The Case Study Examination

The Advanced Case Study Examination

The Case Study is a 4 hour final paper and aims to test candidates’ professional skills in the context of business issues, building on the technical skills and learning outcomes acquired studying for previous examinations.

Candidates are given Advanced Information 4 weeks before the examination to ‘set the scene’ (who they are and the area they are working in – approximately 50 – 60 pages) and during the exam must undertake work required in the paper, taking into account approximately 10 pages of new information provided.
The aim of the Case Study module is to develop your professional skills in the areas of:

Assimilating and using information
Structuring problems and solutions
Applying judgement
Drawing conclusions and making recommendations

The ICAEW has published the following diagram to show how the Case Study fits into the ICAEW qualification:

Case Study

Benefits of taking the Case Study

The Case Study is unlike any examination that you have taken in the past. The methodology behind the Case Study will facilitate developing capabilities to understand complex case scenarios, based on real-life business situations. You will be required to work logically, sifting carefully through the data available and to put that case (client) information into a broader context. This will be invaluable when working in practice, for an MNC or running your own business.

The case study will teach you to :

Adopt a multi-disciplinary approach and demonstrate your ability to use judgement as well as highlight your technical skills
Apply classroom learning to the practical issues facing you
Consider genuine problems and come up with real-life solutions that manage both finance and risk
Develop good communication skills, business awareness, professional judgement and the application of technical accounting knowledge
Use knowledge from different areas in the same situation and confidently advise on what could take the business forward

GTG’s approach in the classroom is to focus on the areas that ICAI members will find challenging. Time will be spent in reviewing the types of reports written and the analysis made, as well as enhancing language skills.

According to the ICAEW, ‘Chartered Accountants in the business world require the knowledge and skills to interpret financial and other numerical and business data, and communicate the underlying issues to their clients’. Chartered Accountants should be able to:

Understand and advise on the regulatory, professional and ethical issues relevant to the role of the professional accountant within practice and business contexts
Understand, interpret and evaluate business data and financial statements
Appreciate alternative views when conducting critiques and testing the validity of ideas
Add value when developing potential solutions
Conclude and report on business proposals and situations and communicate the issues to specialists and ‘non-specialists’