ACCA Applied Skills
This level is suitable if you have relevant work experience in finance, and/or have completed the previous level, ACCA Applied Knowledge. You'll develop a broad understanding of accounting in business and learn how to understand and interpret financial information.
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This follows on from ACCA Applied Knowledge and consists of six mandatory subjects which are examined individually. To be awarded the Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business, you must successfully complete all six subjects in addition to the Ethics and Professional Skills module (EPSM). Ideally you should complete the Ethics and Professional Skills module before, or alongside your first Strategic Professional subject. If you leave the EPSM until later on you’ll be at an unnecessary disadvantage. Please contact the ACCA directly to complete this module.
Entry requirements
If you have completed the Applied Knowledge level, the final level of AAT or the Foundation Diploma, you will start studying at the Applied Skills Level.
You should check whether you're eligible on the ACCA website and apply for any exemptions launch before you start studying.
Please be aware, you can only buy up to four subjects in a six month period.
Syllabus
Subjects can be sat in any order, but you should sit AA with or after FR. Students can sit up to four subjects in one exam sitting and a maximum of eight per year. You can overlap with Applied Knowledge as long as this level is being completed.
Subjects (6)
Compare study methods ›Corporate & Business Law (ENG)
EssentialYou’ll learn the general legal framework, as well as the specific legal areas that are relevant for business, so help you understand and identify the need to ask for specialist legal advice when necessary.
Live Online
Distance Learning
OnDemand
Performance Management (PM)
EssentialYou’ll develop knowledge to apply management accounting techniques to quantitive and qualitive information for planning, decision-making, performance evaluation and control.
Live Online
Distance Learning
OnDemand
Taxation (TX)
EssentialYou’ll learn the knowledge and skills relating to the tax systems for individuals, single companies and groups of companies.
Live Online
Distance Learning
Financial Reporting (FR)
EssentialYou’ll learn the skills to apply accounting standards and the theoretical framework required to prepare financial statements of entities and how to analyse and interpret those financial statements.
Live Online
Distance Learning
OnDemand
Audit & Assurance (AA)
EssentialYou’ll understand the process of implementing the assurance engagement and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework.
Live Online
Distance Learning
OnDemand
Financial Management (FM)
EssentialYou’ll develop the knowledge and skills necessary for a finance manager, in regards to investment, financing and dividend policy decisions.
Live Online
Distance Learning
Course overview
Timetables and study methods
Study methods available for this level
Live Online
The benefits of a traditional classroom but with the flexibility of an online environment. Live interactive classes at a scheduled time delivered by expert lecturers following the same exam focused material and structure as traditional classroom courses.
picture_as_pdf Live Online Europe timetable
picture_as_pdf Live Online Malaysia timetable
OnDemand
OnDemand gives you the flexibility to study when and where you want, with unique online resources designed to give you structure, keep you motivated, and cement your understanding of the subject.
Distance Learning
Distance Learning is our most flexible study option, allowing you to study independently in your own time, at your own pace, from anywhere. We provide a range of online and printed learning materials, that are written by our experts, and you’ll still get tutor support if you need it.
Exams and sittings
Timings and working towards a sitting
You must pass all six mandatory exams to complete this level. All exams are computer based (CBE) and assess all areas of the syllabus.
All the subjects, except Corporate and Business Law (LW), are assessed by 3 hour session computer based exams in March, June, September and December sittings. LW is a two hour exam, and the English and Global variants are assessed as an on demand Computer Based Exam. CBEs must be booked directly with the ACCA.
Book an exam directly with the ACCA launch
How long does it take to pass?
Most students complete this level within 12 -18 months, however this varies and will depend on how quickly you want to complete the course. Applied Skills exams are to be taken at specific times - the exam timetable can be found on the ACCA Global website launch.
Study materials and delivery costs
Live Online, Distance Learning and OnDemand students will receive printed and online study materials.
Materials included in every complete course:
Study text
A textbook covering the full subject syllabus with worked examples and activities. We’re an ACCA-approved content provider, so you can be confident you're learning exactly what you need for the exam.
Integrated workbook (Live Online and OnDemand students only)
Helps you work through the syllabus, with room to write your notes. It helps you keep everything in one place to make it easy to study and revise from.
