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1 page 76 student accountant march 2009 acca connect For all enquiries, simply contact ACCA Connect our global customer service centre. However you want to contact us, by phone, fax, or post, one of our expert advisers will be happy to assist you. Monday to Thursday Open 21 hours (closed to 23.00) Friday Open 20 hours (closed to midnight) Saturday Closed Sunday Open to and to midnight (times based on GMT/BST as appropriate) ACCA Connect 2 Central Quay 89 Hydepark Street Glasgow G3 8BW United Kingdom tel: +44 (0) fax: +44 (0) students@accaglobal.com website: FEES Annual subscription 2009 The annual subscription fee was due and payable on 1 January Remember you can pay your fees at ACCA s e-business website: Every student on file as at 1 January each year is required to pay a subscription for that year in order to remain active on the register. The initial subscription fee submitted with your Initial Registration Form is required to cover the registration process and to maintain your name on file for the calendar year in which you register. Students who fail to pay fees when due (including exam/exemption fees), will have their names removed from the ACCA register. Students wishing to re-register are required to submit any amounts unpaid at the time of their removal in addition to the re registration fee. No penalty fee will be charged. Confirmation of your unpaid fees can be obtained from your national ACCA office or ACCA Connect. The following fees and subscriptions apply: CAT students Initial subscription 58 Re-registration * 58 Annual subscription 58 Introductory Level exam 37 Intermediate Level exam 37 Advanced Level exam/exemption 42 ACCA Qualification and MSER students Initial subscription 66 Re-registration * 66 Annual subscription 66 Knowledge exam/exemption 50 Skills exam/exemption 60 Professional exam 70 *plus unpaid fee(s) Affiliates Annual subscription 95 Permanent subscription 181 Don t forget to pay your fees on time. Dates by which fees and subscriptions must be paid and arrangements for payment are included in your ACCA welcome pack.

2 page 77 are your contact details up to date? EXAM TIMETABLE The following dates have been confirmed for the next two exam sessions: JUNE 2009 S M T W T F S June 2009 Week 1 1 to 5 June Week 2 8 to 10 June December 2009 Week 1 7 to 11 December Week 2 14 to 16 December Exams will take place over an eight-day period with one session of exams each day. The exams will be held concurrently in five different time zones. The base starting times in each of these time zones will be: Zone 1 (Caribbean) 08.00hrs Zone 2 (UK) 10.00hrs Zone 3 (Pakistan and South Asia) 14.00hrs Zone 4 (Asia Pacific) 15.00hrs Zone 5 (Australasia) 17.00hrs. Local starting times will be set falling out from these base start times for every centre. Details of local start times can be found against each centre on the Examination Centre List accompanying your Examination Entry Form. Papers F1 to F3 are two-hour exams, and Papers F4 to F9 and P1 to P7 are three-hour exams. Monday 1 June 1* Recording Financial Transactions 6* Drafting Financial Statements F6 Taxation P6 Advanced Taxation Tuesday 2 June 2* Information for Management Control 7* Planning, Control and Performance Management F4 Corporate and Business Law P7 Advanced Audit and Assurance DECEMBER 2009 S M T W T F S Wednesday 3 June 3* Maintaining Financial Records F3 Financial Accounting MFA Financial Accounting F8 Audit and Assurance Thursday 4 June 4* Accounting for Costs F9 Financial Management P4 Advanced Financial Management Friday 5 June 5* Managing People and Systems F2 Management Accounting MMA Management Accounting P5 Advanced Performance Management Monday 8 June 8* Implementing Audit Procedures F5 Performance Management P1 Professional Accountant Tuesday 9 June 9* Preparing Taxation Computations F7 Financial Reporting P2 Corporate Reporting Wednesday 10 June 10* Managing Finances F1 Accountant in Business P3 Business Analysis *CAT Scheme exams EXAM CENTRE L903 LONDON NORTH WEST As part of ACCA s ongoing review of exam centres, the L903 Earl s Court exam centre, formerly London North West, has been replaced from the June 2009 session with L903 Alexandra Palace. This venue has been sourced so that ACCA can provide a single, more permanent, venue and it is hoped that this will also benefit students who have, in recent sessions, been allocated to several unnamed venues. CHANGES TO THE EXAM FORMAT FOR PAPER F5 ACCA is changing the format of the exam questions for Paper F5 from the June 2009 exam session. Five compulsory questions will now be set, each worth 20 marks. However, the style of the questions and the computational and discursive elements in the questions will continue to be broadly in line with the pilot paper. You are strongly advised to read the examiner s approach to Paper F5, published in the January 