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I want to take a yr out to study for ACCA P exams. Do employers look down on this?

Also why is it hard to find a ACCA practice employer in Northern Ireland willing to take on a trainee? I have years experience in practice.

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By CStone1980
14th Jun 2014 14:03

I wouldnt have thought employers would look down on it, but it might raise concern over how recent your experience is having not been working for a year, also you may be up against contenders who have managed to juggle both, which might be taken as an indication of dedication? I suppose it depends on the employer. As someone who has and does recruit accountants, I tend to look for experience more than qualifications, as I need someone who has done it, not just knows how it works

 

I have just sat my last 2 ACCA papers, P4 and P6, although it took a while and pretty much all my evenings and weekends for the past few years, its doable

 

 

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By User deleted
14th Jun 2014 21:32

What is up with people these days ...

... when I was training it was common practice for ACCA to work full time and study through evening classes, if you were lucky the employer paid the course and exams fees, if you were really lucky you got day release, and if you were really really lucky you got paid for the day at college too!

Didn't do me any harm, and did the finals by BPP correspondence course and revision sessions.

Oh, and in the good old days we had to sit all 4 final exams in one go, you could re-sit one if a high fail, but if not you had to sit all 4 again!

You also had nine papers in the equivalent of the F papers and they had to be passed in 7 sittings (3.5 years) else you had to re-sit papers you had passed - none of this 10 years, take your time my boy and don't over stretch yourself!

This was an interesting old thread in a similar vein.

 

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Replying to Dougscott:
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By diarmaid92
16th Jun 2014 20:06

Thanks

thanks for some of your help

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Replying to Dougscott:
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By diarmaid92
16th Jun 2014 20:05

Unhelpful

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... when I was training it was common practice for ACCA to work full time and study through evening classes, if you were lucky the employer paid the course and exams fees, if you were really lucky you got day release, and if you were really really lucky you got paid for the day at college too!

Didn't do me any harm, and did the finals by BPP correspondence course and revision sessions.

Oh, and in the good old days we had to sit all 4 final exams in one go, you could re-sit one if a high fail, but if not you had to sit all 4 again!

You also had nine papers in the equivalent of the F papers and they had to be passed in 7 sittings (3.5 years) else you had to re-sit papers you had passed - none of this 10 years, take your time my boy and don't over stretch yourself!

This was an interesting old thread in a similar vein.

 

 

Well I am very happy for you. I am even much happier that you took the time to tell us how great a soldier you were. Thank god we have people like you in this world to tell everyone how hard days gone past were. Thanks for your input. Did you consider maybe some of us just aren't as academically strong as yourself? But thanks for your unhelpful input.

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Replying to Matrix:
By Craigie_Bhoy
17th Jun 2014 08:52

Totally unnecessary.

 

Spend more time studying and less time writing nonsense like that and you will find your exams easier!! 

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Replying to Matrix:
By mrme89
17th Jun 2014 09:14

.

diarmaid92 wrote:

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... when I was training it was common practice for ACCA to work full time and study through evening classes, if you were lucky the employer paid the course and exams fees, if you were really lucky you got day release, and if you were really really lucky you got paid for the day at college too!

Didn't do me any harm, and did the finals by BPP correspondence course and revision sessions.

Oh, and in the good old days we had to sit all 4 final exams in one go, you could re-sit one if a high fail, but if not you had to sit all 4 again!

You also had nine papers in the equivalent of the F papers and they had to be passed in 7 sittings (3.5 years) else you had to re-sit papers you had passed - none of this 10 years, take your time my boy and don't over stretch yourself!

This was an interesting old thread in a similar vein.

 

 

Well I am very happy for you. I am even much happier that you took the time to tell us how great a soldier you were. Thank god we have people like you in this world to tell everyone how hard days gone past were. Thanks for your input. Did you consider maybe some of us just aren't as academically strong as yourself? But thanks for your unhelpful input.

 

I find it unnecessary to post such a hostile comment, especially when you are the one seeking advice.

 

Don't bite the hand that feeds!

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Replying to seeleyharris:
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By diarmaid92
17th Jun 2014 11:19

Don't bite the hand that feeds!

mrme89 wrote:

diarmaid92 wrote:

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... when I was training it was common practice for ACCA to work full time and study through evening classes, if you were lucky the employer paid the course and exams fees, if you were really lucky you got day release, and if you were really really lucky you got paid for the day at college too!

