College for Sims only

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
I was reading that there is a training provider who will host a student who needs to sit their simulations. Does anyone know who this is? PBB?

(I.e. You do not sign up for a full course from the training provider, but you do your home study and do the skills tests with the trainer, and your exams via your own arrangements.)

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Hi

    BPP distance learning used to do this. There is no mention of it on their website and there never has been so you will need to give customer services a call.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Ok thanks for that, will do!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Genie - could you let me know what they say?

    Depending on results of these exams, I may be in a position where I need to do that.

    I bought my Technician books ready to start in January at college, but they wouldn't let me start without fully completing Intermediate - if I pass the June exams, I can start college in Sept no problems - if I don't will prob have to do home study again, but I already have books! So just need to do skills tests and get someone to mark portfolio.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Hi

    The skills tests are your portfolio, in effect. If you do distance learning (either a full course or just sims) they will be signed of individually and the details of success forwarded to the AAT.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    The sims don't make a full portfolio though - I'd still need to add in extra evidence, all the forms and other information etc. and get someone to sign that.

    I'll still need my portfolio marked as complete to gain the full qualification won't I?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    I'll let you know what ever I find out.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Hi

    Sims can make a full portfolio, though one sim alone wont normally do it - extra work (which can be simulated) is sometimes required depending on what is required.

    The AAT qual is modular so strictly speaking you complete units individually - i.e. youd complete a sim and any additional work needed and have it marked/signed it off. Once you've shown that you've covered the requirements for the unit, it would be signed off and the details of this notified to the AAT, thus you completing a unit. Onece all units are complete, you get the qualification. This is generally the way distance learning courses work but colleges (with attendance students) seem to have a way of making it difficult for themselves by getting students to build a portfolio as they go then sign all units off in one go.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    OK, they came back to after a while and the answer is no. You can not be reg'd with them, and do exams through them, but not for Sims.

    I do recall seeing somewhere that one training provider mentioned that Sims can be invigilated by a non-family member of professional status/standing (i.e. not on the trainers premises), but I don't remember which company this was.

    All I'm trying to do is do the 1st level of AAT by buying the books, finding somewhere to sit the Sims and likewise the exams, without having to pay some trainer GBP500 to provide a load of support and helplines and revision cards and what ever else, that I do not want. If they are teaching AAT level one (of three) to 14 year olds in school how hard can it be after all?

    But what I have found, is that it is very hard to get info from the training providers, if you want to do anything even slightly out of the ordinary (plus handing over large amounts of money). When the FTP and BPP websites list hardly any of the textbooks for sale for the current and upcoming exams, but plenty for past dates... it just adds to sense of complexity and confusion as to how and what is required to get through these courses...

    If this is how inefficient they are *before* they get my money... it does not inspire confidence in what is to come.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Hi

    I think if you havent done any accounting study before, you may find foundation harder than you expect and you may be grateful for some tuition support.

    To a certain extent, the centres/colleges have their hands tied by the AAT as Part of the approval process for any NVQ provision is making sure that appropriate support mechanisms are in place for people studying.

    Neil
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    I would agree with you, if you haven't done any accounting study. But what if you have?

    Also note that I've seen it said on more than one occasion that you cannot use the AAT qualification as an exemption for CIMA part 1, if you have skipped any AAT levels. If this is the case, I could be really pretty au fait with accountancy, perhaps from working in it for many years, but still have to pay a trainer GBP 500 or so solely in order to be able to sit the exam/s, with a view to eventually using AAT as a partial CIMA exemption.

    Good point re: the NVQ's and quality standards. But I'd have thought this is less applicable to the Diploma route that one would expect should be judged on the results of the skill-tests and exam/s alone...
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:College for Sims only

    Hi

    CIMA grant their ememption based on Techician stage, whereas ACCA base theirs on Intermediate and Technician, therefore Foundation isn't assential for either. If you have plenty of experience you may be best going straight in at intermediate anyway.

    As for the quality standards for NVQs, similar would apply to the Diploma route since the AAT has to meet Qualification and Curriculum Authority standards.

    Personally I didnt mind spending the money on the AAT qualification. When I consider what it has done for my salary in the space of two years study, I dont think and financial service could offer a better short term investment!

    Neil

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