Hello Just wondered what peoples views were on failing exams,. I've just failed one and plan to re-take but its knocked my confidence massivly and i'm starting to wonder if I'm going to be any good at all. I passed level 1 and 2 manual and level 2 computerised but failed the self assessment. as yet I don't know what I failed on. I got into a coversation about exams in the pub saturday night and some plonker told me that personally he wouldn't be happy with an accountant or book keeper doing his books if they had failed first time.. Even if they then went on to pass, he said he still wouldn't be happy and would only be happy with someone who passed first time. I pointed out, that he wouldn't necessarily know as people arn't going to say, "oh by the way I failed the first 4 exams but passed on the 5th" Its made me wonder if a lot of people think like this? I am of the understanding that whatever I failed the paper on, will be something I revise more on now so therefore will probably be better informed than ever.. I'm just doubting my abilities a bit, has anyone on here failed the self assessment and gone on to pass... or failed any exams and gone on to pass... I've searched the forum but can't find any other posts about anyone failing it.... so I'm wondering if it was an easy paper and I should of passed... which makes me feel a bit stupid... Sorry to ramble on... Its been bothering me all weekend Many Thanks AnneMarie
You're not the first person to fail an exam, it happens all the time. Rather than see yourself as a failure you should really see it as the exam was a good one that tested your knowledge really well and is difficult to pass, and by not passing it doesn't mean your rubbish, it just means that this time you didn't quite have the knowledge required. A bit more revising and studying and you'll fly through.
I know a lot of people who fail exams for many reasons sometimes it's knowledge sometimes it's the wrong day to be doing an exam, some really are trully no good at exams even though they really know what they are on about.
To get to the point, don't knock yourself for failing an exam get back on the horse so to speak and see it as an experience, get it booked before you give up on the idea and you may well find that you pass with flying colours.
Just remeber why you started all this in the first place and don't waste the hard work you have already put in.
Thanks steve, I have already re-booked to do it again, but this time I'm going to do it slower and re-check everything and not send it off for marking until I'm 100% sure... I was so eager to do it last time that I completed it in 3 days and sent it off straight away as I wanted to find out my mark..... Thanks for your encouragement though, I have to keep remembering that up to this point I have really enjoyed it and shouldn't be put off! AnneMarie
I am of the understanding that whatever I failed the paper on, will be something I revise more on now so therefore will probably be better informed than ever..
This is the logic I go with. When doing assignments I will submit what I think is correct rather than come on here and ask. If the answer comes back wrong I will go back over that bit again and again. What about the people that fluke the exam by guessing and then guess wrong when it comes to the real thing. You would be in a better position than them.
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
Hi Peasie, Thanks for your reply, I totally agree with you in so far as I also do the exams and assignments with the knowledge I have, rather than asking for the answers. So far it has paid off until this last exam. But like you say, some poeple pass as a fluke without a complete understanding of what they are doing!.
This happens a lot to be honest. Skills tests on the AAT can be a real giveaway even if you only know half of wwhat your on about because in a large amount of cases you will get help when you have answer additional questions. A lot of people pass by practicing skills tests and exams without trully understanding what is happening. This was proved when an exam came along in a completely different format and most of the intermediate people at the college I am at failed, they didn't understand what they were doing only how to pass an exam.
Sounds like your doing things the right way Anne-Marie and you have to expect a few knock backs till you get into the real world where your likely to succeed where others fail.
I know what you mean about the different format in an AAT exam, they changed the format slightly for the payroll in Dec, and it threw all of in the class to start with, some even asked if a page was missing!! I didn't think I had passed but luckily I did. You really had to sit and think about it as oppose to breezing through.
My friend failed the ECR in Dec (Intermediate paper), they must had changed it quite abit because that was one of the ones I didn't have too much of a problem with when I took it some time ago. The thing is you never know until you get in the exam what they are going to throw at you.
A
-- Edited by Amanda on Monday 3rd of May 2010 06:20:47 PM
Hi Anne-Marie, I am sure you will be fine next time. The guy in the pub is one of those people and we all know about them, who probably don't even keep half of his receipts, and probably uses his business account as a personal piggy bank, because at the end of the day he will have no concept about business. So I really wouldn't be put off about his comments, just ignore him!
As far as accountants go the pass mark for ACCA is 50% and those who have passed all 14 exams at first sitting are very, very rare (I'm certainly not amongst them as Audit is my real nemesis).
The guy in the pub doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. Accountancy and bookkeeping are hugely complicated subjects where there are often several right answers.
Don't worry yourself about him. As you've already noted he would have no idea how many times it took someone to pass an exam.
Also note that some of those who do pass exams first time only know how to pass exams and are totally lost in the real world.
