Exams can be incredibly stressful, especially if you’re underprepared. Bryan Rankin outlines practical steps you can take to alleviate this stress prior to the exam.
For many students, exams can be a source of stress – particularly when trying to balance a work and study routine.
As CAP1 and CAP2 students prepare for the run-in to exam week, here is a list of essential tips to help you alleviate some stress points.
Practice, practice … and practice
To get ready for your exams, we strongly emphasise practice and experience.
There are many resources available to help you gain vital exam experience. On Cirrus, our online examination platform, CAP1 and CAP2 students have access to a practice paper and are permitted four attempts before the exam.
If you haven’t used Cirrus for an exam before, practice papers on the platform are a great way to familiarise yourself with the technology. You can take the time to navigate the paper, learn how to add tables and rows, and make sure you are confident with the application before the big day.
You should use all four practice paper attempts and make sure you get the full use out of each attempt. If you don’t, you will lose an attempt, whether you answered questions or not.
A broader study of sample papers, past questions and the competency statement will allow students to focus on time management and identify examinable topics.
Before your exam
Before you sit your exams, here is some essential information you should keep in mind:
- Your exam timeslot will be sent approximately one week before exam week.
- In the week leading up to the exam, you should test your equipment, even if you have experience with online examinations with the Institute. Do a test in advance of each exam sitting.
- If your computer fails while testing, let someone on the exams team know about the issue prior to the exam.
- You will not be able to use a keyboard, mouse or second screen on exam day, so it’s a good idea to follow the same setup from this point on – wherever possible. You’ll be amazed the difference this will make to your speed and confidence.
- Read any messages that may appear on your screen during the exam carefully; the Institute will only send important notifications, so be sure to read them thoroughly.
- You may be asked to complete a room scan during any exam. This must be done properly by showing the full desk, under the desk and the whole room.
Exam top tips
When it comes to studying, it can often be difficult to balance your work and study life. Here are some key insights to make the process easier and more efficient:
- Review the assessable topics and relevant guidance as per the Competency Statement issued by the Institute’s Exam team.
- Attend the relevant CAP1 and CAP2 subject sessions.
- Work through the relevant study material.
- Attempt the relevant practice papers.
- Read the examiner commentary in past Professional Examinations Committee reports, which contain exam questions and solutions. These can be found on the Institute’s website.
- If you’re sitting an open-book exam, make sure your notes are condensed to only essential topics.
- Identifying highly examinable syllabus areas is not a mystery – you don’t need to know everything and scoring 50 marks out of 100 is very achievable!
Finally, we want to wish you all the best of luck in your exams and remind you of the numerous supports to help you. You can reach out to the Exams team for guidance and support at cap1exam@charteredaccountants.ie or cap2exam@charteredaccountants.ie.
Bryan Rankin is CAP1 and CAP2 Programme Lead at Chartered Accountants Ireland.
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