ACCA APM exam sitters still seem to be caught out by the fact that section B of the exam is compulsory, says the September Examiner’s report.
The examiner explained that there is a feeling among markers that PQs sitting this paper have not prepared to answer questions across the whole syllabus!
The first step to passing APM is to have a good grasp of the basic knowledge, and for September many students struggled with value chain analysis (Q1) and risk and uncertainty (Q3).
When it came to the AAA exams candidates were accused of merely listing points without applying their knowledge to the scenario. The examiner felt there is a lack of basic double entry skills, with candidates often confusing assets with liabilities, or assuming that if assets are overstated profit must be understated. There was also a lack of underlying knowledge of financial reporting. And, candidates showed an inability to make an appropriate materiality judgement. Another worry was the failure to understand the impact of issues on the auditor’s report.
*Our December exam tips are coming – check out the next issue of PQ magazine out on 15 November
