Training Link and Premier Training both have excellent feedback on the site.
Others that have been spoken highly of in the past include Eagle Training, Woodgrove tutorials and ideal schools.
Personal view is that no companies study text will cover every situation that you will encounter in an exam. The study materials are to help you gain an understanding but you are learning the subject not the book and you will also need to read around that material.
For example. Taking ACCA exams people will buy and read the study texts of BPP and Kaplan (and sometimes GTG study texts as well) as no single text will cover all scenarios and maybe non of them cover the scenario that you will hit in the exam.
This really isn't a subject that a single book or manual can give you guarantee of sucess or failure but at the same time some peoples materials are better than others.
At the end of the day you are being tested on your knowledge of a subject not the study materials which are intended to make you think about the subject matter and ensure that you are guided through the syllabus whilst the exams are trying to push your level of knowledge to ensure that you really do know the subject (#1) and are not simply repeating text parrot fashion from a book.
Not that there isn't an awful lot of parrot fashion stuff to learn in this industry such as the definition of things like assets, provisions, etc. but I think that you know what I mean.
As an example, even the ICB state that their own study texts (produced by Kaplan) are an aid to your studies. They do not say that they are a one stop sollution where all answers for their exam will be found within its pages as, as I say, one is being tested on their knowledge of a subject not of a single book.
When let loose upon the world one needs to understand the principles of the subject matter and the supervisory bodes are trying to achieve that through some quite diverse exam testing to ensure that its members are not left wanting in real life scenario's.
Some perceive that as the bodies trying to reap multiple exam fee's (and in certain cases I agree with that analysis) but for the most part the real competition between the bodies is not the number of students but the number of members and the body wants its students to pass but only if they really know the subject matter so that they are a good reflection upon the body when working in the real world.
The conclusion to this is that there is probably nothing at all wrong with your current training provider whoever that may be but you need to get into the habit of studying beyond the confines of the course.
As an example on this site, Neil (Spam Kebab) is passing AAT exams by studying with a top level training provider but he is also watching the ACCA lectures on the same material to learn the subject from the higher level which is giving him a real grasp of the subject matter.
I would encourage everyone to foster a similar attitude towards their studies (#2).
Hope that helps resolve matters over your current training provider,
kind regards,
Shaun.
#1 The first exam or couple of exams of any of the supervisory bodies is usually a little different in that it tries to ease students into the subject matter.
#2 Neil, if your reading this matey don't get cocky that I use you as the best practice example. (lol).
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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.
Nope, no cockiness from me, although it is always good to be mentioned. I can't agree more (as Shaun already knows) with what Shaun has said. You really need to see the content of your course from as many different angles and perspectives as possible. Mix up your study materials, and use the internet as much as possible, after all you do have access to the worlds biggest library complete with free tuition.
Kaplan are good, really good in my opinion and their study texts alone should get you a pass, but you will not gain an in depth understanding of the subject just from the study text.
Cocky? Moi? Pfftttt.
Mind you, i've been called worse things.
Sticks n stones may break my bones, but i don't care cos i'm with Bupa.
Oh God, there's going to be no living with you now that you've been mentioned in dispatches is there... lol
Actually, maybe we should have a little sticker for the signature line like some people say "winner of BKN award" there could be an "As approved by Shamus" badge of honour as well.
talk later matey. Apparently it's in the job descrip[tion that you have to feed children when they're off school so just off to be a good Dad.
Shaun.
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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.
