How to Pick Up the Easy Marks in ACCA Exams
Every ACCA paper has marks that are quick to grab — format, definitions, straightforward calculations. Securing them first is often the difference between 48% and 52%.
The pass mark is 50%, so you don't need a perfect paper — you need enough marks. Every ACCA exam contains marks that are relatively quick and safe to secure, and students who grab those first give themselves a buffer. Chasing the hardest parts while leaving easy marks on the table is how capable students end up just below the line.
Where the easy marks usually hide
- Format and professional marks — using the right report structure, headings and tone.
- Straightforward definitions or standard journal entries you can produce from memory.
- The first, simplest parts of a calculation before it gets complex.
- Clearly labelled workings that earn method marks regardless of the final figure.
- Obvious, scenario-linked points that don't require deep analysis.
How to make sure you get them
- Attempt every question — a fresh question's early marks are easier than a completed question's final marks.
- Bank the easy parts of each requirement first, then return for the harder marks.
- Never leave a written requirement blank; a few applied points is far better than nothing.
- Watch the clock so you don't run out of time before reaching easy marks later in the paper.
Knowing where the easy marks are comes from seeing your practice answers marked properly. The 50% Club marks your practice answers against the official ACCA scheme, so you can see exactly which marks you're leaving behind — and build the habit of banking them, so 48% becomes a comfortable pass.