2009 issue of student accountant. CHANGES TO THE EXAM STYLE FOR PAPER F1, ACCOUNTANT IN BUSINESS ACCA is changing the style of exam questions for Paper F1 to ensure that the exam complements the style of the other papers in the Fundamentals level Knowledge module and to ensure that the syllabus can be fully examined. The Paper F1 exam will include a greater proportion of scenario-based questions to better test comprehension and some application. These changes applied to computer based exams from November 2008 and paper based exams from December The Pilot Paper has also been amended to reflect these changes. Any student preparing to take Paper F1 should familiarise themselves with the new exam style. EXAMINER S APPROACH TO PAPER P6 (CYP) Guidance for students sitting Paper P6 (CYP) has been published on the ACCA website in the exam paper resources section.

3 page 79 ENTERING FOR EXAMS? Important information for all ACCA students intending to take exams at the June 2009 exam session. As the global body for professional accountants, ACCA continues to enjoy sustained growth, to be in-demand by employers, and a popular choice for trainee accountants. At the December 2008 exam session, a record number of entrants sat ACCA exams, with 182,449 candidates taking a total of 365,528 papers. In the past five years alone, the number of exam entries processed has increased by 69%. The continued relevance and popularity of our exams means that it is essential that we ensure that our services and support remain consistently excellent, and that our exam service can be administered to its usual high standards of delivery. To do this, we rely on the cooperation of our students and other stakeholders. Please take the time to read the exam entry procedures and processes on this page which must be followed to ensure you are able to sit your exams. The continued relevance and popularity of OUR exams means that it is essential that WE ensure our services and support remain as high as ever and that our exam service can be administered to its usual high standards of delivery. Try and submit your Exam Entry Form as early as possible and before the exam entry deadline 15 October for December exams and 15 April for June exams. Only submit one Exam Entry Form per exam session. If you submit an online exam entry form, do not also submit a postal Exam Entry Form. Similarly, if you have submitted a paper form, there is no need to also submit an online exam entry. However, don t get confused regarding the number of exams you can take during an exam session. There is no limit on the number of CAT exams you can take and you can sit a maximum of four ACCA Qualification exams at one session. Just make sure you enter for them all at the same time either online or by post using the original Exam Entry Form we send to you. If you are submitting an online exam entry form, carefully check the details on the acknowledgement page before completing your online application and ensure you print and retain a copy for your own reference. If you are submitting an Exam Entry Form by post, please remember the following: You must use an original ACCA Exam Entry Form no photocopies, handwritten or computer screen prints will be accepted. Carefully check the details before posting your form. You will be sent an exam entry acknowledgement by if we have your address, otherwise it will be posted. Carefully check the details on receipt of the acknowledgement. If you wish to withdraw your application, you must do so before the exam entry deadline, otherwise you will be marked as absent and your fee will not be refunded. After the deadline, ACCA can only consider exceptional circumstances, for example, if a student is unable to attend for medical or other unforeseeable issues. In such cases, withdrawal requests must be submitted with documentary evidence. If you miss the regular exam entry deadline, you have up to three weeks to submit your exam entry through the online late exam entry process. There is a charge of 110 per paper plus the exam entry fee for this service. Please note that this is an online service only; we cannot process late paper Exam Entry Forms during this time. If you submitted an online exam entry form, you can make changes to your preferred exam centre and variant papers using myacca up to the exam entry deadline. If you completed a paper Exam Entry Form, you can make a request in writing to ACCA Connect to change your exam entry marked change to exam entry but we cannot guarantee that this will be processed in time for the exams. Please do not submit another Exam Entry Form. If you wish to submit a paper Exam Entry Form but can t find your original, you will need to make a request to ACCA Connect, marked request for duplicate exam entry form. Please ensure you allow enough time to receive the duplicate Exam Entry Form and return it to ACCA before the exam entry deadline. If