For the debate between working on key points and trying to learn the whole syllabus my view is this: You should approach any exam with the mindset you need to know it all, not just the main points, or the things “likely” to come up. This way WHATEVER comes up you can handle it.

However if the exam is close and you don’t have time to study everything (and I mean you REALLY don’t have time!) then it makes sense to focus on just the key points. You can also be smart and see the things that come up regularly and make sure you know those inside out.

I can’t really comment on the CDs as I haven’t seen them – maybe ask other students who have?

Working on this AIDE Course almost on a daily basis and now found out why I could not retain much of what I was study especially with review and spaced repitition.This is a new concept and will now have to work on it. I would like to know your opinion concerning Study aids.BPP offers Success CDs that give the Key Learning Points in your studies and examiners.Kindly let me know your honest opinion on this or I should ensure total coverage of the syllabi.Many thanks indeed.

For tips please download the Pass1stTime free report – see the menu button at the top right of this page. For the full AIDE System to help you pass please click here: http://www.pass1sttime.com/aide-system-video-course-special-acca-offer/

For exams tip specific to your exams I suggest going to a course provider such as BPP and finding what information they provide for free.

This is a tricky one. Do you feel unprepared because 1. you haven’t studied enough of the material, or 2. because you have studied it but feel you don’t know it. For 1 there is no easy answer. I would suggest doing very quick reviews of the material and then doing practice questions – starting with simple questions and moving as quickly as you can to past exam papers. If you are at 2. the best thing to do is just question, after question after question! Again work your way up to past exam papers and do those to time. If possible you should at least aim for 60% in the past exam papers which gives you a 10% cushion to deal with stress in the exam. Good luck!!

I assume by answer plans you mean planning your answer before writing it in the exam? These are excellent for longer style questions. In fact if you are doing advanced questions you should use them always.

Plus what are you getting in practice exams before the real one? You should be aiming to get at least 60% in your practice exams, that way even with the stress of the exam and new questions you should get 50% to pass. Hope that helps!

Glad the tips helped! If you want the more advanced full AIDE System you can learn more here: http://www.accaexamtips.org

In answer to your question this is a very tough situation to be in and it depends on what you want ultimately. There is no genius solution but it depends on how radical you want to be. I went as far as leaving work earlier than was seen as “acceptable” by my boss. I annoyed her, but for me it was a price worth paying. I didn’t get a great review from my boss at the end of the year, but I did pass my exams!

Also if you’re willing to be more radical you could become super-efficient at your work. That means using the 80/20 rule (in the AIDE System Course above) on your work activities. This way you create a couple of spare hours during the day when you can revise, or leave work earlier, but still do the same amount of work.

It just depends if your job is one where you can go for example “a conference call”, go hide in a room somewhere, and revise for an hour! I did that sometimes! Some people might say that’s unethical, but so long as I was getting all my work done I didn’t see it as something wrong.

I can’t give you an easy solution I’m afraid. I only went on two weekend holiday breaks abroad in two years when studying. Sometimes you just have to tough it out. Not easy I know, but worth it in the end.