Didn't do me any harm, and did the finals by BPP correspondence course and revision sessions.

Oh, and in the good old days we had to sit all 4 final exams in one go, you could re-sit one if a high fail, but if not you had to sit all 4 again!

You also had nine papers in the equivalent of the F papers and they had to be passed in 7 sittings (3.5 years) else you had to re-sit papers you had passed - none of this 10 years, take your time my boy and don't over stretch yourself!

This was an interesting old thread in a similar vein.

 

 

Well I am very happy for you. I am even much happier that you took the time to tell us how great a soldier you were. Thank god we have people like you in this world to tell everyone how hard days gone past were. Thanks for your input. Did you consider maybe some of us just aren't as academically strong as yourself? But thanks for your unhelpful input.

 

I find it unnecessary to post such a hostile comment, especially when you are the one seeking advice.

 

Don't bite the hand that feeds!

 

I am looking for advice on a life changing decision. I am under pressure and the last thing I need is someone making me feel worse with condescending comments. I am very thankful for those offering advice. I hope that you can all understand this. 

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By mrme89
15th Jun 2014 10:12

I think it will hinder you.

Other candidates you will be up against will more than likely had studied on evenings and weekends, in addition to working.

I don't see how an employer would look at this positively.

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By petersaxton
15th Jun 2014 18:51

I wouldn't worry

what an employer thinks has long as you can get a job and then impress them enough by the work you do.

If it is the best way for you to get through the exams then go for it.

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By Craigie_Bhoy
16th Jun 2014 07:29

@OGA

So many "happy" memories.  The working full tim eand studying at night, the Wednesday day release, into college at 8.30am and leaving at 9PM, papers 9, 10 and 11 in one sitting (pass or else).....

Think I was on £6K a year at that point (and I was delighted too)

The correspondence course for papers 12, 13 and 14.
Ah happy days -  I'm constantly trelling the ACCA students today they have it easier - computer based exams, stitting one at a time.

Pah......

 

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By cbp99
16th Jun 2014 07:51

.

I would have thought you would be better staying in work and continuing to acquire practical experience, and would think employers would be more impressed by this.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
16th Jun 2014 10:02

If you feel

Hi 

If you feel you need the time to get the exams then take the time off.  I personally struggled with my exams.  I did get them after many fails and  I had really good experience but I did find exams very hard. 

One of my employees just did his ACCA Final paper and was very nervous.   I gave him 3 weeks off as he was clearly very stressed .  Not everyone copes well with exams.   It is important to me that he gets his exams for his own confidence as he an excellent worker.  

I personally did not hold it against him as he was very honest when I first took him on but I could see the exams were very important to him.   I am not saying all employers feel the same way I do but it is just a view point. 

Douglas Accountancy and Bookkeeping Services Glasgow 

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By mrme89
17th Jun 2014 11:44

By posting in a public forum, you are welcoming posts from everyone.

 

You don’t have to spit your dummy out every time there is a post you don’t agree with.

 

Perhaps you will be better placed to work whilst studying. Not only will you gain experience in the subject you are studying, but you will also gain professional skills such as building relationships, tongue biting and many other skills you don’t learn by reading a text book.

 

If making the decision really is causing you stress, it might be best to take longer to make that decision. Perhaps talking to a couple of recruitment agencies, in addition to BPP/Kaplan might help you make your final decision.

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
17th Jun 2014 11:48

Being hostile is rarely helpful

You are under pressure. Not something you indicated in your OP but so what anyway? OGA has simply pointed out that it is perfectly possible to do the exams on evening and weekend study. Many people, including myself, have had no choice in the matter. That OGA has perhaps used a tone of "young people today" in pointing this out is no reason to be insulting back.

I wasn't going to ask this, but your reaction makes me feel it needs asking. One of the main reasons for studying while working is because people cannot afford to not work. You are calmly talking about not just taking a year off, but somehow funding your studies and exams yourself (as you talk about employers not wanting to take on trainees presumably no-one else is funding you). How do you find yourself in the lucky position of being able to do that?

You ask if employers would look down on taking a year out. I would say that the gap in employment would not in itself be an issue. It is the fact that you had to take a year out to do the exams  that could be seen as an indicator that you were less up to the job. Unless very lucky, you are always going to be up against candidates that both have current knowledge (from continuing to work) and have proved themselves dedicated by juggling studying and working. You may be able to prove yourself once you've got a job, but getting that job in the first place is going to be much tougher.

