By ‘Michael Metzger’
When preparing for the ACCA exams, mock examinations are often overlooked but should be an essential component of every student’s study plan.
Here’s why I believe incorporating mock exams will make a significant difference in your exam performance and overall result.
- Know Where You Stand
Mock exams are excellent tools for self-assessment. They allow students to measure their understanding of key concepts and identify knowledge gaps.
By simulating the real exam conditions, students often have an eye opening experience as to the difficultly of the exam conditions for the first time. It’s better to figure this out weeks before the actual exam.
- Get Familiar with the Exam Format
ACCA exams have a unique format and strict time limits. Sitting mock exams gives students first-hand experience with the layout, structure, and pacing of the questions.
Understanding how the real exam will be presented, including its time constraints, is crucial for effective time management.
Students who practice within these limits are better equipped to complete the exam on time. As well as this practicing on the platforms that emulate the exam platform remove exam day stress.
- Reduce Exam-Day Anxiety
Speaking of which, one of the significant benefits of mock exams is their ability to reduce anxiety. By simulating the actual exam environment, students become more comfortable with the process.
Repeated exposure to exam-like conditions can ease nerves, boost confidence, and lead to improved performance on exam day.
- Boost Your Pass Rate
Students who consistently sit mock exams often experience higher pass rates in their final exams.
For instance, in a recent ACCA exam session for both of my modules there is a significant disparity in the results of my subjects when students sit all mocks.
For Audit and Assurance of students who sat all mocks, 75% of them passed compared to 66% of students who didn’t sit all mocks failing.
For Performance Management students who sat all mocks, 71% of them passed compared to 75% of students who didn’t sit all mocks failing.
In conclusion, the mock examinations are free simulations of the exam you’re going to be sitting in one of the quarterly sitting. They’re an opportunity to improve and learn. The numbers in relation to pass rates speak for themselves, its much easier and less stress to sit an additional mock before the exam than the repeat in the following sitting!
Lecturer ‘Michael Metzger’
ACCA September 2024