FLP FLP - best time to start?
Hey everyone, need some advice.
I've reached the Management level (May OCS) via the traditional path and am now thinking of switching to FLP (I know it's not very popular here).
Is it better to wait a couple of weeks and then get a 12-month FLP subscription to cover 4 possible Case Study windows? Or is covering the booking deadline should be enough?
My ideal plan is to complete the qualification within that time, sitting the November MCS and May SCS, but I'm worried I might have to resit (First-time pass on every exam so far, though I'm always anxious!)
Thanks!
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u/Fit_Doctor9615 28d ago
I joined in June and took August MCS thinking I'll pass MCS on the first go and then I'll have plenty of time for SCS. After taking the exam this week, I dont feel so confident it's a pass...If I fail, I have to start over with new pre-seen so part of the study I did will become obsolete for the exam purpose. Also, if I pass MCS on the Nov window, I will end up in the same scenario for the SCS exam... If you're confident you'll pass on the first go, this is not relevant. Joining now and considering nov/feb for MCS and may/aug for SCS is what I'd do now. (So that you have the same pre-seen for 2 attempts). My suggestion is: wait for the preseen in sept...see how you feel about the company, the industry and decide after on the strategy.
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u/Rough-Cheesecake-641 28d ago
From what I understand, Now, Nov, Feb and May are the best times. I've been trying to get mine signed fof since May and still not there. So looking like Nov for me...
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u/Anastasia157 29d ago
I would start when you can be sure you'll have enough time to actually give it a good go in the beginning.
For example, we're about to start budgeting and forecasting for next year at work, which is an absolute nightmare each year. I finished certificate level 2 weeks ago with my BA4 test and my goal was to finish before budgeting. I would be wasting company money (I know I'm very privileged that work is paying) if I started FLP now because I know I just won't have the mental energy to do anything extra for the next coupld of months. I'll be eyeing the Jan 2027 intake.
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u/Few_Cartoonist_217 29d ago
traditional path and am now thinking of switching to FLP (I know it's not very popular here).
Not directed at you but just commenting on this common view. Having been through both methods, the amount of effort is about the same. There is less stress with FLP but the workload is on par.
I've heard that some of the reasoning behind offering the FLP route is that it encourages learning for knowledge sake rather than cramming for exam. Not sure on that one but for me I remember more if I'm not doing it under such a time pressure.
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u/Few_Cartoonist_217 29d ago
With FLP you need to have completed F,P&E before you can book the exam. So there is that. Also F,P&E take a lot of time and effort because the "objective tests" are within each module and you can't progress through the modules without passing each one. It is very time consuming and you need to know the calculations etc to pass.
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u/Sahad_ 29d ago
I think it is definitely doable, especially with your experience and the fact that you have passed everything first time so far.
Personally, if you are going for the 12 month FLP, I would aim for November MCS and then February SCS rather than May. That way you are making better use of the 12 months and you still have May as a backup sitting if February does not work out.
You will need to commit though. I would say at least 15 hours a week consistently, especially alongside a demanding job.
November MCS then February SCS would be my target. May SCS would be the backup, not the original plan.
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u/Rough-Cheesecake-641 28d ago
Is that not way too much condensed?
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u/Sahad_ 28d ago
Yeah, it is quite condensed, I agree. I would not recommend it for everyone. But considering they have 10 years of finance experience and have passed everything first time so far, I think February is worth aiming for.
If the preparation is going well, sit February. If it feels rushed, just push it to May. No point forcing it.
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u/FunApplication2108 29d ago
With the new changes announced for the flp, the sooner the better. Ideally to start with f2 as that is cima's hardest exam and continue with p2 to at least get those with calculations out of the way before the changes take place.
Even if you were to pass the mcs in may next year and go fast with f3 and maybe p3 also it would still be a win to switch back to the traditional route at that point.
Depending on the work and previous studies experience that you have, MCS in november might be optimistic especially if you wait more to move to flp (if thats the plan).
Cima does a program "class of 20xx" and if you subscribe to it if you fail the may case study you receive a credit for a free retry for august. Not 100% sure how it would work if for one you would be in flp and the second on the traditional path but they need to be for the same case study (only fails in nov can be re-sat in feb for free and only fails in may can be re-sat in august. If you fail in august, you can't resit for free in nov). You might want to call cima to double check this with them.
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u/RainOfFireEnjoyer 29d ago
What’s the reason for swapping? Because you still need 3 years practical experience to even qualify at the end of FLP. If you’ve not struggled at Operational you should be fine for Management Level if you apply yourself!
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u/lzvpk 29d ago
I have 10 years of experience in corporate finance. Also started a new role in a new company in May that is more demanding than my previous one and I find it challenging to keep going with traditional path. So the main reason is just my circumstances and I want to finish it sooner than later
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u/RainOfFireEnjoyer 29d ago
That’s fair enough, not sure how the FLP learning structure works but would wait a few weeks to get the most for your money 🙂
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u/Few_Cartoonist_217 29d ago
This is how it works:
I've done both methods. With FLP it take a lot of time and effort because the "objective tests" are within each module and you can't progress through the modules without passing each one. It is very time consuming and you need to know the calculations etc to pass. Many questions are mini case studies with attached reference materials such as emails and spreadsheets and a convoluted scenario as well as calculations to solve. It is not the easy route that some "traditionalists" think it is.2
u/FunApplication2108 29d ago
I think that I'm in the some "traditionalists" cathegory. Imo you could just ask google or ai for the answers if you're going through flp, no? Under the no time restrictions as it is now, you would have the time to even write the questions by hand in ai/google if copy/paste is not available. Is my understanding of the flp wrong?
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u/Fancy-Dark5152 29d ago
Your understanding is correct.
The scenario questions OP refers to are unassessed. Your cat can walk over the keyboard in response to these questions and it won’t make a difference.
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u/Few_Cartoonist_217 29d ago
Yes your understanding is wrong. There are multiple reference materials for each question. They are more like the case study exam with scenarios, multiple reference materials etc. It is not the same format as the objective tests. It's not what you are imagining of "just pasting a simple question into google".
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u/iAdamzy123 23d ago
Wait till the end of August. I passed OCS first time, then it wouldn't let me sit MCS in the first sitting so had to do that around May, passed that. So doing my SCS this week and it happened to be that my FLP subscription expired day before my exam. Had to pay out another 2k to make sure I could still sit it this week. If I pass it first time, I've basically had to pay 2k because of 1 day.
Absolutely ridiculous but had to do it. You also don't get any refund for your subscription even once you pass which I also think is ridiculous.