The shift back to exam centres changes your prep
A lot of ACCA candidates are now facing in person sittings again. That changes how you prepare. It is not a huge change in technical content. It is a change in habits.
At home, you can pause, stretch, and reset. In a centre, you work to a fixed rhythm. Noise feels different. Time pressure feels sharper. Small problems can cost marks if you have not trained for them.
This post is a practical reset. It shows what to change so you can pass ACCA exams with calm control, whether this is your first attempt or you are planning ACCA resit exams. If you want a simple base plan for the whole sitting, start with this ACCA exam success guide.
What actually changes when you sit in person
In person exams change four things:
- Energy– you spend more energy just being there, travelling, waiting, settling.
- Focus– you cannot control the environment as much.
- Timing– you cannot “make time back” easily if you drift early.
- Confidence– your brain reacts to the room, not your desk at home.
None of this is fatal. It just means your prep must look more like the real event.
If you have ever asked “how difficult is passing ACCA“, this is part of the answer. Passing is rarely about one hard standard. It is often about performing under time pressure.
The biggest mistake candidates make
The biggest mistake is revising as if the exam is a reading test.
SBR is a writing test. Many other ACCA papers also reward clear, structured answers. If you want how to pass ACCA exams first time, build your week around timed writing and review, not endless reading.
That means:
- you practise with ACCA sample exams
- you learn from ACCA exams questions and answers
- you train time control every week
If you do that, the exam centre becomes familiar instead of stressful.
Your new standard for practice sessions
From now on, treat practice like a rehearsal.
- Sit at a table.
- Clear distractions.
- Use a timer.
- Do not pause.
- Do not check notes mid task.
- Finish the requirement you started.
This routine is simple. It also stops the slow drift that leads to panic late in the paper. It is one of the fastest ways to stop failing ACCA exams when a near miss has become a pattern.
The in person checklist you should follow before exam day
Travel and timing
Plan the day like a job interview.
- Do a trial run if the venue is unfamiliar.
- Decide your departure time with a buffer.
- Pack what you need the night before.
- Eat a normal meal. Avoid experiments.
- Arrive early enough to settle, not rush.
This sounds basic, but it protects your brain. You want to start the exam calm, not frantic.
Your body matters
In person sittings punish poor sleep and poor hydration. Keep it simple.
- Sleep enough for three nights before.
- Drink water, but not so much you break focus.
- Use short practice blocks in the final week, not long late nights.
This is part of staying motivated during ACCA exams too. When you feel better, you study better.
What changes for SBR in particular
SBR ACCA rewards structure and judgement. In person sittings make it harder to recover from early time loss. So your SBR plan must tighten.
Your priorities for ACCA SBR should be:
- clear answer structure
- professional marks
- time control
- finishing the paper
If you study SBR online, keep that flexibility, but make your writing practice strict.
The three training habits that matter most
1. Train your timing every week
Pick one day each week where you do a timed set under strict rules.
- Start at the same time as your real exam.
- Do not pause.
- Write short, applied points.
- Move on when time ends.
This habit improves every paper. It also builds confidence quickly.
2. Do targeted rewrites
A rewrite is not rewriting the whole answer. It is rebuilding one weak paragraph.
Use this frame:
- Issue
- Rule
- Apply
- Conclude
Keep it to 8 to 10 lines. This is how you convert feedback into marks.
3. Build lean notes that support writing
Your notes should help you write, not help you feel busy.
For each topic, keep one page:
- definition in one line
- two key rules
- two pitfalls
- one applied example
This is enough for most SBR topics, including IFRS 11, derivative accounting, and derivative hedge accounting.
A practical example you can use for SBR writing
IFRS 11 in exam language
Many candidates know the definition but fail to apply it.
Your short answer should look like this:
- Issue – decide whether the arrangement is a joint operation or joint venture
- Rule – under IFRS 11, joint operation means rights to assets and obligations for liabilities, joint venture means rights to net assets
- Apply – assess the legal form and the substance of rights and obligations
- Conclude – state classification and the accounting
That is it. No extra theory.
Hedge accounting in exam language
A good hedge answer is short and applied. For a cash flow hedge, keep it simple.
- effective portion to OCI
- release when the hedged item affects profit or loss
- explain the link to the transaction
If you want a quick drill, write a commodity hedge accounting example about a forecast purchase of copper or fuel. Do it in 10 minutes. Then rewrite it in 8 lines.
This practice builds speed and confidence.
How to choose your support route for an in person sitting
Some candidates can self manage. Many benefit from external structure.
