you to still 
work during the week and study while also having time to get a break from both.

As the exams get closer, I place an emphasis on quality of study over quantity.
Answering questions as opposed to just reading the notes can be a far more efficient method of finding out what you do and don’t know. 

Every time you study, you want to maximise the learning benefit. Do practice papers under exam conditions, have your notes organised and know where you’re sitting the exam, i.e. control the controllable. You can’t control what questions come up in the exam, but you can control how prepared you are for it. 

Sarah McAleese

KPMG 

At CAP1 level, I would focus on perfecting your technical knowledge and honing in on your time management skills. 

As difficult as it can be to move on, on the day, be sure to stick to timings based on marks allotted per question and try not to overlook the "low hanging fruit" narrative questions as they can be an effective way of picking up marks.

When it comes to the CAP2 and FAE Exams, avoid the false sense of security of open-book exams. While it is important to prepare high-quality notes that you can effectively leverage on exam day, practising exam questions under time pressure to simulate real exam conditions is equally crucial.

Remember to look after your health and well-being during what can be a stressful period. 

Take regular breaks, maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure you get enough rest. 

Link in with and leverage your community of peers and CASSI for support where possible, as they can act as an invaluable resource.