Kaplan Marking

GreenMousey

I've just received a rather snotty email from Kaplan (Generic one sent to multiple people) which last paragraph reads:

"If possible, please do try and refrain from chasing up your work by phone or email as we are having to field an extraordinary large number of these types of query which is delaying the administration of processing the simulations/evidence etc. I can assure you that your assessment will go through the assessment process and will be reported once competent and that you will not miss the old standards cut-off.

Thank you for your patience

AAT Distance Learning team."

I'm sorry but I'm SO angry at receiving this again, I'm on the new standards and I'm paying them to mark my work in a timely manor, it's nothing to do with me if people on the old standards have left it to the last minute, for whatever reason. I've already had my result postponed for another fortnight and I WILL be chasing them if that time comes and I've not received it. I've always given them the benefit of the doubt over how long they take to mark things and been patient but I've had enough now and expect to at least get something for my money!!

Sorry, rant over now

PGM

GreenMousey wrote: »

having to field an extraordinary large number of these types of query

Customer service is getting worse all the time!

What a stupid comment, are they surprised that people paying money for education might actually want to contact them at some point? and this comes as a surprise to them?

I'm having the same issues with solicitors and estate agent I'm dealing with, I constantly get the feeling its me that needs to go between all parties making sure everyone has the info they need and are doing what they're supposed to, so why am I paying all these fees....

susiewong

Hi

I'm on the new standards and I'm trying to complete ICAS before the end of July so that I can register for CIMA and I was advised yesterday that they have employed a new accessor for ICAS so things should start moving along alot quicker!!!!

Then I was advised that all work had to be internally verified before it was even sent to the assesor, and guess what, this is only being done ONCE A MONTH!!!! So if they are sent to the assesor on the 1st and you submit your report on the 2nd you are going have to wait a month before it even goes to the assessor!! What an absolute joke this whole system is!!!

*Jo

Hi GreenMousey I have just received the same snotty email and forwarded it on to the AAT along with a lengthy complaint email about the poor standards in general from Kaplan since paying for the course from them.

I am too disgusted to receive it and will not be bowing to their request which is in effect "we have your money now P*** Off and don't bother us again unless you want to pay us more money".

I can't believe how angry I am to be treated like this. My student membership runs out June so my work are going to have to pay again because Kaplan can't fullfill their end of the bargain with marking work.

I have had countless problems with them in the past and the tutor support is useless. I have informed the AAT about this and told them that the forums show how students feel about Kaplans standards.

GreenMousey

Glad I'm not on my own! I've done level 3 & now level 4 with them and there hasn't been one unit I've done where I've not had to chase them and to be fair I've always chased them after the time limit they've told me!

I will email them back at some point to complain but not right now as I think my temper will get the better of me and I feel constructive would be a better way to go.

My husband is going to make me my own certificate when I've completed AAT just to recognise the fact that I finally got Kaplan to do the job I pay them for!!

Primble

I got this too, however, i am on the old route and waiting for results. not down to me leaving stuff to the last minute but because it took them a month to mark my unit 10, then asked me to fill in the interview questions which came with a half hearted you are now competent. i filled in the questionnaire within half hour of receiving it and sent it back. a month has gone by and still nothing official saying i am competent. I done i sim last week (was meant to do it the week before but they couldn't get it to their local office in time for me to sit it causing me to have a wasted day off, a lot of stress and the subsequent postponing of leaving for a holiday) I have sent them a letter to complain.

They are just rubbish at communicating properly and seem badly organised which has a knock on effect to the student

*Jo

Sorry for the confusion but i'm also on the old standards.

The new qualification was brought in unexpectedly on my part and students were told to either finish before June 30 or transfer. Those like myself who had only one exam (passed that Feb) and final project left to complete have not left it last minute but have studied the qualification at a pace suited to them and their lifestyles.

Kaplan gave deadlines for completion of unit 10 which was adhered to but they don't adher to their own deadlines for marking.

It is not fair for students on either standard to have to wait but its not the fault of the students its the poor standards Kaplan have at marking work thats returned to them.

GreenMousey

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking any student that is still on the old standards, that wasn't the point of my post. This is squarely on Kaplan's shoulders as it's not a recent thing, they've always been terrible at getting back & conveying my results to me going back to level 3.

Primble

Will be interesting to read the reply to the letter i sent them earlier this week, I want my holiday day back and an apology for making me so would up i was ill. The firm as an entity is rubbish, however, Zena in the norwich office is a star. she let me go in early and start my sim so i could do it and get away on hol.

then again, they probably won't even acknowledge the letter

*Jo

GreenMousey wrote: »

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking any student that is still on the old standards, that wasn't the point of my post. This is squarely on Kaplan's shoulders as it's not a recent thing, they've always been terrible at getting back & conveying my results to me going back to level 3.

No don't worry I know your not knocking old standard Students. Tempers are high at this time and its additional stress not needed by anyone old or new standards.

reddwarf

This is a shame because I dealt with James not sure which office, and Leanne and they were brilliant, as usual it comes down to the individual in an organisation that lift it's reputation.

I think it's the usual story where a company starts small with high standards and grows too fast and the standards slip.

