The importance of mocks (3 weeks to go)

Summary

In this 'Ready Set Go' episode, Mikey and Paul discuss the importance of mock exams for ACCA candidates. They highlight how using the ACCA practice platform and attempting mock exams can significantly improve exam performance. The conversation covers the benefits of familiarizing oneself with the exam environment, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and practicing time management. Paul offers tips for effectively completing and debriefing mock exams, emphasizing the value of reviewing model answers and examiner reports. The episode encourages students to embrace mock exams as a learning opportunity to enhance their exam success.

Takeaways

• 📚 Mock exams are crucial for exam success, as they help students get accustomed to the real exam environment and improve their scores.
• 💻 The ACCA practice platform offers mock exams, specimen exams, and past exams to mimic the actual computer-based exam experience.
• 🔍 Mock exams help identify strengths and weaknesses, which is essential for targeted study and improvement.
• ⏳ Time management is a key aspect of mock exams, allowing students to practice keeping pace with the exam and handling pressure.
• 📝 Debriefing after a mock exam is as important as taking the exam, providing insights into performance and areas for improvement.
• 👨‍🏫 Utilizing specimen exams can help students understand the exam format and question types before attempting a full mock exam.
• 🚫 Creating a distraction-free environment for mock exams is recommended to simulate real exam conditions and ensure focus.
• 🕒 It's important to allocate specific time slots for mock exams to practice time management and to break the exam into manageable parts if necessary.
• 📉 Failing a mock exam is a learning opportunity and should not deter students, as it provides valuable feedback for improvement.
• 📈 Debriefing with model answers and marking guides can help students self-assess and understand where they can score better.
• 📹 Debrief videos and examiner reports are additional resources that can provide further insights and help in debriefing after a mock exam.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the importance of mock exams for ACCA students, how they can prepare for the real exams, and the benefits of using the ACCA practice platform.

Why are mock exams considered vital for exam success according to Paul?

Mock exams are vital for exam success because they allow students to practice in a real exam environment, identify strengths and weaknesses, and improve time management skills.

What does the ACCA practice platform offer to help students prepare for exams?

The ACCA practice platform offers mock exams, specimen exams, and past exams. It also includes debrief videos from expert tutors and the ability for students to mark their own answers.

How can students get comfortable with the real computer-based exam environment?

Students can get comfortable with the real computer-based exam environment by using the practice exams and specimen exams on the ACCA practice platform, which mimic the actual exam format and style.

What is the purpose of debriefing after completing a mock exam?

The purpose of debriefing after a mock exam is to identify strengths and weaknesses, understand where improvements are needed, and to learn from the model answers and marking guides provided.

What tips does Paul give for completing a mock exam effectively?

Paul suggests starting with a specimen exam to understand the exam format, completing the mock exam in a distraction-free environment with a set time limit, and breaking up the exam into manageable chunks if necessary.

Why is it important to review the examiner's answers after a mock exam?

Reviewing the examiner's answers helps students understand the level of detail and presentation required for high-scoring responses, and it can help build knowledge in areas where they feel weak.

What additional resources does Paul recommend for students to use alongside mock exams?

Paul recommends using debrief videos, examiner reports, and the practice platform's specimen, practice, and past exams to gain insight and improve exam performance.

How does Paul address the concern of students who might be nervous about taking a mock exam?

Paul encourages students to view mock exams as a learning opportunity, where failure can provide valuable insights and improvements, rather than a threat to their confidence.

What is the final advice given by Paul and Mikey to students regarding mock exams?

The final advice is to encourage students to take mock exams seriously, as they are crucial for exam success, and to use all available resources on the ACCA practice platform to prepare effectively.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Importance of Mock Exams for ACCA Preparation

In this video, Mikey and Paul discuss the significance of mock exams in preparing for ACCA's Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams. They emphasize that the ACCA practice platform offers new mock exams and debrief videos from expert tutors to help students. Mock exams are crucial for acclimating to the real exam environment, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and practicing time management. Paul suggests starting with specimen exams to understand the exam format and then completing mock exams in a distraction-free environment, adhering to time limits.

05:00

📝 Strategies for Completing and Debriefing Mock Exams

Paul provides tips for students undertaking mock exams, recommending that they start with specimen exams to familiarize themselves with the exam structure. He advises scheduling uninterrupted time to complete mock exams under timed conditions to simulate the real exam experience. After completing the mock, debriefing is essential for identifying strengths and weaknesses. Students should review model answers, use marking guides, and self-assess their responses. Additionally, they should learn from examiner's answers, focusing on content, format, and presentation style to improve their own answers. Paul also highlights the value of debrief videos and examiner reports as supplementary resources for enhancing exam preparation.

Keywords

💡Mock Exams

Mock exams are practice tests designed to simulate the actual examination conditions. They are crucial for exam preparation, as they allow students to familiarize themselves with the exam format and time constraints. In the script, mock exams are emphasized as a vital tool for success, with data showing that students who attempt them tend to score higher marks.

