If you’re preparing for your upcoming ACCA exam, you’ve probably heard this from every tutor: “Time management is everything.” And they’re right.

As an ACCA mentor offering ACCA classes in Jaipur, I’ve seen brilliant students fall short—not because they didn’t know the answers, but because they couldn’t manage the clock. In ACCA exams, time flies, and without a solid strategy, even the best-prepared student can struggle.

This blog is your practical guide to managing your time effectively in the ACCA exam, based on real student experiences, expert techniques, and what truly works in the exam hall.

• 1. Time Flies: Know the Golden Rule — 1.5 Minutes per Mark
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• Each ACCA paper is designed with a specific number of marks (usually 100) and a fixed time limit (3 hours or 180 minutes). That means: You get 1.8 minutes per mark — but aim for 1.5 minutes.
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• Why the buffer? Because reading the questions, planning responses, and reviewing your paper takes up time. If you train yourself to work within 1.5 minutes per mark, you’ll build a margin of safety.
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• For example:

  • A 10-mark question → max 15 minutes

  • A 20-mark question → max 30 minutes

Stick to this religiously, even when tempted to go over on a “favourite” question.

• 2. Break Down Time by Section

Section A (Objective/MCQs):
Spend no more than 1-1.2 minutes per question. If you’re stuck, flag and move on.

Section B (Scenario-based MCQs):
Aim for 2–2.5 minutes per scenario-based MCQ, depending on complexity.

Section C (Long-form questions):
Use your time wisely here: plan → structure → answer → review. A rough guide:

• 20-mark question = ~30 minutes

• 30-mark question = ~45 minutes

Tip from my ACCA tuition: Practice answer planning during mocks. This saves time and improves answer quality.

• 3. Practice Under Timed Conditions—Not Just Practice

You don’t develop time management in theory—you build it in exam-like conditions. That means:

• Set a timer while attempting past papers.
• Simulate full 3-hour exam sessions.
• Learn to let go of perfection on tough questions. Aim for attempted answers, not flawless ones.

As I always tell my students in our ACCA classes in Jaipur: You’ll never finish on time unless you train your mind under time pressure.

• 4. Develop a Personal Exam Strategy

No two students are the same. Some perform best starting with short questions; others like diving into the long ones first. The key is to:

• Know your strengths

• Experiment with order during mocks

• Finalise a routine before the real exam

I help each of my students build a custom exam strategy during our ACCA coaching, especially in the final revision weeks.

• 5. Learn from Post-Practice Review

After every mock, ask yourself:

• Where did I lose time?
• Did I over-answer low-weightage questions?
• Did I panic or blank out anywhere?

The best students are those who review their behaviour, not just their answers. This mindset, more than any formula, makes you exam-ready.