Why SBR students should read articles.
Reading articles is a really important part of studying for SBR. Firstly it is essential for an understanding of current issues. And please remember that not everything is in that text book! Further reading good technical articles can only broaden and deepen your understanding of the way that accounting standards are applied in the real world. And that is why the examiner frequently encourages you to do it – and so do I!
Current issues
When new issues arise in financial reporting e.g. ED/2019/5 relating to deferred tax; accounting for cryptocurrency, accounting for crowd funding and the significance of companies reporting EBITDAC (earnings before interest tax depreciation amortisation and corona virus!) – these issues will first be written about in articles before being tested in the SBR exam. Sadly the traditional text books tend to pick up many of these current issues after they have been examined. There is little point shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.
My blog and bite size articles
So a student who has read such an article on the particular current issue that features in their SBR exam is at a massive advantage. So continue check my blog click here for such articles on current issues! My blogs are designed to be bite sized, principles based and relevant to the exam. So I hope that they are capable of being easily read and understood. Any queries on them – just ask me!
Longer articles
Longer articles can seem harder to read. But it is worth persevering. The ACCA website is the best source of these type of articles click here.
Tips to effective reading
Here are seven top tips to effective reading and comprehending those longer articles..
- Set up some time and a quiet place to read. Switch off the phone.
- Be an active reader and use a highlighter to emphasise key principles that the article is explaining.
- Be prepared to read the article more than once.
- I sometimes read key passages out aloud. Listening to my own voice seems to be another way of lodging the information in my brain. I wonder if that is just me though. No harm in you giving it a try is there?
- Prepare your own handwritten summary notes of the key points the article makes. Manually writing it down is another way of lodging the information in your memory.
- Explain those main points to some one else. Putting those key principles in your own words to demonstrate understanding – well isn’t that you what you will have to be doing in the exam!
- Refresh yourself by coming back to your notes and the article a week later. Read it once and you will forget it. There is merit in repetition to reinforce learning.
Tom Clendon FCCA – whats app 07725 350793