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By User deleted
17th Jun 2014 12:04

Exams

If when applying for a job you're up against someone equivilant to you who has just passed ACCA but has been working the current year, an employer may be more likely to take on the person with current experience.

If you're struggling with exams, I'm pretty sure ACCA will be going to 4 sittings a year next year. How about doing one per sitting from now on whilst working. It should be more manageable and with 5 sittings between now and the end of next year, fingers crossed you should get them all.

Good luck.

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By User deleted
18th Jun 2014 14:26

Sorry ...

... if you thought I was being condescending,  just giving my view, which is as an employer I would favour a candidate who had been working whilst studying, and to echo Stepurhan, if you cannot take the stress of exams I would think you would struggle with the stress of public practice, assuming that is the object of qualifying - i.e. a practising certificate and own business.

I didn'rt find study easy, I had to re-sit one level 2 paper already passed but thankfully managed to complete the level before I got in to an endless cycle of re-sitting passed papers - took me 6 and a half years, during which social life was near impossible but you stick at it.

I would have thought if you have a job in the UK region with highest unemployment you would be foolish to give up a position - If you are under 24 the unemployment rate is @20%!

 

 

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
17th Jun 2014 13:44

Good Advice

Hi Diarmaid

I hope this helps. You are clearly worried about your exams and your future.  I think OGA was trying to help especially in his second post as he raised valid points about unemployment and a bit more about his exams.  I did struggle a lot with exams. I did take time out for the first lot.  I do not think that means you will not be good in practice. Sorry Stephuran just a difference of opinion. 

 However there are others on here who do and therefore that should be taken in to account for  your decision.   I feel you are young and most of us here are a lot older and wiser just trying to help.   I sure your comment came from pressure and confusion and maybe you did not mean it the way it came across. Forums are a funny place as you can not see members faces or worry .  

I do hope you do well and at the same time take away some of the good advice here.

Douglas Accountancy and Bookkeeping Services Glasgow 

 

 

 

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Replying to WhichTyler:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
17th Jun 2014 17:21

No difference

sarah douglas wrote:
I do not think that means you will not be good in practice. Sorry Stephuran just a difference of opinion.
I never said they would be bad in practice. I just said that, if they are up against people who have worked while doing exams, they will struggle to get a job to prove they can be good in practice. Obviously I didn't take time out so can't speak from experience. It would probably be helpful if you expanded on this point. It has clearly worked out for you, so you might be able to offer tips on how to make that happen.

That said, others have raised the valid point that being in practice can be quite stressful, especially in January. If that is really an issue for the OP, then maybe accountancy is not for them. It would be silly to take time studying if they were genuinely not up to the stresses of the job. Worth at least a moment's thought, even if they decide they are up to handling this.

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By Steve Holloway
17th Jun 2014 15:33

I think I'd rather saw my right arm off ...

than have to sit the ACCA exams again!! So, to the OP ... my advice is do it however is best for you as you will have many more years when noone will worry how you qualified only that you did.

Any don't take us old codgers too seriously .. one of few small pleasures left to us is to moan about how hard it was in our day! Is the accounts paper at level 2 still a 6 hour exam I wonder?!??

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Replying to alan.rolfe:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
17th Jun 2014 15:45

Four Yorkshiremen

Steve Holloway wrote:

than have to sit the ACCA exams again!! So, to the OP ... my advice is do it however is best for you as you will have many more years when noone will worry how you qualified only that you did.

Any don't take us old codgers too seriously .. one of few small pleasures left to us is to moan about how hard it was in our day! Is the accounts paper at level 2 still a 6 hour exam I wonder?!??

"Four Yorkshiremen" springs to mind

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By Steve Holloway
17th Jun 2014 15:54

Exactly ....

I remember some of the office hacks scoffing at us trainees for being able to take calculators in to the exams!!

 

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By ShirleyM
17th Jun 2014 16:08

Four Yorkies? Not three?

Compo, Clegg & Foggy? My old mates.

EDIT: just got it (I'm a bit slow today). Brilliant Monty Python sketch. :)

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By diarmaid92
17th Jun 2014 17:04

Sorry

I was just annoyed at how some of the posts came across.

I am currently employed in a practice. I graduated last year with a 2:2 in Accounting and i know my exam ability is very questionable. However I have a year done in work and recently all trainees were given a rating out of 10 (as a yearly progress review). I got 8.9/10. This was down to profitability on each job I completed, manager reviews on the quality of work completed, reviews from clients for both relationships skills and quality of work. So therefore I don't think that my ability is questionable in regards to work. 