💡ACCA Practice Platform

The ACCA Practice Platform is an online resource provided by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) where students can access mock exams, specimen exams, and past exams. It is highlighted in the script as a key resource for students to practice in a real exam environment and to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

💡Debrief Videos

Debrief videos are post-exam analysis tools that help students understand how to improve their performance. They are mentioned in the script as an additional resource on the ACCA YouTube channel, which complements the practice exams and provides expert insights.

💡Expert Tutors

Expert tutors are experienced educators who provide guidance and instruction. In the context of the video, they are the ones who create debrief videos and possibly contribute to the development of mock exams, sharing their expertise to help students prepare more effectively.

💡Time Management

Time management is a critical skill for exam success, as it involves allocating sufficient time to each question and ensuring that the entire exam can be completed within the allotted time. The script discusses the importance of practicing time management during mock exams to avoid issues during the actual exam.

💡Strengths and Weaknesses

Identifying one's strengths and weaknesses is essential for targeted study and improvement. The script emphasizes that mock exams and debriefing sessions help students pinpoint areas where they excel and areas that need more work.

💡Debriefing

Debriefing refers to the process of reviewing and analyzing one's performance after an exam. It is highlighted in the script as an important step following a mock exam, where students can learn from their answers by comparing them with model answers and marking guides.

💡Exam Environment

The exam environment refers to the conditions and setting in which an exam is taken. The script suggests using the ACCA Practice Platform to mimic the real computer-based exam environment, which can help reduce anxiety and increase familiarity with the exam format.

💡Specimen Exams

Specimen exams are sample tests that provide an example of the types of questions and format that will be encountered in the actual exam. In the script, it is recommended that students use specimen exams to understand the structure and demands of the exam before attempting mock exams.

💡Marking Guide

A marking guide is a document that outlines how answers will be assessed and the criteria for scoring. The script mentions using the marking guide during the debriefing process to self-assess and understand where points were earned or lost.

💡Exam Anxiety

Exam anxiety is the nervousness or stress that students may feel before or during an exam. The script addresses this by suggesting that mock exams can help build confidence and reduce anxiety by providing a safe environment to practice and make mistakes.

Highlights

Mock exams are released by ACCA for Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams on the ACCA practice platform ahead of each exam session.

Debrief videos from expert tutors are added to the YouTube channel alongside mock exams.

Students who use the ACCA practice platform and attempt mock exams generally score higher marks.

Using the real exam environment as much as possible is critical for exam success.

Practice exams on the platform mimic the real computer-based exam environment.

Mock exams help identify strengths and weaknesses by allowing time for debriefing.

Time management is a key aspect that mock exams help students practice and improve.

Tips for completing a mock exam include starting with a specimen exam to understand the format and layout.

Completing mock exams in a timed manner in a distraction-free environment is recommended.

Breaking up the mock exam into chunks while maintaining time limits is suggested if a continuous 3-4 hours is not possible.

Debriefing a mock exam is as important as completing it, helping to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Using the model answer and marking guide to self-mark responses on the practice platform is advised.

Debriefing allows students to learn from answers, especially the narrative style of the examiner's answers.

Examiners' reports and debrief videos are valuable resources for understanding past exams and improving performance.

Mock exams provide an opportunity to fail and learn without the consequences of the real exam.

Getting a mock exam marked by an expert can provide valuable insight into strengths and weaknesses.

Mock exams are crucial for exam success, as data shows students who complete them perform better.

Encouragement for students to schedule and attempt mock exams for better exam preparation.

Transcripts

[Music]

