Reason I can’t pass

I am a student of Institute of Cost & Management Accountants (ICMAB) since 2012. I have appeared in the each and every exams since then. Till now I have complete total of 1000 out of 2100 points. But I can’t pass the very first course. I have I already had 6 attempts but expected outcome never came. Right now I am preparing for upcoming exam. I have solved all past exams. Then I discovered 2 reasons why I can’t pass this subject.
First reason is very simple. My preparation for exams were not that much special. Second reason is the Institute itself. In almost every question set there is some mistakes. There are lots of students who also don’t pass the exam for the same reason.
When there is a mistake in the question paper, students thinks that they made mistakes and reviews the math. It takes time to re-do the math. At some point students give up and move to the next questions. Then when correction is announced, students have to go back to previous maths and do the same once again. It is a wastage of very limited time. Most of the students can’t answer the minimum pass number for the reason. Once again institute don’t consider mistake in the question paper while marking the answer scripts. Also I am sure announcement of correction is not always available. In my 6 attempts, I had only once announcement of correction however there were mistake in 3/4 times.
Institute should be more careful about the quality of their questions so that students don’t have to waste time in the exam.

Third attempt

Once again I returned from a long blogging gap. And as usual I was busy. My CA exam is knocking at the door and I was panicking all these time and tried to get prepared for the exam. In the meantime my CMA exam was held. Moreover I was busy with my audit works and CA classes. All together I was in great pressure. But now I am free a bit because I took a leave for a month from my CA firm. It’s a tradition in our firm that those who will appear in the any CA exams for the first time will get a leave for a month.

Even though I was preparing for CA exams, I attended two exams of level 1 of CMA exams. I admitted in CMA back in December 2011. I first appeared on CMA exam in August 2012 exam and then in December 2012 exam. I passed a subject each time. So in 2 attempt I passed 2 out of 4 subjects in Level 1 exams. So April 2013 exam was my third attempt. In this time I appeared on two subjects which were Intermediate Financial Accounting (IFA) and Cost Accounting (COA). I appeared in these exams in previous exams. It was my third attempt in IFA and second in COA.

Although my last attempts could not bring me any success, but I am sure I will be successful this time. At least I will be successful in IFA. And that will be a big one for me. Because , except for CMA exams, I never failed in any accounting exams in my life. In fact I used to get the top marks. Moreover Accounting is y favorite subject. So failing in this subject hurts my ego.

I hope I will pass in both subjects and will appear for 2 subjects of level 2 in August 2013 exams. My new year resolution was to complete at least 100 marks by  this year. I believe I will be able to achieve my goal. My another goal was to pass all courses of Knowledge level of CA exams. I hope I will be able to do that by this year too. Pray for me.

 

Achieving professional qualification….

One of my new year resolutions were to complete 400 marks or 1 level of CMA from ICMAB. Today i have advanced 1 step. Today ICMAB result were published and I passed in one subject. ICMAB have four subjects in level 1. Intermediate Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Management & Marketing Management and Information Technology.

Earlier in August 2012 exam, I attended 2 exams which were Intermediate Financial Accounting &  Information Technology. I passed in Information Technology. Then I attended the exams of remaining 3 subjects in December 2012 exam. This time I have passed Management & Marketing Management. Though I was hoping to pass Cost Accounting too. But you know, shit happens.

I wish I attended Management & Marketing Management and Information Technology in the first time. In that case I would pass the both exams and could appear remaining 2 exams in December. I am sure I would pass in at least one subject. Anyway, I cannot undo what is done.

I understood that i might pass in one subject and have to attend April 2013 exam for remaining 2 subjects. I am sure I will pass both subject in the next attempt. Hoping this, I got admitted in level 2. FYI, ICMAB allows to study consecutive two level at the same time. Subjects in level 2 are, Advance Accounting-I, Management Accounting, Commercial & Industrial Law and Taxation. Among these, Commercial & Industrial Law and Taxation are similar to  Commercial & Industrial Law and Taxation of my CA knowledge level subject. This way I can prepare for these subjects at the same time. If they allows me to sit for the level 2 exam in April 2013 exam, I am sure I will pass both of the subjects.

