F A O AAT - Backward Variances

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
I am sure I'm not alone in wondering this, is it possible for someone from the AAT to tell us if Backward Variances are on the syllabus for PEV.<BR><BR>Personally until I heard it on this forum I had never heard of a backward variance even less no what one is. It has not been taught at college and there is no mention of them in the BPP Interactive Text.<BR><BR>It might be an idea for anyone else wondering what is going on to add a comment to this thread so the AAT can see they have a lot of confused students.

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  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    Our class had also not heard of backward variances until last night's lesson! All came out very confused and wondering whether it will actually feature in the exam and if so, how detailed. It would be nice to know whether this is another thing we have to worry about!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I am with you on that one !....why give us something new like backward variancees when there is only two weeks to go. Sureley something that can be quite complicated should have been included in the sylabus. Please AAT let us know whether this is going to be included.<BR><BR>P
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I have just emailed AAT about this, lets just see what sort of reply they give.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I have never heard of them either. Why or where have they sprung from? im pannicking now!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I got an automated reply back from AAT, saying that due to high demand I should receive a reply within 10 days....errmmmm me thinks it will be too late then !...maybe someone should ring them.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    Backwards Variances aren't really any different to normal variances, it's just looking at them the opposite way round eg you are given a variance and asked to calculated the amount spent on materials, or a budgeted figure, rather than being given figures for usage/price/budget and asked to work out the variance. Once you can do them you'll find you understand forwards ones better too. It means you have to understand what's behind the variances rather than just calculating them using learned formulae.<BR><BR>From reading other threads, it seems this has come from an exam tip. Exam tips are just that, tips, they don't mean that a topic will come up, just that someone things it might. I wouldn't really expect the AAT to comment about a forthcoming exam at this late stage so the best thing is to ask your lecturers again to explain it, and ask them how likely they think it is to come up.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I rang Student Services and am just waiting to hear back. It has been referred because no-one in the department had heard of them either.<BR><BR>I will let you know as soon as I hear back. <BR><BR>I might not find out today but if not it should be tomorrow.<BR>
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    To Clarify<BR><BR>I am not for one second expecting the AAT to comment on the exam, I would just like to know given the fact that it is not covered in the BPP text if it actually forms part of the syllabus or not.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    Just to clarify, I have only asked the AAT whether or not backwards variances are assessable under the syllabus for PEV. <BR><BR>Because it is not in a lot of people's text books and also many people hadn't even heard of it we just want to find out whether it is covered within PEV as a whole.<BR><BR>I think the confusion has come up because many people hadn't heard of it until they read it in the tips given by PQ magazine. It wasn't the tip that was being queried, just the criteria for the unit.<BR><BR>Obviously the AAT won't comment the exam itself, it is just the syllabus that seems a bit unclear. I couldn't find anything in the student record criteria either so am very confused now, and starting to panic about the whole thing!<BR>
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    It is in the syllabus<BR><BR>Please refer to<BR><a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.aat.co.uk/docs/students/Technician_record.pdf">http://www.aat.co.uk/docs/students/Technician_record.pdf</a&gt; Page 22 Unit 8.2 Performance Criteria 8.2A<BR><BR><i>A Analyse routine cost reports, compare them with other sources of information and identify any implications</i><BR><BR>And then look back over the past examiners' comments. How many times can you find references to the exams (and central assessments) being based on the <b>standards</b> not what the publishers have included in their books?<BR><BR><BR>For what it's worth. Don't take this topic out of proportion. The chances are that if backward variances do turn up, some people will pass despite not getting them right, because they understand so much of the syllabus that their exam paper as a whole demonstrates competence
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    Thanks for confirming that. I will try and find out a bit about it just in case but won't worry too much then. <BR><BR>I was just a bit worried that if it came up it would totally throw me because I just hadn't heard of it before.<BR><BR>I think I am so nervous about the exams that seeing something I hadn't heard of before just made me panic a bit.<BR><BR>At least its nearly over now I guess!<BR><BR>Good luck to everyone.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    I have a message on the revision board which I expect to appear tomorrow<BR><BR>As a response to anyone who is particularly anxious about the PEV exam, there is a revision day in Chichester on Saturday 4 June.<BR><BR><a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="mailto:sandy.hood@chichester.ac.uk">Sandy.Hood</a>
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F A O AAT - Backward Variances

    Hi All<BR><BR>For AAT response, please see the thread titled 'AAT's response to recent discussion threads'.<BR><BR>http://www.aat.co.uk/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=44&threadid=6507<BR><BR>Susan Harper<BR>Examinations Manager

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