You’ve heard it a million times before, but as a full time tutor for all my working life I am here to tell you absolutely, you NEED to understand why ICAN split the syllabus into Foundation Level, Application Level and Professional level
Then you need to apply that in your exams
The Foundation Level provides a learning framework that contains manageable core content. By implication, this level will be tested based on conceptual framework and clarification.
The Skills Level builds on the foundation of competences already achieved at the Foundation Level and without repetition takes students into a higher level where their skills are developed and expanded and put into context. The emphasis is on application of skills in business situations.
The Professional Level consisting of five subjects takes students to the level where they have to make professional judgment and evaluations based on more complex business situations linking foundation, skills and synthesis recognising alternatives and broader issues that are not immediately apparent. Case Study has been re-introduced in the Professional Level to ensure students are able to deal with scenarios, develop analysis, make critical comments and draw conclusions that are effectively organized in a report format.
For Instance
In the PROFESSIONAL Level – it is assumed that you are already a professional, so people come to you for advice, So let’s say that someone asks for your advice regarding an Investment property they have in Rwanda and they want to know the accounting implications..
In response you tell them how it would be recorded if it was leased (it’s not) and if it was serviced by themselves (it’s not) and if they only owned 60% of the building (they don’t)…
They would think you’re slightly crazy but more to the point they’re paying you for your time. They don’t care about anything else except their SPECIFIC SCENARIO – and your advice would be not only useless, it would cost them money..
So the answer in real life is the same as in the exam, BE SPECIFIC TO THE SCENARIO or fail the exam… your choice
So you’re thinking – “Yeah, yeah Tayo, if it’s that easy then why do students fail…
Well there’s 4 reasons for that
- You have got used to regurgitating textbooks and showing off knowledge in the foundation level and application level (and it working)
- You spent all your time studying from a textbook and not DOING questions
- Practice Enough scenario based Questions
- You didn’t read the examiners comments or see enough questions tackled by an expert
I hope you find it useful
Please post your comment below and I will personally reply them
Regards
Tayo Stephen
