ACCA P3 Business Analysis - the most popular models

I'm preparing for ACCA P3 exam. It seems Business Analysis is the best and most interesting subject in the ACCA qualification!!! The only problem is that there are a lot of models we need to remember)) I try to find the most popular models and focus on them while I'm studying P3.

Model # 1   PESTEL    Macro environment, strategic position analysis (evaluation)

Political  -  tax policy, labour law, environmental law, trade restrictions, tariffs, and political stability
Economic -  economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates and the inflation rate
Social -  health, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety
Technological -  R&D activity, automation, technology incentives and the rate of technological change
Environmental - weather, climate, and climate change
Legal -  discrimination law, consumer law, antitrust law, employment law, and health and safety law

Professional marks in ACCA P level exams

One of the features of the Professional level exam papers is the awarding of ‘professional marks’. These are marks allocated not for the content of an answer, but for the degree of professionalism with which certain parts of the answer are presented.

They will usually be awarded in Section A (the compulsory part of the exam paper) and will total between four and six marks.
 
 It may be, for example, that one requirement asks you to present your answer in the form of, say, a letter, a presentation, a memo, a report, briefing notes, or similar.

Some marks may be awarded for the form of the answer in addition to the content of the answer. This might be for the structure, content, style and layout, or the logical flow of arguments in your answer.

You should assume that if the question asks for a specific format of answer that some marks may be awarded for an effective presentation of that format.

My ACCA friends sometimes ask me about the specific formats of question answer. I would like to share these formats here.

When you failed your ACCA exam with 47-49 marks, then ask yourself whether or not you try to gain any professional marks. Maybe you can improve your performance next time)

REPORT

ACCA P3 Business Analysis - examiner's reports

There is no any individual feedback for ACCA students from an examiner about their exam work sheets. The ACCA offers to find an examiner's report about all students exam performance.

We can find these reports on www.accaglobal.com.
To download them click the link P3 examiners reports

I'm preparing for P3 in December 2013. Thus, I try to analyse the recent report of performance in June 2013.

The pass rate of P3 is about 50%. Therefore, this exam is slightly easier than F8. How to join to the group of successful candidates? I'm looking for the clues in the examiner's recommendations.

Question 1
Section A MidShire Health - 50 marks

Part a) i) 18 marks +2 prof.marks - Project management concerns
Performed well