All Segments - General Guidelines For Exam Preparation - 2014 Semester 2

ALL SEGMENTS:
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR EXAM PREPARATION
CPA PROGRAM AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT EXAMS

SEMESTER 2 2014
CONTENTS
SECTION A: EXAM MARK ALLOCATIONS...2
SECTION B: GUIDELINES TO ANSWERING EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTIONS.5
Table of instruction words......7
SECTION A: EXAM MARK ALLOCATIONS

Advanced Audit and Assurance
Exam consists of 90 multiple choice questions (Questions 1 90 are worth 1 mark each)
Exam total = 90 marks
Advanced Taxation
Contemporary Business Issues
Ethics and Governance
Section A60 multiple choice questions (Questions 1 60 are worth 1 mark each)
Section BTotal of 25 marks available for extended response questions:
Case 1
Question 61 (6 marks)

Financial Risk Management
Page 2 of 8
Financial Reporting
Case 1
Case 2
Global Strategy and Leadership

Minor Case Study

Section CTotal of 34 marks available for extended response questions:

Major Case Study
All questions for Sections B and C require a written response.

Page 3 of 8
Malaysia Taxation
Case 1

Case 2
Case 3
Case 4
Case 5

Practice Management
Case 1
Case 2

Singapore Taxation
Total of 100 marks available for extended response questions:
Question 3 (20 marks Part I and Part II are worth 10 marks each)
Page 4 of 8
Strategic Management Accounting

Case 1
Case 2
SECTION B: GUIDELINES TO ANSWERING EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTIONS

Overview
The exams for the following segments include a combination of multiple-choice questions and extended response
questions:
Ethics and Governance
Financial Reporting
Global Strategy and Leadership
Malaysia Taxation
Practice Management
Singapore Taxation (written response questions only)
Strategic Management Accounting
Extended response exam questions are designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of key concepts, and
your ability to apply these concepts to a set of case facts and scenarios.
Provided in this section are guidelines to assist you in answering extended response exam questions.
Allow sufficient time to answer the questions
The exam outlines the suggested time allocation for the multiple-choice and extended-response sections.
Check your exam structure document for the marks allocated to each extended response question. You can use this
information to calculate how much time to spend on each question. For example, if a question is worth 10 marks
out of 80, you would spend 1/8 of the exams total time of three hours and 15 minutes on this question, or
approximately 25 minutes.
Page 5 of 8
Once this time has elapsed, move on to the next question. For the multiple-choice questions, if you dont know the
answer to a question, move on. If you have time left at the end of the exam, you can come back to finish any
incomplete questions or select an answer for a multiple-choice question.
Read the questions carefully to gain a clear understanding of what is expected in your answers
You should ensure you answer the question that has been asked. If, for example, you are asked to explain two
items but you explain more than two, only your first two items will be marked.
The question will include an important instruction word which tells you what you have to do. The table on pages 7
and 8 lists some of the most commonly used words and their meanings.
Use a logical structure in your answer. Consider the issues involved and apply them to the facts of the
case.
Marks will be given for a well-explained and logical argument that identifies relevant issues. It may help to prepare
an outline of your answer first.
You should support your argument with appropriate references to the facts of the case study. Marks are not
deducted for incorrect answers.
Keep to the point

Marks are awarded for the content of your answer. Your response should include sufficient detail to
cover the relevant issues and to clearly answer the question. Marks will not be awarded for quoting sections of the
study guide, for repeating the question or for providing information that is not related to answering the question..
You can use the number of marks allocated to each question as a guide to the appropriate length of your response.
For example, the answer to a question worth four marks would be expected to be significantly shorter than the
answer for a 10 mark question.
Use a clear layout for your answers

Consider using headings and sub-headings
You may wish to present your answer in point form where this is sufficient to answer the question.
Page 6 of 8
Table of instruction words

