For most candidates, the exam is a stressful situation. Issues and calculations which seem so clear outside the exam room are somewhat cloudy under exam conditions.

The main aim of the critical file is to provide you with an exam tool which alleviates some of that unnecessary pressure. When you step into the exam room, you have three hours to demonstrate the knowledge you have accumulated over the module. Your aim should be to do as much thinking as possible outside the exam room.

What are the benefits of having a well constructed critical file?
You need to be able to access information readily and convey this to the examiner. Whilst exam pressure can never be removed completely, you will feel more confident by having concise notes which provide you with a starting point for structuring your response to questions.

What should be included in your critical file?
You should always ask yourself, ‘will this material help me in answering an exam question for relevant standards/legislations?'. If the answer to this question is no, then do not include.  If you feel the need for this information, then reference your critical file to where you can find it.

Look at past exam questions and examiners’ feedback to assess the style of questions you could be asked.  Consider what material would be helpful in answering the questions. We recommend that you:

1. Use worked examples which identify key concepts and show you how to perform a calculation as these are more value than definitions. Your critical file should be cross-referenced to your CLP or other authority for definitions.  Exam questions often require candidates to cite relevant authority. By including references in your file, you are saving valuable time during the exam.



2. Set up templates.  Many exam questions follow standard formats which require you to demonstrate an understanding of mathematical relationships and concepts.



3. Use prompts to highlight key relationships/concepts. Based on examiners’ feedback, highlight areas that candidates make common errors in and ensure that you do not repeat them.



4. Use flow charts or concise tables which consider various options. Analyse alternative solutions before you go into the exam.



5. Use mind maps which identify links between topics and concepts. This is particularly important in the taxation module, where exam questions are structured linking topics from various units. Your critical file should pre-empt potential links. Place yourself in the examiners shoes and ask what question could I ask on this topic?



6. Establish a step-by-step approach for complex areas in the module. Do not ignore hard topics – this could be costly in an exam. Instead break the issue down into a process of steps. This should allow you to gain valuable marks in an exam.

What generally does not work?
The critical file is an individually tailored file. The content and layout may vary from candidate to candidate based on your knowledge level and learning style. Based on feedback we recommend that you do not:

1. Use your CLP as your critical file. The reason for this is that the CLP is designed to assist initial learning.



2. Include too much theory. Consider a past paper and the style of questions being asked. Accordingly, if your critical file focuses on definitions rather than application, you are restricting your chances of success during the exam.



3. Have a critical file which is the same size as your CLP.  To be effective, notes must be concise. You should be able to condense topics into a 2-3 page summary of the key points. Otherwise the critical file looses its effectiveness by having too much information which cannot readily be accessed.

Effective critical files take time to construct. They are a continuous work in progress. The benefit is when you are sitting in that exam room, turn over a paper, and see a topic that you had hoped was not on the exam, you’ll take a breath and turn to the relevant page in your critical file. You know you may not get full marks, but using the material you prepared earlier, you know you will do the best you can. And that may mean the difference in passing or failing!