Exam kit
Included in the exam kit is our recommended revision approach and a revision plan, exam technique guide, an analysis of past exams* with exam specific information, and practice questions with answers covering all areas of the syllabus. *where past papers have been made available by ACCA
Pocket notes
Our ACCA pocket notes are pocket-sized, brief revision notes that highlight and prioritise the essential topics you need to understand to pass your exams.
Study programme
Integrated into your MyKaplan course, this outlines the course structure, providing guidance on what to do, and when.
Application modules
Core study material that all students receive. It’s tutor-led with interactive tasks to help deepen your understanding of key topic areas.
To buy the materials separately
You can buy ACCA approved books for each subject on this level from Kaplan Publishing.
Delivery costs
How much it costs to deliver your study materials and how long it takes depends on where in the world you live.
Delivery fees are as follows:
Malaysia - 160RM
Rest of Asia/America - $47
All other countries - 25EUR
Our standard delivery times are:
Malaysia - 3 to 5 working days*
EU – 5 to 7 working days*
Rest of the World – 7 to 10 working days*
*Subject to availability.
Delivery charges apply to all Distance Learning, OnDemand and Live Online courses which include printed materials. If delivery charges are applicable for your course, they will be shown during the online checkout process, before you complete your payment details.
Tutor support
We’ll support you every step of the way throughout your learning experience with us. You can contact a tutor and get the help you need quickly and easily.
Provided by our Academic Support team (our dedicated team of expert tutors):
- LiveChat (instant feedback)
- Email (we'll get back to you within 4 hrs)
- Online community (we’ll get back to you within 4 hrs)
Testing and mocks
We have a wealth of materials to help you revise for and pass your exams.
All study methods come with:
Knowledge checks
As you go along, knowledge checks help assess your understanding of a topic before you move onto the next one.
Mock exam
Practice your exam technique with a mock exam, which replicates the format of the final exam, so you can check your progress. The mock exam is computer marked (Section A and B*) and part human marked (with the exception of the Corporate and Business Law (LW) subject) with feedback provided directly to you so you can understand the answer and improve your own.
*Section A only for AA
Consolidation test
This is a short assessment of approximately 50 marks designed to show where your knowledge strengths and weaknesses are. It’s computer marked for instant feedback.
Progress test
This is an exam that closely reflects the real exam format to give you an early indication of your progress. It’s computer marked (Section A and B*) and part human marked (except for Corporate and Business Law (LW)) to provide individual student feedback.
*Section A only for AA
Revision Question Debriefs
Videos that walk you through an answer to an exam-standard question highlighting the correct approach to the question and how you could score marks.
Question-based mock exams
Question based mocks provide you with additional questions worth in excess of the 100 marks you will have in your real exam, in the computer based exam format.
If you are studying Live Online, you will complete the questions and submit them online by the submission date for marking. You will then have a live session with the tutor to provide the tailored debriefs for your course.
You will get detailed answers for all the questions and recorded debriefs to take you through the detail of these answers to ensure you have the utmost confidence in your preparation for your real exam.
Question based is included in Distance Learning courses. On these courses, you will complete the questions at home and submit online by the submission date. You will then have access to the recorded debriefs and detailed answers to work through with your personalised feedback to help you prepare fully for your exam.
Test yourself
Choose multi-choice questions from the relevant topics and create your own mock exam to test areas of the syllabus you want to focus on. This is computer marked for immediate feedback.
MyKaplan: online learning environment
play_circle_filled Watch our video explaining MyKaplan (1:30)
MyKaplan is an online learning portal with practical resources to help you prepare for your exams.
Online features
- View your online materials in one place and access your content in a few clicks
- Contact a tutor directly using live chat or email
- Complete tests and get instant feedback
- Take part in forum discussions with students and tutors and find answers to common questions
- See instantly when your assessments have been marked
- Access on mobile, tablet, computer or through the dedicated mobile app
- Access to VideoBank - hundreds of tutor-led videos to help you get the most out of your course.
Access duration
Your chosen study method determines how long you can access your content for. All extensions are for existing content and do not include any updated content.
Live Online
Three months from last lesson date, with one three month free extension on request.
OnDemand
As long as the subscription is active, content will be made available.
Distance Learning
12 months from the first day of the selected start month, with one three month free extension on request.
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