ACCA

1. ACCA DipIFR Examiner Advice on approaches to Teaching and Learning For December 2019 and June 2020 sessions Name Date

2. CONTENT • Objective of the exam and syllabus overview • Approach to examining the syllabus • Brief overview of the exam format • Teaching and learning effectively • Syllabus areas that are generally answered well when examined • Key areas of weakness • Teaching and learning – Examiner’s advice

3. Objective of the Dip IFR and syllabus overview • Objectives of the Dip IFR: • To understand the conceptual framework of financial reporting • To apply relevant International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS Standards) to key elements of financial statements • To prepare consolidated financial statements • To comply with presentation requirements

4. Objective of the Dip IFR and syllabus overview(continued) • Key areas of the Syllabus: • International sources of authority (IASB and the regulatory framework) • Elements of financial statements • Presentation of financial statements and additional disclosures • Preparation of external financial reports for combined entities, associates and joint arrangements • Excluded topics: • Complex group structures and piece-meal acquisitions • Financial statements of banks, insurance companies, etc • Company/share valuation • Preparation of statements of cash flows • IFRS exposure drafts and discussion papers, etc

5. Approach to examining the syllabus • Brief overview of the exam format • the examination is a 3-hour 15 minute paper • all questions are compulsory and worth 25 marks • mix of computational and discursive elements • scenario/case study approach • Question 1 - involves preparation of consolidated financial statements (SOPL, SOCIE, SOFP) • the other three questions are related to a scenario in which questions arise regarding the appropriate accounting treatment and or disclosure • The overall pass mark for the Dip IFR is 50%

6. Change to exam format • Change from December 2019 onwards • Previously 1 x 40 marks + 3 x 25 mark questions • December 2019 – 4 x 25 marks questions • Why? • Historically too much reliance was being placed on performing well in question one. • ACCA wants DipIFR students to acquire and demonstrate the breadth and depth of knowledge, and the ability to apply IFRS, that the qualification demands. • No change in technical level of difficulty

7. Teaching and learning effectively • Recognise background/existing knowledge – some topics will have a context for many candidates but others will be completely new • Allocate appropriate amounts of time for teaching and revision • Use combined methods of tutoring and of well established methodologies • Module based course • On-site lecturing • Self-study • Interactive support of the tutor • Control testing and mock exams • The provision of feedback • Importance of using current learning materials

8. Teaching and learning effectively – Does exam technique matter? • Skills that are essential to successful candidates: • self-control and self-possession, the ability to keep calm during the exam and work under time pressure • ability to read attentively and understand the task • ability to estimate the complexity of the task and set priorities accordingly • ability to allocate time for each task and stick to the time schedule • ability to collect “easy marks” and not to write more in-depth than required

9. Syllabus areas that are generally answered well when examined • Principles of consolidation • Computational aspects of questions (compared with narrative explanations required) • Intra-group trading • Fair value adjustments • Calculation of the cost of investment in a subsidiary • Impairment of goodwill on consolidation • PPE construction costs • Convertible loans (partly) • Operating lease (lessor) and short-term/low value leases

10. Syllabus areas that are generally answered well when examined(continued) • Knowledge of the basic principles of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers • IAS 37 – Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets • Principles of IAS 38 – Intangible Assets • Principles of IAS 21 – Foreign Currency Transactions • Principles of IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments • Principles of IAS 10 – Events After the Reporting Period

11. Key areas of weakness • Knowledge of control according to IFRS 10 - Consolidated Financial Statements • Calculation of non-controlling interest • Preparation of the consolidated statement of changes in equity • Content of segment reports according to IFRS 8 – Operating Segments • Dealing with actuarial differences • Hedge accounting • Explanation of presentation of items in the financial statements

12. Key areas of weakness(continued) • Knowledge of IAS 12 – Income taxes • Knowledge of IFRS 2 – Share-based Payment • Knowledge of IFRS 16 - Leases • How to properly split liabilities (particularly lease liabilities) into current and non-current • Knowledge of the provisions of the relevant standard for “single-standard” questions • Apparent failure to read and understand the question before launching into the answer

13. Teaching and learning – the Examiner’s advice • Take full advantage of the exam structure- Q1 is still core albeit with less marks allocated than before • Time management skills – explain and train • Practice the application of theory (how some issues are to be accounted for, where they are to be reported, how the information should be disclosed, what is the framework for presentation etc) • Preparation of the relevant extracts from financial statements • Relevant explanations are vital • Complicated elements of a question need to be appropriately dealt with • Candidates need to have a strategic approach to exams • Refer students to the DipIFR resources (including technical articles) available on the ACCA website • Mock exams are key for future success