What to do if you fail the ACCA exam:
Not clearing the ACCA exam can be a discouraging experience, especially when you have missed it by a whisker. However, collecting your emotions and diving back with a very practical approach is very important.
In this blog post, we’ll offer tips on how to approach the next exam session.
1. Speak to a Mentor / Tutor
A mentor/tutor can help you analyze your results and figure out what went wrong. You may have missed it by a few marks or a huge margin. If you have missed it by a few marks, you may need more hands-on practice, be it managing time, strategy, or stress. However, if you have missed it by a large margin, a thorough understanding is required as to what has gone wrong. Clearly, your approach & understanding of the paper is amiss. Your mentor will help you understand this clearly & hence having a detailed conversion after your exam result is very vital.
2. Which paper to appear in the next exam session
Now, while your mentor will guide you on whether to repeat this paper in the next exam session or write 2 papers in the next exam session ( Re attempted paper & next planned paper), here is what we recommend. If you have missed your last exam by a small margin, perhaps you need some more finishing. You may want to think of appearing 2 papers in such a case if you feel confident. However, if you haven’t cleared the exam by a large margin, a lot of work is required, and in such a case, we recommend you only repeat this paper, but with thorough preparation.
3. Identify your weaknesses and work on each area
Check ‘My Exam Performance tool by ACCA’, this report could reveal a lot of insights. Start identifying all key issues step by step & prepare to work towards each of these issues.
- Did you not complete the syllabus in the entirety
- Did you practice the Study Text & Exam Kit enough
- Did you take adequate Mock Exams
- Are there conceptual gaps in the syllabus
- Was speed the issue in the exam
- Did you blackout at any point in the paper
- Did you use the wrong strategy while attempting the paper
- Could you not revise One Day before the exam
- Was typing speed an issue & so on
3. Take advantage of the ACCA’s Resources
ACCA has a world of resources you must use adequately for your re-preparation. To list a few,
- Revise your Study Text & Exam Kit at least 3 times without leaving any part of the syllabus.
- Practice questions from the ACCA Study Hub
- Solve at least 3 Online Mocks & get them assessed, if possible, on the CBE Practice Platform.
- Go through Examiner Reports & Technical Articles on the ACCA Student Support Resources on the ACCA Global Website.
Also read our blog on Top ACCA Study Resources
Additional tips
- Don’t give up: Failing the exam once doesn’t mean you can’t pass it. Keep at it, and you’ll eventually reach your goal.
- Stay positive: It’s important to stay positive and motivated throughout your studies.
- Seek support: Don’t be afraid to seek support from friends, family, or a professional counselor.
Conclusion
To sum up the blog –
- Speak to your mentor & do an open conversation
- Identify all the issues that went wrong
- Use all ACCA Study resources adequately
- Stay Calm, keep your cool & believe in yourself!
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success on the next ACCA exam.
I hope this blog post has been helpful.