Instruction word
What you are required to do
Analyse
Look further into an issue than simply describing or explaining it.
Break the issue down into its parts, highlighting the structure and relationships.
Examine each part of the issue in detail and interpret it in terms of its effects.
Apply
Use a theoretical concept or a principle and relate it to the case facts or to the information
provided.
Argue
Present the case for or against a particular opinion, idea or view and come to a conclusion.
Compare/contrast
Note the similarities and differences between an opinion, idea or view.
Critically examine /
explore
Give your view about the merit of theories or opinions.
Support your view by a discussion of the evidence or facts.
Define
Set down or clarify the precise meaning of a word or phrase.
Describe
Give a detailed account of the term or issue.
Discuss
Describe the various parts of the issue or problem.
Look at the issue from a number of different aspects.
Consider various parts of the issue or problem.
Investigate or examine by argument or debate, giving reasons for and against.
Provide a conclusion based on your arguments.
Determine the importance of the issue when compared to other issues.
Assess the validity of an argument or conclusion.
Include your personal opinion and come to a conclusion supported by appropriate facts,
evidence or reasoning.
Define the issue or concept and break it down into its parts.
Describe each part in depth.
Describe the implications.
In a step-by-step manner, give the reasons for how or why something is the way it is.
Make plain, interpret, and make your points in detail.
Identify
State or give the information asked for, with reference to its characteristics or features if
applicable.
Illustrate
Use an example to explain and make clear.
Interpret
Explore the meaning of, and make clear.
Usually give your own judgment or come to a conclusion as well.
Explain the reasons and basis for decisions or conclusions.
Provide evidence to support your arguments.
Name or identify a number of factors.
Evaluate
Examine
Explain/Show
Justify
List
Page 7 of 8
Instruction word
What you are required to do
Outline
Describe the main features or general principles.
Briefly describe the structure and relationship of the points made.
Describe how things are connected to each other.
Describe to what extent they are alike or affect each other.
Review
Consider, investigate, analyse or explain, examining the subject critically.
State
Specify fully and clearly.
Summarise
Give a concise account of the main points, omitting unnecessary details and examples.
Relate
[Adapted from Marshall, L. & Rowland, F. (1998) A guide to learning independently, third edition, Longman:
Personal Education Australia]
Page 8 of 8

All Segments - General Guidelines For Exam Preparation - 2014 Semester 2

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ALL SEGMENTS:

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR EXAM PREPARATION

CPA PROGRAM AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT EXAMS

SECTION A: EXAM MARK ALLOCATIONS

Exam total = 85 marks

Exam total = 65 marks

Global Strategy and Leadership

Question 17 (10 marks)

Section CTotal of 34 marks available for extended response questions:

All questions for Sections B and C require a written response.

Question 21 (24 marks)

Question 23 (15 marks)

Exam total = 80 marks

Exam total = 80 marks

Strategic Management Accounting

Exam total = 85 marks

SECTION B: GUIDELINES TO ANSWERING EXTENDED RESPONSE QUESTIONS

Keep to the point

Use a clear layout for your answers

Table of instruction words

What you are required to do

Look further into an issue than simply describing or explaining it.

Note the similarities and differences between an opinion, idea or view.

Give your view about the merit of theories or opinions.

Support your view by a discussion of the evidence or facts.

Set down or clarify the precise meaning of a word or phrase.

Give a detailed account of the term or issue.

Describe the various parts of the issue or problem.

Look at the issue from a number of different aspects.

Consider various parts of the issue or problem.

Investigate or examine by argument or debate, giving reasons for and against.

Provide a conclusion based on your arguments.

Determine the importance of the issue when compared to other issues.

Assess the validity of an argument or conclusion.

Describe each part in depth.

Describe the implications.

Make plain, interpret, and make your points in detail.

Use an example to explain and make clear.

Explore the meaning of, and make clear.

Usually give your own judgment or come to a conclusion as well.

Explain the reasons and basis for decisions or conclusions.

Provide evidence to support your arguments.

Name or identify a number of factors.

What you are required to do

Describe the main features or general principles.

Briefly describe the structure and relationship of the points made.

Describe how things are connected to each other.

Describe to what extent they are alike or affect each other.

Consider, investigate, analyse or explain, examining the subject critically.

Specify fully and clearly.

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