I've been browsing most of the AAT related forums at random for a few days, this one seems by far the best ..
So I wonder if anyone can help me out.
I am currently studying for the AAT distance learning having bought the text books myself from Amazon (All Kaplan books - which I have found to be excellent btw). Having become competent at Level 2 - passed lots of mock papers, etc. I am now part way though Level 3 (AP2/CM) my plan being to take the Level 3 exams shortly as an external candidate (which i think will also be with Kaplan atm). I would then like to study the Level 4 and exams in the same way.
The reason I decided to study for AAT this way, having spent the past 3 years at University (graduated last summer) and College before that I am not really keen on spending a lot of time taking each AAT Level through a college, and additionally feel that I have sufficient study skills to learn from the Kaplan books, saving a lot of money, rather than pay for a training provider.
Does anyone have any experience of a simmilar situation to mine? And how easy do you think it will be for me to take each of the exams? For example, I have read that not all of the exams are CBT and some require a training provider in order to pass them.. I have also read that the AAT require students to have a training provider in order to become a student member (I have yet to apply for AAT membership).
Any information or help would be very much appreciated.
First up, I'm doing ACCA (which you can do totally without a training provider) not AAT so cannot give you definitive answers. However, I'm on the site at the mo so thought that I would answer until the likes of Nick (Premier) and Neil have chance to give better answers.
When you sign up my understanding is that you can use the name of the training provider that you intend to use such as Kaplan or Premier, then do the exams that you can without them but use them for those papers where you need a training provider.
You would need to speak with the training provider chosen before going down that route. Nicks very approachable and will no doubt give you the low down when he reads this thread.
As a starting point have a read of this thread (just cut and past into your browser) :
There are plenty of others out there which you can list by putting this into your google search :
site:www.book-keepers.org.uk aat without training provider -mobile
A few of them even stay on the right topic.
As I say though, have a read of the first link before looking further afield.
kind regards,
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.
I did the same as you last year. You don't need a training provider. I was told this by some organisations but it's just not true. For most of the tests anyway. You can just book a slot at any exam centre that will take external candidates (BPP and Kaplan both do, others do but sometimes charge huge fees) to do the exams. I used BPP as they don't charge an admin fee. Kaplan were charging £15 on top of the exam fee at the time.
There are a few that you need to have marked manually. For those you can just buy a distance learning module - BPP and Kaplan both sell them individually). I think for the level 4 project one I bought an online learning thing from BPP which was a bit more pricey but Kaplan had been so awful with my spreadsheets one (I used them as they had a more suitable date than BPP, took them weeks and weeks to mark it) that I just didn't want to use them again.
If you do the work, do all the online mock exams and are OK with those there's no reason why you shouldn't pass them.If you struggle with one paper, you can buy that one as a distance learning module and get some help.
I don't know about registration as a student member, but once registered you can definitely take exams as an external candidate. In fact, AAT offer this feature on the member section of their website where you can search for examination centre by e.g. whether they accept external candidate for examination only etc.
The AAT qualification is going through yet another reform, and I can only comment base on my experience with the current system. Level 3 are all CBT so that isn't a problem. The Level 4 ICAS project is the only project in the two levels, and even there I believe certain providers allow you to just pay them to mark the project rather than the full teaching supported module fee.
Thankyou everyone for your replies this forum really is awesome.
Very positive what I have read so far. It would be fantastic if I could sign up to AAT by simply naming the training provider I intend to do the exams with, and the fact that AAT have an exam centre feature on there site is very encouraging in this regard.
Also very good if I could take the Level 3 100% as an external candidate, I shall bear in mind that ICAS may require buying the module though. From my impressions of posts about AAT I had been led to believe that several modules would need to be purchased for Level 3 and 4. As about a third of the practice exams on the AAT site arnt listed as CBT.
Shaun - I look forward to Nick's response then. That thread is excellent, I'm part way through reading it... just digesting all the info. The guy on there seems to be in exactly the same situation as myself, he's even 22 like me! In addition, Shaun, as a mod - do you know if there is anyway I can PM other members? I would quite like to send the guy from the thread a message as we seem to be in identical scenarios but couldnt see how, if at all, I can.
Going to contact Kaplan and AAT tomorrow too, so I shall see how it goes from there
you can only PM people if they allow it through their profile. If they do then when you click on someones name on the left hand side at the nottom there will be an email option.
