MyCIMA

Practice questions my answers are soooo different! Help please!

Posted: Wednesday 01 September 2010 by Adam Speller
Replies : 2
Keywords: learning, Practice, Questions, studying

Hello everyone,

 

This is my first post. I am back studying after about ten years out and am really kinda worried about how the information has not yet sunk in.

I am focussing on E1 at the moment and just wanted some advice. I use BPP study text but am doing home study. I have read and made notes from the study text, used the passcards and actually felt pretty good about it all until this morning when i attempted two questions from the practice and revision kit. My answers were completely different from the model answers!

 

I read through the model answers thinking i remember reading that in the text but it is not in the forefront of my memory at all. I have gone through lots of posts on here and people have stressed how important question practice is as a learnng tool. My question is how does everyone use the practice questions to learn?

Should i make notes from the bits i did not do so well on and try to learn them? Go back to the study text? Read the answer and then try to do the question again? My fear is that i will have to do this for all the questions in the book, and what if in the exam a new type of question comes up and i answer that one totally wrong.

 

I would really appreciate all help on this as i am quite scared now that my ability to learn is not what it used to be.

 

Thank you for taking time to read this.

 

Adam

Model answers

Posted by Rebecca McCaffry on Thursday 02 September 2010 09:57

Hi Adam

Welcome back!

Model answers are an example of a correct answer, so your own answer may well differ, particularly in papers like E1 which have a lot of writing.

However, the main thing to consider with all CIMA exam questions is the verb we use, as often we find that students are answering the question in the wrong way.

For example, 'list the components of the value chain' is a very different question from 'explain the components of the value chain'. If the question asks for 'analyse' and your answer is a 'list', you will lose marks.

We have a useful video by David Harris which explains this in more detail here:

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Students/2010-professional-qualification/Study-help-and-tuition/Exam-techniques-video/

There's also an article written by David which you can find here:

http://www.cimaglobal.com/Students/2010-professional-qualification/Study-help-and-tuition/Verbs-and-learning-outcomes/

I hope this helps - distance learning is a challenge but you can do it!

Best wishes

Rebecca
CIMAsphere moderator

  • Reported

E1 home study

Posted by janey77 on Wednesday 08 September 2010 08:51

Hi Adam

I agree with Rebecca - distance learning is a LOT harder than class room courses, particularly if you are just reading a study text. It's particularly hard for written papers, as there is often a lot mkore that you could say other than what's included in the model answer.

I would strongly recommend moving away from the study text and focussing on previous exam questions. It would also help you enormously if you attended a revision course at a reputable college. My college takes work in from the students and marks them, giving them guidance as to what to do to improve their mark - very useful

 Jane