how to pass your aca exams

Jas Rayat, recent ACA graduate, talks you through her process and how she managed to cope with exam stress and work-life balance.

Rate this content

 

passing your aca exams - jas rayat.png 1

 

Mastering the ACA exams is a daunting task, but it's a challenge most aspiring accountants will face in their career. But balancing a full-time job whilst studying and maintaining a healthy personal life can be overwhelming.

Luckily, with the right strategies and mindset in place, you can ensure each gets the attention it deserves while setting yourself up for success. 

Jas Rayat, a recent ACA graduate, shares her insights, experiences and advice on navigating the challenges of the ACA journey. 

Explore practical tips, time management techniques and mental well-being strategies to help you conquer revision and succeed in your ACA exams.

 

how did you balance studying for the ACA exams with your personal and professional life? 

create a weekly plan 

Each week, I created a weekly plan, allocating time towards revision, work and personal time. Being able to see all my tasks laid out helped me prioritise, manage my time and stay on top of revision, while allowing ample rest time. 

find a revision timetable that works for you 

With the ACA exams, there’s a lot to cover. To avoid it being too overwhelming, I broke it down into manageable pieces within my revision timetable. It allowed me to give each area the attention it needed, while focussing on one thing at a time prevented me from procrastinating or feeling too stressed. 

communicate with your employer 

Whenever I had lessons or revision sessions after work, I’d let my employer know. That way, we could set realistic timetables, manage expectations and keep burnout at bay. 

maintain personal boundaries, as well as professional 

At home, if I had revision sessions or important exams coming up, I would communicate this with my friends and family. In doing so, there was less pressure for me to be in certain places or participate in certain things. 

I also made sure to prioritise having time to relax and recharge with my friends and family. This quality time helped me recover from an exhausting week in the classroom and at work. 

top ways to write a cover letter -1223282826 (1).jpg

 

what were the biggest challenges you faced during your studies, and how did you overcome them? 

As well as balancing work, study and my personal life, another challenge I faced was how can how complex the syllabus can be. 

To overcome that, I utilised the people around me. I was fortunate enough to make some wonderful friendships and developed a good support network. We leant on each other for help or to answer questions. Whether you’re studying online or in person, find communities, online spaces or people who can support you. You can help motivate each other and help develop each other's understandings of complex topics. 

Ensure you speak up to your teacher if you don’t understand something and make the most of the resources provided by your tuition provider. Ensure you are exploring every possible avenue for gathering information to develop a well-rounded understanding of topics. 

 

what strategies did you use to maintain your wellbeing during exam periods? 

Exam periods can be stressful, so it's important to maintain your well-being. There are a few things I did to ensure I was managing my mental and physical health. 

don't forget the fundamentals

Make sure you're getting enough sleep, eating a healthy and balanced diet and staying hydrated.

don’t isolate yourself during periods of extreme stress

Spend time with loved ones when possible. Take walks outside and get some fresh air. It’s important you are well rested so you can give studying and exams your all.

don’t be afraid to ask for help

Whether it’s from your colleagues, your tutors, or your peers, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. More so than anyone else, they can relate to how you’re feeling and resonate with issues you may be facing.

make time for breaks

A healthy body and mind are essential for effective studying. Make sure you schedule regular breaks in your study schedule to avoid burning yourself out.

prioritise

I organised my tasks based on what was most urgent at that time. If I didn’t achieve everything on my list that day, I could rest a bit easier knowing I had ticked off the most crucial item.

create a plan and stick to it

My weekly plan incorporated work, study and rest time, ensuring that all got the attention that was needed to pass my exams and avoid burnout. Rest periods were particularly important, as they kept me feeling refreshed and alert during study periods. 

 

what do you think are the most important skills and qualities for success in the ACA exams? 

time management

In my experience, time management is vital in knowing how much time to spend revising a certain topic or answering a certain exam question. 

resilience

I found resileince important in being able to bounce back from setbacks. The ACA exams are difficult, so it's important that you can pick yourself back up when things get tough. 

discipline

I needed self-discpline in order to stick to myrevision timetable and ensure I was on track for my exams.

teammeeting_blurred.jpg

what advice would you give to students about building their professional network? 

