Are you thinking of pursuing a career in accounting and finance yet a bit doubtful? 

ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants)  is a prestigious qualification acknowledged around the globe. However, to clear ACCA exams one should be highly devoted to it, along with studying for exams it also needs an individual to be ethically considerate. The right techniques, strategies and tips for ACCA preparation can help students in South Africa to achieve success in these competitive exams. Following are some of the exam preparation tips and strategies for South African students: 

Understand the Structure of ACCA Exams:

To qualify for ACCA which is a mix of complex strategies, practical scenarios and accounting skills, one should have an understanding of its structure. Familiarizing yourself with what ACCA has to offer will guide you to stay on the right path as the journey of ACCA starts with Applied knowledge and ends at the Strategic professional level. Go through the syllabus and exam format of ACCA thoroughly, as the format of each exam differs from one another such as subjective, objective and case studies. To get a clear picture of the nature of the exam, review past papers and practice papers.

Make a Study Plan:

A structured study pattern goes a long way in the preparation for ACCA Exams. Firstly set goals by breaking down the syllabus or studying material in small parts and try to achieve each goal one at a time by setting a deadline for the completion of each goal. Allocation of time is another important factor, the subjects you find more complex or challenging should be given more time by identifying your peak study hours for productivity.

Quality Study Material:

There are various institutions and online platforms available for the students of ACCA in South Africa for exam preparation. While choosing a resource for ACCA exams preparation do your research, and choose a trustable resource for revision kits, study material, online classes etc. Enroll yourself in an ACCA institute for preparatory courses. Attending these classes can enhance your knowledge and skills in the respective subject. 

Practice, Practice, and Practice:

ACCA requires an excessive amount of practice regularly, consistency is highly regarded in this qualification. Practice with past papers to get an idea about the types of questions and ACCA exam structure. Also, attempting mock exams helps you build stamina and time management during exams. 

Concentrating on Key Factors:

ACCA is a qualification where understanding of core concepts and topics is regarded more than rote memorization only, especially in analytical papers. Study technical articles of ACCA, to get insights into key focus areas and exam structure. Try to implement the theoretical knowledge acquired by your ACCA syllabus in practical scenarios too, this will make you to understand the concept more effectively. 

Join Study Groups:

Study groups help you to get different insights, better understanding and retention. Collaboration with peers usually makes understanding strategies easier. Study groups can also be used as a source to seek feedback on practice questions and mock papers to prepare for ACCA exams.

Utilize Technology In Learning:

ACCA is acknowledged around the globe which makes it much easier for the students to acquire information, study material and exam structure through one click. Technology has made our life much easier, try utilizing it in studying by apps and tools available for learning, scheduling, note taking, etc. Many online institutes of ACCA are offering online courses for students in South Africa, the best thing about this is its flexibility as these institutes offer part-time study options too.

STAY UPDATED WITH LOCAL TRENDS:

Keeping up with the changes in the Syllabus of ACCA and regulatory changes in accounting or its standards is very crucial for students of South Africa. Students can stay updated about such changes through the official website of ACCA in South Africa. Attending ACCA seminars, workshops, events and webinars can be very fruitful for the accounting aspirants in the matter of networking opportunities and gaining professional insights.

Stress Management: 

Rushing or overburdening yourself can do you no favor, it will rather make a situation more stressful to prepare for ACCA exams. If your mind is in distress and you keep studying for hours, the results won’t be productive at all. Meditation, mindfulness and relaxation activities also contribute to an individual’s productivity. Instead of working harder, try working smarter. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by daily workouts, an undisrupted sleeping schedule and a structured timetable helps you be more concentrated and progressive.

Exam Day Strategy:

Stay calm and don’t panic during the exam. In case of encountering difficulties in solving an answer, try to solve the ones you find easier first and then return to the difficult questions. Panic and stress during exams can result in a waste of time and blanking out too. 

Go through the question sheet thoroughly, and analyze every question and its requirements before answering. Lastly and most importantly, manage your time accordingly. Divide the given time for each question and try attempting the question in that period only. Spare some time for reviewing the paper, after completing your exam go through your answer sheet twice.

Conclusion: 

ACCA qualification, along with being one of the most regarded qualifications in Accounting and Finance, is also said to be a very complex and structured qualification. However, students might panic and first but it is not impossible to ace the ACCA exams.

A student who is highly focused and devoted can easily succeed in the ACCA exams. Nevertheless, ACCA demands a student to be consistent, attentive, follow a structured schedule, and stay ethically considerate. The tips or strategies that may help ACCA student through their exams understand the structure of ACCA firstly, making a study plan, studying from quality study material, staying consistent with practice, concentrating on key factors of the ACCA syllabus, joining study groups, utilizing technology in learning, stay updated with local trends, stress management and make an exam day strategy. By following these steps a student can clear the complex exams of ACCA easily.