Every course that my SBR online students do – whether that is tuition, revision or final mock – you do a mock exam. Using the ACCA’s practise platform. It gets marked. You get personalised feedback and feedforwad. It’s ideal preparation for the real thing (except during my mocks I don’t remote invigilate). In addition to feed back on your scripts I circulate a general report.
A copy of this report in respect of the latest end of tuition mock is set out below.
“Doing mock exams and getting them marked with feedback is the best way to prepare to pass ACCA exams” – Tom Clendon et al
Overall comments on the March 21 end of tuition mock
Well done on doing this mock. You are in a better position to pass the exam for the experience. Some excellent work here and a strong display of technical knowledge from many students.
But please remember exam technique – you must allocate time across all sections to ensure you grab the quicker marks from each question part.
Layouts are nice and clear – short, spaced paragraphs and sub-headings helping key ideas stand out for an examiner. Well done.
Q1 – Well done to those who attempted all sections.
In part ai) Take care to explain what you are doing – calculations alone will not be enough to pass. Many missing the finance charge on the discounted deferred consideration.
Part aii) some great explanations of control reducing to significant influence – support this with 2 of 6 board members from the scenario and remember to explain how to equity account.
Part aiii) give theory upfront – a quick explanation of how to account for a compound instrument – how to measure both parts. Remember that the q asks for adjustments, so need to show with a DR and CR how to correct the finance cost that has already been accounted for.
Part b) please review the discussion on the bank loan – many missing that the confirmation letter is a non-adjusting event and at year end the loan must be classed as current.
Q2 – Some great work here.
Most got the accounting treatment on provision for training but please check wheat contract – students missing the ‘executory contract, own use, not onerous, account on delivery’ discussion. For ethics please review the model answer structure.
Have one section at the end of the answer for ethics – helps bring focus to the discussion and avoids repetition of points, saving time. Some fast marks here for giving courses of action the accountant could take. And ensure you fully explain how the FD is being unethical – link to self-interest/bonus next year and intimidation threat.
Q3
ai – key is to spot that intangible sales are not the ordinary course of business.
In aii) make sure you discuss lease theory first – control, direct the use, right to economic benefit – then if you reach an incorrect conclusion, you can still get plenty of method marks for application of theory to scenario.
Part b) good idea to define materiality first and then when discussing both options, remember to tie it back to the concern of whether or not the adjustments/disclosures are material, in aggregate or individually.
Q4
Part ai) please review breakage discussion and calculation. This was not well done.
part aii) need to deal with revenue first, from the beginning of the contract, then from the significant change in circumstance, and then mention the need for the provision.
Part b) some very quick marks for cost v fair value discussion but many are not reaching this section and losing out on credit for this theory knowledge.
Please also review model answer for how the discussion links back to ratios – gearing, asset turnover etc, and remember that neither method will affect cashflow – quick mark for that.