In this guide we introduce some tips for success to help you master the Audit and Assurance exam.
Tips for success
- Prepare a study plan, if you are studying a ‘more complex’ exam at the same time ensure you do not ignore this exam. Instead balance your time appropriately.
- Plan to rotate the topics you revise – it is no good taking the exam having not looked at a topic for a whole month. The question bank has a very useful “topic finder” so you can plan which questions to try when you have revised a particular topic.
- When answering questions, it is tempting to look at the answers. This will not be an effective way to learn. Try to come up with ideas and use the answer after to evaluate your answer. Update your answer in red for the things you missed, learning from your mistakes.
- When practising questions, do not put yourself under time pressure to begin with but gradually increase this as you approach the exam.
- Take time to review your answers and make a list of things you commonly get wrong. Keep reviewing the list and take corrective action.
- Make sure you have gone through the Auditing Standards book and have a system whereby you can find key topics very quickly.
- You should take the time to review the examiners’ comments on the ICAEW website as these will give you invaluable tips on areas that students commonly trip up on. Looking at these after you have attempted the specific question can be an alternative way to mark your answer (you can then ensure you do not make the same mistake!).
- Decide which order you are going to tackle questions – starting with the short form questions should mean you build up some buffer time is you are answering them efficiently and effectively.
- Do not over run over on questions, you will pay for it later. It can be very easy to over answer a requirement by providing answers in excess of the marks available. So, monitor that clock and move on when time runs out – even if you do have more to say!
- Use the scenario to help you answer the requirements. Everything in the scenario is there for a reason. Go through the scenario a line at a time and ask yourself’ ‘why am I being told this’ and ‘how can it help me answer the question’.