AFM syllabus

Too many scripts focused on describing the synergies that might arise and only made a passing reference, if any, to whether or not they could be achieved.

Candidates should always be thinking about how they could structure their answer to best answer the actual question posed.

In this question part candidates could have had a couple of sub-headings, ‘Synergies likely to be achieved’ and ‘Synergies less likely to be achieved’.

Under ‘Synergies likely to be achieved’ candidates could, for instance, have discussed the ability to bulk buy paper or save in administration cost as both companies will probably need similar paper and administration.

Under the heading ‘Synergies less likely to be achieved’ candidates could have discussed that cross selling may be limited as the magazines of the two companies appeal to very different types of readers.

Candidates who try to structure their answers in this way tend to earn more of the technical marks available as they are much better placed to answer the question posed and also tend to earn more of the professional skills marks available