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Record number of students complete ACCA exams

Date

13 Aug 2012

Sections

Euro & Finance

Results from the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) examinations in June 2012 show that a record number of students have successfully completed their final exams.

Candidates around the world took almost 370,000 papers, with 7,160 students successfully completing their final ACCA exams, representing a 13.4% increase on last session.

Pass rates have improved at the Fundamental level - rising on average 2% over the previous December session. The pass rate of the F8 Audit and Assurance exam at 56% was significantly higher than in recent times. The results for F4 Corporate and Business law and that of F7 Financial Reporting were also strong this session. All other pass rates at the Fundamental level remained close to their historic averages.

At the Professional level, the results for the Essential papers remain strong. It was particularly pleasing that pass rates for each of the Options papers rose above those of December 2011, given that ACCA has launched guidance and signposted materials to assist students getting through this final hurdle in their exams.

Alan Hatfield, ACCA director - learning, said: “We congratulate those who have succeeded in their exams – and we are delighted to see that more than 7,000 have completed their examinations, having been able to demonstrate the financial knowledge and professional skills which are needed by organisations in challenging economic conditions. We look forward to welcoming them to ACCA membership on completion of their practical experience requirements.”

Following the launch of ACCA’s new Foundations in Accountancy suite of awards in December, a bumper number of exams were taken both as paper-based and computer-based exams (CBEs), with 10,000 paper-based exams and almost 45,000 CBEs taken in the June session.  This resulted in 2,935 students choosing to transfer to the ACCA qualification on completion of the Diploma exams. The Diploma exams in this suite of awards are benchmarked as equivalent to first year degree standard.

Commenting on the continuing success of Foundations in Accountancy, Alan Hatfield said: “We are very pleased to see ACCA’s core values of opportunity and diversity in action through the Foundations in Accountancy suite of awards, offering students of ability an alternative way to gain entry to the ACCA qualification if they do not have formal qualifications of the appropriate level.”

Additionally, it was the first session where the new Foundations Specialist exams were offered. These exams can be taken as part of the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification or can be taken as standalone exams leading to a Foundation specialist award on completion of the Foundations in Professionalism, an interactive module delivered on-line.’’



June 2012 session ACCA Qualification pass rates:

Paper F1, Accountant in Business                   64%*

Paper F2, Management Accounting               52%*

Paper F3, Financial Accounting                      57%*

Paper F4, Corporate and Business Law          54%

Paper F5, Performance Management            42%

Paper F6, Taxation                                          45%

Paper F7, Financial Reporting                        48%

Paper F8, Audit and Assurance                       56%

Paper F9, Financial Management                  37%

Paper P1, Governance, Risk and Ethics          53%

Paper P2, Corporate Reporting                      49%

Paper P3, Business Analysis                            49%

Paper P4, Advanced Financial Management 36%

Paper P5, Advanced Performance Management       35%

Paper P6, Advanced Taxation             42%

Paper P7, Advanced Audit and Assurance      32%


June 2012 session Foundations in Accountancy pass rates:

Introductory Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting

FA1, Recording Financial Transactions           70%*

MA1 Management Information                     74%*

Intermediate Certificate in Financial and Management Accounting

FA2, Maintaining Financial Records               61%*

MA2, Managing Costs and Finance                52%*

Diploma in Accounting and Business

FAB, Accountant in Business                           47%

FMA, Management Accounting                      43%

FFA, Financial Accounting                               46%

Foundation Specialist papers

FAU, Foundations in Audit                               53%

FTX, Foundations in Taxation                          83%

FFM, Foundations  in Financial Management 45%

* Combined pass rates for paper-based and computer-based exams.

For more information, please contact:

Alana Sinnen, ACCA Newsroom

+ 44 (0) 207 059 5807

+44 (0) 7715 812120

alana.sinnen@accaglobal.com

Helen Thompson, ACCA Newsroom

+44 (0)20 7059 5759

+44 (0)7725 498654

helen.thompson@accaglobal.com

Notes to Editors

1. ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

2. We support our 154,000 members and 432,000 students in 170 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. We work through a network of over 80 offices and centres and more than 8,400 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through our public interest remit, we promote appropriate regulation of accounting and conduct relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

3. Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. We believe that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. Our values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and we ensure that through our qualifications, we prepare accountants for business. We seek to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating our qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers.