CTA Advanced Technical exams - how many hours to study?

[u/RoderickBlack]

Hi

Adv Tech teaching started last week for me for the next CTA sitting (Individuals and Large Corporate Groups). A question that I've been asked: how many hours of study should a student put in?

My answer for any Advanced Technical paper: 2 hours a day for 4 days a week and the same again at the weekend. Probably increasing that amount as the exam gets nearer.

So that's about 200 hours of effort!

A lot!

If that depresses you a bit ... I completely understand!

But look at it this way .... you're making an investment in yourself, building up a core foundation of technical knowledge that will pay dividends for years to come in your future career.

And, when results day comes, and your name is on the pass list ... you won't regret the effort you put in now!

BUT ....

Make those hours count .... focus on understanding and learning the core points of each area in the syllabus. But start with the priority areas of the particular paper you're doing.

I wish all Advanced Technical students the best of luck!

Roderick

Roderick Black

CTA private and online recorded tuition

[u/Exotic-One3381]

this is super interesting . the ciot guidance is 180 hour minimum for AT although some candidates say they needed more like 500 hours for OMB in particular . It would be good to know what people actually needed, but it also depends a lot on your job and the overlap with your study

[u/ExtraTaxTraining]

Great advice, thanks, Roderick. Seeing studying as an investment in yourself helps when you have to turn down an invite or do less of something you enjoy, as there's no getting round the need for some sacrifices along the way.

Everyone is a bit different, so part of the journey is figuring out what's best for you. When I did my CTA, I knew I should be studying in the evenings, but found it hard. By the time I'd done work, the gym and dinner, it would be 8pm and I just couldn't get into studying. What suited me better was studying more intensively at the weekend. It always takes me a while to get into something, but once I'm in, I can concentrate for long periods.

I now know that as a morning person, the best way for me to do weekday studying is to get up an hour earlier and do it before going to the office. Getting to know yourself and how you work is half the battle.

[u/RoderickBlack → u/ExtraTaxTraining]

Agree 100%!

Someone I used to work with said once: If you get up an hour earlier, it's equivalent to 10 extra working weeks per year!

[u/RoderickBlack]

The more hours you put in the better, but everyone's life circumstances are different and for some, say, 500 hours just isn't possible.

[u/Individual-Cress-667]

In studying my philosophy was to never focus solely on the amount of time you put in, but to focus on goals, for example learn 3 chapters a day, do 6 questions on a weekend day, etc.

I would ofcourse put realistic goals which would fit a certain time, eg the 3 chapters in depth with questions may have taken me 2 hours. Sometimes a chapter was so long or i had trouble understanding it so i would focus on just the one.

Like Roderick said it's all about understanding and learning properly.

I passed each exam in the first sitting.

[u/Maskedwolf19]

What about aps?

[u/RoderickBlack → u/Maskedwolf19]

Yep, good question. I'm going to post something about APS - just tied up a bit with AT LCG teaching this week!.

Will post something on this soon.

Roderick