As the title suggests just wondering how people got on and whether or not it would be a good idea to do it without a tutor.
Had a look into learning providors and they claim their rates will stay the same it just means that there are now 7 assessments at around £54 and upwards to pay aswell. So if it's something that can be done without a tutor then that would be a much cheaper option now that the AAT are stating that you don't need one to finish the course unlike before the big change where you had to have a training providor.
what's the story with the AAT qualification now? I went on their website but little seems to have changed and I still can't fathom from the information available what you need to do.
Are the skills tests still in place or is it now all exams?
Is there still the project at the tech level? (think that was unit 10). That was really the one that meant that one had to have a training provider.
If you can now go without a training provider then if your anything like me I would just go for it. I've done all of my ACCA from unsupported self study and there's no difference between my scores and those being churned out by the training companies. Just needs study discipline and personal knowledge of how you learn best.
Talk later,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
The AAT has changed quite a lot starting with basic costing at foundation and a proper unit on computerised accounting at foundation again.
Intermediate now has seven "assessments" as they are now called, skills tests have gone in favour of said assessments and they are all CBE. As far as I can tell there is a porject on excel now aswell and a unit on taxation but apparently apart from the Excel nothing much in so far as content has changed, just the assessment method. This of course means that without skills tests you dont need a learning provider, you just need to go somewhere that accepts external students to do the CBE's.
I know nothing about the tech level sorry, spent all my time trying to prise information out of people (upsetting some !) about the intermediate.
I think your right I may aswell go it alone as all the learning providor would do differently is send some gumph designed to structure my learning, but if I buy kaplan or bpp books along with frank woods 1 and 2 I think I will have more than enough to get me through the exams.
Only downside is if AAT dont give any revision examples on their site, as at the moment they put past papers up and if it's a new syllabus then they wont have any. Maybe they might put examples up if not then I'll have to suck it and see.
When the ACCA changed their syllabus back in 2007 they put pilot papers on their site to give candidates some idea of what to expect. Maybe AAT will do the same?
Keep us all informed as to how you get on won't you as I suspect that there's rather a lot of people on here would do AAT if it hadn't been for all the faffing around over skills tests and projects.
Good luck,
Shaun.
__________________
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.
When the ACCA changed their syllabus back in 2007 they put pilot papers on their site to give candidates some idea of what to expect. Maybe AAT will do the same?
Keep us all informed as to how you get on won't you as I suspect that there's rather a lot of people on here would do AAT if it hadn't been for all the faffing around over skills tests and projects.
Good luck,
Shaun.
I hope they do pilot papers like you say, it would be nice to have an idea what your facing when you go into do the exam.
Yes I'm sure the AAT will now become more popular now it can be done on the cheap, they may yet make a way of involving providers, I will know more over the next month. They've also done away with portfolios which is a blessing, a real pain in the harris they are.
I think I replied to one of your other posts regarding the AAT. I would say it all depends on how confident you are going at it alone, some people do not use any of the support given by a training provider, thus it being a waste of money.
Me on the otherhand however, I really have benefited from having support there when I need it. I would say I am quite bright but not very confident so its nice to know I have a tutor on hand should I need it. I also have short tests to do which I send off and they mark, give you advice and send back, have a timetable, and a tutor who has a direct line.
As I say, it really depends on what type of learner you are. Judging by your other posts you seem very switched on so I would say if you are confident enough then go for it, you will be saving yourself quite a bit of money.
Thanks,
Amy
-- Edited by amz27 on Wednesday 12th of May 2010 07:43:19 PM
I think I replied to one of your other posts regarding the AAT. I would say it all depends on how confident you are going at it alone, some people do not use any of the support given by a training provider, thus it being a waste of money.
Me on the otherhand however, I really have benefited from having support there when I need it. I would say I am quite bright but not very confident so its nice to know I have a tutor on hand should I need it. I also have short tests to do which I send off and they mark, give you advice and send back, have a timetable, and a tutor who has a direct line.
As I say, it really depends on what type of learner you are. Judging by your other posts you seem very switched on so I would say if you are confident enough then go for it, you will be saving yourself quite a bit of money.
Thanks,
Amy
-- Edited by amz27 on Wednesday 12th of May 2010 07:43:19 PM
Cheers Amy yes I do seem to remember you saying that before, I think I'm going to go for it alone, and see how it pans out.
I read this yesterday and, having decided to go with the IFA, thought I'd speak to AAT since the changes make it sounds more like what I'm looking to do. Just had a chat with someone at the AAT and she said that even in the new system, you do have to go through a training provider and there are still skills tests.
She has put my name down to get the information on the new system when it is released in a few weeks time, but I don't suppose you've got anything about how it will all be working that you could send me, have you Steve?
I read this yesterday and, having decided to go with the IFA, thought I'd speak to AAT since the changes make it sounds more like what I'm looking to do. Just had a chat with someone at the AAT and she said that even in the new system, you do have to go through a training provider and there are still skills tests.
She has put my name down to get the information on the new system when it is released in a few weeks time, but I don't suppose you've got anything about how it will all be working that you could send me, have you Steve?
I don't I'm afraid as no-one appears to have any info, all igot off the AAT was,
Dear Steve
Thank you for your email.
The cost of the assessments will be £33.00 each and there will be 7 assessments.
If you have any further queries please feel free to contact me on the below number.
When I called them I got another young lady who had to go and talk to her superviser and came back saying that you don't need a training provider as it's all on CBE now but they highly recommend a training provider but it's not essential.
So for now it appears that there are no real answers maybe they will know more in June
I did AAT intermediate a couple of years ago now, I did it long distance learning, and to be honest didn't really use the trainning provider that much ( my local college), I probably only spoke to the tutor a few times. I think it depends also whether you are in an accounts assistant/bookkeeper job at the time of studying. I wasn't and I found it harder as what I was learning I couldn't put it into practice, but because you are already dealing with Finance in your job you probably wouldn't find it to bad to do. I found the FRA the hardest exam as if you get any of it wrong along the way then the balance sheet at the end will be wrong, and you haven't got long enough to start it all again if there is a major error. Now with their new exams etc on the way, they might be totally different now. You could always give it ago on your own and then if you get really stuck maybe join someone like Premier half way through. (Just a thought).
Hi Steve, I am just about to do my FRA (June) having then completed my Advanced certificate I will move on to my Diploma units. The AAT tell me that despite the new introduced changes my current situation remains that, as long as I complete my Diploma on time (2011), then I will just complete the units on computer based exams. I study with Kaplan but would suggest from your posts you could "go it alone " and post for help on here if you need it!! Regards, Tony.
ooops.
