9 Effective ACCA Study Strategies
15 May, 20241-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- 9 effective ACCA study strategies.
- Where the latest Accountancy and Finance jobs are and how to apply for them.
Studying for your exams can be tedious, boring and stressful, and on top of that it can be difficult to find a study strategy that works best for you. The ACCA qualification requires lots of time, effort and revision, and it can be difficult to effectively study and optimise your time.
It is common for students to spend hours revising and reading notes or textbooks but it is often not enough to fully comprehend the material and prepare you for the ACCA exams. That’s why it’s important to find the most effective study strategy that works for you, one that is going to get the best results and result in you getting the ACCA qualification.
Throughout this blog, we uncover some of the best ACCA study strategies so you can tackle your exams with confidence and achieve your academic goals.
ACCA study strategies
Effective ACCA study strategies include
- Establish your study method.
- Find a space to study.
- Create a study plan.
- Check out any introductions.
- Study when most productive.
- Practice.
- Set goals/objectives.
- Create a balance.
- Ask for help.
Establish your study method
It’s important to discover the perfect study method for you. Everyone has different revision strategies and techniques that work for them. It is important that the method you choose works for you, maximises your potential and is an active learning technique.
There are different types of revision methods such as flashcards, mock exams, practice questions and mind maps, all of which can help you optimise your revision and help you go further.
You might even find that you benefit from self-study, group learning or even a bit of both, as long as you choose your own study strategy and that it optimises your learning and keeps you active.
Consider your short and long term memory, the benefits of taking notes and the best location to study.
Find a space to study
It’s not only important that you have a plan of action and a method of study, it’s also important to consider the space you are studying in. Having an environment that is quiet, calm and allows you to work as you wish is crucial.
Find a place that suits you and your study method, whether it be a library, cafe or at your desk at home. As long as there are no distractions and you can really get into the zone without inconveniencing others or yourself.
Setting up a well-organised, quiet and convenient study space can automatically improve your attention span and make you feel more comfortable and eager to learn. Ensure your setup has everything you need to succeed and nothing that will distract you.
Create a study plan
Create a study plan that optimises your time and energy, while ensuring you maintain a healthy balance between studying and your normal life. Create a schedule that allows you to plan ahead, break down your study load and complete revision tasks and assignments. Your plan of action should be unique to you and your ways of understanding and obtaining information.
Allocate enough time for revision and develop a plan that covers all topics and key concepts. Break your study time down into manageable sections or modules and discover how to balance your revision with any other commitments such as work, socialising and hobbies. This can be effective to break down your study time, reduce stress and increase productivity.
Check out any introductions
Start early and ensure you ease yourself into the study process with some introductory videos. Introductions typically explain the format of ACCA exams and the key concepts of each module including changes and what to expect.
ACCA offers plenty of videos for visual learners and all accountancy and finance students looking for an introduction to the modules they are expected to cover in their studies. These videos are a great way to start studying and a good transition from module to module, and exam to exam.
Introduction and chapter videos are important to show you changes in the curriculum as well as to see what has been tested before and the skills you should expect to learn.
The videos also explain the format of ACCA exams so you can work out how to create your study plan so that you can effectively spread your time and energy on different topics and modules.
Study when most productive
When making your study plan, remember to think about the best time to study in terms of productivity and working your time for revision around other commitments.
Ensure that you use the most of your revision and your time, by choosing to study when you are most productive. This is different for everyone and depends on you, your routine and your study habits. For some it might be best to study first thing in the morning and for others it might be at night before bed, whatever fits with your daily routine.
Don’t just cram 5 minutes of revision in or spend time forcing yourself to revise if you can't make the most of your time and you won't remember or understand what you’ve been revising. Optimise your time and energy properly to ensure your study plans are strategic, effective and productive.
Practice
When it comes to studying, the best way to ensure that you understand the information you have revised and that you are confident, is to put your knowledge to the test. Practise previous ACCA exam questions to better understand the format of the paper and what you can expect.
Practice under exam conditions to truly test your knowledge and see how you perform under pressure without any temptations. After the allocated time is up, check your answers using the model answers and marking guide to see what areas you are doing well in and what you need to improve on.
Question or paper practice is a great revision tool that allows you to make the most of your time and test what you have learnt so far.
Set goals/objectives
You can't tackle the entire syllabus all at once and you wouldn’t want to feel overwhelmed or start panicking at the prospect of missing something in your study strategy. That’s why it’s crucial that students break their revision down into modules and what they hope to achieve.
In your study plan, set some realistic and attainable performance objectives or goals with deadlines for each. This will increase efficiency and effectiveness when preparing for ACCA exams making you feel motivated and more confident.
This allows you to track your progress and help you stay organised. With each objective, you could give yourself well-deserved breaks or rewards for your efforts.
How you reward yourself is up to you as long as you’ve earned it e.g. you’ve met your study goals, or completed a section/module.
Create a balance
Balancing your work and life can be challenging, but with proper planning it is achievable and beneficial. Ensure that your study plan takes into consideration your other commitments, and hobbies with opportunities for socialising, to maintain a healthy but effective work/revision balance.
Time management and organisation are crucial skills to have when it comes to revising for your ACCA exams and maintaining a healthy work and life balance. Ensure you have some free time to keep up hobbies, socialise and stay rested because it can't be effective if you revise and study all the time.
Ask for help
When you’re doing your revision and studying for several exams like the ACCA qualification you can feel like you're alone in your struggles. Speak to your tutors, fellow students or professionals in accountancy and finance for any advice or guidance from those that understand the pressures and the hard work of the ACCA.
Reach out to peers or online forums for clarification and ask questions if you are unsure and take advantage of ACCA resources and support services. Group study can be beneficial if you are stuck on a topic or need clarification, and it can help keep you motivated as well as sociable.
Accountancy jobs
If you’re searching for your next accountancy job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
If you liked this check out our other ACCA content:
Struggling to recruit Accountants?
As specialist accountancy recruiters, we support practices nationwide with their permanent recruitment needs.
If you’re struggling to find ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualified Accountants, why not get in touch with Divisional Manager, Matt Byrne-Fraser on 01772 954200 to see how we can help?
Meet Matt Byrne-Fraser
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re a vibrant and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West.
We continually reimagine the recruitment process to challenge convention and defy expectations; from creating a better recruitment experience to remodelling employee engagement, we thrive off doing things differently and turning heads along the way.
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