BennyC - thank you for your response. I worry about relying on text books alone as seeing it visually sinks it so much better. The Certificate level syllabus is changing next year so other than some small changes your books should be up-to-date. Are they 2012 or newer?
For assessments in 2011-2012.
How did you find the change in syllabus on the full CIMA qualification (i.e. before and after 2015)? What did you notice the most? Do you find it harder?
There were quite big teething problems, evident in the pass rates, partly through candidates being under prepared but also from the increased level of knowledge needed from all learning outcomes being examined and the pass rate moving from 50% to 70% and moving from 3 hour written to 90 minute objective tests. Though this, in my opinion was largely due moving away from written exams to Computer Based Assements / Objective Tests. I sat these at the certificate level but with the professional qualification and it's different marking criteria and requirements, were another kettle of fish.
In hindsight, having passed all the OT's now, I can appreciate what it has done for the qualification but I still don't agree that OT's at strategic level are the best way to examine students.
Namely the ambiguity of some questions (actually being subjective rather than objective), the harsh marking in that a 'select all that apply' scenario will yield zero marks unless all and only the correct answers are chosen. And also the time pressure. I really disliked the lack of narrative ability to justify or explain your reasons/decisions. Something I am very much enjoying about the Strategic Case Study!
CIMA actually reviewed P3 and F3 in May/June 2015 and retrospectively re-marked papers, so my 2nd failed attempt at F3 later turned out to be a pass... having already devoted more time to studying and getting ready for the third attempt...
That said, sitting them whenever you like at a wider range of locations is convenient and makes a fast progression possible if desired. Though ICS (Integrated Case Studies) which replaced the old style T4 exam at the end, and are now sat after Operational, Management and Strategic tiers are completed, can only be sat quarterly.
My finance experience and academic history is very similar to yours. So hearing how you found it all is a good insight for me.
Where do you find lecture based content on the web? Is there anything structured? I know opentuition provide free ACCA lectures but not CIMA.
I don't think you will find full lecture based content on the web but you will find explanations and other video/blog material resources for areas you struggle with and specifically search for.
Are Acorn and Astranti well regarded, highly applauded?
I bought a question bank from Acorn of about 700 questions for E3 as I wanted more practice material. Neither impressed nor appalled, it did it's job and was good value.
Astranti are one of the more well known providers. I've used Kaplan, BPP and Astranti materials. I bought Kaplan Q&A books for the strategic level as again, I wanted more practice material and BPP's offerings in the new OT format were limited.
Personally I preferred BPP & Kaplan to Astranti but some of their explanations of syllabus areas were actually very good and easier to understand but in general just felt a bit inferior and isn't as refined/high quality as the others, though they all have errors despite being proofed. Kaplan & BPP's practice questions are much more indicative of the real exams than Astranti's.
I often hear course notes are all you need to pass the exams (all levels) and that the text books are there as back up - would you agree? My God, the text books are thick and times that by 14.
On the 2010 syllabus? yes I would agree, I passed 6 of 6 exams with very minor referencing to the text book material.
On the 2015 syllabus? if you are not academically gifted and from a relevant and suitable background?
Not a chance. The sheer scope and depth at which you can now be examined means course notes alone will not get you through the exams. The majority of my study for the 3 strategic OT's was spent filling in knowledge gaps and learning models and theories that weren't even so much as mentioned in the course notes.
Yes the books are thick but you don't need to be able to recite them but you do need to have a good awareness of the content. Bear in mind it is partially covered in the course notes and for certain topics and pillars common sense can be applied.
