Unit 3 skills test / simulation

System
System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Hiya everyone, 1st time using this forum so bare with me! :D

Has anyone recently completed the unit 3 simulation at college, preparing ledger balances and an initial trial balance?

I did it yesterday and had soooo much difficulty. The b/d on the statement didn't match the cash book, there were 2 cheques on the bank statement which were not on the cash book (obviously if this was the other way round it is a simple timing difference!).

I was so prepared, did both practice simulations from the workbook and passed them. I have even done the June 2005 AAT exam and did that okay, but this simulation yesterday was so difficult.

Nothing balanced and I couldn't clear my suspense account! Total panic! :(

Please let me know if I am not the only one who struggled!

Cheers peeps

Bex .x.

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hiya Bex.

    No need to panic - just practise more!

    You will get there.

    Scott.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Scott,

    Thank you for your reply.

    The annoying thing was that although I am distance learning it, as I go along I do all of the activities and questions galore per chapter.

    I was so prepared but the format threw me :(

    Thanks for your help though :D

    Bex
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I did my unit 3 simulation yesterday too and had the same experience! I've passed all the other simulations up to now and was feeling fairly confident, but I thought the simulation was much harder than the ones we'd been given for practice. It's not much consolation, but you're not alone!

    Good luck!

    Catherine
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hiya Catherine,

    Thank you soooo much for your comment!

    I am so relieved that it wasn't just me. Like you I wasn't overly confident but I had done as much practice as possible on journals, bank recs, corrections, you name it!

    That is why I was so upset with myself that I got stuck and panicked! :cry:

    The hardest thing to learn in unit 3, I thought, was the journals, as if you didn't know your double entry you were blowed! Anyway, that was the 1 thing on Monday that I didn't struggle on!

    Thanks again, take care

    Bex
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I sat my Unit 3 simulation and it took me ages and it was really, really difficult. I ended up passing the simulation but my tutor told me the exam would be alot easier than the simulation. When I was doing my simulation I felt really panicky and thought I would fail my exam in June.

    I have been going through the past papers and they don't seem to be too bad. I will keep my fingers crossed the exam in June isn't like the simulation.

    Hayley :)

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hiya Hayley,

    I have done the June 2005 past paper and the only thing that I struggled on with that was...and don't laugh... name some examples of a computerised system! :lol: I know, awful! The journals, correction of errors, double entry was all cool!

    I have got the latest December past paper to do and am hoping that our one in June will go along the same lines, as I've enjoyed doing these.

    Out of the 4 skills test, I passed 3 fine but this one was definitely a struggle and I was so upset with myself.

    Nevermind though hey, everything happens for a reason!

    Thanks Hayley, good luck in June

    Bex
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi Rebecca,

    I was starting to go over the June 2005 exam paper, I got stuck on the question, "If the VAT showed a debit balance, what would this indicate", I don't know why but I just couldn't get my head around it.

    I don't think the exam should change very much as they are always in the same format.

    Good luck

    Hayley
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hayley,

    I had to think on that one to, did you get it in the end?

    I think it was that HM Customs and Excise owe you / the company a refund.

    If it is a credit balance it is a liablilty and therefore needs to be paid over to them.

    Whereas if it is a debit balance they owe you money and therefore is a debit / asset to you (PEARLS technique).

    I think that's how I talked myself round to answering that one! :lol:

    Bex

    x

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,


    I put it was HM Customs and Excise owed the money, but I wasn't sure if it was right.

    How have you found Distance Learning, will you do your intermediate by Distance Learning or will you go to college.

    I go to college and I don't think I would be any good doing the course by distance learning as the teacher has been a great help with our portfolio's and going over work that we aren't sure about.

    Hayley
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hiya,

    I have been motivated enough for foundation level doing it distance, but as it is only going to get harder I am learning intermediate at college on half day release all being well.

    The only problem with doing it distance is, you feel that you are the only one that doesn't understand certain things as you're not around other peeps. Also, it takes my college a week to reply to my emails!

    It has been hard doing the portfolio distance though and I have left it to the last minute which isn't like me at all.

    Where abouts do you study, what part of the UK? I am in Gloucester.

    Bex :D

    x


  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I study at South Tyneside College which is in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.

    I go to college on a Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6.00 until 8.30. It is quite tiring going on an evening as I have two children but it is nice to have time to do something for yourself.

    My boss lets me have a half day off on a Thursday to do homework and study.

    Hayley
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    That's cool, must be hard with 2 children as well, fairplay to you :D

    Changing the subject slightly, my partner is from Northumberland - Rothbury?

    Did you start your foundation last September as well? Will you be going on to intermediate and technician?

    I am now enjoying it but I do not find it easy by anymeans, interesting but not easy! :wink:

    Bex
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    Rothbury is a lovely place, I have visited there before.

