ICB Level III paper - Feb 11th ......... ouch - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

majieka · Newbie

ICB Level III paper - Feb 11th ......... ouch

scorpio3 · Member

Majieka,

I found it very difficult and expect to fail. Like you I practised on the last 5 past papers. I got 100% in the Level II exam in June 2008 by practising on past papers and thought the same technique would see me do well in the Level III exam.

The problem was that none of the questions in the Feb 2009 paper were written in a similar style to the previous papers. I thought there would be a few minor differences but the whole style of the questions was different and there were a number of things that were asked which I had not covered in course work. Alot more lateral thinking was required.

Two others at my centre also thought it was very difficult and not enough time to answer everything.

All in all I am pretty gutted at the exam.

Scorpio3

louloubee · Newbie

Hi, I took the level 2 exam today feeling very confident and also found it a complete contrast to the last 6 exams ( I purchased the past papers). Each past paper had an almost identical layout and equal content.. this is what completely threw me in my exam!! The language used in some questions had never been used in my course and I feel that the exam was much harder than previous papers. I too am really disheartened and it would be a miracle if I scrape a pass. Obviously they've decided to shake it up a bit..boo!

florrie · Newbie

Hi Louloubee

I did the ICB level II exam today as well and have the exact same views as you. I felt that I prepared well and had done everything possible to try and pass, eg past papers,re-reading etc
You're right that there were items in the exam that have been mentioned only very briefly in any course work, and there were more adjustments to be made in the preparation of the trading/profit and loss account and the balance sheet which obviously took more time. Also there seemed to be alot more about Vat. I know it's important but it did seem a little bit of a tax paper in places!
I'm glad to read that I am not the only person who came out disheartened and dread getting the result. It's not the overall mark as such, it's the fact that you have to get 60% in each question that worries me. Especially in Q3.
Sorry for the rant but it is comforting to see that it is not only me.
Good luck with your results.
Florrie

-- Edited by florrie at 18:06, 2009-02-11

louloubee · Newbie

Good luck too..

No need to be sorry for the rant, I've been ranting all day at anyone who'll listen! It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who felt this way and that I'm not just moaning !

scorpio3 · Member

Okay, the ICB will say that your clients will give you information in various formats, styles or language and you have to make sense of it, but in an exam situation, where time is already precious, I think it is a bit unfair of them to change the whole style and language of the questions from what has gone before. How do they expect the results to be a fair comparison with previous exam results?

Scorpio3

florrie · Newbie

That's a very good last point. If we only get a pass whereas somebody who sat a previous paper before us got a distinction it could look that we don't have the same competence as that bookkeeper even though we did have. It gives that bookkeeper an unfair advantage. I see scorpio3 that you are one level up from me but the good points you made are still relevant to each level. At this rate goodness knows when I will get to take Level III!
I hope that the ICB see some of these comments. There is obviously alot of feeling around todays exams.
A nice glass of red wine(or two) is on the cards tonight!

Florrie

scorpio3 · Member

florrie wrote:
A nice glass of red wine(or two) is on the cards tonight!

Florrie

Tonight ? I started this afternoon!

Scorpio3

florrie · Newbie

Don't blame you.

Mine is now beckoning!

DPP01 · Newbie

I made the same mistake in revising to past exam papers, and was equally stumped,
I did finish but some parts were dredging up parts of the course did before Xmas !
So i am not very confident this time, may be back in june i think, this time I will revise the syllabus and not just past papers.
A lesson learned i think

florrie · Newbie

Yes it's a fair comment but there did seem to be content in the exam which although was mentioned in the course work wasn't covered in any detail.
If the ICB are going to include these items in detail in the exam then perhaps they should prewarn the course providers to cover them more fully in the course work.
Anyway, can't change the results so just have to see what happens and learn for next time. Better start revising now!

Florrie

Alison · Senior Member

Hello

Those who took the level 3 bookkeeping ICB exam how hard is it compared to the level 2?

In September 2007 I purchased the level 3 from Ideal schools not realising you need the other levels first. I have all the other ICB including level 3 computerised and level 3 payroll. I only have the tutor support for the level 3 manual course until September 2009 so would need to go through all the coursework papers (think there are 8 or 9 of these) and be ready to take the exam in June or October this year. I have not got these out of the envelope since I bought it, I keep putting it off as I am worrying it is really difficult. Do any of you mind me asking how many months you studied for the level 3 paper.

Thanks

Alison

majieka · Newbie

Hi Guys

Have you had your results yet. I just scraped a pass (68%). Although I should be please I feel a bit dejected as I got distinctions in my previous exams. I should really look on the brightside as after the exam I thought I'd failed.

I will be interested in reading the examiners report when it is available.

scorpio3 · Member

Hi,

Yes, I got my results too (70%). Like you I am disappointed, considering I got 98% and 100% in the Level I and Level II exams respectively. Okay it is a pass and I should be pleased that I now have the Diploma - but for some reason I don't feel like like celebrating.

Not sure now whether to go on and do the ICB Computerised Bookkeeping course or to swap to AAT.

Scorpio3

Alison · Senior Member

Hi

Congratulations to Majeika and Scorpio 3 for passing the exams.

Scorpio 3 - the level 2 and 3 ICB computerised bookkeeping I have got these before I have studied for the level 3 manual. If you have used a computerised bookkeeping package before I would suggest all you would probably need is to have purchased one of the past papers per level and give it a practise run before buying the real exams. These exams you get anytime order by Thursday receive on a Friday. I know some people pay out a lot of money for the courses which includes the computerised package, but if you have access to a computer package it is probably not necessary to pay for the course if you have experience.
If you run your own bookkeeping business then I would say computerised bookkeeping does help you gain new clients.

Alison

scorpio3 · Member

Not very impressed with the ICB at the moment. Still waiting for the Chief Examiner to publish his report - in the past it has been published by about the 20th of same the month in which the results are published.

The Feb 2009 paper (and hopefully answers!) is now available to purchase from their website so I have ordered it to see their 'model' answers and hopefully learn from it. Once I know where I went wrong I can hopefully move on.

I have also just purchased and received the Mock Level 2 computerised exam paper. Do you need Sage to complete this paper or can you use some other accounting software? What about an actual exam paper? I take it they send you a rewritable CD which you return to them with your answers ? Does it have to be Sage that is used?

I have no experience of computerised bookkeeping and have downloaded Turbocash which is an open source accounting package. Anyone any knowledge of it and whether I can use it to do the mock/real exam paper?

Scorpio3

Alison · Senior Member

Hi

I did the level 2 and 3 computerised bookkeeping.

I think with the level 2 exam they send you a disk that you restore to your accounting package and work from there, some things are already set up for you. Think level 3 you don't get sent a disk you set it all up from scratch. I think the answers you send are print outs rather then a CD you return. I used Sage and I think that the CD they send for you to restore to your accounting package is Sage but best check with ICB as it may be that you can request which computer package you want when you book the paper. If you do need Sage sometimes on ebay this can be bought fairly cheaply.

The level 3 computerised I remember that I was a little shocked (had not bothered buying past paper just the actual) that 30% of the marks were from manual bookkeeping questions and I had been expecting 100% computerised (not sure if it is still this format as it was a year ago I took the computerised exams)

Alison

scorpio3 · Member

Thanks Alison

Scorpio3