you wish to sit exams at a location that is not listed on the special exam centre list or on the exam centre list, you will need to submit a request in writing along with your completed Exam Entry Form to the Exams department in Glasgow by 15 September for December exams and by 15 March for June exams. ACCA will only set up special centres if a suitable, independent administrator can be found, so please do not assume that submitting a request will guarantee that a special centre will be set up. If it is not possible for us to arrange a special exam centre, you will be offered the opportunity to sit your exams at the nearest regular exam centre. If you require special facilities at the exam centre and have already notified ACCA, this will already be recorded on the Exam Entry Form that we send to you. You must submit your exam entry form by 30 September for December exams and 30 March for June exams. If you have not previously notified us of any special facilities you require at the exam centre, submit documentary evidence to support your request in writing to the Exams department by 30 September for December exams or 30 March for June exams and we shall aim to make the necessary arrangements. Requests submitted after this time will not be considered. Your cooperation and support by following these exam entry procedures will ensure ACCA can process and deliver your exams as effectively and efficiently as possible.

4 page 80 New students Applications are normally processed within four to six weeks of receipt in the Glasgow office. Forms handed in to national ACCA offices or Joint Scheme offices will be forwarded to Glasgow. Students who apply to register online can track the progress of their application on the e-business website at New students should allow adequate time for processing and receiving official confirmation of their registration. Carefully read the information that you receive with your post-registration pack to ensure all details have been recorded correctly. You should expect to receive: a student registration card, a welcome to ACCA letter, a profile letter detailing a summary of your data held by ACCA, and an exemption notification if applicable. ACCA Qualification variant/accounting and auditing papers The tax and law variants allocated to you at the time of registration are indicated on your profile letter. You can view your full profile at myacca. You can select the accounting and auditing standards that you wish to be examined in at the time you enter for your exams. Should you wish to change the tax or law variant for the forthcoming session, you can do so as part of online exam entry or by including a request when submitting your Exam Entry Form. Amendments can be accepted up until the exam entry closing date for the next session, ie 15 April for the June exams and 15 October for the December exams. Transfer to the ACCA Qualification Students completing the exam element of the Certified Accounting Technician Scheme are eligible to transfer to the ACCA Qualification with exemption from Papers F1, F2 and F3. This transfer is automatic for all students who stated on their initial Technician Registration Form that they wished this to take place. Such students are eligible to take the next session of the ACCA Qualification exams. If you indicated on your application that you did not wish this transfer to take place, a separate application will be required should you subsequently decide to attempt the ACCA Qualification exams. CAT variant/accounting and auditing streams The variant and stream allocated to you at the time of your registration are indicated on your profile letter. You can also view this at myacca. All exam options are calculated based on the variant/ stream information held on file for you at the date of issue of the entry form. Should you wish to change a variant paper, please confirm this in writing. If you would like to change your stream, you can do so at the time of exam entry or online via the e-business facility. Amendments can be accepted up until the standard exam entry closing date for the next session, ie 15 April for the June exams and 15 October for the December exams. EXAM CERTIFICATES ACCA issues the following exam certificates twice a year after exam results are released: ACCA QUALIFICATION Certificate of Achievement Students are awarded a Certificate of Achievement if they achieve a pass mark of 85% or above for individual passes in Papers F1, F2 and F3. Intermediate Level Certificate Students are awarded an Intermediate Level Certificate when they have successfully completed all of the Intermediate Level exams (Papers 3 and 4) of the CAT qualification. Change of address Visit to update your address details through ACCA s website. You must first register on the website by clicking on myacca and entering your student registration number and passcode (sent to you with your annual