F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited 10:09AM in AAT student discussion
<br><br><< <i>Please advise. I have just sat the PEV exam and was advised by my tutor that backward variances could not be exaimed as there were not in the syllabus. I also paid for a revision course at another college (which i wont mention) where the tutor was also adament that they were not in the syllabus they couldnt be exaimed. Neither tutor would take the time to show students how backward variance worked because of this. Surely AAT cannot grade students on being competent in a subject that hasnt been taught.</i> >><br><br><BR><BR>I know a number of people have moaned about this, but really, what's the deal? If you know that standard minus actual gives the variance, what's the problem to find the actual given the standard and the variance? I'm not trying to be smug, I just don't see the difficulty...<BR>

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    I agree with bytebrother, that backwards variances should be straighforward if you know them the normal way around, it just confused me slightly that you had to go back to question 1.1 for the standard cost, normally all the data you need is in the question you are doing.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    'Backward variances' does not amount to a new subject, let alone, as someone else claims, an addition to the standards. It's simply another way of looking at variances, which of course are a core area of the unit. In effect, instead of asking<BR><BR>3+2=?<BR><BR>we've asked <BR><BR>3+?=5<BR><BR>A well-prepared candidate at Technician level should be able to deal with this.<BR><BR>There's been a lot of panicky discussion of this topic, which I do understand, and it will be interesting to see how candidates have actually performed in the task.<BR><BR>PB
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    Paul<BR><BR>I, like many others, have sat the PEV this morning and thought it awful.<BR><BR>What worries me more, is that it appears that certain exam 'tips' were leaked on this site over the last few weeks (although I only found out about them this lunhtime). and they seem to have been extremely accurate in their content.<BR><BR>As I do not usually have access to the website, I feel that the 'leak' left those of us without access, at a disadvantage.<BR><BR>If there are likely to be further 'leaks about either DFS or PCR I think that should be taken into account when the examiners view the papers.<BR><BR>I would be interested to know what others think <BR><BR>
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    The phrase 'backward variances' appeared in PQ magazine and was then discussed on this board, it didn't originate here. As I said earlier, the task in question is a change to the normal point of view but is not a new topic and it should not have troubled well-prepared candidates, whether they saw the discussions on this site or not.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    The 'leaks' first appeared in a publication which many students or their employer's have access to and were then detailed on the forum. I saw the tips as they actually were and our tutor wasn't happy about tackling things under the new term of backward variances as he felt we should be able to work it out if we really understood. The point I'm trying to make is there are a lot of people who did see the tips and made efforts to get to the bottom of different techniques but it made no difference at all as to how they felt about today's paper, me included. In fact, I think the panic that ensued actually made the run up to the exams worse so I don't believe anyone who didn't see the tips is at a disadvantage and we certainly had no additonal profound knowledge.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    Paul,<BR><BR>I have to agree with you, overall the paper wasn't easy, but then again, they aren't supposed to be. The backward variances, is just how you described, basic maths, admittedly it took some thinking about. I think this was one of the only parts I am 100% confident of getting right.<BR><BR>Now looking forward to a DFS paper with the same simplicity!<BR><BR>Cheers, and good luck everyone with rest of exams!<BR><BR>Lofty
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    F.A.O Paul Deputy Examination Manager

    I agree about the leaks, all the items came up in the exam, backwards variance, stock valuation, abc adn computer based packages. No one would have guessed the latter it must be a leak.<BR>Any leaks for pcr?

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