ACCA or ICAN …and How Do I Pass?

6

Dear Jarus,

I am grateful for the prompt response given my last message. Thanks to the Jarushub eggheads.
However, I still need answers to these questions; firstly, which is better for me to pursue immediately after school as you said, of ACCA or ICAN without minding the exam costs?

Also, I want to know if with just personal home study I can do excellently in ACCA. I mean without registering for any ACCA tutorial classes.
Then, what are the success tips to know in performing excellently in the exam like Mr. Jarus.

Femi

*************

ACCA Logo

Dear Femi,

 

I am an ICAN person and I’m usually inclined towards ICAN. However, ACCA is equally good, and in addition to being more flexible,  it has the extra advantage of international recognition. So, ACCA is cool.

Home study?

I did personal study for my ICAN exams, and passed with prizes. I just didn’t have the energy the hop into bus(or drive) from my residence to ICAN coaching centers tens of kilometers away every weekend, after the Monday-Friday work stress. I actually started while doing my NYSC and I felt I had all the time to study myself and pass. In any case there were no ICAN tutorial classes in Sokoto where I was serving then. So except during the last stage when I attended 3 or 4 classes, I did self-study for 95% of time while writing my own ICAN exams. But 90% of people writing these exams attend tutorial classes, so it is usually strongly recommended that you attend. I’m inclined to advising you to attend. But if you have the studying skills, like me, you may want to do self-study.

Tips to passing:

First, believe you can pass, don’t listen to all manner of lies peddled by lazy students.

Second, get  study packs and study very well, cover to cover.

Third, get past questions, for as many as 10 years, and treat. Check the solutions.

Fourth, don’t limit yourselves to textbooks alone. The major reason  students fail professional exams is narrowing themselves to textbooks alone, such that once the examiners decide to test something not directly found in the syllabus, they lose balance.  Truth is, accounting professional bodies once in a while test your application of what you’re taught. At least one of the questions will not be found in the textbook. It may be application of accounting to some current issues. For example, I once encountered “taxation of internet business” in a tax exam. That is not in the syllabus yet, but what they want to test is your understanding of the principle of taxation. Confronted with that kind of question, you wont see a template, but you are expected to demonstrate your understanding of the principles. These are things you should open your mind to meet in exams too.

All the best.

Jarus

 

 

 

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6 comments

  1. chinnie 16 November, 2015 at 12:32 Reply

    Dear Jarus,
    I have a BSc. in Mathematics and wish to veer into accounting. I don’t know whether to go for ICAN or ACCA. ACCA from my research so far seems easy and flexible. Please advice me.
    Also, I would love to know how to get study materials and past questions on ICAN.
    Thanks for your quick response.
    (I always wanted to be an accountant, found myself in science class due to parental pressure in secondary school. Im independent now and want to live my dream. Will really appreciate your help.)

    • Assistant Editor 27 November, 2015 at 17:06 Reply

      Go for ACCA if you have the funds (it’s more expensive than ICAN). You can still be an accountant. I know many science students/graduates that ended up as accountants and are good at it.

  2. Yemi 29 July, 2016 at 19:35 Reply

    Dear Jarus,
    I have a Bsc.ed degree in Economics from OAU and will be enrolling for NYSC 2016 batch B come september. I will like to acquire the ICAN certificate. Would you advise me to start from ATS 1 or skip some stages by claiming exemptions with my Bsc?

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