To be a professional accountant….

Finally I am done with exams. I have attended  December 2012 exam organized by ICMAB for professional level 1 courses. I have passed one of four courses in previous exam. During that time I appeared in the exams of two courses. Unfortunately I failed in one. This time I have attended the exams of the subjects. Thous are Intermediate financial accounting, Cost accounting and Management & Marketing Management courses.

It was very tough for me to get the time to attend the exams. I get very little opportunity to do or take part in anything as I have to give lots of time in Auditing or working for the CA firm. Also I have to study CA books. This time I was very fortunate. My senior brothers in the audit team granted me leaves during exam dates. Because of them I had the opportunity to appear in all exams.

Lets now talk about the exams. My Management & Marketing Management exam was very good. I’m sure that I will pass this course. But Financial accounting and Cost accounting exams were not that good. I answered near about 85 in financial accounting (IFA) and 70 in Cost accounting (COA). I’m confused about how my exams were. Though I answered 85 in IFA, I did not get the right answer in 2 maths. On the other hand, I answered 70 in COA where I am sure that all my answers are correct. But I’m not keeping my hopes up. In order to make sure that I don’t feel bad after bad result, I’m thinking that I will fail in this exam. But I don’t want to believe that I will fail. I’m actually hoping that I will pass at least 2 subject this time. If that happens, I will get admitted in next level (level 2).

Though December exams are over, I will have to sit in April 2013 exam. But now I have to focus on May-June 2013 exam of ICAB. My prime target is to be Chartered Accountant. Therefore I must be very serious about the exams of ICAB and be ready for the exam.  I want to be a professional accountant. Wish me luck!!!

Redwan

Terrible exam experience

Today was my first exam of ICMAB December 2012 exam. Today’s exam was scheduled on Intermediate Financial Accounting (IFA). It was my second attempt  of this subject. Last time I had great preparation. Last time I answered 84 out of 100. I was so sure that I will secure at least 60% marks. But as the first ever professional exam, I failed to manage the time. Moreover, luck was not in my favor. And that caused me to fail in Accounting for the first time.

This time I planned to pass the exam by any chance. But my preparation was not good at all. It was completely my fault that I didn’t pay much attention. I though my last time preparation will be enough for me. Moreover, I’m regularly in touch with the accounting processes due to audit in different clients. However, at the eleventh hour I understood that this preparation will not do. So I analyzed the total syllabus and selected to cover 13 topics. I finished revising all the 13 topics before exam. I thought my preparation will be enough to pass the exam.

During the exam, I found that I was familiar with most of the maths and terms. I didn’t know how to solve two math problems. But I figured out the way to do those maths. I was so close but I could not finish them. Moreover, I couldn’t do other maths correctly. My format and procedures were ok. But I might have mistaken during calculation. I didn’t have time to recheck whole math. So I skipped to next one. This way I answered total of 85 out of 100 marks during 3 hours time.

When I returned home, I checked my maths and the accounting processes that I didn’t know. I found that I was so much close to the answer. I could have done it if I gave some more time on those maths. Moreover, little practice of the maths would help me a lot. I don’t know what others think but I found the exam question harder than last time. My exam was terrible compared to the last time. Even though I answered 85 marks, I know that I will not be able to secure even 50% if the total marks. I’m felling sorry for the silly mistakes that I have made.

I should probably start studying this subject once again. But first I must study Cost Accounting. This exam is due on 30th December and I will appear in this exam for the first time. Moreover, I have not yer covered all the topics of the chapter. Right now I must give most of my times on this subject till the exam ends. I’m scared of this subject for a long time. Pray for me so that I can cover all the subjects and have a nice exam preparation. And ultimately pray for me so that I can pass in this subject.