Confused new starter

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Hi All, im new to the forum (and AAT!),

I started my foundation level back in june last year, unfortunately I choose home study and it's taking a little bit longer than expected to get the work done! ! I will be going to evening classes for the next stage!

I’m confused on a few things which someone might beable to help me with:

1) Can I take the foundation exam before I have completed my portfolio? Is the portfolio something which gets added to throughout the entire course (to tech level) or should it be completed and restarted for each stage?

2) I went to book my exam online through the AAT website and it says I am can enter NVQ/SVQ pathway to AAT Accounting Qualification? Is this the foundation exam or something else I have to take before the foundation level?

3)As I am doing homestudy for this section of the course, would completing the mock exams etc and sending them off to the tutor to be marked be sufficient to put in the portfolio? I'm at a bit of loss for what I need to do and when for the course at the moment, I understand the text books and am able to teach my self in order to get to the answers and understand the thought, but I've had little to no help for the aspects of the course I need to do (portfolio, showing imp competent etc).

4) I've noticed I have to send in "skills" and "actual" tests for each unit. Are these the sort or things that go into the portfolio, along with practical evidence from work? Where would I get these skills and actual tests from, and where would I sit them? I assume if I went on an eve course then they would be done at college. Is it OK for me to sit them at home and send them off for marking?

Thanks for any advice, as you can probably tell im a bit unsure. I know i've made a bad decision regarding homestudy as i'm completely lost on what needs completing before I can sit the exams!

Cheers

Matt

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Confused new starter

    Hi MattW!

    1) You can sit the exam before completing your portfolio, but you will need to complete it in order to finish the foundation level. Add to it throughout your course. You will need a complete portfolio for each level.

    2) If you started AAT level last year, then you are on the NVQ/SVQ pathway - this is simply the type of the course, not an extra qualification. Recently we have seen an introduction of a new kind of way to do the course - the diploma pathway.

    3) It depends - simulations are useful for covering a lot of portfolio evidence for people who do not work in accounts. However, doing the skills test is not enough - you will need to collect evidence to cover the portfolio criteria. Ask your tutor to advise you on ways to collect evidence, what is suitable etc.

    4) Your mock skills test will be sent to you by your homestudy provider. You must sit these and send in for marking, they will then send the actuals (usually to someone nominated to supervise your test) and then you must sit and return within 10 days. Your actuals (if competent) will then go into your portfolio - there will be a sheet on the back stating which evidence criteria has been covered.


    Who is your home study provider? Doesn't sound as they haven given you much guidance so far! You need to call them and keep pushing for guidance and help when you need it - after all, it's what they're paid for!

    Hope that helps!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Confused new starter

    Thanks phunkeyphantom!

    That's cleared up a fair old bit for me. I was hoping to enter myself in the for the exam this June as i feel im ready knowledge wise.

    I do work in a practice accounting firm, does the person who supervises my acutal tests need to be somebody at work?

    Also, for the portfolio then, i can gather info (screen prints and examples) from work and set a couple of self simulations, building it up in my own time and not having to get it all signed off by a tutor - The only things that get signed off in there are the mock and acutal skills tests. Then the whole portfolio goes in at then end to show I'm competent before the Foundation certificate can be given?

    My homestudy provider is BPP, I recieved a lot of info at the start of the course, but I didn't find it very useful! But then again I haven't studied for ages and have been used to courses where you study and then take an exam.

    Thanks again, I'll take the exam in June and then finish off the portfolio afterwards if I haven't done so by that point!

    Matt
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Confused new starter

    No worries! :-)

    I knew you were going to say you were with BPP! They can be a bit useless unless you really push them to help you. I did foundation and intermediate with them and got pretty annoyed at times as have other people on these forums!

    It doesn't have to be, but you will find it is preferred and it's easy if you have someone at work to supervise for you. You will need to give BPP their details, they will then call them to run through the guidelines and your actual tests will be sent to that person. They will need to sign your actuals to say you did them under exam conditions.

    You should get each piece of evidence signed by someone at your work to show it is an authentic and true piece of evidence. You can hand in your portfolio as soon as you have all the skills test/evidence to complete all the criteria (most likely to be after your exam). Keep adding to it as you come across things - don't leave it until last as you will be very rushed and it will be hard to find everything all at once!

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