Award winning student! - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Award winning student!

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Hi Jane

A massive well done it is when we hear things like this it gives us in our industry a huge boost. We have many ICB students who have completed their studies and set up successful practices within 12 months which shows that it can be done.

Again well done to your student and all at Premier Training.

Dave

Spamkebab · Expert

Exceptionally clever lady.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Thanks Dave, I agree it's a huge boost especially when there are still a lot of students out there who believe the only way to study the AAT is through the traditional route of college. They unfortunately don't realise the benefits and effectiveness of home study but hopefully students like Rachael can show them the way forward!!

Thanks again for your message.

Regards

Jane

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Congratulations Jane,

not just to Rachael but to yourselves as this has to be a fantastic yardstick for Premier by which other training companies now need to benchmark their own success.

Even better that Rachael achieved those fantastic results on the pre September 12 syllabus.

What next? Will Premier be pointing her at ACCA? On those results if she does go down that route maybe she should think about applying for one of the ACCA scholarships for outstanding students.

Anyway, big well done to Premier... Are you biting your fingers yet about the BKN vote?

OMG. Out the office window just saw something that I've never seen before. A squirell just jumped on the back of a duck... Sorry, went totally off subject there.

Fingers crossed for you for next Monday as that really would be the icing on the cake for Premier.

All the best and good luck,

Shaun.

Spamkebab · Expert

Would it be fair to point out to any people interested in studying or already studying a distance learning course that although Rachael has done exceptionally well, this isn't the norm for distance learners, and that distance learning is for people wishing to set their own pace, which may be slower or quicker than that of classroom based learning.

I just don't want promising/aspiring students to think that 8 months down the line they will all be MAAT.

An average student should be able to shave a few months off the 12 month study period that colleges seem to set for level 3 and a couple of months off for level 4.

Getting rid of the red tape and admin cockups will save a month or 2 anyway from my experience.

Do i sound jealous? lol. Although i am, i just wanted to stress that people are different.

Fantastic achievement on both parts though.

Neil.

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Jane Hasler wrote:
Thanks Dave, I agree it's a huge boost especially when there are still a lot of students out there who believe the only way to study the AAT is through the traditional route of college. They unfortunately don't realise the benefits and effectiveness of home study but hopefully students like Rachael can show them the way forward!!
Thanks again for your message.
Regards
Jane

Hi Jane

You are more than welcome and I totally agree, in fact you can actually study from home and gain your qualifications a lot quicker than conventional classroom training as students are not subjected to timetables and indeed the fact studying is done when the student wants to learn means more information is taken in, The ICB for one would concur that home study pass rates are higher than that of the classroom.

Again well done

Dave

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Ha ha I bet the duck got a shock!!

Rachael is actually studying ACCA now but I will mention that to her just in case. Yes we are really nervous and excited and keeping our fingers crossed. Best of all is we have had a lot of support from our students and its really nice to know they care!

Thanks for your message.

Jane

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Hi Neil

Absolutely agree we have never made promises thats not what we are about, it is always been up to the student, the time they have to study, their experience and abilities that will dictate the length of the course. Its about letting the student study at their own pace, showing the possibilities available to those students that want to try and complete the course quickly and celebrating those that do.

Completing in 8 months is definitely not for everyone even though we have had more students that have completed levels of the AAT exceptionally quick e.g. Level 2 and 3 in 5 months and level 4 in less than 5 months. We found that a fast marking turnaround, instant access to their tutor support encouraged students to remain motivated throughout therefore completing the course to best of their ability. We just wanted students to be aware that there are no barriers so if a student wants to study the course as quickly as they are capable of (whether it is 8 or 18 months) then they can.

We are really proud of Rachael as we are of all our students. Completing the course in any time is a great achievement in itself.

Never mind you being jealous I think most of us are too! LOL

Thanks for your message.

Jane

Spamkebab · Expert

Great reply Jane.

Distance learning works both ways, take your time and hurry up as you said. It is the level of excellent backup service that training providers like yourselves provide that puts no doubt in my mind, this is the way to study.

Neil.

P.S. is there a prize for coming last? lol.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Ha ha if there was I would have a trophy cabinet full of them! LOL

Jane

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Neil,

and Premier also do ACCA... hint hint!

Spamkebab · Expert

Do premier have their own texts? or do they use others?

