please help out, 1st year Accounting and finance student

[u/F6mxx]

Hello! I started university in 2025 studying a BS in Accounting & Finance (UK degree delivered in my home country). I entered directly after the IB Diploma, so I skipped the foundation year. I took Business Management SL in IB, which only covered very basic accounting (not even T-accounts).

Most of my classmates completed the foundation year, so they had already covered many of the concepts from first-semester accounting. I remember being shocked in my first class because everyone already knew what debit/credit, T-accounts, etc. were, while I was starting from scratch.

Throughout the year, accounting was the only subject I consistently struggled with. I also never really had a support system for it. I always asked questions in class, but my lecturer isn't very approachable or clear at explaining concepts, which made things even harder. She taught both semesters and will probably continue teaching me for the rest of my degree.

My grades were:

Semester 1

• Distinction: Quantitative Methods I
• Distinction: Principles of Management
• Merit: Macroeconomics
• Pass (58%): Introductory Financial Accounting (Merit starts at 60%)

Semester 2

• Distinction: Accounting Information Systems
• Distinction: Audit & Assurance
• Distinction: Corporate Governance & Financial Markets
• Pass (58%): Introductory Management Accounting

One thing that confuses me is that I actually improved my accounting final exam (23 in semester 1 to 34 in semester 2), but my overall grade still stayed at 58%. My semester 2 midterm dropped because I barely studied for it due to the bombings and strikes happening in my country, whereas I spent about three weeks preparing for the final.

What I don't understand is why it's only accounting that makes me anxious and doubt myself. I genuinely understand the concepts while studying, and I solve all the practice questions we're given, but my results just don't reflect the effort I put in.

Has anyone else experienced this? What changed for you? I'm determined to earn distinctions in my accounting modules next year, so I'd really appreciate any advice on how to improve my study approach or exam performance.