F6 Taxation

From June 2015, this paper will join the other papers that have changed their exam structure to incorporate MCQs. Section A will consist of 15 two-mark MCQs covering all the syllabus areas. The examiner said he will provide four alternative answers, one of which will be right! He also stressed that question lengths will obviously have to be of different lengths, but that this will balance out over the paper. Section B will have four 10-mark questions taken from any syllabus area. The two 15-mark questions will cover income tax and corporation tax.

There is a specimen paper which used topics seen in earlier papers:

10-mark questions

• Q1 Capital gains tax (Dec 2013)

• Q2 Inheritance tax (June 2012)

• Q3 VAT (December 2010)

• Q4 Tax administration (December 2010)

15-mark questions

• Q5 Income tax (June 2012)

• Q6 Corporation tax (December 2012)

The examiner pointed out that the new paper will continue to include higher level marks. He also felt there were numerous examples in the specimen paper. He told students to keep reading the articles – particularly the Finance Act 2014 ones! The things to look at here are NISAs, the ￡40,000 pension annual allowance, PPR reduced to 18 months, NIC employment allowance, personal allowance, and, finally, VAT discounts. What is not examinable is real time reporting filing penalties and AIA apportionment.

F8 Audit & Assurance

The examiner started by outlining the new format for her paper. Section A has 12 MCQs worth between one and two marks each. These are mainly knowledge, with some application skills required. Section B consists of four 10-mark questions and two 20-mark questions. These will test a mix of knowledge, but mainly application skills.

The examiner said candidates performed well in the section A MCQs last December. They also tackled the corporate governance and internal control deficiencies and planning parts well. What they didn’t do well is explain risk and give the auditor response. Two other areas PQs need to improve on are audit reports and substantive procedures.

The examiner pleaded with lecturers to go over her examiner reports in class, as well as practise questions. It seems PQs need more guidance with the requirement verbs and understanding what the question is actually asking. And when students have practised questions they need to be properly reviewed.

She believes understanding is the key to success in her paper, not rote learning. “Forget generic lists,” she stressed.

Her final plea was for candidates to stop question spotting and try to get their time allocation right in the exam hall.

P4 Advanced Financial Management

The examiner gave some interesting statistics about just how many candidates sat each recent sitting. In December, some 10,657 candidates sat the P4 ‘test’ and 33% passed. This compares with the 9,885 candidates in December 2013 who achieved a 42% pass rate.

The examiner said students need a thorough sustained study to gain adequate knowledge. This exam is also about the application of knowledge.

When it comes to exam itself, the examiner said it was vital PQs use their reading time to full effect. They also need to adopt an organised and systematic approach to answering the questions. That means answering all parts, even the sub-parts of the question, fully.

What will impress him and his markers are a good structure and presentation of the answer. Are your answers neat, tidy and well spaced out?

While practising past papers is good, this examiner felt there was an over-reliance on past papers and intensive study programmes. Too many candidates are also making basic errors in calculations.

Students must also be able to carry forward knowledge of F9 and other ACCA papers, the examiner said.

For exams from September 2015 to June 2016 the syllabus is unchanged. There is, however, an extensive review of the syllabus being undertaken. The results of this will be communicated once the review is complete.

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