PQ the
LISA NELSON
Does cramming actually work?
Everyone agrees that practising past examination questions is a good idea. However, it does depend on when you practise them. If it’s before the exam as part of your revision, question practice will only really strengthen the link to what you already know, effectively making it easier to find – it’s called retrieval strength. This is why if you get a similar question in the exam you will be able to retrieve the answer very quickly. Practising questions can sometimes help expand your existing knowledge, because reviewing the model answers will clarify some of what you previously didn’t understand. However, there’s a problem: without repetition, after 24 hours around 40% of what you learned will be lost and another 10% to 20% in the 24 hours that follow. This is not learning, it’s forgetting. Sitting alongside retrieval strength is storage strength; this is how well the knowledge was learned and understood at the time of learning. This is strengthened by spacing content out over time, the opposite of cramming, reflection and repetition. The point is you need both. Retrieving something that was not stored sufficiently well is of little use, and storing knowledge that you can’t find doesn’t work either. Cramming prior to the exam will only help you recall information for a short period of time, and as a result has not really been learned. When you need that knowledge again, maybe for the next exam, you will have to ‘learn it’ all again! Lisa Nelson is Director of Learning at Kaplan
CIMA SCS and MCS pass rates down CIMA PQs sitting the Management and Strategic level case study papers in August seemed to struggled with them a bit more than normal. The pass rate for the Strategic case exam dropped to 48% – it was 62% in May, and last November 2022 it was a healthy 71%. The Management case study pass rate dropped to 58% this time around. Some 62% of sitters passed the MCS May sitting, and 72% were successful in February. It was better news for those taking the Operational level case study – the August pass was up five
rate has remained consistent across the year, although Management and Strategic level case study pass marks dropped off for August. Candidates do need to make sure they show the depth required in their answers, evidence strategic thinking and remain focused on the question being asked. A good tip is to read to our examiners’ reports.” CIMA’s CGMA CASE STUDY PASS RATES
percentage points to 69%. Stephen Flatman, Vice President, Examinations – Management Accounting, told PQ magazine: “The Operational level case study pass
Time to nominate is here!
The PQ magazine awards have come of age – yes, they are 21 years old! And there is a whole new batch of PQ trophies being created
as we speak. One could have your name on it! If you think you know our next PQ of the Year, or even Tutor of the
PwC #1 for social mobility PwC has been ranked the top UK employer in the Social Mobility Index 2023. The index ranks Britain’s employers that have taken the most action to improved social mobility in the workplace. In the last academic year PwC
supported more than 17,000 secondary school students from lower social economic background with skills development. Last year PwC also removed the 2:1 degree classification requirement for all its
pages of tips for the December sitting. They cover all the papers from PM to APM and those in-between. See page31.
financial reporting and management accounting. Professor Kemi Yekini and Dr Galina Goncharenko joined in October 2023, with Professor Teerooven Soobaroyen set to arrive in January 2024.
AUG 23 Operational 69% Management 58% Strategic 48%
MAY 23 64% 67% 62%
FEB 23 68% 72% 56%
NOV 22 66% 71% 71%
Year, then get writing to us. Last year we introduced a new category of Podcast of the Year, which was won by Kieran Maguire and his Price of Football podcast. So, have you been listening to anything that’s worthy of a nomination? All those shortlisted will be invited to the coolest accountancy awards around – in late April next year. Deadline for entries is Friday 8 March 2024, but please don’t wait until the last minute to enter. Download the nomination form at www.pqmagazine. Just click on the ‘PQ Awards’ button at the top of the home page. Check out all the categories on page16. undergraduate and graduate roles, internships and placements, opening up opportunities to more people. And its recent investment in Cardiff provides PwC with a platform to recruit a wider range of people from differing backgrounds. This is the third time PwC has topped the rankings.
In brief Our ACCA exam tips are right here right now If you are sitting the ACCA APM exam this December then you must remember the paper is not about reciting technical knowledge – it’s vital you actually apply your knowledge. If you are attempting AFM then it is wise not to over-emphasise numerical analysis in your final revision – remember, this paper is not a maths exam! If you want more gems like this then you need to read our six 4
Three new senior staff join Aston’s accounting department Aston University is set to welcome three new experts to its business school’s accounting department. It said these appointments will significantly add to its current research base in several of its core areas including auditing,
Warehouse experts needed The CIMA SCS is just around the corner. So do you know the five advantages of ASRS? In fact, do you know what ASRS stands for? It’s automated storage and retrieval systems, of course!
And those five advantages include the fact that a robot is less likely to drop or damage inventory and have fewer picking errors. For those not in the know the final case study is all about working for Robobryce, a company that provides ‘solutions for handling objects’ in warehouses and factories. This pre-seen runs for the November and next February’s exam. Check out our take on the case study on page 29. PQ Magazine December 2023
