Hi just have a general query regarding transferring my study from ACA to ACCA. So far ive passed all my knowledge modules and two application modules i.e FA and AA and am aware of the exemptions i will get for the ACCA. My question is- is the transfer difficult? In terms of applying for credits for exemption from some ACCA modules how long will this take and do you have to pay for each exemption? I terminated my ACA contract with my firm last month so im kind of in limbo at the moment but i do believe i can still sit all the professional stage ICAEW without necessarily being employed by a firm? Basically the main reason im transferring is because i think it will be easier to pass the ACCA exams, would this be fair to say? Also if im going to be studying independently i think it will be cheaper to buy ACCA learning materials as they are more readily avaliable. Its a bit of a nightmare trying to find second hand ICAEW study manuals etc!

Your advice please…

TBH, I read in PQ magazine that the pass rates for ACA exams were much better than ACCA - in the 70’s for ACA, where for F5, for example, only 28% of people passed this June.

Andypandy - August 28 2010 10:12 PM

TBH, I read in PQ magazine that the pass rates for ACA exams were much better than ACCA - in the 70’s for ACA, where for F5, for example, only 28% of people passed this June.

i heard that was actually more to do with the quality of candidates rather than the exam difficulty. For example most ACA students are graduates who work for the big four, and are therefore meant to be much brighter as most of them will have a good academic record and went to good universities. Im not talking about me by the way, as i dont think im that clever, hence i have struggled with the exams!

Am I the only who resents the inference that ACCA exams are easier than ACA?

Go ahead and try it, then let us know

I don’t reckon they are - AAT2ACA =5 papers, whereas AAT to ACCA = 11 papers. ACCA is more comprehensive (that said, I am pretty peeved that the place where I was originally doing ACA has gone under).

You can’t really compare, remember big 4 staff usually get a LOT of study leave, first class tuition providers and only one chance to pass or they are out the door

Bluewednesday - August 29 2010 07:09 AM

Am I the only who resents the inference that ACCA exams are easier than ACA?

Go ahead and try it, then let us know

agreed

ranje - August 29 2010 09:13 PM

You can’t really compare, remember big 4 staff usually get a LOT of study leave, first class tuition providers and only one chance to pass or they are out the door

agreed

I think theres very little difference in difficulty between ACCA and ACA, I study ACCA but have friends that study ACA.

Higher pass rate for ACA is obviously down to the nature of the learning contract and the companies cherry picking employees for it.

Although it has been said that ACCA’s P2 exam is the most difficult of all bodies!!