You'll be fine. Just retake the exam and don't worry about what's already happened as you can't change it anyway.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Thank you every one for your kind words. I do feel much better about it now. I'm going to get my head down and plod on regardless..... The bloke in the pub was one of the breed of people that have an opinion on everything and like to ram it down anyones throat... When most of the time he has no clue what he is talking about... luckily he is not a close friend.... thank you once again for all your kind words.. this site is a marvellous source of help, experience and kindness..... AnneMarie
Hello Again Everyone. Well I received my comments back from the tutor and I now know why I failed. When I recieved the first paper back, I had made an error on one task and had to re-write it to reflect the item was a van not a car. I did this, competely correctly. However when it came to sending off the amended one, I printed the old one.......... and posted that, instead of the correct one.... God knows why I didn't realise, or double double check. I was so busy making sure I put the amended figures in the boxes I had missed ( another small error), that I simply overlooked it. So all in all,. I would of passed if I wasn't such a idiot and didn't send the wrong bit of paper in,....... what annoys me more is that I spent ages on the amended task.. I know it was correct but ICB never saw it.... I can't re-take the exam for another few months as they don't have another paper out until then, but they have also stated that in a month or so they will have a self assessment book out as well.. I'm off to buy myself a very large Dunces hat now.... Annemarie
Hello Again Everyone. Well I received my comments back from the tutor and I now know why I failed. When I recieved the first paper back, I had made an error on one task and had to re-write it to reflect the item was a van not a car. I did this, competely correctly. However when it came to sending off the amended one, I printed the old one.......... and posted that, instead of the correct one.... God knows why I didn't realise, or double double check. I was so busy making sure I put the amended figures in the boxes I had missed ( another small error), that I simply overlooked it. So all in all,. I would of passed if I wasn't such a idiot and didn't send the wrong bit of paper in,....... what annoys me more is that I spent ages on the amended task.. I know it was correct but ICB never saw it.... I can't re-take the exam for another few months as they don't have another paper out until then, but they have also stated that in a month or so they will have a self assessment book out as well.. I'm off to buy myself a very large Dunces hat now.... Annemarie
And so you should dumb-ass
We all make mistakes just revel in the knowledge that your more than capable of passing next time and have a laugh
I must admit, I don't feel half as bad for failing now.... Just can't beleive what I failed on... still onwards and upwards...
You should of gone the AAT route they wouldn't of failed you.
Although you don't feel half as bad you are still a failure and will have no part in my ginger army, which is a shame because I liked you Evil Edna you would of made a good general.
And there's why you changed your avatar, (make note delete Ammers as soon as possible), I also like the ............... whatever caterpillar from magic roundabout? maybe.
-- Edited by Rhianrach on Thursday 6th of May 2010 02:18:58 PM
Its arthur the caterpillar from Willo the Wisp.... Same place Evil Edna came from.... I only changed it cos people may think that reflects me in real life...... ( ie, evil, not like a tv)
can I still be part of the ginger army? pretty please?
Its arthur the caterpillar from Willo the Wisp.... Same place Evil Edna came from.... I only changed it cos people may think that reflects me in real life...... ( ie, evil, not like a tv)
can I still be part of the ginger army? pretty please?
Of course the obvious answer is do you have ginger hair if not how do you feel about dying it, dying it will only give you up to general status and you will never be assimilated into the core without my express permission. It all depends on you, and your willingness to accept the one true god of all things ging.
By the way the picture that is currently my avatar is my second in command, don't be fooled by her appearence, she pulled a boys hair the other day,
-- Edited by Rhianrach on Thursday 6th of May 2010 08:03:20 PM
-- Edited by Rhianrach on Thursday 6th of May 2010 08:05:14 PM
Your second in command looks lovely.... my second in command also pulls hair... But he is a boy and has no excuse other than the fact that he can!...and no I don't have ginger hair, I have auburn/brown...but I come from a family of ginges so does that count????
Your second in command looks lovely.... my second in command also pulls hair... But he is a boy and has no excuse other than the fact that he can!...and no I don't have ginger hair, I have auburn/brown...but I come from a family of ginges so does that count????
She doesn't really pull hair just trying to think of something horrible she might do but in the absence made something up.
Auburn/brown and from a family of red-heads holds a bit of sway, let me sleep on it give you a decision in the morning, I may have a position for you in intelligence but need to weigh up how my fellow gingonians might feel about it.
Ah, but which side would Anne-Marie be spying for!!!!
Anyway, I think that since Amy Pond joined as the doctors apprentice Gingonians have suddenly gained newfound admiration so you don't need to wander around with brown paper bags over your heads anymore.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
ha ha, unfortunately I cannot retract my comment about my little un pulling hair.... he only does it to his sisters though and to be fair he is totally outnumbered, 3 against 1... I shall wait with baited breath until the morning...
Ah, but which side would Anne-Marie be spying for!!!!
Anyway, I think that since Amy Pond joined as the doctors apprentice Gingonians have suddenly gained newfound admiration so you don't need to wander around with brown paper bags over your heads anymore.
Well Shaun when my new army is formed then anyone who doesn't show admiration will be dealt with severely. I never wanted it to be a fascist regime but it's looking like it will have to be at least at the beginning. There is still time to dye your hair and retract the paper bag comment that you made which has been recorded on the central database for use later.
ha ha, unfortunately I cannot retract my comment about my little un pulling hair.... he only does it to his sisters though and to be fair he is totally outnumbered, 3 against 1... I shall wait with baited breath until the morning...
Right your in, unfortunately you will have to start down the ranks, which means you only get a riot helmet and baton, but if you do well you'll soon move up the ranks.