Here are the common routes:
- ACCA tuition near mefor face to face support
- online ACCA tuitionfor flexibility
- an ACCA tutor onlinefor weekly check ins and marking
- an ACCA private tutorfor personal focus
- an ACCA revision classfor momentum and routine
- a structured course that sets deadlines and mocks
If you want a clear timetable with submissions and mock debriefs, look at an ACCA SBR course that matches your sitting.
How to judge an ACCA tutor without wasting money
Not every tutor fits every candidate. Focus on what moves marks.
Look for an ACCA tutor who:
- marks your scripts and tells you exactly what to change
- teaches exam technique, not just content
- keeps language clear and direct
- helps you build a routine you can keep
When you search for best ACCA tutors, use this simple test:
If the tutor cannot show how to improve one paragraph in a clear way, they will not change your score.
This applies whether you are using an account exam tutor, an accounting tutor, or an accounts tutor. The label matters less than the feedback quality.
Online support still works even for in person exams
Some people think in person sittings mean you must study in person. You do not.
Many candidates do best with an ACCA online tutor because it saves travel time and gives more writing time. That matters in the final month.
The same is true for online ACCA courses UK. A good ACCA online course UK will still build the right habits, as long as it forces you to write to time.
Be careful with forums and random answers
An ACCA exams forum can help you feel less alone. It can also waste time.
Use forums to:
- find question ideas
- compare study approaches
- learn common mistakes
Do not use forums as your main source of technical answers. You need reliable methods and consistent feedback. Your job is to write better scripts, not collect other people’s notes.
A clean weekly plan for the final four weeks
This plan suits first sitters and resit candidates. It is strict enough for in person sittings.
Week 1
- 2 timed sets of 25 minutes using ACCA exams questions and answers
- 2 technical refresh sessions using lean notes
- 1 rewrite session
- 1 longer question to time
Week 2
- 1 mock style set under strict conditions
- 2 targeted drills on weak areas like IFRS 11or hedging
- 2 rewrites based on your mistakes
- 1 short professional marks drill
Week 3
- 1 full mock to time
- 1 debrief and action list
- 3 short writing drills
- 2 rewrites
Week 4
- 1 shorter mock or a full question set
- light review of lean notes
- focus on sleep and routine
- keep sessions short and sharp
This is an ACCA exam success guide in practice. It is not fancy. It works.
Which ACCA exams to take together if you are juggling papers
Candidates often ask which ACCA exams to take together. The honest answer depends on your week.
If you have limited time, sitting SBR alongside another heavy writing paper can stretch you too far. If work is busy, sit one paper and do it well. If your schedule is clear, you can pair papers, but protect your writing practice time.
A sensible plan lowers stress and helps passing ACCA exams become routine rather than drama.
Motivation in the final month without burnout
Motivation drops when your plan is too big. Keep it simple.
- Set small daily targets you can complete.
- Track your wins in a notebook.
- Do not chase eight hour days. Chase consistent output.
- Protect sleep in the final week.
This is how ACCA motivation becomes stable. It also helps you walk into the exam centre feeling ready.
The in person mindset that earns marks
Your goal is not perfection. Your goal is performance.
That means:
- answer the requirement
- apply to the scenario
- conclude clearly
- move on when time ends
- finish the paper
If you do this, you can pass ACCA exams even if one topic feels weak.
This mindset is especially important for anyone planning ACCA resit exams. Resit success comes from better execution, not more reading.
Quick tools for the last week
Use these simple tasks to stay sharp without draining energy:
- 10 minute drill on a common technical area
- 10 minute professional marks answer plan
- 10 minute rewrite of a weak paragraph
- 15 minute timed mini scenario
That is enough. Keep the rhythm. Keep your head clear.
Where structured courses fit
If you want deadlines, marking, and a routine that keeps you accountable, use a structured course in the final month. It can replace a lot of planning time and give you a clear weekly pattern.
If that suits you, browse the ACCA SBR course options and pick one that supports timed writing, script feedback, and mock debriefs.
Final checklist for exam centre readiness
- I have practised timed writing each week
- I can write in short applied paragraphs
- I use issue – rule – apply – conclude
- I finish questions when time ends
- I have done at least one full mock under strict rules
- I have a travel plan and a calm routine for exam day
- I have a simple revision plan I can keep
If you can tick these, you are ready for in person sittings.
The exam centre is not the enemy. It is just a different setting. Train in the right way, and it becomes familiar. That is how you improve your odds of how to pass ACCA exams first time, and how you turn a resit into a pass.