Arghh turn it in now Shaun, i've still got this AAT to get out the way lol.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Hi Neil

We actually use mostly Osborne books but have our own books for 4 of the units of the AAT qualification. We have received some good feedback about them and they have been written based on student feedback i.e. where students struggle to understand the tricky subjects. The books have helped them to understand in laymans terms which help the penny to drop a lot quicker!

I hope this helps.

Jane

Spamkebab · Expert

I am almost done with AAT Jane, I am considering moving on to studying a chartered qualification though.

Just can't make my mind up which one, and i have this incessant mumbling in my ear "ACCA ACCA ACCA come to the dark side, you know you want to ACCA"

I see you supply Kaplan texts and the BPP cd rom for ACCA.

Nice.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Yes thats right and there is plenty of material to study, revise and test yourself.

To help here is a link to the ACCA page on our website and feel free to contact me if you have any questions:

http://www.premiertraining.co.uk/distance-learning-courses/acca-courses/

Jane

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Spamkebab wrote:
I see you supply Kaplan texts and the BPP cd rom for ACCA.

That is one great combination. (I've really gone off the BPP texts since the change of style in 2007).

Kaplan ones have lots and lots of examples and I'm someone more driven by show me how and let me work it out rather than trying to decipher long winded explanations.

There are mistakes in the texts but that just makes them all the more fun biggrin

Add to thosee books and the I-Learn course a lorry load of index cards and A4 pads, the Opentuition lectures as enhanced learning and download the last few years exams for any paper (except the tax papers for which old papers are about as useful as a chocolate teapot) from the ACCA website and you've got yourself a cunning plan.

Anyway, couldn't imagine who you're talking about Neil. I just keep telling everyone about regulation 8. wink

Actually, more seriously if I have been leading you to that end don't let me as it's an awful lot of commitment for an awful lot of your life for possibly no majopr reward beyond a bit of paper that many others fail to get at the end of it.

There's a lot to be read into that "a lot of others fail to get".

The drop out rate espechially on system shock of the move from the fundamentals papers to the skills levels papers as F4 is high.

When I started the qualification for the first paper the ACCA filled two hanger sized buildings in Brum alone. Paper by paper there are fewer and fewer sitting but conversely the cars in the carpark out side the hall get better and better.

Starts off with clapped out Metros at paper 1.1 / F3. By the time you get to the P level options papers the car park is full of newish Beemers and Mercs.

I'm sure that there is a correlation there.

all the best matey but just think what you have time to give up before venturing down the ACCA path which will eat up all of your time.

kind regards,

Shaun.

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Hi Neil.

You're exactly right to point out that eight months is not the norm for achieving AAT level 2,3 and 4. At eagle education we spend a massive amount of time trying to ensure potential customers have very real expectations of what average achievments are. Of course Premier are right, it is achievable and an amazing achievement for the person concerned and Premier. Equally though for many it's an unreasonable expectation and people can become very disappointed, demotivated and disolutioned as a result because they set the bar too high for themselves.

We too have students that whizz through, but the majority achieve in average timescales and many students burn themselves out trying to whizz through.

People who take their time and invest in good quality learning are equally (if not more in my opinion) as successful and go on to achieve great things.

With regards to the top marks comment - this has to be related to internal tutor marked tests assuming premier grade them because AAT don't give marks on exams.

Interestingly I put a post on here a few weeks ago because I'd been to visit an employer who said he'd never employ someone who has done a fast track course. I was surprise by his strong opinion but remember being told exactly the same by another employer many years ago. He was adamant that good quality learning takes time.

I'm not taking anything away from premier I've heard many good things about them! It's important to be realistic and fair to potential customers though.

Sonya

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Hi Sonya

Welcome back and thanks for your comments although, I think you have missed the point somewhat. We simply wanted to celebrate a students exceptional (and yes unusual) achievement. I think Rachael and many other students nationwide would be disappointed to think they are regarded any less in the accountancy field simply because they completed the AAT qualification quicker than an average student.

As mentioned in my previous post all students that complete any qualification should be proud whether they completed the qualification in 8 or 18 months. I believe it should be completely irrelevant how long it takes to complete the qualification especially when applying for jobs, employers look for much more than how long it took the applicant to complete their qualification, e.g. work experience, work ethic, interview skills, references and many other attributes.

