Starting ICAS Project-Inkwell

angie2101

Evening

I've just downloaded the project (doing Inkwell Ltd) No idea how to start it, has anyone got a sample one or is there a sample one that I can look at to help get the ball rolling because at the moment I'm just staring at words and my mind is blank!!

ang

guinea pig

Good Morning
I used the Osborne ICAS tutorial book which was very helpful, and gave several examples.
To get started, I read the project through very slowly several times, making notes.
I then did a SWOT report - headed 4 sheets; Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and read the project through again, jotting down the different items.
Next I did an organisation chart, in powerpoint, which helped understand the relation between the different departments and tasks. From then on, it started to come together.
Good luck,
GP

Hubble

Hi angie2101
I had precisely the same experience as you after downloading the Inkwell case study I just had no idea where to start. I too was just staring at words but getting nowhere! I came through it though, I wrote the thing and was marked as competent last week.
My advice is to use the mapping document right from the beginning. This is what will bring you the marks. Answer all the points on it and you will pass.
Inkwell is a company that has many problems, you need to choose an area where there is lots to talk about, but also bear in mind that not all the information they give you is relevant. It really does start to come together once you have chosen the area you are going to analyse.
A SWOT is definitely a good place to start.

But for all those in ICAS despair thinking you'll never be able to do it, worrying and stressing about it -I felt like that too, but I found that by tackling it one bit at a time and referring constantly to the mapping document it was actually ok. Once you start writing it, it starts to flow, and once it starts to flow you start to feel a bit better about it and then you start getting into it and then you begin enjoying it!? Well....enjoying it might be pushing it a bit far.

The worst part is having nothing written and just staring at a blank screen wondering where to start. Choose an accounting system and get going. Trust me, if I can do it anybody can.
Good luck!

Whirlwind

Hey,

I agree 100% with Hubble, take it small bits at a time - I had my final interview today, so all done and dusted.

Our tutor got us to leave the mapping til last, I did start with a SWOT analysis as it helped with what part of company needed the most help. I also got a friend to be my proof reader, which at first I thought was a waste of time but was invaluable. She is a neuro physio, so knew nothing about accountancy but has read loads of these types of reports, so had a really good analytical approach to every paragraph I wrote.

BPP workbook/folder was brill - it had each chapter heading and then paragraph numbers with what to cover in the sentence or paragraph, so then all I had to do was waffle with key thoughts in mind.

But if I can do it ... anyone can!! Keep up the good work, there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

omega man

Whirlwind voted chief waffler

The Magician

Hi there,

I certainly feel your pain, there is so much information to absorb in the Inkwell case study and in the end it just comes down to pulling out the pertinent points.

I strongly advise you to purchase the BPP study text for ICAS - best £12 you will ever spend.

Set fire to any other ICAS books you have etc.

It contains a sample case study on Bayou stores which is excellent for getting clear in your mind things such as: language, formatting, numbering, what to cover etc.

This project pushed me to breaking point - good luck lol.

Congratulations Whirlwind! You all done now?

Whirlwind

Hi Magician!!

Yeap thats me all done!! Sooooo excited to have my life back - even got a library book out to celebrate!!

How are your further studies going?

angie2101

Thank you for all your helpful comments I shall try and make a start AFTER christmas!

Hope you all have a good one!

ang

angie2101

Handed in my first submission and got my feedback, somehow very good for a first draft so I am pretty pleased. How can you tell if its marked as competent as I have to go into upload files (as if your going to upload 2nd draft) to see if it was marked as on the status it said "not yet submitted"

How long do you have to do your 2nd draft, does anyone know? On my learnplus it says assessments to complete- ICAS 28th Feb? But I only got it given to me Dec 13th?

aaron0121

Hi Angie,

To tell if your ICAS project has been marked competent, in your Learn Plus Area go into ' My Assessments' then under
submission status it will either say not yet submitted, awaiting result, or competent. Not yet submitted means
you haven't uploaded your ICAS project online yet, which means it won't be marked!! You need to sort this out
ASAP You have already done your first draft so was that submitted through online or did you just give to
your tutor?
Just depends on your training provider on how long you have until you upload your second draft, have a chat with
your tutor about this. tbh I'm not sure why it's saying 28th February, maybe that could be the deadline for
your second draft, again have a word with your tutor about this. But it's very important that you check that
you've uploaded your project online correctly because 'not yet submitted means' it's not been uploaded onto
AAT!!!!!

