How to approach a retake at Professional Level

First piece of advice if you failed

Once you’re qualified, no one's going to ask you, ‘How many times did it take you to pass this exam?’ All they see is the qualification after your name. When you get that result, take a deep breath. Do whatever you need to get yourself mentally back into the game. Then it’s time for some honest reflection and try to look at it objectively rather than emotionally. Did I approach this in the right way? Were there gaps in my knowledge? I know people who have failed and gone on to be financial directors and partners. At the time, it's disappointing, and that's a valid emotion, especially when you have worked hard, but this is not going to define you.

Rebuilding your confidence

Know that you are good enough and capable of passing this, but you might need to review your approach. It's having that honest reflection. The fact that you've passed Certificate Level and you've got to where you are shows you are more than capable. Often students fail an exam not because of technical capability but because of exam technique and revision strategy.

Biggest mistakes when preparing for a retake

The biggest mistake is doing the same thing you did before and expecting a different outcome. Find out what didn't go so well and where your knowledge gaps are. Then think about exam technique. Did you approach specific question types in the right way? Having to balance doing a retake with work is challenging so have a clear strategy – work back from your resit exam date and make sure you’ve structured your study around that. Setting small goals for yourself will also help confidence.

Learn from your previous exam

Request to get your exam back via the marks feedback and look at the examiner's comments, which will identify common mistakes made by students. Doing that post-exam analysis will help you identify the areas you need to address. Your tutor can help you to identify issues with exam technique, weak topic areas, your approach to revision and where you might need to change your strategy. It may be that on the exam day itself, you had a great strategy, but a lack of confidence undermined your thought process. Or you didn't stick to timings.

5 practical steps to improving your revision approach

If you have a core understanding of the main syllabus areas, you will pass that exam. Prioritise gaps in your knowledge.

• Identify and prioritise your weaker areas
  Don’t spend too much time on topics you already understand. Instead, focus on your weaker subject areas and use question practice. 
• Make your revision active, not passive
  Simply reading through notes isn’t enough. Engage with the material, summarise key points, test yourself, and apply what you’ve learned.
• Practice questions under exam conditions 
  Work through the practice questions under timed, exam-like conditions. This will build your confidence and your ability to perform under pressure.
• Create a study plan
  Balancing work, study and life can feel overwhelming, especially when preparing for a retake. A clear plan helps you stay organised and in control.
• Stay motivated and seek support
  Set small, achievable goals to keep yourself on track. Ask for help and consider getting a study group because explaining a concept to somebody helps solidify the understanding for yourself.

Support from tutors or employers

Your tuition provider will usually put on retake courses tailored specifically for retake students where they talk about exam technique and how to approach specific questions. Make sure you do that. There's so much support available. Talk to your employers, talk to your colleagues, talk to students in the years above you because you will find you are not alone. 

Time management and exam technique

When you look at the number of marks available and you allocate your timing, it's pointless knowing you've got 36 minutes to answer a question if you don't put a stop time, so break it down. Look at the mark allocation for each requirement. You don't have to answer questions in order - tackle the stuff you feel most confident about first. Even within a question, look at the requirements and play to your strengths. It would be far worse walking out of an exam having left sections of questions on topics you were comfortable with, rather than being sucked into a time drain on question areas that you struggle with. 

How to stay motivated

Reward yourself for revising with little treats. For example, if I do this mock exam today, I’ll go to a gig at the weekend. Break your revision down into short, manageable chunks, because the prospect of revising an entire subject area feels overwhelming. If there are a couple of you in your office, or others that you know in the same situation, get a study group together. It helps with motivation and reminds you that you’re not alone.

How do you know you're ready to retake?

As you build your confidence under exam conditions and see it reflected in your progress, you’ll know you’re ready. Consistent pass marks in mock exams, along with a more confident approach to timing and exam technique, are strong indicators that you’re ready.