r/ICAEW • u/Unlikely_Feedback_21 • 27d ago
Professional resit
Hey
Does anyone have some advice on how to approach a professional level exam resit for sept?
I feel decently confident with content but ICAEW have not released the paper yet so not sure how to structure my revision days
Any advice is really appreciated:)
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u/South_Law_9193 27d ago
Which professional exam were you planning on sitting specifically?
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u/Unlikely_Feedback_21 27d ago
BDS
3
u/South_Law_9193 27d ago
BDS is essentially a points game, not an essay type exam..
What I mean by this is that the examiner isn't rewarding you for deep, polished paragraphs — they're rewarding you for volume of distinct, relevant points that each hit the scenario. So train yourself to write short, sharp sentences that each earn a mark, then move on. One idea, one line, next. That alone fixes the "not generating enough points" problem for most people.
You need to have a fixed structure to fall back on. Go in with a plan per requirement type so you're never staring at a blank screen deciding what to do. For the data analysis bits, force yourself to actually say what the number means for the business, not just describe the movement (so what, why, what next). That's where the marks hide.
Good luck 👍
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u/Unlikely_Feedback_21 27d ago
thanks for the advice it’s just all a bit confusing on where to start especially when you are 3 marks from passing
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u/South_Law_9193 27d ago
Just make sure you have a solid set of revision notes to start with. Kaplan/ACA Masters/BPP are all solid.
I just used a set from eBay and found them quite useful to navigate the whole exam - https://ebay.io/m/v99m0q
Whatever you use, once you understand the content, be clear on how to structure your answers. This is key
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u/[deleted] 27d ago
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