ACCA is a long professional course, spanning over 9 to 13 exams. When you’re committing to an exam that can range this long, there shouldn’t be room for common mistakes you could avoid by learning from others’ experiences. Yet, so many students make such typical mistakes and lose a lot of their progress. We observed this and analysed multiple ACCA online course students’ experiences. We found out 10 common mistakes that every ACCA aspirant makes. This blog will list them down and provide you with suitable solutions to make your UPSC preparation successful.
- Starting Without a Clear Study Plan
You cannot just start studying the ACCA syllabus directionlessly. What you’ll lead to is just a whole lot of confusion with little to no progress. In fact, you might fall behind the usual schedule and get trapped in repetitive preparation.
Here’s how you should avoid it:
Before you start studying, analyse the syllabus. And break it into weekly achievable milestones. The top ACCA coaching centres will align you with a pre-designed study calendar. Follow them religiously and stay stress-free, and for success-aligned preparation.
- Understanding the Time Commitment
We are not saying that ACCA can’t be pursued with work or college. But the point is that you will need strict time management. You can’t let your preparation just slide off easily.
Here’s how you should avoid it:
Remember that each ACCA paper requires around 120-150 hours of preparation time. Set realistic targets. Don’t burden yourself with the preparation of multiple papers if you have other commitments. Progress slow, but put in consistent study hours.
- Focusing on Reading Instead of Practicing Questions
Reading notes and textbooks won’t give you the results. At least not how much you want. And this is anecdotally explained by the learning pyramid. Practising > Reading; since reading retains only 10% of the subject.
Here’s how you should avoid it:
The pyramid shows that learners can retain up to 90% of what they practice practically. Use the 60-40 split—60% learning and 40% practising. Use question banks and timed practice sessions to get the real gist of the exam. Moreover, ACCA coaching centre Mumbai features, for example, mock tests and question banks to mirror real exam patterns.
- Ignoring Examiner Reports & Past Papers
The ACCA might periodically publish observational reports on examinations. Ignoring these is like skipping the answer key before a test.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Seek feedback on every paper you attempt. Understanding what examiners expect from you can be instrumental to acing ACCA. A great resource to tap into an examiner’s mindset is analysing past papers.
- Poor Time Management During the Exam
The issue with exams like ACCA is that you work on very strict exam timings. Most students find prioritisation difficult in exams, which leads to missed marks and eventual failure.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Even when you are just practising, consider it your final battlefield. Train under timed conditions. The more you simulate the exam environment, the better your pacing becomes.
- Skipping Conceptual Clarity for Shortcuts
Many students try to find shortcuts like mnemonics to complete their syllabus. Sure, they are great for last-minute revisions. But a lack of concept clarity will make you struggle with case-based questions.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Focus on the ‘why’ more than just the ‘what’ of the subject. Generally, if you choose a good ACCA coaching Mumbai has, for instance, attend/watch the lectures attentively, and it will do the required job.
- Not Taking Advantage of Online Learning Tools
Some students rely heavily on outdated notes and scattered PDFs. Though the students have become technically proficient, they still don’t utilise the latest digital tools to improve their preparation flows.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Use platforms that offer interactive dashboards, video sessions, and progress tracking. Good ACCA online courses are already hosted on platforms that have these features pre-installed, making it easy to study anytime, anywhere. Great for students balancing studies, internships, or jobs.
- Ignoring Revision & Feedback Sessions
Many students have a habit of continually introducing themselves to new topics till the last minute. What happens is that they are unable to get a great hold of any topic.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Parkinson’s Law says, “work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” Restrict yourself to a limited number of months for exam preparation. Reserve 1-2 months for revision and to go through the feedback loops.
- Comparing Your Progress with Others
Students have built a knack for comparing their progress with their peers or other references over time. It sets unrealistic expectations for themselves to clear papers faster, creating guilt and dissatisfaction on failure.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Remember that no two people are the same. Compare your progress to only your older self. Improve on your personal benchmarks and don’t thrive on external comparisons.
- Neglecting Mental Health & Consistency
Students think that pulling off multiple all-nighters will give them the result they want. In contrast, they deteriorate their mental health; motivation dips and consistency and performance suffer.
Here is how you should avoid it:
Acing the ACCA exam doesn’t mean you have to burn yourself out altogether. Keep your routine balanced. One two-hour quality and consistent session overpowers your eight-hour-long cramming sessions with no effectiveness. Include breaks, exercise, and proper sleep for overall good health.
Final Thoughts: Learn Smart, Not Hard
The conclusion to this blog could be an arguable one. The best strategy to clear an ACCA exam is not to create new methods. But avoid making the same old mistakes. Taking small, actionable steps from this blog can put you ahead in the race compared to a large section of ACCA aspirants. With this perspective, the best online ACCA course in India is not one that boasts its ability to teach new techniques. But the one that embraces these mistakes and changes them for the better.