Advice Needed

anniebabe

Hi Guys

Stuck here - dont know what to do for the best.
I finished Level 3 in February, and college told me I couldnt start Level 4 till September.
So, I decided not to sit idle for 8 months and to study for Unit 9 on my own at home, with a view to taking the paper exam.
I have paid to take the paper exam, but I am in two minds whether to cancel or not.
I have printed off all the past papers, and can only get through about 70% of each paper.
Weak spots being mainly Task 1.3 1.4 limited key factors, changind budgets email etc and Task 2.3 email etc.
I know that they have extended the date for paying for exams till Monday, so I am presuming I could cancel on Monday, or I could slog on and try and sit this exam.
Only 5 weeks to the exam. not sure what to do.
Should I leave it, and carry on in September on the new qual?
Any thoughts? advice?

janwal

Hi Anniebabe

I have the same problem with level 3, I finish level 2 in June and can't start level 3 til September, so i have purchased the level 3 books to keep my hand in over the 2 months, & hopefully will make level 3 a bit easier.

Is it worth rushing the exam and not been sure of passing or waiting and knowing you will get a pass mark (that is the question)?

Good luck whatever you decide!!

Jan

anniebabe

Hi Janwal
Its certainly not an easy decision to make, if I cancel and then in 5 weeks have managed to understand the bits I cant do now, I may be kicking myself.
But then again, I dont want to go to an exam knowing that I cant complete it, also I dont want to feel like I just dont want to turn up for the exam.
Hmm dont know what to do for the best.

Rinske

Hi Annie,

Why do you not just want to turn up and use it as extra practice?

I'm not sure if you signed up and paid already if you can still cancel, even though you can still sign up, but it might be worth checking that before deciding to cancel and finding out you just lost money.

Five weeks is a lot of time to study and a lot can happen in that time, and if you are already on 70%, I really think you should just stick with it and go for it!
However this is up to you.

Five weeks is enough time to learn a lot, but five weeks of nice weather are really good to enjoy too! If you got the feeling you would rather take some time out, then now is a good time.

If you sit unit 9, what kind of exemptions will you get when you start on the new qualification? Have you considered how much time it would save you when you go back to college, or will you have to sit through these lessons anyways?

anniebabe

Hi
If I can at least get this one exam passed it should give me more time to look at other things.
Apparently college always start with PEV then PCR and then DFS - so it would mean going back to college just to do PEV (or whatever its equivalent name is now) and then I would get 8 weeks off and in that time I could be looking at DFS, or if I didnt managed to pass PEV the first time, I would get revision time for that. I just thought it would ease the pressure for September by trying to do one unit now, if that makes any sense.
Would not have to pay for the unit again.

janwal

Hi Annie

If you think it's worth having ago I'd say go for it!

Wish I could do the same but college insist on a 83% attendance rate and if I didn't attend all lessons I can't continue studying, and I feel I need the backing of tutors to help me get through.

Jan

Monsoon

anniebabe wrote: »

if I cancel and then in 5 weeks have managed to understand the bits I cant do now, I may be kicking myself.
.

I was in EXACTLY this position. I carried on, entered the exam and did manage to understand the bits I was struggling with by the time the exam came round.

You can learn lots in 5 weeks. I would do it. If you dont enter, you definitely won't pass. If you do, then you are in with a chance;)

anniebabe

Thanks for the advice guys.
Dont know why I am worrying about it.
I suppose I can always use it as a test run, if I dont pass Ive still got the knowlege in my head and it will make life a bit easier for September.

pirate

Anniebabe

is Unit 9 planning control and resouces. I did MAC in December which is a combination of Unit 8 and unit 9 under the old standards.
I started studying about the end of October for both this Unit and DFS (unit 11) as I had booked for the exam but due to work and other commitments didnt start the study until end of October. The exams were the 30th Nov and the 2nd December and I passed. so i would say you have plenty of time to pass this exam.

If you are stuck on limiting factors go back to unit 6 and refresh yourself on the basics and do some of the practice parts of the exams on those pieces, as its built on what was learnt in Unit 6. If you are 70% of the way there now you should have no problem completing the practice in 5 weeks or so.
also AAt run revision classes which I found really useful to consolidate my learning and revision.
Also practice the written parts this Level requires a lot of writing of memos, emails and so on rather than on level 3 where there is more calcualtions. Have a look at how the questions are answered inthe practice papers to begin with andthen write a few, this will help you in the exam.
As I said 5 weeks to go and 70% there is excellent and you know which areas to concentrate on
Go for it I'd say

anniebabe

Hello Pirate
Unit 9 is Budgeting, think the new unit is planning control and resources, not sure.
Yes, it is limiting factors/key budget factor that I struggle with,even at level 3 it totally confused me, very embarrassing.
The nearest revision course now is in London and I really cant see me getting to that.
I am ok with Task 1.1 and 1.2 and Task 2.1, so its basically the emails I need to look at reviewing budgets/ changing them, key factors. so id say i was at least 60 - 70% there at the moment? suppose I am not doing too bad to say I am struggling here on my own.

exam panic

usually college just mainly concentrate on pev anyway I remember We had only 4 weeks to do unit 9 so I do think you have plenty time for it

anniebabe

you only had 4 weeks on unit 9 ? was that full days? doesnt sound like a lot!

exam panic

anniebabe wrote: »

you only had 4 weeks on unit 9 ? was that full days? doesnt sound like a lot!

8 lessons and only 2 hours /lesson