Aaron

aaron0121

P.S Congratulations on passing FNST, that's one of the hard ones out of the way

angie2101

aaron0121 wrote: »

P.S Congratulations on passing FNST, that's one of the hard ones out of the way

Thanks aaron! I found out that if I went into upload files it was there along with the feedback, it said on a FAQ on AATs website so must be an ongoing problem which doesn't help! I know my funding runs out end of Feb do you think this will be why it's sayin I've only got till then? I don't see what that's got to do with it? Urghhh!!

and thanks it was my last one so all done now or will be when I get this handed in! Can't believe I remembered all the IAS and not one came up!!

aaron0121

Yeah that's probably the reason why you have only until February, as it's your training provider who marks it. So
they decide the deadline and if your training contract is expiring that's why it's saying you've got until then. If it was
AAT marking your project then there would be no probs, they still would of marked. But on the positive side you still
have a month and a bit to get it done, and you heard good news from your first draft so you should be able to
complete in the given time.

You're almost finished Angie, get this smashed !:)

Aaron

Spamkebab

Hi all,

Sorry for hijacking this thread but i didn't want to start another about inkwell.

I hope some of you can help explain what i need to write about to cover the following:-

EAS 1.1 Identify an organisations accounting system requirements.

I too have received feedback from my first draft and it seems that whatever i have written to cover this part, hasn't.
I'm either over thinking the question or just haven't grasped what is required. (probably the grasping part lol)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Neil.

Whirlwind

Hi Neil,

I just listed the various of accounting systems used within the accounts department and then specifics about the system I was investigating (whether centralised or decentralised, automatic or free standing?) and the benefits or problems created by it.

The information is within the pack we were given, its just a nightmare hunting it out. Try looking at the paragraphs/sentences that described what systems they use and then, I literally, broke it down into 'naming' words to work out what systems they were using.

Hope this makes sense!!

Spamkebab

I'm really struggling with the wording of the mapping document. I can't understand what it is trying to get me to achieve.

Also, how do i cross reference to the appendices? I have wrote (See appendix 1 fig 1.) after, say, i have mentioned a SWOT Analysis but the assessor has left a comment regarding my having to cross reference the Appendices.

Thanks for any more help!

Neil.

Whirlwind

With the mapping document I just put a page number, paragraph or Appendix number that refers to that info - sometimes it was a couple of sections. For example, EAS 2.2 I referred to Appendix that detailed the Cost Benefit Analysis.

Have you mentioned the appendix within the actual paragraph of the document? For example, in section 7 where I wrote about 'Internal Controls and Analysis of Fraud' when discussing the individual weaknesses of the system I would end the paragraph 'See Appendix 7 - SWOT Analysis'. Its just to enable the reader to understand where the Appendices fit in the the actual document.

Happy to help - off sick so around my laptop!!

Spamkebab

Hi Whirlwind,

Hope it's nowt serious! Get well soon.

Thanks for your help, I think i'm over thinking this whole report. Having looked at

the AAT ICAS Guidance it seems straight forward. I think i'll spend this weekend rewording my report to fit the guidance

I have referenced the Appendices as you have mentioned, i will contact my assessor as i think i am missing something blatantly obvious.

My report on the whole looks quite professional now (nearly ready for second submission). Half of my problem is that this is my last module for level 4 and something inside of me is urging me to rush.

Neil.

Whirlwind

Just a nasty cold ... but first time Ive been off work sick in years!! Without any studies to do I'm am seriously bored, theres only so much daytime tv anyone can cope with.

Over thinking was definitely my problem, as it was also my last level 4 - I just wanted it over!! I'm sure it will be fine.

Take care

Spamkebab

Good luck with Jeremy Kyle and loose Women lol.

omega man

I never bored i can work out in my multigym in the lounge.I can play online poker,backgammon and chess,oh and of course revision for exams amd the dreaded ICAS report,first submission will be in a month early in Feb.
Got my PTX on 29th at 2.00pm at Kaplan Birmingham.