*Jo

James was the one who told me my work had been sent to the assessor and 2 weeks later it had been found eventually after lying on Leannes desk when they couldn't find it lol.

To be fair James has been fantastic in the past but this time he deff has my two thumbs down.

Still I'm starting to moan continuously so i'm going to try to not post anymore about it until I actually see where my complaint email has gotten.

Sammmy88

I am waiting for my results for Level 2! I am so dissappointed by Kaplan I really am! They told me I had to wait over 2 months to get my work marked and results given back to me! Thats just not on! I will be compaining to AAT about them, and have joined up with another learning provider for my Level 3!

*Jo

I've just had the call from Kaplan,

My Unit 10 has been marked as competant first time with no alterations needed

Lets just say i'm blubbing with happy tears.

Hang in there all of you still waiting results and keep on nagging for them.

uknitty

Its a bit harsh to say that people on the old standards have left it to the last minute for whatever reason as if you assume we are all just lazy so and so's who couldn't be bothered to submit work.

I signed up for level 2 at the end of February, just 2 weeks after that I found out I was pregnant (i'd been TTC for 3 years with no luck so I suppose you could say it was a planned surprise) and just 2 weeks after finding this out the AAT went and announced that I would have to complete the whole qualification I had only just signed up for and that the "flexible hours" of picking up units and then completing them at a pace that suited me would not be available - which was one of the key points this course was sold to me on !

I've pretty much given myself a breakdown by working full time, (up until 8 months pregnant) then having to care for a newborn (breastfeeding through the night doesn't exactly make for a clear head for studying the next day) and then starting a 3 month unpaid placement in an accountancy practice once baby was 5 months old ( need the work experience seen as how the qualification on its own has been no use in finding a job and I keep getting told "you need experience")

Non the less I havel managed by the skin of my teeth to get all of the units studied and submitted in 12 months. Its been beyond hectic ! Like someone else said, if you only had a couple of units to complete under the "old standards" then the deadline would not be as pressing - I had to do the whole thing (including all the unit 31 stuff) - I even did my professional ethics simulation just 2 days before my due date because my study timetable didn't allow for time off other than 2 weeks for the actual birth and post natal period.


I understand your frustration in expecting your work to be marked in a timely manner, and maybe your OP was just a reflection of that frustration. It may well be true that the backlogs are being caused by the volumes of work being submitted, but the training providers have taken students money - they should have set aside some of that that money to hire extra staff to mark exams. Its not like they couln't have predicted the sudden surge in submissions.....

coojee

uknitty wrote: »

Its a bit harsh to say that people on the old standards have left it to the last minute for whatever reason as if you assume we are all just lazy so and so's who couldn't be bothered to submit work.

I signed up for level 2 at the end of February, just 2 weeks after that I found out I was pregnant (i'd been TTC for 3 years with no luck so I suppose you could say it was a planned surprise) and just 2 weeks after finding this out the AAT went and announced that I would have to complete the whole qualification I had only just signed up for and that the "flexible hours" of picking up units and then completing them at a pace that suited me would not be available - which was one of the key points this course was sold to me on !

I've pretty much given myself a breakdown by working full time, (up until 8 months pregnant) then having to care for a newborn (breastfeeding through the night doesn't exactly make for a clear head for studying the next day) and then starting a 3 month unpaid placement in an accountancy practice once baby was 5 months old ( need the work experience seen as how the qualification on its own has been no use in finding a job and I keep getting told "you need experience")

Non the less I havel managed by the skin of my teeth to get all of the units studied and submitted in 12 months. Its been beyond hectic ! Like someone else said, if you only had a couple of units to complete under the "old standards" then the deadline would not be as pressing - I had to do the whole thing (including all the unit 31 stuff) - I even did my professional ethics simulation just 2 days before my due date because my study timetable didn't allow for time off other than 2 weeks for the actual birth and post natal period.


I understand your frustration in expecting your work to be marked in a timely manner, and maybe your OP was just a reflection of that frustration. It may well be true that the backlogs are being caused by the volumes of work being submitted, but the training providers have taken students money - they should have set aside some of that that money to hire extra staff to mark exams. Its not like they couln't have predicted the sudden surge in submissions.....

It's a shame your provider didn't advise you to change to the new standards earlier then you wouldn't have been so pressurised. You could have done Unit 5 under the old standards to exempt you from the 2 accounts prep exams and then maybe Unit 34 (to exempt you from Indirect Tax) and Unit 15 (to exempt you from cash management at Level 3 and credit management at Level 4)That's all easily doable in a year. Then you could have transferred and done Costs and Revenues, Spreadsheets and Professional Ethics under the new standards. Same number of units sat, much less pressure.

GreenMousey

uknitty wrote: »

Its a bit harsh to say that people on the old standards have left it to the last minute for whatever reason as if you assume we are all just lazy so and so's who couldn't be bothered to submit work.

I'm sorry you misinterpreted my original post, as I clarified later on in the thread I wasn't knocking anyone on old standards. I put "for whatever reason" meaning that there will be many different reasons as to why students would still require to be on the old standards. Reading it back (now calmer) I realise this could have been read differently and that wasn't my intention.