The importance of mocks (3 weeks to go)
Summary
TLDRIn 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
📚 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.
📝 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Mock Exams
💡ACCA Practice Platform
💡Debrief Videos
💡Expert Tutors
💡Time Management
💡Strengths and Weaknesses
💡Debriefing
💡Exam Environment
💡Specimen Exams
💡Marking Guide
💡Exam Anxiety
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]
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