ACCA APM exam-day guide
ACCA APM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission notice / exam confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your exam, date, time, and centre. Confirm with your exam provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Valid photo ID
Bring the exact form of ID your provider specifies (often a passport or national photo ID). Check the name matches your registration exactly. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Exam-day stationery
Bring black ballpoint pens (spares), a pencil, eraser, and a small clear ruler. Confirm what your centre permits, as rules on permitted items vary.
Approved calculator
APM allows a non-programmable calculator. Check your provider's list of permitted models and whether the calculator must be shown to the invigilator. Confirm with the provider.
Clear water bottle (label removed)
Many centres allow a clear bottle with labels removed; some restrict drinks. Confirm the centre's policy in advance.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or digital watch helps you pace the three hours and 15 minutes. Smart watches and phones are not permitted at the desk.
Know your route and arrival time
Plan travel to arrive ahead of the start time your provider advises. Check local transport disruptions the day before. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Leave valuables and phone at home or stored
Phones must be switched off and stored away from your desk as directed by invigilators. Do not rely on your phone as a clock.
Read the exam instructions in advance
Know the APM format: Section A (a 50-mark case with several requirements) and Section B (two 25-mark questions, each with two sub-requirements). This helps you allocate time.
Time-allocation plan rehearsed
Practise allocating roughly 1.8 minutes per mark, plus reading and planning time. Decide your target finish time for each question before the exam.
Confirm centre-specific rules
Check whether your centre provides scratch paper, whether you may bring notes, and break rules. Do not assume; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Rework your weakest syllabus areas using the APM syllabus areas (strategic planning, performance measurement, risk, and professional skills). Do at least one full timed past-style paper under exam conditions and review your answers against the marking guide.
Rehearse the professional skills marks: practise writing concise reports to a named audience, explaining calculations, and making clear recommendations. These carry 20 marks across the paper.
Build a one-page formula and framework sheet for the models you may need (e.g., balanced scorecard, building blocks, value chain, transfer pricing, divisional performance measures) and review it daily.
Do a light review only: skim your formula sheet, note common traps (misreading the verb, ignoring the scenario, failing to apply figures), and check your exam logistics and ID.
Prepare your bag with ID, confirmation, stationery, and approved calculator. Set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep; avoid last-minute cramming late into the night.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the centre with time to spare, and avoid discussing topics with other candidates to stay calm. Have your ID and confirmation ready for check-in.
Read the instructions, note the total marks, and write down your time targets for each question. Skim all requirements before starting so you can plan.
Spend the reading time understanding the case and the named audience. Answer every requirement, applying the scenario's figures. Do not overrun your target time on the 50-mark case.
Answer both 25-mark questions; do not leave one out. Keep answers structured and focused on the verb (e.g., evaluate, assess, recommend) and the marks available.
Check you have attempted every requirement, that calculations are labelled and referenced, and that your conclusions answer the question asked. Use remaining time to add value, not to rewrite.
Rules to check
Bring the ID your provider specifies and ensure the name matches your registration. If in doubt about acceptable ID, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Phones and smart devices must be switched off and stored as directed; keeping one at your desk is treated as misconduct.
Only use a calculator from your provider's permitted list; check the list in advance and confirm with the provider if unsure.
Follow invigilator instructions at all times. If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait to be escorted; rules on breaks vary, so confirm the centre's policy.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam or attempt to access unauthorised material; this can lead to disqualification.
Marks are awarded for professional skills as well as technical content, so structure answers, apply the scenario, and communicate clearly.
Attempt all requirements. A partially answered requirement usually scores more than a perfect answer to one question and nothing to another.
If you believe there is a problem with the exam or centre, report it to the invigilator and follow your provider's complaints procedure afterwards.