TPE tips
Good planning includes: more presentation and approach marks.
targetthinking about what you need to do Then pick up your pen (it really
TPE: tips from
and why makes a difference to practise) and
target reflecting on both the individual write sections of your answer in a more past candidates
tasks and the “big picture” structured and concise manner to
Three CAs suggest their
targetconsidering whether your approach develop this skill and condition yourself
meets the needs and priorities of your to write this way – always! Lean writing
own personal advice for
reader is a skill that will serve you well
candidates facing the TPE
targetallocating a time plan to each compo- throughout your business life – not just for the first time
nent of your work your TPE examination.
target making sure that you have distin- Five-and-a-half hours of
guished between the critical and more During the examination concentration and writing may
peripheral points Your aim is to stay in control and you seem daunting to begin with.
target making sure you have thought can achieve this by: However, as you build up to the
through your ideas, are prepared to offer targetpausing to reflect on the information final exam it should become more
evidence for your opinions, and that the you have assimilated – think before comfortable. Practise exam
advice you are offering is comprehen- you write! technique, including how to take
sive, commercially sound, and capable target seeing the big picture from the “flash breaks” within the exam to
of being implemented by your reader. reader’s perspective clear your thinking and think about
Look at the course work that you have targetproducing a concise plan (preferably how to tackle the next section.
produced and be honest – if the evidence a single page) – and using it Think around issues from all
is there that you do this (and I bet you targetpreparing an estimate of the allocation available angles… displaying an
do!) then invest some time reworking of the technical marks – and paying understanding of risks/opportunities
poor narrative to make it stronger. This attention to it in a given situation will score marks.
may sound a very low-level activity but target never starting a task without an targetDavid Brownlow, Aviva
it is targeting one of the main weak- understanding of how long you plan to
nesses that contribute to TPE failures. spend on it and how many marks you Do not get bogged down with the
With practice you will learn to produce think it is likely to be worth technical content. Think of it as an
lean, specific and assertive narrative. target being ruthlessly disciplined with 80/20 rule. If you have 80 per cent
your time of the idea, move on as you will
Writing target always allowing time to assemble not get those extra marks for the
Revisit your class notes covering case your script, produce a contents page, 20 per cent extra effort and there
study skills and also your TPE study introduction and executive summary. is a lot to cover in the paper.
guide. Look at the sample solutions to If you feel overwhelmed by informa- Don’t lose easy presentation
the case studies taught in class. Notice tion, strip it back to the core objectives, marks, so ensure you know how
how a strong executive summary, look at your plan to remind yourself to lay out a report and letters/
concise text and effective use of head- what you have done and where you are emails/memos/file notes etc.
ings produce an answer that is clear and going, and remember – however hideous Always remember to whom you
easy to follow. the paper feels – everyone else in the are addressing the report.
Now look at work that you have pro- examination hall is facing the same targetAnna Coutts Donald, KPMG
duced under both exam conditions and paper that you are.
during general revision activities – think Prize-winning scripts are often the The best way to keep up with
about how you could have presented the shortest, but they are packed with rel- revision while still working on your
same technical knowledge in a way evant information presented in a day job is to try to map out a brief
that would have scored concise fashion. It isn’t about volume, revision schedule so that you have
so slow down and think about realistic goals which are scheduled
what you want to say. The to help you pass the exam.
student who wrote 76 pages If you make sure you are
in an exam failed! prepared, practise case studies and
And finally, remember to get enough sleep the night before
breathe – put your pen down you have no reason to panic! But if
and concentrate on what is you do panic on the day, just take a
important. Sensible thoughts, deep breath and focus on the key
well evidenced and succinctly areas that will score you the
conveyed, are what the examiner easiest marks and work through
is looking for – you can do it! ■ those first... best of luck!
targetRachel Barter, Ernst & Young
targetHILARY LOFTHOUSE is TPE
course director with ICAS
www.camagonline.co.uk/newca NEW CA {9}
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