how to pass your aca exams

 

 

how did you balance studying for the ACA exams with your personal and professional life? 

create a weekly plan 

Each week, I created a weekly plan, allocating time towards revision, work and personal time. Being able to see all my tasks laid out helped me prioritise, manage my time and stay on top of revision, while allowing ample rest time. 

find a revision timetable that works for you 

With the ACA exams, there’s a lot to cover. To avoid it being too overwhelming, I broke it down into manageable pieces within my revision timetable. It allowed me to give each area the attention it needed, while focussing on one thing at a time prevented me from procrastinating or feeling too stressed. 

communicate with your employer 

Whenever I had lessons or revision sessions after work, I’d let my employer know. That way, we could set realistic timetables, manage expectations and keep burnout at bay. 

maintain personal boundaries, as well as professional 

At home, if I had revision sessions or important exams coming up, I would communicate this with my friends and family. In doing so, there was less pressure for me to be in certain places or participate in certain things. 

I also made sure to prioritise having time to relax and recharge with my friends and family. This quality time helped me recover from an exhausting week in the classroom and at work. 

 

what were the biggest challenges you faced during your studies, and how did you overcome them? 

As well as balancing work, study and my personal life, another challenge I faced was how can how complex the syllabus can be. 

To overcome that, I utilised the people around me. I was fortunate enough to make some wonderful friendships and developed a good support network. We leant on each other for help or to answer questions. Whether you’re studying online or in person, find communities, online spaces or people who can support you. You can help motivate each other and help develop each other's understandings of complex topics. 

Ensure you speak up to your teacher if you don’t understand something and make the most of the resources provided by your tuition provider. Ensure you are exploring every possible avenue for gathering information to develop a well-rounded understanding of topics. 

 

what strategies did you use to maintain your wellbeing during exam periods? 

Exam periods can be stressful, so it's important to maintain your well-being. There are a few things I did to ensure I was managing my mental and physical health. 

don't forget the fundamentals

Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating a healthy and balanced diet and staying hydrated.

don’t isolate yourself during periods of extreme stress

Spend time with loved ones when possible. Take walks outside and get some fresh air. It’s important you are well rested so you can give studying and exams your all.

don’t be afraid to ask for help

Whether it’s from your colleagues, your tutors, or your peers, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. More so than anyone else, they can relate to how you’re feeling and resonate with issues you may be facing.

make time for breaks

A healthy body and mind are essential for effective studying. Make sure you schedule regular breaks in your study schedule to avoid burning yourself out.

prioritise

I organised my tasks based on what was most urgent at that time. If I didn’t achieve everything on my list that day, I could rest a bit easier knowing I had ticked off the most crucial item.

create a plan and stick to it

My weekly plan incorporated work, study and rest time, ensuring that all got the attention that was needed to pass my exams and avoid burnout. Rest periods were particularly important, as they kept me feeling refreshed and alert during study periods. 

 

what do you think are the most important skills and qualities for success in the ACA exams? 

time management

In my experience, time management is vital in knowing how much time to spend revising a certain topic or answering a certain exam question. 

resilience

I found resileince important in being able to bounce back from setbacks. The ACA exams are difficult, so it's important that you can pick yourself back up when things get tough. 

discipline

I needed self-discpline in order to stick to myrevision timetable and ensure I was on track for my exams.

what advice would you give to students about building their professional network? 

When building a professional network, seize every opportunity that you can. Whether that’s joining a professional group or community or attending work networking events. Networking allows you to gain some valuable insights from people from different areas of finance and accountancy and can open doors for your career later down the line. Networking can also help you develop transferable soft skills, such as communication, confidence, and adaptability. 

It can be scary, but the more you do it, the more at ease you’ll feel, and the more opportunities you will develop along the way. 

do you have any final tips for those currently preparing for the qualification?

• Get organised. Set a plan that helps you keep track of everything you need to. 
• Learn how to set clear boundaries between work and personal time. 
• Develop the ability to say no. Alot of things can get thrown at you, so ensure to make time for interests and managing your well-being 

Is your mental health struggling as you prepare for your exams? Access our free mental health community forum and counselling space.