Are you CIPFA qualified?! Help.....

[MissOrganisedMe]

I'm about to sit my last professional exam. It's the Strategic Case Study. I'm struggling.... It jus seems so overwhelming!

Please offer me your hints and tips?

Ok I did mine quite a few years ago but the below principles should still be the same

Just remember they are looking to sign you off as an accountant and allow them to use the initial so;

1. they are looking for common sense and you to demonstrate a sensible approach, eg do you answer each question, are you able to structure your time (even in exam pressure) so you write something for each question
2. do they want you as a member? Eg do you write sensible conclusions? Do you write something which is sensible, eg you don’t seem like a bonkers risk taker in conclusions, you’d not sexist, racist etc
3. are you consistent in your conclusions across questions? Does it all hang together?
4. remember it’s easier to get the first few marks of each section that to go after the last couple in one section (and to miss out the last question
5. lastly try and remember it’s not trying to catch you out

Thanks. This makes sense. I think I just lose focus because it's across all of the syllabus.

I remember that feeling. Remember in theory it is across all of it but you have to make a risk based approach. You can’t remember all of it and really they are not looking for you to remember all the technical rules’

So what is more likely to come up? The whole case won’t hinge on some obscure tax rule but it is bound to involve some number crunching of options and then for you to be able to draw conclusions on what the number conclude. If your numbers say ‘definitely option 1’ but you conclude ‘all the numbers say option 1 but my gut says option 2’ you’re not thinking as a commercial accountant is and won’t pass. Remember in this, your the CFO. So they want the numbers to drive a conclusion! Numbers are everything in accounting (even though realistically they are not)

Hi! Are you sitting on Dec 3rd?

I feel your pain, I am overwhelmed. I have no idea how this paper can be passed !

What did you think of the AM?
You think we can just focus on the obvious things mentioned...I feel like it's a trap !!

Read the examiners reports and advice. Its likely to be in your student area somewhere on their website. Use all materials made available to you.

Possibly also think about doing a training course to help build your confidence