Our qualifications help compliance professionals develop relevant knowledge and best practice for operating within the fields of governance, risk and compliance, financial crime prevention and anti money laundering (AML). Awarded in conjunction with the Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, you can be assured that you are studying for a worthwhile qualification that is the benchmark of excellence.
ICA is the trusted partner for you and your organisation.
Written by Holly Whitehead on Tuesday March 26, 2019
Let’s imagine that you have enrolled onto your new ICA training course, printed your training manual, and are now eager to start studying and learning immediately. And who can blame you? The decision to undertake a qualification, alongside work and family life, is a significant commitment with a rewarding outcome.
Given this commitment, there are likely hundreds of thoughts running through your mind, including: ‘where do I start?’ and ‘how can I maximise my learning and ensure that I pass?’.
Successful students (and professionals) will often sit back and critique how they study and work. They hone their learning methodology so that it is a fine-tuned machine, completely fit for purpose and sufficient to their needs.
‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ – Benjamin Franklin was not wrong. With this in mind, we have put together a list of some simple study methods and useful advice to help you achieve success during your study journey with us at ICA.
What is your learning strategy? Have you thought about what you would like to achieve from your newly-acquired ICA course? Whatever you are studying, the core principles of study remain the same: you want to pass, and ideally achieve a merit or distinction. Set clear goals from the outset to ensure that you get the grades that you both want and deserve.
Create a daily, weekly and monthly to-do list that helps you obtain your goal. By doing this, you will be able to prioritise and clarify what is truly important for your studies. In addition, is there anything more satisfying than ticking off tasks on a to-do list and learning something exciting at the same time?
Remember the importance of setting goals and having something to work for. Personal goals can be the biggest motivator of all.
A professional footballer would not stuff all of their training into a one-hour block per week, so why would you approach study in this way? Having a fixed routine or schedule for studying is more effective – try studying for one-hour bursts per day. Cramming may help you pass, but your aim is not merely to tick a box; you want to learn and retain information so that it adds value to your professional life.
It is crucial to understand (and reassuring to know) that the stepping stones to success are so much more than packing revision into every waking hour. Whilst it might be tempting to read every available thing on the planet, it is actually counterproductive to spend so much time on your studies. Routinely studying, on the other hand, means that you retain information and genuinely learn it, which is what this is all about.
The phrase ‘work smarter, not harder’ may be a little bit of a cliché, but it is an accurate one. Studying is all about how you make smart choices, and how you learn and remember information, rather than simply memorising your notes.
While you want to remain motivated, you do not want to work so hard that you stop enjoying your course, or lose sight of why you are doing it in the first place.
If you are unsure about a topic, or simply need to ask a question, then don’t assume – ask. The Q&A Forums on the Learning Platform are the ideal place to ask questions, not only to the Tutor/Course Director, but to other students. Whether it is sharing knowledge and revision tips or simply chatting to someone in the same boat as you, it is always good to talk.
You will often find that everyone shares the same concerns/fears and so it is always a positive move to discuss them with your fellow students. Keep an eye out for useful updates and assessment tips from your tutor. Utilise social media and online student support groups. Studying online does not mean studying alone – it means studying in a collaborative, albeit different, way.
Testing yourself is an excellent way to ensure that you hold on to all of that important and new information that you have learnt. Obviously, you want to avoid being a walking textbook in the office, but what you do want to do is fill in the gaps, using the keen analytical skills that are the requirement of a brilliant compliance officer.
You need to find a way to engage with your material, and remember it. Self-explaining, or testing yourself, is critical to helping you think more deeply about your chosen subject matter. After all, it is a deliberate action to stop, pause and repeat. This period of reflection allows you to fully take in the information you are learning.
Study methods are varied to say the least – and what works for you may not work for your colleagues. It is important, therefore, that you find something that works for you and helps motivate you in the process. Nothing is more draining to your motivation than attempting to study in a way that is wholly incompatible with your personality.
Here are just three study methods you can try:
Studying may seem somewhat overwhelming, but using the right study methods (and a mixing it up to keep your studying fresh) can see you embrace your new learning journey.
We have all had that moment when we have looked at an assignment/exam question and thought ‘I haven’t a clue how to approach this!’. Remember, it is not the role of the examiner to confuse or trick you so look at the question again and break it down into smaller components.
If it is an assignment question and you are still confused, get in touch with your tutor who will be happy to provide guidance if it is an exam question.
Do not waste time panicking: move onto the next question and come back to it later. You may find that your thought processes change when answering a different question, triggering a light-bulb moment meaning you are better able to focus and go back and tackle the original question.
You may also like:
Learn more about ICA online certificates
This article forms part of the #BigCompConvo - Join us as we explore and debate the latest challenges and issues facing you and regulatory and financial crime compliance professionals all over the world. If you’d like to contribute an article as part of the Big Compliance Conversation get in touch with us at contributions@int-comp.org
Thank you. Your comment is awaiting moderation and should appear on the site shortly.
Required fields are not completed, please ensure all required fields (*) have been filled in properly.
You can leave the name empty should you wish to remain Anonymous.
Help and support
Alternatively contact us on: +44(0)121 362 7534 / icainfo@int-comp.org (Course information)
or +44(0)121 362 7533 / learningsupport@int-comp.org (Enrolled learners)
or +44(0)121 362 7747 / membership@int-comp.org (Membership)
or +44(0)121 362 7657 / assessment@int-comp.org (Assessment)
or +44 (0) 121 362 7503 / epa@int-comp.org (End Point Assessment)