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The results are in and we can now share them with you.
Unfortunately there isn’t a “lucky month” for taking exams. The analysis showed there to be no seasonal peaks or troughs. Students should sit the exams at a time that fits in with their work commitments and personal life.
There were differences in student performance between study channels (e.g. classroom, online etc) in terms of both speed of progression and exam success, but we concluded it would be wrong to promote one channel over another because so much is dependant on individual learning styles.
Students should select the method of study that fits with their preferred way of learning.
The average pass rate for students sitting the exam within the first 12 weeks is 77%. In the next 8 weeks this falls to 61%. The implication is that taking the exam after 12 weeks reduces pass rates by 16%.
The data shows a decline in pass rates from the end of the course to sitting the exam.
Taking long periods of time after the course reduces chances of exam success.
These findings are more relevant for scheduled courses where there is a clear end date.
There are differences for individual papers but overall the evidence suggests students should sit the exam within 3 weeks from when the course ends.
The data showed that exemptions make little difference to exam success.
Students who change the exam date from their original booking have a 16% lower pass rate than those who don’t re-schedule.
This might seem strange, if a student doesn’t feel ready to sit the exam, delaying is a sensible option. However, the data suggests this is not a good idea.
The key message is to book the exam and don’t change it.
Attempting questions and mock exams on MyKaplan resulted in higher pass rates.
Completing knowledge checks and mock exams increased pass rates by 5%.
This shouldn’t be interpreted that attempting questions only increases pass rates by 5%. Many students will use paper based text books and question banks and these activities have not been captured because there’s no digital evidence.
We hope these findings help you reflect on your learning habits. There are always ways to improve and reach your full exam potential.
This research project was carried out by Kaplan’s Head of Learning Stuart Pedley Smith and CIMA. For further information on study tips and the science of learning stay updated with our insights posts.
To watch the full presentation on this study, and see how the results were gathered, register to listen to the webinar recording.
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