Print| Full Interview with CETC's CIPFA Prizewinning Student Lynda McCracken |
Each year CIPFA awards nine prizes to the best performing students who have undertaken the Final Test of Professional Competence Level exams. This year CETC students enjoyed unprecedented prizewinning success by scooping an impressive 8 of the total 9 CIPFA national prizes.
Lynda McCracken, who studied at CETC East Scotland and works at West Lothian Council, was a double national prize-winner in the 2007 exams. Lynda was awarded the following CIPFA national prizes: The Arthur Collins Memorial Medal for Best Overall in Case Study and Strategic Business Management; and Third Best Performance in Case Study
Of Lynda's achievement, Donald Forrest of West Lothian Council comments:
"We are delighted with Lynda's examination success. She has been
a hard working, dedicated student, as well as an enthusiastic member of
staff, and it is great to see that her efforts have achieved such recognition.
After completing her training, Lynda recently took up a position within
the financial planning section of West Lothian Council's Financial Management
Unit. She is playing an important role in monitoring the authority's capital
expenditure and in delivering the council's 10 year capital planning and
asset management strategy. Lynda is also a member of the council's Corporate
Governance Working Group which ensures the council has effective governance
and control arrangements in place".
Here Lynda shares her experiences and tips for exam success.
So Lynda, how did it feel when you found out that you were a prize
winner?
I was excited that I had won the national overall prize as well as the Scottish one. I am proud to represent my employer and all the other Scottish students who sat their exams along side me.
What made you decide to study with CIPFA and why did you choose CETC courses?
When I took my trainee post with West Lothian Council, CIPFA was the qualification that was offered and so I began studying in the autumn of 2004. My employer recommended added-value courses at CETC East Scotland - the nearest course provider.
Did you enjoy studying at CETC? What did you find most beneficial?
CETC courses help students to understand the key concepts and provide support where you might be struggling. Studying with CETC really helped me to understand the important parts of the study guides to focus on and being part of a small class meant that we could all work together to understand new topics. CETC East Scotland had a strong support network which was helpful if I was struggling with any aspect of the courses. The progress tests and mock exams that were part of the course forced me to stay on top of my studying and not leave everything to the last minute as I didn't want to fail. When marking mock exams it is done to the same standard as the final exam and I think that this helps students to understand what is expected. This was especially true with the case study.
How did you prepare for the exams?
I attended all classes and completed all the exercises given. I also made a point of working through all of the learning material to enhance what I had learned in class. I like to take notes and would have notebooks of all the key points which I would reduce into one book nearer the exam. I did this because I believe I learn through writing things out. I also would take at least a week off work before my exams to focus on studying and during this week I would be studying from 8 to 5.30 everyday. This affected my annual leave considerably but I felt it was well worth it.
With regard to the case study I treated each mock exam like it was the final thing. Taking mock exams seriously is vital to understanding what you still need to learn and shouldn't be taken lightly! I never studied late the night before an exam which I think allowed me to go in refreshed with a clear mind.
Do you have 5 'do's' and 5 'don'ts' you can share with others?
Dos:
1. Do take mock exams seriously
2. Take time to work through the OLM
3. Do stay to the end of the exam - use this opportunity to add to your
answers to gain those vital extra marks
4. Take sufficient time off work to focus entirely on your subjects
5. Use stress positively to give you the edge in the exam
Don'ts
1. Don't think you are alone - if you are struggling speak to someone
in class or at work
2. Don't give up if you have a bad experience in an exam
3. Don't rely on class notes alone to get through the exam
4. Don't underestimate what is required for your IPDS
5. Don't cram late into the night before an exam
If you were given the opportunity to go back again, what would you do differently and why?
I probably would have been more organised in relation to my Initial Professional Development Scheme portfolio but I wouldn't have done anything differently in relation to my studies (although if you had asked me that before an exam I would have probably said that I should have spent more time studying!).
What was the highpoint during your CIPFA studies? Did you have any low points?
The high point was definitely winning the Tax and Public Finance prizes in Scotland last year and my prizes this year. Probably my lowest point was the Audit and Assurance exam which I struggled to pass.
What did you learn about yourself whilst studying for CIPFA?
I have learned that I shouldn't be so hard on myself - I was my own worst critic.