I do however fear ACCA professional exams and i struggle with these. I am willing to do what it takes in order to become a "qualified" accountant. These exams are not a test of how well someone can survive in a job. They are simply a hurdle that has to be overcome in order to join the club. 

In my opinion exams test nothing but ones capability in cramming. They have little in relation to the job itself.

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Replying to Wilson Philips:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
17th Jun 2014 17:27

Not exactly

diarmaid92 wrote:
In my opinion exams test nothing but ones capability in cramming. They have little in relation to the job itself.
If you have to look up everything, you are going to struggle in practice. Cramming is not entirely without merit when it comes to dealing with accounts in the real world.

Do yourself a favour and drop the attitude though. The content of your post makes it sound like the sorry in the title is not really sincere. It still sounds like you are blaming the posters, not your response. You're not helping by dismissing becoming qualified as simply "joining a club" either. The exams are not a hurdle put in your way to keep riff-raff out. They are a test to see if you can understand and apply the knowledge required to be a good accountant. If ACCA is simply "a club" why do you want to become a member at all?

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By User deleted
17th Jun 2014 17:33

Actually ...

... it was originally pre Python - according to this!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=01f_1314340424

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Replying to stepurhan:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
17th Jun 2014 18:04

Not a lot of people know that

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... it was originally pre Python - according to this!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=01f_1314340424

And there I was thinking that Accounting Web was only for knowledge I really did not want (but was forced, by career, to have) and I get given another gem of a Michael Caine, " Not a lot of people know that" moment to regale people with at social functions. Who says accountants are boring.

This is a serious gap in my Python studies, obviously having listened to the "Live at Drury Lane" LP so many times it is nearly worn through, is not enough.

I can now see that my Python studies have been a bit superficial and I really need to do more on the canon of their works.

Given you knew that you must either have an exceptionally efficient practice or a very quiet practice!!

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By diarmaid92
18th Jun 2014 12:00

ammm

Stephuran,

I already have had the experience of the 1am late nights in January. I have already got my degree in Accounting to show i have the basic principals. And yes i want to join the club so that i can be a qualified accountant. I am only asking a question whether taking a year out to study for my exams would be a good idea. Questioning my capabilities is a bit far. And to question my financial position personally I mean why would that even cross your mind? that is def too far.

I am only looking for advice on what might be best to do in my situation. 

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Replying to rogerpearson65:
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By Kirkers
18th Jun 2014 12:50

Well..

diarmaid92 wrote:

Stephuran,

I already have had the experience of the 1am late nights in January. I have already got my degree in Accounting to show i have the basic principals. And yes i want to join the club so that i can be a qualified accountant. I am only asking a question whether taking a year out to study for my exams would be a good idea. Questioning my capabilities is a bit far. And to question my financial position personally I mean why would that even cross your mind? that is def too far.

I am only looking for advice on what might be best to do in my situation. 

Questioning your capabilities is exactly what an employer will do. You go for an interview and they see you've had to take a year out to sit the exams begs the question "why couldn't they study while working like the other candidates for the job most likely have?"

The first response is perhaps going to be that the pressure of working full time while studying was too much for you.

 

However there are circumstances in which I wouldn't hold that thought - young family, personal circumstances etc. I have a nearly 3 year old and (unfortunately) cannot afford to take a year out of work but at the same time I'm unable to devote as much time as others to study with a toddler to look after. This is one of the reasons that I too find exams stressful and do not 'breeze' through them like some others who are naturally exam-minded.

Perhaps explaining during an interview that you were fortunate to be able afford to take a gap year and thought it would be more beneficial for an employer that you'd already qualified saving them training costs and/or study leave time. 

I would, however, attend a few seminars and find other ways to keep myself updated on current information. Tax, especially, changes so often you don't want to be caught out with having missed things while you're not working.

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Replying to rogerpearson65:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
19th Jun 2014 09:07

Other reasons not to employ

diarmaid92 wrote:
Stephuran,

I already have had the experience of the 1am late nights in January. I have already got my degree in Accounting to show i have the basic principals. And yes i want to join the club so that i can be a qualified accountant. I am only asking a question whether taking a year out to study for my exams would be a good idea. Questioning my capabilities is a bit far. And to question my financial position personally I mean why would that even cross your mind? that is def too far.