When building a professional network, seize every opportunity that you can. Whether that’s joining a professional group or community or attending work networking events. Networking allows you to gain some valuable insights from people from different areas of finance and accountancy and can open doors for your career later down the line. Networking can also help you develop transferable soft skills, such as communication, confidence, and adaptability. 

It can be scary, but the more you do it, the more at ease you’ll feel, and the more opportunities you will develop along the way. 

do you have any final tips for those currently preparing for the qualification?

  • Get organised. Set a plan that helps you keep track of everything you need to. 
  • Learn how to set clear boundaries between work and personal time. 
  • Develop the ability to say no. Alot of things can get thrown at you, so ensure to make time for interests and managing your well-being 

Is your mental health struggling as you prepare for your exams? Access our free mental health community forum and counselling space. 

 

need to talk to us?

Get in touch today and one of our support staff will be happy to help.

talk to us

 

further reading 

burnout at work mental health expert.png

burnout at work: advice from a mental health expert

Read more from our mental health expert, Kirsty Lilley, as she shares her thoughts and advice on how chartered accountants and ICAEW members can prevent and address burnout at work.

View more
improving-sleep-quality-banner--1262790546-article-size.jpg

improving sleep quality

Sleep struggles can cause lasting effects on your mental health. Our expert guidance can help you improve your understanding.

View more
Woman in bath on phone looking happy

why self-compassion boosts our mental wellbeing

Self-compassion is key to developing good mental health. It's not about being over-indulgent or too easy on ourselves; there are key steps we can take to look after ourselves more.

View more

training and events

5 December 2024

supercharge your sleep

In need of a good night’s sleep? This training explores a range of ideas and activities, all aimed at helping you improve the quality and …
enhanced webinar
6 December 2024

managing personal finances

When our finances start to feel out of control, this can have a knock-on effect on our mental and physical wellbeing. Discover ways to balance …
espresso series
12 December 2024

explore your mindset, achieve your potential

Developing a growth mindset can be transformative. It's all about embracing challenges and persisting in the face of setbacks. Learn about the …
espresso series
16 January 2025

communication skills - imparting information effectively

What would it be like if you could interact in a way that impresses, influences and inspires? Whether it’s in writing, video calls or in person, …
espresso series

view all training and events 

your questions answered 

Who is eligible for support?

We support past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), ACA students, ICAEW staff members, and the family and carers of members and students. 

  1. No matter where your career takes you, past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England Wales (ICAEW) are eligible for caba’s services for life, even if you change your career and leave accountancy 
  2. ACA students (ICAEW Provisional Members) who are either an active student or have been an active student within the last three years are eligible for caba's services 
  3. Past and present staff members of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's services for life, even if you leave either organisation. Please note, for former employees, our financial support is only available to those who have had five years continuous employment with either organisation 
  4. Family members and carers of either an eligible past or present ICAEW member, ACA student or past or present employee of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's support. We define a family member as a: 
    1. spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner 
    2. widow, widower or surviving civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    3. divorced spouse or civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    4. child aged up to 25. Please note, children aged between 16 and 25 are not eligible for individual financial support 
    5. any other person who is dependent on the eligible individual supporting them financially or are reliant on the eligible individual’s care 
    6. any other person on whom the eligible individual is reliant, either financially or for care 

You can find out more about our available support both in the UK and around the world on our support we offer page and by using our interactive eligibility tool

Are your services means-tested?

If you need financial support, we carry out a means test where we consider income, expenditure, capital and assets.  

*Please note none of our other services are means-tested. 

I’m an accountant, but not a member of ICAEW, can you still help?

Unfortunately not. We only support past and present ICAEW members, their carers and their families. If we are unable to support you, where possible we will point you to help elsewhere.

caba has supported me in the past; can I receive support from caba again?

We understand that circumstances change. If we’ve helped you in the past there’s no reason why we can’t help you again. You can contact us at any time. Please call us if you need our help.

view more questions



Not got the answer to your question?