Newbie

System
System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
Just thought I would say hi to everyone. I've enrolled on the AAT course and start on 18th September.

I think I will be doing the certificate instead of the NVQ.

I'm really excited and have been teaching myself the booking keeping method so I have a head start. I think the pearls deadclic thing is an excellent way of rembering what are debit and credits.

Anyway looking forward to chatting to you all in the next few months

Shelley

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    hi shelly :D

    i have just enrolled on the aat foundation too and start on the 11th .... i am doing the nvq tho dont know anything about the certificate :?:

    i havent got any experience of accounting but my tutor said i would be fine (hope shes right)

    may i ask what th epearl thingy ma jig is :?:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Welcome Shelly!

    I think she means the diploma route foxy.

    DEADCLIC and PEARLS are 2 ways of helping you to remember where to post entries when you are doing double entry.

    DEBIT
    Expenses
    Assets
    Drawings

    CREDIT
    Liabilities
    Income
    Capital

    PEARLS = PEA is dedits, RLS is credits

    Purchases
    Expenses
    Assets

    Revenue
    Liabilities
    Sales

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    foxy18

    I have just passed foundation and started it last year with no knowledge at all!! I'm sure you will be absolutely fine. The forum is always here to ask advice aswell!!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Sorry, I did mean the diploma pathway. Getting it wrong already LOL
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Well, I started two years ago with no accounting experience whatsoever. I've now just passed the intermediate stage and start technician in two weeks time.

    I did the NVQ route through college and have had a great time. It's an excellent way to stimulate your brain, improve your job prospects while all the time meeting new friends!

    And even after all this time, I still can't remember that damn PEARLS thing! I just remember by "This goes left, that goes right, this goes here, that goes there"!!!

    However, for control accounts, always remember this; "Debit the debtors, credit the creditors"! You'll thank me come November, trust me!

    Robert
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hi everyone, I'm another fellow distance learner going through the Diploma Pathway with FTC. I started my foundation course just over a month ago.

    Im really enjoying it and find some sections really easy to get through, but I still seem to be struggling to get my head around debit and credit entries! I'm planning on spending more time trying to get this bit sorted, I've made a note of DEADCLIC and PEARLS, but if anyone has any more pointers to help, this would be very much appreciated.

    It can be really hard to study alone, because you have no one else to give you hints and tips and you sometimes lose the motivation to keep going. I hope the Forum will really help.

    Its nice to hear from people who have been through what we're going through now and are coming out the other side with the qualificiations!

    Thanks
    Vikki :D

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    From experience, the most important piece of advice I can give anyone just starting out is - buy yourself a good quality, big buttoned calculator with a logical key layout! I have seen so many people making wrong calculations because they've accidentally hit the wrong buttons on their tiny calculators or they've used a fancily designed one with the keys in very odd places!

    I also remember my first day on Foundation at college, going to buy my books, seeing all the Technician level students and being really envious. In two weeks time and two years later, I'm going to be in that position.

    Good luck to all of you just starting out, and although it's a long hard slog, you can get there if you put the effort in.

    You get out what you're willing to put in. Bear in mind, this course may have cost hundreds of pounds and will take a great deal of your time up. Not making an effort and failing at the end will not only just hurt yourself, but if you're sponsored by an employer, could affect your position at work!

    While studying, you will often hear others offering the excuse that they don't have the time. When I used to hear this, I used to ask them how long they had for lunchbreaks at work and what they did with that time. More often than not, they didn't actually do anything. I used to take all my AAT books to work with me and spend just fifteen or so minutes every lunch break reading and re-reading them. It only takes this amount of time to read a whole chapter in your books and you could do this four or five times a week without eating into any precious evening time.

    Again, good luck to all and hope to see you on the intermediate forums next year!

    Robert
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hi
    I have just started long-distance course for the diploma pathway with BPP. I just wondered where you got the "DEADCLIC" mnemonic from?
    I've searched all my study books and can't find it anywhere.
    It sounds very handy though!

    Kamie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Kamie
    Please scroll up the messages for a full explanation of PEARLS and DEADCLIC
    :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hi
    I understand from above what it means, but I would like to know where you initially found this info i.e. which book was it in?

    Thank you
    Kamie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    I don't think I've ever seen it in a book :? just word of mouth i guess
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Another tip I found useful during Foundation was the setting up of T accounts.

    DRive on the left, or CRash on the right!

    Of course, this doesn't work for our European friends :lol:

    Best of luck with the course - I've just finished Technician and I still remember wondering what on earth I had let myself in for at Christmas of that first Foundation year.

    Jackie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    I start the AAT Foundation tomorrow. Brushed up by looking through my Book keeping stuff that I did two years ago. All I need to do now is locate my calculator!!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hi Fellow 'Newbies'

    Dont worry, you are not the only one in this boat! As a 'shall we say, "Mature :shock: Student" taking a new career path, I totally understand how your feeling.

    Maz
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hello

    I'm starting foundation level tonight, and although I have worked in an accountacy based role for 3 years, I am a little nervous, as I have no formal accounts education.

    Hoping that I would be ok. Looking forward to meeting lots of new people!!!