I am only looking for advice on what might be best to do in my situation.

If you come across like this in interview, firms won't care whether you took a year out or not. You will sound like more trouble then you are worth.

I did not question your abilities. I said that, if you take a year out, others will question your abilities. You may be brilliant and an asset any firm would be lucky to get. But that won't make a blind bit of difference if you don't get the chance to show them that in the first place. If, all other things being equal, the choice for a role comes down to someone who studied while working and someone who took a year out, every firm will take the first guy. That may seem unfair to you, but employers have to distinguish between candidates somehow and this could make all the difference.

As for querying your financial position, I'm not asking for complete details of your bank account. When I studied, taking a year out was not an option. I had my own place and simply could not have afforded to live, let alone pay for study books and exam fees. Since you have been so hostile to having it pointed out that others have studied and worked simultaneously, it seems not unreasonable to ask how you come to have the option so many others haven't. As others have intimated, employers will be interested in this as well. Taking a year out could be seen as dedication to the career, or being someone who doesn't need to work and only does so when they feel like it. The former is good, but employers fearing the latter might be not want to take the risk with you.

I am even more curious now though. You claim experience of the January rush, and yet the firm you presumably got this experience at won't help you get a qualification. Two question. Why do you need a qualification if you already have a job in the industry? Why won't this employer support your further development? Sorry if those are considered to be prying too much into your personal life.

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By mrme89
18th Jun 2014 12:20

I thought it was a reasonable question.

 

Very few people can afford to just take a year out of work without even considering part-time work.

You seem to have been agressive towards most of Stephurans posts, as well as some other posts - I think if you show this attitude regularly, this hinder your employment opportunities more than taking a year out of work.

 

 

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Replying to ireallyshouldknowthisbut:
By Craigie_Bhoy
19th Jun 2014 07:42

agree with Stephuran and mrme89.

diarmaid92 , I'm sure you are a really decent bloke - stressing a little bit about exams, work, future career etc.  We have all been there.

But your attitude stinks!! 

You've asked a question, which, (with the usual level of banter mixed in) has been answered or suggestions been given by people who have been threre and done it.

Stephuran wasnt digging for any personal financial information, why the hell would he?  He was simply trying to understand your position and offer advice based on YOUR circumstances.

You are going to come across lots of people in your career, do yourself a favour and try and learn from them - at least take heed.  There will be times when maybe the answer you get wont be what you want to hear but you have to bite your tongue and be professional - not going off on one as you have here several times.

Drop the attitude, listen, study hard and you will get to where you want to be.

Guaranteed.

Best of luck

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By ShirleyM
19th Jun 2014 08:04

I would maybe ask the same question if I interviewed you

If you can afford to take a year out, will you be as hungry for the job as people who have to work? Potential employers could think you may decide to take another year out and will need reassurance that it is unlikely to reoccur.

You will get asked lots of tough questions in most interviews. They are testing your attitude and way of responding, as much as they are testing your capability and your experience.

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By FCExtraordinaire
19th Jun 2014 11:30

Work experience

I think that carrying on with your work will do you better in the future than taking a year out,  especially with the job market as it is.    Having taken a year out you may find it difficult to get back into employment and there are a lot of part qual candidates out there.

Keep doing the exams as you go,   as somebody mentioned there will be 4 sittings per year soon.    Employers expect you be able to take the discipline of working and studying.  I qualified in 1999,  it took me four years as I had children,  but some do it in a couple of years.  It doesn't make a difference now how long I took, the fact is that I have got them.   Once you have got the quals you also need the experience,  so I would say keep working.

Good luck. 

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By marco75
19th Jun 2014 14:43

Third option

There is the possibility of a third option in this situation. You could approach your employer and ask for some holiday/unpaid leave for 2-3 weeks before the exams and spend that time doing revision courses and practice exams with one of the accountancy tuition providers (BPP, FTC, etc) before sitting the exams for real.

Doing a set of practice exams beforehand may help you get over the nerves beforehand and the tutors will correct your mistakes showing you how to do better next time.

I think if you're thinking about investing in yourself by taking a year out from work to study the professional papers,  then it may work better for you to invest in these accounting crammer courses instead to give yourself the best possible chance at succeeding. Once you're through them, you don't need to worry about them ever again.

I took unpaid leave before my final exams and this approach did work for me.

Good luck with it.

 

 

 

 

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