Enrolling in the APC course for the first time in 2019, I thought my journey was going to be quick and seamless, but after two failed attempts at the exam, I learned otherwise.  

My first attempt at APC was in 2019. I worked harder than my group and thought I had given it my all, but I fell short and my whole group passed. I was deeply disappointed in myself, and even lost confidence in what I was doing. Nevertheless, I decided to try again.  

My second attempt was just as difficult as my first, if not worse. I was going through a difficult time in my life, having survived a car accident, and losing my mother to cancer. I was heartbroken and emotional, and thinking back on my first attempt, I felt like a failure and was on the verge of giving up.  

I sat down with myself and reflecting on my goals, I quickly realized that life was never meant to be easy, so I decided to get an APC course mentor and personal tutor. This helped me change my mindset and develop a clear strategy to succeed. I started dedicating more time to understanding why I fell short in the trials and qualifying assessments I had written in the previous years. As gruesome as this was, it helped me get into the mindset of learning how to articulate my responses better. I also remembered the promises I made to my family, my mother included, and most importantly to myself in grade 9 when I saw a CA(SA) come to my school in a Ferrari for a career expo!  

After the support from my mentor and tutor, I felt like I’d regained the strength and confidence I needed to move forward and write the APC exam again. This time around, I succeeded! My life was never the same after receiving that message notification from SAICA at 16:19 PM telling me that I had passed the exam and that I was eligible to register as a CA(SA).  

I still can’t believe I’ve done it! Looking back on my journey, I’m proud of myself for never giving up. To be able to say I am a CA(SA) is a huge honour.  

My journey was not easy. It had its ups and downs, but I am grateful for the lessons I learned along the way, and the many moments of self-discovery. One of those that sticks out for me was learning that even during hardships, opportunities exist, and it’s up to us how we choose to move forward.  “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…I have never in my life envied someone who led an easy life”- Theodore Roosevelt.  

So, if you have failed your APC exam and are going through a difficult time right now, my heart goes out to you. Find the strength and courage in you to try again. You have come too way far in your CA(SA) journey to give up now. Reach out to support programs at your Firm and academic provider, put it in the work, and most importantly, trust the process.  

It will end in CA(SA).