ACCA APM (P5) Exam Techniques and Tips

Exam format:

Section A	1Q = 35-40 marks, 2Q = 25-20 marks.
Section B	2 Questions out of 3 = 20 marks each



Reading time: 15 minutes (you may mark the Question paper only, during this time).
Total time: 3 hours and 15 minutes.


Read the exam rules at the back of exam attendance paper.
Listen to the invigilators instruction carefully lack of obedience may disqualify a candidate for exams.
Have your script checked by the invigilator for completeness of details.
Feel free to ask invigilators for any information necessary to comply with exam standards.


Exam technique and Tips for ACCA paper APM (P5) (also useful for PM-F5).
1. Read the question requirements of all questions. This will give you an idea of what questions and its parts you answer with confidence and discarding the question you do not answer properly.
2. Read the scenario slowly and thoroughly, at the same time marking any key dates, figures, stakeholders and problems faced by the business. It may not be possible for you to read all the questions within fifteen minutes. I advice you to read the question last, which you have planned to answer first, so you do not have to re-read the question and this will save your time.
3. Avoid use of punctuations, articles, adverbs, adjective and conjunctions excessively and unnecessarily. This will not earn you marks but it will take time.
4. Devote as much time as necessary to read scenarios and requirements. If necessary read questions again until you thoroughly understand the meanings behind each sentences. Each sentence is written for a reason and will help you to earn marks. You will get nothing if you spend lot of time answering the question but not answered what is asked.
5. Allocate your time with respect to marks available for each parts of the question. Allocate 1.5 minutes per mark, it leaving 30 minutes panic and checking time. You should focus on gaining 1mark in 1.5 minutes, no matter from where it comes. This 1.5 minutes including reading and writing time both. If you have spent more time on reading you to balance this increasing your writing speed. Use this flexibly some questions may take more than allocated time and some will take lesser time. You should aim to earn marks rather than completing the paper.
6. Do not hesitate writing what you think might be writing, there is no negative marking. So remember there is no one right answer. Marker are instructed to reward every logical answer to the question set.
7. Break the complex requirements into bits of separate requirements. Assume equal marks if requirement  is allocated separate marks. Look for the magical word "and". Example. Explain and evaluate the appropriateness of key critical success factors used the business XYZ.
8. Look at the requirements again while writing answer if you have doubt on what is asked? Frequently looking at the requirements help you write answers relevant to the requirement.
9. Do not try to produce perfect answers last marks are difficult and time consuming to achieve. Try to write good answers and points you are confident for its relevance to the question. You can come back to the question, if you have spare time left at the end.
10. Look for professional marks where available, you gain this by simply presenting your answer in the format asked by examiner, look for the person to whom your communication is addressed. Use technical jargons and details and style of presentation by considering the position, knowledge and experience of the person involved. In P5 this person will be the internal manager of any level in the organization.
11. Present your answer in the context of the organization. While some questions may ask for knowledge.
12. Look for verbs like explain, analysis, discuss etc, industry, past experience, culture and objective of business, external factors (PESTEL), SWOT, nature of material, labor, machinery, problems facing and proposed strategies, analysis financial information to use in your answers like trends, other information that would be useful but not given in the scenario. All these information will form the basis of your marks earning points.

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