    My boss is paying for the courses as they said I couldn't get a pay rise until I have an accountancy qualification. I want to do intermediate in September and then hopefully technician the September after. I was then thinking of doing the ACCA course and become a Chartered Accountant and then work for myself, after I have let my boss pay for all of my courses.

    In the beginning I thought the foundation course was really difficult but now I think most things are clicking into place.

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hayley,

    Just backing up our system at work, so posting a quick one!

    It is a gorgeous place, we go up a few times a year, people are friendlier the further North you go I find.

    I've found that with foundation, I was nearly in tears at first thinking, I cannot do this, I don't understand anything, why?!, it was worse as a distance learner feeling alone. Now that the whole workbook has been read things make more sense and seem, logical.. well, sometimes! :lol:

    I'm looking forward to intermediate as I think it is more about profit and stock etc, which is great because I work for a packaging company with plenty of stock!

    I just hope that after the 3 and a half years of getting my AAT under my dealt I don't change my mind about my career path! :lol:

    Have you done the December 2005 past paper yet? I've got to finish off the June one then I will have a crack at it.

    Bex

    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I haven't done December 2005 exam paper yet, at college we are going through that test paper this Tuesday night.

    I haven't finished the June 2005 exam paper yet, I was going to at the weekend but I decided to have a break and go shopping instead.

    Hayley :D
    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hey,

    I don't blame you, I am obssessing about doing all of the past papers so that I am prepared! :thumbup: After that unit 3 SIM I am bricking it!

    I am passing the past papers though so I just hope that the June exam will be a similar layout again.

    Let me know how ya do on the December past paper, I am sure that you will be fine, they are all so similar, just 1 year of sales questions, 1 year of purchase questions etc.

    Good luck chick

    Bex :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I am sure you will pass the exam if you are getting the past exam papers right.

    I am thinking of doing the aat payroll by distance learning, but I don't know if I will be taking too much on. I was thinking of starting it when I have finished my foundation course. There are six units but three of them are the working with computers etc which I have already done. I have enquired with Premier Training and they say I should be able to go in for the December exam.

    I will let you know how I get on with the December 2005 exam paper.

    Hayley
    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hayley,

    I have been advised to do my payroll also, NVQ2 is the first one isn't it chick?

    My manager is retiring in May and it only leaves me and my colleague. He is the only 1 out of the 2 that can do the management accounts and payroll! :lol:

    It will stand me in good stead for the future and if my company are paying for it, even better.

    I know what you mean though, I want to do intermediate aat at college on half day release, otherwise it will be 2 evenings for that, plus another evening for payroll if I do that at college. That's alot plus the homework isn't it? :shock:

    Have you used Premier before? I have heard of them. I am using Gloscat college, rubbish for distance learning. They are actually stopping it in September, aat distance, I think that it is because of me and my request for help - not much to ask though is it, half an hour a week! and an email reply within 2 days, instead of 7! I appreciate that they are busy but they help the others out so much, my portfolio will be awful compared to all of the college lots, as I haven't had the assistance.

    Bex
    x

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hi,

    I haven't used Premier Training before, I thought about doing the Payroll course by distance learning.

    My plan is to start the payroll course after I have sat my foundation accounts exam. I will try to do my payroll exam in December. I also want to start the intermediate course at college in September, with the distance learning you can take the exam at a later date if you can't complete it in December 06.

    Hayley
    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hiya Bex!

    I had the same problem! I thought I could answer anything when I went in for the exam!! Nothing was balancing at all.

    Don't worry, you're not alone!! I made a right mess of it aswell!

    Fi
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Fatima,

    Thank you soo much!

    Well, my helpful college haven't even got back to me with my result - 10 days ago I did my 3rd sim now! It's a joke, I'm abandoned as a distance learner, I have been chasing them for 3 days! :roll:

    Bex
    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    I had the exact same experience, i am re sitting mine next week so fingers crossed
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Hayley,

    I am going to do the payroll one evening a week at college, hopefully I can also get a half day now from work for the intermediate in September. This means I do 1 evening and 1 afternoon for intermediate, better than taking up 2 evenings, especially if I am doing my payroll on what would be a 3rd evening also! :shock:


    Had to pop in to college today to edit a few bits of my unit 3, the bits that I thought I messed up on, I got right, and vice versa! :roll:

    Bex
    x
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 πŸ€– Admin πŸ€–
    Re:Unit 3 skills test / simulation

    Good luck Du9999,

    I had to go in to college today to edit a few bits of mine. When I had a second look at the paper for unit 3 sim, I could sort of see where I went wrong straight away, sure you'll be the same, I was panicking like mad about going back in to review that awful paper again! :shock:

    The cash book and bank rec which I thought I messed up, were right! I muddled up my figures on my sales and purchase ledger control accounts, silly muppet! :roll:

    You'll do fine.

    Take care

    Bex

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