In over my head

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT student discussion
I really feel that the Intermediate Level has gone completely over my head - nothing seems to be sinking in at all - i'm on the verge of just giving up all the together - finished unit 7 get the results of the simulation tonight - but unit 6 is like someone speaking chinese to me - double entry book keeping fine, but the rest, P&L Accounts what goes into that - pass, depreciation, selling of an asset, again pass - nothing at all has sunk in we where given practice papers from out tutor i sat and looked at them for 3 hours last night wwwwwwoooooooooooo made me feel worse, think now that maybe aat isn't for me - please can anyone offer any advice i don't want to pack in but there doesn't seem to be much point continuing with the course feeling the way i do - hhhhheeeeeeellllllllllllpppppppppppppp

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I felt like that, I nearly gave up to. But I stuck with it and passed all the papers first time. Just stick with it, give up more social life if you have to its worth it.

    Try learning one bit well, then move onto the next. Each bit seems to get easier and easier - you read better, handle calcs better etc.

    My two cents anyway!

    P.S. if you get stuck and dont understand the long winded explanations of a textbook come back and post a specific problem on here. It helps me from forgetting stuff ive learnt before! and other peeps on here always seem happy to help.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    i am in the excat same situation, i am just not getting it at all and i have lost all motivation, i had college last night and today i can remember a thing, i was going to give up but i thought that i am half way through i might as well carry on and give it my best shot, i fail then i fail but i have bought some revison cards and kit from BPP and i am jut going to study really hard, dont give up you have come this far!!
    If you want i can give you my email address amnd exchange notes and stuff.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    thanks sallie that would be a help my e'mail address is piglet7969@hotmail.co.uk that is also my msn address if you ever go on there - any help you can give would be very much appreciated
    lori
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Loris

    I was on the same situation as you a year ago - and now find myself here again, doing Technician.

    DON'T GIVE UP.

    Unit 5 is a breeze as it is just an extension of Foundation - so you should walk that one.

    Same with Unit 7 - pointlessly easy!

    Unit 6 - HOW HARD!?!?!?!? Each week I went into a lesson and could not remember what we had done last week. That was the same with homework. I could not remember how to do anything. When we were handed past exam papers for revision, I realised that I had remembered about 60% of the Unit - it was that last 40% that I needed to work on. That's where I put my revision effort into.

    Don't give up. It is worth it in the end


  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Don't give up. Your future prospects are so much better if you keep going. As an employer, if I see someone with just an element of AAT on their CV I always ask why they stopped. If they tell me they gave up, I always suggest they should re-start (even if I don't think they are right for the position I'm interviewing for), it gives them an edge and is a worthwhile qualification.

    I can't help specifically with units as I took my AAT exams in the early 90's and the syllabus has changed several times.

    However, like Lincs, I'm happy to help on specific queries.

    Is your employer sponsoring you? Can you not ask your line manager for help? I currently have an assistant studying her ACCA and I would be very upset if I were to find out she was struggling and thinking of quitting and I hadn't helped her or encouraged her to keep going.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I no what that feels like people say it will be worth and it deep down i no but at the min oh my god its hell!

    Feel stupid saying this but i really want to quit.

    anyone else at preston college?
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Nicola,

    I'm not at Preston college but like Lincs says, if you have a specific problem please post it on this forum and someone will try to help you out. I've found myself looking on here nearly every day (I obviously need a social life....LOL).

    But to be honest I find that it helps to know I'm not the only one stuggling with a certain area and trying to answer someone, also helps me understand things clearer.

    Which unit have you just finished and which one are you just starting?

    Hope you do get through this - Good Luck

    Carole
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    You're not the only one who feels totally out of their depth by the intermediate - I was slow getting going and have just finished Unit 7 - someof which went in but lots didn't - just got to pluck up the courage for the skills test now - agh! Unfortunately my line manager at work is little use and there is no-one else within the company who can help - oh hell what a whinger but the forum makes your realise that you're not on your own and it will be worth it....well thats what I keep telling myself
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I have found every subject I have tackled with AAT a bit daunting to start with and I certainly can't do past papers very well having only just gone through things once. The key is lots of practice, it is hard work and I have been there wanting to give in, but it does suddenly click into place and make sense. Just keep plugging away bit by bit maybe small chunks at a time. I always set myself so many areas to learn in a certain time to keep ontop of things and break it down a bit.

    Good luck and stick at it. I figure its a few years of hard work, the struggles are soon forgotten but you will have a nice job and salary hopefully for years to come :D
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I too have been struggling with Intermediate Level.
    Im finding it difficult to keep motivated as I work as an accounts assistant and my work has little relevance to the course.

    What revision techiques are people doing? Any advice?

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I too have been struggling with Intermediate Level.
    Im finding it difficult to keep motivated as I work as an accounts assistant and my work has little relevance to the course.

    What revision techiques are people doing? Any advice?

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Hi Nocola,

    I am studying Intermediate also, and at Preston College, when do you attend ?

    Violet
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    :oops: hi believe or not it's unit 5 i'm struggling with at the moment - ok up to p&l and balance sheets now - but its the selling of an assest and which account to regards all the info in - any advice please
    lori
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Hi

    Please don't give up :(
    I felt the same when I took my intermediate level but I concentrated on learning a little at a time and I got there in the end I passed those exams first time. I do think the intermediate level is harder than the others, it seems such a big step up from foundation.

    Keep trying you can do it and when you are not sure of something post your query people are only too happy to help.

    Regards
    Michelle
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Hi Loris

    Is it the disposal account you are struggling with? Well I will try to explain (not to good at explaining thou!) ;-0

    CR - FA Account with Cost price of FA i.e. £5000
    DR - Disposal account £5000

    DR - Prov for Dep (amount acc on FA sold) i.e. £300
    CR - Disposal account £300

    If you sold the FA you would;

    CR - Disposal account with the amount i.e. £1500
    DR - Bank

    The disposal account will look as follows;

    DR 5000 FA original cost
    CR (300) Prov for Dep
    CR (1500) Monies received on sale

    Leaving a Credit balance of £3200, being a loss on disposal.... (If the balance is a Debit balance, this would be a profit on disposal).

    Hope this helps.. :D

    Sinders
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    I found when I was studying AAT that most of the students were naturally good at either Costings or Financials, never both. Costings was very easy for me, but Financials was really hard work. I had to go back to the basics and learn basic Double Entry stuff and then work my way back up to ETB, depreciation etc.. Incomplete records was hell too!! I had the Osbourne books and I just spent so much time working through ALL the exercises and questions so I REALLY understood what I was doing. I found that was the only way. I would spend my whole Saturday at the library in total silence reading the books and really concentrating on everything I read. That’s how I passed. I thought Intermediate was hell until I got to Technician!!
    But I passed everything with no re-sits. Put in the quality time and you'll pass.
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    :roll: glad im not the only one haveing second thoughts about this level the assesments are ok but the dec exam ill be lucky if i get invited for a resit my mind went completely blank....however an 'going to carry on regardless'roll on feb 15 lol
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    Hi aswan48

    Re: Financial v Costing.

    I did Financial last year and sat the exam in December. I must admit that I really enjoyed it, and found it reletively straight forward (with only a few hickups!)

    Started Costing this month, also Reports & Returns. Not so sure I like the R&R. We have only done the introduction to costing, it sounds a little more complex.. Would you say you found that there is alot more to cover and remember in Costing?

    Any advice would be appreciated.

    Sinders
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:In over my head

    see new thread (above). Hope it helps you.

    Steve

Categories

Privacy Policy