How to complete performance objectives

As we know, obtaining ACCA membership requires more than just passing exams. How about completing 13 performance objectives on top of 14 exams? It appeared a daunting task to me when I first enrolled. But when I took a good and hard look at the performance objective requirements, I realized they are a lot easier than I imagined and compliment the working experience requirement. As a matter of fact, I completed 10 within 6 months. I'd like to share with you how I go about doing it and hope you'll find it helpful.

Please let me know your tips on how to do it too.

1. Read each performance objective statement early in the program. Don't put it aside or worry about it later. By understanding the requirement, one can quickly identify the gap and have a plan to bridge it. At least, you are aware of its requirement whilst working. 
   
   
2. Select the optional performance objective that's most relevant to your work content so it'll be easier to complete down the road. e.g. I'd not choose tax because I know being a tax accountant is not my career goal.
   
   
3. I don't believe the performance objective is detached or additional to one's work load. On the contrary, all the performance objectives (esp. compulsory) are part of the normal job requirements you'd find while start working. The longer one works, the easier it is to complete them. However, you need to allocate time to document your efforts, so put time aside say 2-3 hours a week to complete 1-2 performance objectives at a time.
   
   
4. Involve your manager early so they are aware what you try to achieve. Perform well in your job because it helps you to get sign off quickly.
   
   
5. Lastly, a company with a regular and good internal performance review process helps because it saves you some documentation efforts. Some of the performance objective challenge question answers should be in your annual appraisal.

Comments

[Rahul Bahl]

Hi Katy,
Can you please enlighten us as to whether paper F5 is a subject which involves the use of common sense than anything else.I did everything the best way i could for preparing F5 but still i scored less as compared to my other papers.Moreover while answering to some questions i probably felt they required the use of common sense ,rather than what i learned or prepared for.

[Katy]

Hi there,

I didn't study the usual textbook but relied solely on the detailed teaching material written by a lecturer (Tony Surridge) from my tuition provider - London School of Accountancy and Management. If you've got time to study, I'd suggest you study every text line in any official teaching material you can find. I didn't skip anything topic or section while study for F5. Secondly, do as many past exam questions as you can and compare your results with official answers to understand where you go wrong. If you don't have too much time, then do the questions only. One last tip is to check out all the ACCA magazine articles with regards to F5 in the past 6 mths at least. They surely take up some space in the exam paper.

I'm sorry if you find what I mentioned above is no different from what other people say. But this is what it takes. No pain no gains. Very good luck to your upcoming exam.

Katy

[sb]

hi,
can you kindly suggest techniques for preparing for F5 - performance mgt. - does it need extra reading beside text books?