subscription notification or welcome pack). You may also use the ACCA website to check that we hold the correct and most up-to-date record of your address and contact details on our database. Remember that if you notify us of your change of address after the 10th of the month, your details will not be updated in time to allow the next issue of student accountant to be delivered to your new address. Fundamentals Level Certificate Students are awarded a Fundamentals Level Certificate when they have successfully completed all of the exams in the Fundamentals Level of the ACCA Qualification (Papers F1 F9). Professional Level Certificate Students are awarded a Professional Level Certificate when they have successfully completed all of the exams in the Professional Level of the ACCA Qualification (P1 P3 and any two of the Options papers from P4, P5, P6 and P7). CAT QUALIFICATION Introductory Level Certificate Students are awarded an Introductory Level Certificate when they have successfully completed all of the Introductory Level exams (Papers 1 and 2) of the CAT qualification. Advanced Level Certificate An Advanced Level Certificate is awarded on successful completion of all of the Advanced Level exams (Papers 5 7 and two of the three options from Paper 8 10) of the CAT qualification. Passed Finalist Certificate Students are awarded a Passed Finalist Certificate when they have successfully completed all of the papers of the CAT qualification.

5 page 81 OXFORD BROOKES Students completing certain papers of the ACCA Qualification are eligible to apply for a BSc (honours) in applied accounting from Oxford Brookes University. You can check your eligibility status at How to apply to opt in If you initially registered with ACCA from 1 January 2001 and elected not to join the scheme at the time of registration, you can still apply to opt in at any time prior to attempting ACCA Qualification Papers F7, F8, or F9. Write to: ACCA Admissions, 2 Central Quay, 89 Hydepark Street, Glasgow G3 8BW, United Kingdom and request to be opted in. To opt in online, simply visit ACCA s e-business website at Submission of Research and Analysis Project (RAP) If you are opted in to the Oxford Brookes partnership and intend to submit your RAP, you must do so within 10 years of your first date of registration with ACCA. The dates below outline the forthcoming deadlines for completing the qualifying exams and the last opportunity you have for submitting your RAP. Turn to page 17 for important information on the new RAP. First session (1) Final session for completing Final date for submission the qualifying exams (2) of RAP June 1999 December 2008 April 2009 December 1999 June 2009 October 2009 June 2000 December 2009 April 2010 December 2000 June 2010 October 2010 June 2001 December 2010 April 2011 December 2001 June 2011 October 2011 June 2002 December 2011 April 2012 December 2002 June 2012 October 2012 June 2003 December 2012 April 2013 Notes 1 First applicable exam session as confirmed at the time of your initial registration with ACCA. 2 Completion of Fundamentals Level exams. Professional Ethics module deadline Students wishing to submit their RAP must have completed the Professional Ethics module by the following dates: 31 January for the March/April submission period 31 July for the September/October submission period. Technical article policy Technical articles are written either by the examiners, by an expert commissioned to write on an area identified by the examiner, or by independent parties who have identified a need which is agreed by the relevant examiner. All contributors are equally important no article is printed if it does not assist students in some way. The purpose of technical articles published by ACCA is to: elaborate on a technical area in which students perform badly in the exam give extra information about those areas newer to the syllabus, which may have less coverage in study texts than the more traditional areas give an examiner s specific focus on a given topic. The articles are not intended to be relevant for only one exam sitting, with the possible exception of tax. Tax articles tend to be updated annually to comply with legal changes. Otherwise, the aim is to provide a suite of articles relating to a specific exam paper; students should then look at all articles on the website when preparing for that exam. However, technical articles are also not simply written to target one exam paper. Using the new ACCA Qualification papers as an example, the examiners have written several articles, some on topics which have been examined already, others on topics which have not and may not be examined in the near future. Similarly, although some of the technical articles were written a number of years ago, on changing to the new syllabus, any articles deemed equally relevant to a new paper were carried forward. These have as much value as recent articles.