The key point here is that distance learning students are able to study at their own pace. In Rachaels case this was 8 months, she gained employment within accounts and has now progressed onto the ACCA qualification - achieving great things! I am a little confused about your comment though, you stated that in your opinion students that invest time in "good quality learning" are more successful. But you previously posted a comment on 8th August that you were amazed at a student of yours who was on target to achieve level 2 and 3 in 3 months and is targeting level 4 achievements in 2 months! In your opinion will this student be less successful than a student that took 2-3 years?

I think we will just have to agree to disagree here but one very important point to remember is that not all students and employers are the same!

Thanks again

Jane

Spamkebab · Expert

Shaun, i need someone to blame when it all goes belly up. You sir, are the prime candidate lol.

I understand how difficult and time consuming a chartered qualification will be to obtain, after all training to be one of the elite is never

a walk in the park no matter the profession. I have no wool over my eyes as far as that goes.

Sonya, i hope my post came across as intended, i would not try and dumb down Rachael or Premier's achievements yet feel it necessary to point out to anyone visiting the

site that distance learning isn't about who does what the quickest. Personally i'm all for taking another 2 to 4 weeks extra after considering myself ready to sit an exam as

first time passes seem more beneficial, especially when you consider waiting up to 6 weeks for a "not competent result" revising again while waiting another week or longer to resit,

then waiting another possible 6 weeks for the result of the resit.

I was wondering as you say about the marking of the exams, as they stand, the AAT feedback is utterly rubbish really.

What does "Borderline" even mean? is it a pass? or a fail? surely a percentage wouldn't be hard to work out.

Neil.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Hi Neil

Sorry to jump in here but I had the information at hand.

In order to demonstrate competence in a CBT, a student needs to demonstrate competence in each section of the paper and in the assessment overall.

Here is an example of this:

	Section 1	+ Section 2	= Overall
A minimum of	70%	+ 70%	= 70%

The result in each section is based on the total credit achieved across the tasks in that section.

There are four feedback parameters. Each parameter provides an indication of how a student has performed in relation to the minimum requirement needed to demonstrate competence in that task.

The four feedback parameters are:

EXC = exceeded the minimum requirement for the task
MET = met the minimum requirement for the task
BDL = borderline was close to meeting the minimum requirement for the task
DNM = did not meet the minimum requirement for the task

A very basic task might carry as little as one mark, while some other tasks might carry ten marks or more. Where a task carries only a few marks (for example, two marks), MET is the highest feedback comment that can be awarded.

I hope this helps and if you have any further quesitons feel free to contact me.

Regards

Jane

Spamkebab · Expert

I did well in FNFP then, 6 exceeded and 3 met, 1 did not meet and i aint got a clue what happened there. It would be nice to know.

This is the only exam i have asked for feedback from and after receiving a competent result. I just wondered how i had done (i class this as the hardest of exams i have taken due to the written tasks, and me being as working class as they come where the English language is concerned) only to be left somewhat confused by the feedback.

The biggest obstacle for me is learning how to speak accountancy, i spend most of my time translating the study texts and wish i could write reports the way i talk, i mean it's not as if i'm gonna put on airs and graces while having a conversation with the MD, well i might do but only to raise a giggle.

Neil.

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Couldnt agree more I am 100% all for Layman's terms!

Yes it would be great if the exam feedback was more in-depth obviously they can't divulge too much but a pointer would be great.

I have found a couple of handouts that one of our tutors has created for our own students that I have attached for you. I know this is a little late but it will definitely help you in the future.

I hope this helps.

Jane

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Hi Jane and Neil

Yes i took both posts as intended. I said positive things about the achievement and premier! Of course its something to celebrate. However it's unfortunate it can and does create unrealistic expectations for many so is worthy of a comment. My post wasn't critical at all. I was simply giving alternative view points. I am amazed by exceptional rapid achievement, I personally don't encourage it but would never hinder it.

Have a nice evening!

Sonya.

P.s I haven't been anywhere but thanks for my welcome back :)

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Hi Sonya

Absolutely, all points of view should be considered and not to worry all our students are made fully aware when they enquire that they can study at the own pace and can set the bar as high or low whichever suites them.

The welcome back was because I havent seen you on the forum for a while and wondered if you were on holiday - lucky you if you were!

All the best

Jane

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Thanks Jane :)

Maybe see some of you guys at the AAT distance learning meeting tomorrow? I have quite a lot to say as usual. All to support distance learning providers and our futures! Hope Premier will be there!

Sonya

Jane Hasler · Veteran Member

Ha ha me too! Yes we will be there and look forward to meeting you all.

Jane