welcome to episode s of our Ready Set Go

countdown series my name is Mikey and

I'm joined today by my colleague Paul hi

Paul hi Mikey delighted to be here in

this video we'll be talking about mock

exams you may already be aware that Acca

releases new mock exams for Applied

skills and strategic professional exams

onto the Acca practice platform ahead of

each exam session alongside this debrief

videos from expert tutors are also added

to our YouTube channel attempting a mock

exam is one of the best things you can

do to prepare for an exam in fact our

data insites reveal that students who

use the Acca practice platform and

attempt mocks generally score higher

marks Paul why are mocks so vital for

exam success well Mikey they are

absolutely critical and I think the

first thing I'll start with is that you

should be using the real exam

environment as much as possible so you

mentioned the practice platform there

are practice exams there are specimen

exams on the practice platform which

mimic the real computer-based exam

environment and that can make you

comfortable with what you're going to

get in the real exam itself you don't

want to be turning up on the real exam

day and seeing something new a new

format a new style it will get you

comfortable and it will give you an

advantage against those who aren't doing

mock exams in the practice platform

secondly um it will really help you

identify your strengths and weaknesses

uh and we'll come on to debriefing later

I'm sure but it's going to be critical

for you not just to do the questions but

make time to allow you to debrief them

and that will allow you to identify as I

said your strengths and

weaknesses third one would be time

management you know a lot of students do

struggle with time we hear that from The

enti Examiner teams after every sitting

and if we can practice and put ourselves

under a bit of pressure in a mock exam

then that really is the best way for you

to work out one are you keeping time and

two how to actually deal with that

little bit of pressure when you're in an

exam environment and do you have some

tips for those completing a mock exam

yeah I think starting it's it's always

tough if if if if you don't know what

you're going to get so the practice

platform's got specimen exams in there

as well as practice exams as well as

past exams as well so lots of content

for the students I'd suggest starting

with the specimen exam not as a mock

exam but just go into it have a look at

the exam have a look at the questions

have a look at the answer uh uh response

options is what they're called whether

it's a word processor whether you've got

a spreadsheet whether you've got a

mixture how how the objective tests are

laid out if you're doing applied skills

so just get under the skin of the exam

Itself by using the specimen exam and

that just gives you the confidence that

you know what's coming next secondly if

you are going to do that mock exam

there's nothing better than completing

it to time so that means making sure

you've got that window a window where

you're not going to be uh uh Disturbed

you know when I was doing my exams if I

was doing a mock which is a few years

ago um I certainly uh I used to put a

note on my door and on my bedroom door

uh exam in progress do not enter um so

there's ways and means that you can just

try and give yourself space and time to

do that exam so minimum distractions

fall out of the way if possible now if

you can't get that uh uh 3 to four hours

spare to do the mock exam yeah I think

you can chunk it up but it's absolutely

crucial that you keep the time so if

it's a 45 minute question give yourself

45 minutes and then stop so hopefully

that will get you ready to to sit the

mock exam in that exam environment and

you'll get the most out of the

experience and some say that debriefing

the mock exam once you've once you've

completed it under the conditions that

you just laid out there that it's just

as important as completing the mock

itself could you expand just on that

point it I mean I I think you should be

given maybe not quite as much time as

doing the exam itself but not far off so

when I talk about that first question

about it helps you identify your

strengths and

weaknesses you're only going to get that

if you debrief it so what I mean by that

is getting the model answer getting the

marking guide and marking your own

answer in the practice platform you can

do that you can actually Mark your own

uh answer give a tick mark you can even

leave comments on your script if you

want where you think you've done well or

bad to identify your strengths and

weaknesses it is important that you do

make sure that you do give yourself that

confidence where you see that you're

doing well and note down what you're

good at because then when you're in that

final revision phase you can really

concentrate on your strengths as well as

working on those weaker areas I also

think you can learn from from answers so

especially the narrative so the wordy

questions uh examiner's answers are very

long and can be very long and they

they're an example of what would score

credit rather than what you'd be able to

do in the time allowed so don't worry

about not writing an answer which is as

long as the examiner's answer you're not

expected to but actually they're

incredibly comprehensive so if there's

an area where you feel that you're a

little bit Weak by reviewing reading

understanding the examiner's answer you

can build your knowledge as well um

layouts look at the examiner's answer

again look at the format of the

presentation look at the style I bet

it's broken down for the wordy uh

questions into into paragraphs is yours

similar so there's lots of areas you can

focus on in that debrief just to make

sure that you're answering the questions

that were set that you're scoring marks

and also identifying where you can do a

little bit better next time and are

there any other resources that you might

want to Spotlight and recommend oh

that's a good question because you

mentioned the debrief videos so they are

fantastic so when you've done a mock

exam which are uh uh introduced in the

lead up to each exam session they're a

wonderful resource to help you debrief

your answer oh there's the examiner's

report as well you know filled with

really good information about past exams

and remember remember the past exams are

on the practice platform as well so

you've got your examiner reports you've

got debrief videos of the the current

mocks and and I will just flag as well

the practice exams so on the practice

platform remember you've got your

specimen to help get you ready for a

mock you've got your practice exams

which you you can use as mocks and

you've got passed exams as well which

you can link back to the examiner's

report and get wonderful Insight thank

you Paul that's fantastic advice and

just thinking about students who are

perhaps nervous about taking a mock exam

and for fear that it might knock their

confidence what advice would we give to

those students thanks miky that's a

great great question now I often hear

people talk about oh it's okay to fail

because you learn from your failures

well if you're going to fail an exam I

want it to be a mock exam I don't want

it to be your real exam so by doing that

mock exam you'll have so much learning

that you will improve practice will if

not make perfect it will make you score

better and do better in the next mock or

in your real exam so I would say there's

nothing wrong with failing especially a

mock exam get that out of the way um it

also means that you you know what's

coming you know that the you can

practice your time management you know

that you'll be able to debrief and I'll

go further if you could get one of your

mock exams marked that will give you

fantastic Insight especially into your

strength and weaknesses uh obviously you

can mark it yourself but if you can if

there is the opportunity to get it

mocked by an expert so much the better

so remember mock exams are absolutely

crucial and vital to exam success we

know the data shows us that students

that complete a mock exam perform better

than those that don't so really just go

and do those mock exams please thank you

Paul I hope we've inspired everyone

watching to schedule and attempt their

mock exam it's really the best way to

prepare and you'll feel more informed

for having completed the activity for

now a huge thank you to Paul for all of

his advice and to all of you for

watching take care and see you next time

[Music]