Hi guys :) Hope that the studying is going well. I notice many of you are pushing really hard, and while that's all well and great may I point out one thing you guys might be overlooking? I've received inbox requests asking me about study tips, so instead of replying to each one, I'm going to rather post on the page so that everyone can join in on the convo.


1. Its not how hard you study but how effectively you study that makes a difference in whether you pass or not :) For example, if you study when you are already tired, do you really think that you are absorbing anything? I know, there's massive guilt when you have time and do not use it. It feels like you've wasted it and that you're dropping behind! But what you can do in one hour with a fresh brain you won't do the whole day with a tired brain.

2. Revise. If you learn about PPE this week and don't look at it again, do you really think that you will know it as well as you do now by the time you write test 2 if you don't revise? Remember, it takes less time to revise something than to study it. Study once and study properly and then revise.

3. Know what your handbooks contain. Especially for auditing, the handbooks really help you answer your questions. Go through them in detail. Especially with things like your audit planning (strategy, plan and risk assessment in particular) and conclusion and reporting. You will save yourself a huge amount of time by not swotting off something that is in your handbook which you can use during a test.

4. Have a structured approach to the topics. Know where everything fits in. This is important because with CTA everything is integrated so you need to know what fits where. If you develop some sort of framework then you will know how to use the information in a question. For example, if you know every relevant line item a PPE note should have, then in a test when you have to draw up one, you already know what you need to be looking for and why certain information is given. You'll be able to make the link smile emoticon.

5. Brainstorm. Apparently test 1 was bae, but don't expect the exam to be. Examiners are not using the approach of using a similar type of question that was in a past paper and just reworking it to make a new question. So think like an examiner and ask yourself how you would set a question on the topic, how you would try to "trick" someone if you were setting a question for them. You will be amazed at the in depth level your understanding of the work will reach.

6. Have a rest day. I know this one is the hardest to follow because I would feel like there's NO WAY I could take an entire day of studying off. It's too much to lose! But trust me, your brain needs the refresher. In sport there's such a thing called over-training. Over-studying is real too. If a day is too much, at least give yourself adequate rest periods in between your study sessions.

7. Easy on the coffee. Caffeine keeps you up yes but you don't need a hyped up nervous system when you need to be calm and trying to focus.

8. Be patient. Right now, during the year, you're still building your platform for the various topics in the syllabus. So don't panic if it's dragging or not going your way. If you were designing a product, it has to go through several trials and tests and many times you'd have to go back to the drawing board. Studying is the same way. Yes there's pressure for test 2 but rather you spend the time learning your principals now. Do well for the test by all means, but this whole year is meant to prepare you for the exam. That said...

9. Always keep the exam at the back of your mind. Remember, your preparation, even for the class tests, should be geared towards passing the exam. If you are studying PPE now, cover what is in your tut AS WELL as consider how this can be integrated with the topics from test 1. You don't have to go back and do detailed studying for the tuts from test 1 but at least identify how IAS 16 can be asked together with IAS19. It will save you time come September when you virtually only have time for tut 107.

10. Prioritize. Don't study what you already know. If you are good in tax for example, do you really need a week to study it? I started my studying for each test with the module or topics I was most uncomfortable with. Those first two weeks would be stressful because I'm sitting with the stuff that I'm not comfortable with and it's really demotivating at times! But by the time the test came, my stress levels actually dropped because by then I had covered what I didn't know and I had enough knowledge about the other topics which I knew well so 2 days of revision was enough. If you are repeating, you do have some level of embedded knowledge. Use it.