Its not there if if they have not allowed the option.
The option is in settings where it says email visible to other members. I chose "no, accept email anonymously" so that I can receive emails without giving mine out.
Mine is only really for things not to be said on the site such as complaints about a post. Where people send me questions directly I answer them on the site, not privately as a private message would help only one person where posting on the site is a permanent help to all bookkeepers.
Hope that makes sense,
kind regards,
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.
You dont need a training provider, and many people do achieve mmebership without. However, you do need someone to mark some of the units for you, and we like others, offer the ability to just do the one unit, and you can self study the rest.
Any further queries just let me know.
Nick
__________________
Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
<< comments rescinded following off line discussion with the person who amended Wills post without his knowledge >>
-- Edited by Shamus on Saturday 27th of April 2013 10:27:30 AM
__________________
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.
That looks like someone started typing, left to use the bog and little brother came in and finished the post lol. I certainly hope it's something like that otherwise someone has
I've been PMd by someone who is not Will saying more or less what you said Neil.
I'll just go and delete the evidence then got something else on the site that I need to sort out... I need paying for this, lol.
__________________
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.
Have been dreading reading this thread for sometime :P
Oh well, glad whatever happened has been sorted out. I learn not to live sites open and logged in! :) thankyou again Shaun.
As I was previously saying..
For the level 3 all exams except for spreadsheets module are done by CBT so no training provider required, Spreadsheets requires you to purchase the module with a training provider (Kaplan quoted me £130) in order to take the assessment.
Also successfully signed up for my AAT student membership and simply listed who I intend to take exams with/Spreadsheet module.. as the provider (Kaplan).
I am in the same situation as you are, I have finished the qualification but I do want to sit for the Business Tax Exam wich is optional. I have called Kaplan and they said that I can study on my own and sit the exam at their premises. The fee for the exam was around £ 55 and they said that it is wise to book 2 weeks in advance . This is the tel no from Kaplan (Angel, London) 02078 330 700
Have a nice Sunday !
Adrian
__________________
This is just my personal opinion. Advice should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
P.S. I only ride a motorbike because I want to dry my clothes faster
I would like to get your help because AAT is so confusing. I am currently self-study at AAT Level 3. In 2006 i got my chartered accountant qualification in Hungary, but I did not work on it, so when I came to UK I wanted to brush up my skills and to get a well-known qualification. I have bought the Osborne books and have prepared myself for the exams. Logically I do not wanna spent more money than it is necessary, I have already learnt these things, so I do not need tutor, extra help nothing just wanna take my exams. I have already found my external exam center as well where each module is around 55-60, I think this is the most cheapest. The issue is: I am still not register at AAT as a member, I called them to become that, but they told I need to be register one off the training provider. (I am not satisfied I think it is a huge rip off, but try to be calm.) At the AAT level 3 we need to work together with one of the provider to achieve the Spreadsheet modul. Can I do the following: register somewhere to get the student number, after register at AAT with this student number to get the membership, and going to take other exam in the cheapest exam center?
Chat with Nick at Premier Training or Sonya at Eagle education who will be happy to help you get registered and sort out your qualification on a module rather than full level basis.
The reason that you need a training provider for the couple of modules is that they are tutor marked projects rather than being a traditional exam.
Good luck with the qualification and welcome to the forum,
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.
There are a number of units which you need to have a training provider mark for you. These are professional ethics (depending if you are on the new standards) and spreadsheets at level 3, and ICAS at level 4. The reason being is that these are projects that actually test that you can do the job so they take a while to mark. I am not 100% sure what you meant by register somewhere and then take the exams. You need to find a training provider to set up these projects for you, but they dont have to be sat at a centre.
The rest you can do on your own.
Please let me know if you have any further queries or if i didnt explain myself properly (it is Sunday morning to be fair!)
All the best
Nick
__________________
Nick
Nick Craggs FMAAT ACA AAT Distance Learning Manager
..
I think it is a huge rip off, but try to be calm.) At the AAT level 3 we need to work together with one of the provider to achieve the Spreadsheet modul. Can I do the following: register somewhere to get the student number, after register at AAT with this student number to get the membership, and going to take other exam in the cheapest exam center?
