1. Is it good idea not to do any backups during exam in order to save time or is it better to do backups during exam ?
2. Do you guys have any techniques that help you to transfer figures from paper version of scenario to software ? In order not to make mistakes I tend to check too often if figure I inserted in software is correct. It takes time. What to do so that I can have a look at given figure once on paper and be 100% sure that figure inserted in software is the same ?
Hi,
I'm also doing my AAT Level 2 at the moment.
1.I tend to back up after every task and it takes seconds to do but it also depends on how confident you are that you can correct any mistakes. Small mistakes shouldn't need you to restore a backup but if you find you've got a complete task wrong e.g. Entered suppliers as customers , then doing a restore would probably be quickest. You must do a restore at the end of task 11 and before you start the Bank Reconciliation in case you make a complete mess of this. You also need to take a screen shot after you've matched all items but before you hit Reconcile - this is easy to miss so it also helps to have a recent back up to go back to. Ideally do a restore after every mistake you identify and resolve during the Bank Reconciliation for this reason.
2. When it comes to data entry I suggest breaking numbers up so 12346789 becomes 123 456 789 so you only remember a few at a time. Whatever you input say it to yourself (in your head) which will help you remember rather than just look and type. However, with practice comes confidence and speed so just keep repeating the papers you have. You can also do checks as you go, for instance look at the summary screens after you've entered customers and suppliers, some basic details will appear there . You could even run and check reports as you go rather than wait until task 13. You can also run a Trail Balance (just preview on screen) at the end of Task 3 to check that it balances (or see where the error is if it doesn't ). Of course when you get to task 12 the Bank Reconciliation you'll also catch mistakes there.
Hope this helps.
If you end up doing the exam on Sage One nonesense you cannot do a backup, so doing the exam via Sage 50 is so much easier as you do have that backup option -the backup mantra is one I spout on here a lot, in that you should do it often and always before you do something new on the system.
Remember if you set up suppliers as customers or vice versa that, as long as you have keyed no entries to them then you can actually just delete the accounts without a footprint being left in sage and without having to do a restore.
If though you have entered eg an opening balance using the invoice function instead of say a credit note then ideally you need to know how to fix it. You will not lose marks for being able to show you can fix things, in fact it shows good knowledge of the system.
Dont forget also that you get 15 minutes reading time with this exam before you start - make notes on the question paper or the spare paper they give you.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Maybe depends on the exam centre then - I know someone who did the computerised exam paper recently, but on the ridiculous sage one, and was allowed to make notes. Did seem a bit bonkers to me, but hey, if they allow it who am I to query it.
If they dont allow it then you can have read the questions a good couple of times easily in that time so you almost know the paper inside out.
Might be worth checking with your specific exam centre.
If its an indep day college/evening school (rather than the likes of Kaplan/BPP etc) - seems they dont always follow the rules set by the AAT, Ive heard some horror stories, as Rafal is aware with his problems of trying to get questions on paper rather than having to double screen.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
How many times, when you check your work before moving on, do you find you have done something that is incorrect?
If you entered something that was wrong would you know how to correct it without having to run a restore?
How long is it taking you to get through a mock now with all your checking and backups etc?
Thanks guys for replies. Joanne, I wrote answers to your questions below.
1. I think I don't do that many errors but still I have a tendency to compare figures on scenario with figures in sage few times before I click save on sage.
2. a- inserting credit note that cancels given invoice
b-reversal journal entry that removes wrong entries and then entering correct entry again.
3. I have troubles to answer the one in relation to timing. I will do mock on aat website since I haven't done it yet and I will tell you Joanne later.
4. I try to avoid doing backup while I do scenario to save time.
The closer is the date of exam the more frustrated and lazy I am. I even stopped practicing recently.
I'm sure you feel sage'd out but keep practising as that's the only way you are able to almost do the stuff in your sleep! Trust your instincts in the software, but do your backs as Sarah suggests. Do as many mocks as you can.
Sarah, I assume you are posting on a phone? It posts as one lump instead of using paragraphs unless you tab a couple of times rather than just once. Also, when you log on via. PC you will see that most of us have our first names in the signature bar so we don't have to keep looking it up. You can add this via the edit your pofile, signature section.
Rafal, could you add your name via this too pls.
Thanks
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
If you end up doing the exam on Sage One nonesense you cannot do a backup, so doing the exam via Sage 50 is so much easier as you do have that backup option -the backup mantra is one I spout on here a lot, in that you should do it often and always before you do something new on the system.
Remember if you set up suppliers as customers or vice versa that, as long as you have keyed no entries to them then you can actually just delete the accounts without a footprint being left in sage and without having to do a restore.
If though you have entered eg an opening balance using the invoice function instead of say a credit note then ideally you need to know how to fix it. You will not lose marks for being able to show you can fix things, in fact it shows good knowledge of the system.
Dont forget also that you get 15 minutes reading time with this exam before you start - make notes on the question paper or the spare paper they give you.
I think I overestimated my abilities to fix errors in sage. I entered wrong supplier opening balance and couldn't get out of it. 1. When you try to reverse your entry Dt Payables Cr Suspense Account system tells you that your entry will not be reflected in purchases ledger. 2. When you try to enter credit note to correct error , your entry won't be reflected in suspense account. Which method is better for exam purposes 1 or 2 ?
If you do something wrong that relates to within the supplier and customer accounts then you cannot correct the system by use of journals. That is what the error message is telling you. Ie doing just a journal will not alter the individual supplier/customer accounts.
Ignoring opening balances for the minute - if you had entered a customer invoice incorrectly then you would say have too much or not enough in the sales account. In that cicumstance you can go in and do an adjustment via the maintenance or transactions screens (as long as the item has not been VAT reconciled).
With the opening balance (if I recall correctly as Imn not in front of sage!) if you eg entered an invoice on a customer account as £100 instead of £1000, then you just key another invoice as an opening balance for £900 via your opening balance on the activity screen of the customer concerned. This will drop through to suspense automatically. OR you can key an invoice in the usual way BUT code it to suspense (9998).
If you keyed the op bal as £1500 instead of £1000, then just key a credit note to the opening balance for £500 in the same wasy as above.
Give it a try in the practice module or with the benefit of a backup that you can unwind.
__________________
Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
thanks for reply. i think i will create suppliers and customers without opening balances and make backup. When I make error while entering opening balances I can restore my file and start doing opening balances from the beginning. Iwill lose some time but at least I will have to input only opening balances again.
-- Edited by rafapak on Saturday 13th of May 2017 07:35:20 PM