6 page 82 student accountant MARCH 2009 AMENDED ANNUAL CUT-OFF DATE FOR PAPER F6 (VNM) As a result of requests from tuition providers, the new annual cut-off for Paper F6 (Vietnam) is now 31 December. Go to students/study_exams/qualifications/acca_choose/ acca/fundamentals/tx/exam_docs/vietnam for a list of examinable regulations for the June and December 2009 exams and the updated study guide. CHANGES TO THE cat qualification From June 2009, there will be minor changes to the CAT Advanced Level papers (Paper 5 to 10): The pass mark will be increased from 40% to 50%. All exams will now include some multiple choice questions (MCQs): 24% of Paper 5 will become MCQs (two hour exam). 20% of Papers 6 to 10 will become MCQs (three-hour exams). The overall syllabus for the qualification remains unchanged, although some material from Paper 7 has moved to Paper 10. Go to com/students/study_exams/qualifications/ technicianscheme for revised study guides and pilot papers for Papers 5 to 10. DUPLICATE DECEMBER 2008 EXAMINATION RESULTS/STATUS/JUNE 2009 ENTRY FORM Please allow a reasonable amount of time for your results/status/entry form to arrive. You should have received your form by 2 March If you have not received your notification by this date complete and return the form below. STUDENTS STRUCK OFF Name Registration number Address New address* Address already notified * IMPORTANT If you have recently changed your address without notifying ACCA, you must do so in writing or through ACCA s website. Failure to do so will result in your mail being misdirected. Return this form to: Exams Operations Services, ACCA, 2 Central Quay, 89 Hydepark Street, Glasgow G3 8BW, United Kingdom Mukhtar Ahmed Qureshi On 29 January 2008, ACCA s Disciplinary Committee considered a complaint against Mukhtar Ahmed Qureshi of Dorothy Avenue, Wembley. The complaint that he was liable to disciplinary action under bye-law 8(a)(i) in that he was guilty of misconduct in that he engaged in unprofessional conduct designed to assist him in his exam attempts, contrary to the Fundamental Principle of Integrity, was found proved. The Committee ordered that Mukhtar Ahmed Qureshi should be removed from the student register and pay costs of 610. Mukhtar Ahmed Qureshi appealed against the orders and finding of the Disciplinary Committee. On 15 May 2008, the Appeal Committee refused him permission to appeal on the basis that the Committee were not satisfied that there was a real prospect of success or some other compelling reason why the appeal should be heard. Artur Kumirov On 24 September 2008, ACCA s Disciplinary Committee considered an allegation against a student, Artur Kumirov of Moscow, Russian Federation. The allegation that he was liable to disciplinary action in that, under bye-law 8(a)(i), he took to his desk and/or possessed at that desk, or otherwise during the course of the exam, materials not authorised by the Registrar and intended to use them, contrary to the Fundamental Principle of Integrity, was found proved. The Committee ordered that Artur Kumirov should be removed from the student register and pay costs of 736. Thomas Essex On 31 January 2008, ACCA s Disciplinary Committee considered a complaint against Thomas Essex of Oldbury Road, Nuneaton. The complaint that Thomas Essex was liable to disciplinary action under bye-law 8(a)(i) in that he provided ACCA with a false statement of exam results, purportedly by a university, contrary to the Fundamental Principle of Integrity, was found proved. The Committee ordered that Thomas Essex should be removed from the student register, pay costs of 500, and that the decision be published by issuing a press release to the professional, national, and local press referring to him by name. Thomas Essex appealed against the orders of the Disciplinary Committee that he pay costs of 500. On 18 June 2008, the Appeal Committee refused his permission to appeal the costs order on the basis that the Committee was not satisfied that there was a real prospect or some other compelling reason why the appeal should be heard. Thomas Essex had previously been given permission to appeal against the publicity order. The Appeal Committee refused his appeal against the publicity order and ordered that he pay further costs of 400.