    This forum looks very helpful and I'm sure that I will be here often!

    xxx
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    I know how you feel - I start tomorrow night and quite excited.
    Surreal - I never thought I would be happy to go back to education after leaving school and college.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    hi
    went to my first class on monday evening .... it was cool :D certainly gets your mind working init

    She talked about "T" accounts amongst other things but one thing i couldnt work out was that she said bank accounts are different and that if you were in CREDIT you are dr and if your OVERDRAWN your in cr .....now my bank balance has definatly got a BIG DR against it .....only its not in credit lol its my overdraft :lol:

    any help with this lol ?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    It's because the bank tells you from their point of view.

    If you're in DEBIT (not overdrawn) the bank is your DEBTOR - they owe you the money that is in your bank account.

    If you're in CREDIT (overdrawn) the bank is your CREDITOR - you owe them money.

    Hope this helps

    Gem
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    FIrstclass yesterday. Didn't do much and finished over 3 hours early!! Got given the details for the texts, got the student record and a book about the AAT. And was introduced to all the tutors. Hopefully will learn something next week.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    So basically 1st night learning is all about meeting your class mates and tutors?
    Suddenly I don't feel so nervous...
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    GEM ....thankyou ...that really helps :D

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    No probs :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Had my first lesson last night, there are roughly 40 of us split into 2 groups.
    I didn't think I would pick it up quite so well as I did last night, it was only Recording Sales and Expenses in a cash book but I found it really simple, I even understood how to balance the account.
    Looking forward to tonight's class now.

    Cool.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    You know, I never thought I would find it as fun as I do! You guys seem to be enjoying it too, which is good. I do it by distance learning. I never let a bus ride go to waste!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    isnt it funny how different the learning is

    monday nights for us is out of the work book and tutorial

    wednesday nights is on a pc out of the office skills book.

    monday night we discussed assets liabilities and capital ..we discussed "T" accounts and i cant remember what else :oops: :lol:

    wednesday night we discussed health and safety posters and health and safety policies

    and yet user 19051984 was doing recording sales and expenses and balancing accounts

    (btw we have 18 in our class and out tutor said it was daunting cos shes only used to about 13/14 )
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Don't forget to DIALL CILLA

    DIALL

    Debits
    Increase
    Assets and
    Lessen
    Liabilities

    CILLA

    Credits
    Increase
    Liabilities and
    Lessen
    Assets

    Good luck

    Speegs
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Now been doing AAT for 3 wks. Unlike some of you lucky peeps doing it over 2 nights we have to do ours all in one day. Finished 3 hrs early week one. Week 2 started portfolio for health and safety, this was scrapped in week 3 as we are doing skills test. All of us happy about that cos all tutor was sayuing was "portfolio". They have updated sage at the college and only 6 computers were working for 18 of us for week 2. on week 3 tutor didn't turn up so another early finish. moral is low as we have lost 7 students! also one of our tutors is treating us all like 14 year olds! And if I am honest we have not learnt anything.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    The "Not Learning Anything" is true to ALL my group in the "Health and Safety" class. The Accounts lessons are intense and quite informative, somethimes a little too daunting to take all in at once. We practised a fire drill in the "Portfolio" lesson as we call it as the tutor says Portfolio 3 times a minute...
    The day after, I had 2 fire drills at work :lol:
    Apart from the child-like "Hazard Quizzes" we have to fill in, the rest of the "Portfolio" class is based on computer work...
    I passed A-Levels in computing and Excel and the tutor cannot give me anything else to learn, which is quite annoying - I find myself helping others which gives me a little satisfaction but whilst the rest are learning basic formulae I should be doing all the boring paperwork to get it out the way.

    Going home from work now anyway - have fun,
    Post Soon
    Jamie
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie


    Jamie
    19051984 wrote:
    I passed A-Levels in computing and Excel and the tutor cannot give me anything else to learn, which is quite annoying - I find myself helping others which gives me a little satisfaction but whilst the rest are learning basic formulae I should be doing all the boring paperwork to get it out the way.

    I have done nvq level one and the ECDL in computing , so what exactly are they doing in your lessons on the pc's ? We havent even touched one yet ...we have just completed our health and safety and been told we are doing personal effectivness tomorrow night ......ill be glad to touch a pc lmao :lol:
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 ๐Ÿค– Admin ๐Ÿค–
    Re:Newbie

    Hi everybody!

    In addition to the PEARLS, DEADCLIC and DIAL CILLA, there is an even simpler method. (courtesy of Frank Wood...)

    IN on the Left side and OUT on the Right.

    ie Into your bank/cash for payments received, and Out of the Debtors account.
    Out of your bank/cash to pay creditors, and Into your suppliers account.
    Out of your suppliers account and Into your asset/item account.
    etc.
    So when you know one end of 'the stick' (ie payment from your bank, etc), then the other end just goes into the opposite side...
    Also, with VAT, the 'transaction' gets split - so one debit linked to two credits.(Gross vs net/Vat), while one credit linked to two debits.

    We have been advised to do as much background as possible - so Margaret Nicholson, Frank Wood, etc
    There is a Support Booklet for PLB, can't remember the section of this website - prob student support. Very Useful - written by one of the examiners (Carol Harris)!
    Also past papers for later - i've resisted downloading the answers so i can get my head round stuff first.
    Also things make more sense when you get further into the course - the bigger picture, etc
    :D
    Credit goes to Yazi (Double Entry thread - origin Tracey_b) who quoted Frank Wood first - sorry Yazi. :oops:

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