Hi Shaun,

Thanks for your reply, I have read that thread already & it is very similar, I'll have another look to see if I can come to a better conclusion for myself, I guess I'm after the reassurance from all you experienced bookkeepers to say, the best way to go is X Y Z

I think I've read and been thinking that much about it all lately I'm beginning to confuse myself.

Thanks Joanne,

Yes Im full-time in the kitchen still, it's not easy, it's quite physically & mentally draining now I'm late 40's, it's a busy kitchen hence why this is taking me so long to complete learning this new craft,

A couple of reasons I'm leaning towards Kaplan is that they seem to have a decent reputation on here and there is a centre only 15 mins away from where I live & after doing distance learning with HLC (although other providers will be better I know now) I think a classroom environment might suit me better, or there's the on-demand course as halfway between classroom & distance learning at Kaplan, I did the free trial on that last night & quite liked the format.

-- Edited by Martin S on Thursday 14th of September 2017 11:12:22 PM

Hi Joanne,

I know how your son felt as a chef, this is the first chance I've had to reply! I too end up with around 5 hours sleep maximum most of the time, but luckily this seems to work for me although I do tend to have a slump around 3pm and usually need a 15 minute power nap, it doesn't always work out though.

I have taken your advice and asked Kaplan those questions amongst others, I'm currently waiting for the answers from them,

Hopefully soon I can get back on my journey to getting more qualified & get some more confidence along the way too.

Thanks to you all for your help & advice.

Hi Lisa, 

I have found out today from HLC or avocado or what ever they call themselves this week that it's only the tutor marked stuff that has to be in before December, exams can be booked in 2018 if so wished, so I think I'm going to do that as December itself is a bit  crazy for me in my day job.

After doing my IAB level 2 exams I went on to level 3 computerised, and now with no support, not that I got much anyway, I decided I was going to struggle with the manual at level 3 so I'm currently doing just the IAB Level 3 computerised now, and want to move to AAT to do level 3 after that as it seems its mainly all manual anyway with AAT & seems to be more recognised than the IAB too, your offer of any help needed is very kind too so feel free to PM me or post your email and I'll drop you a return email.

Thanks Joanne

This is why I like this forum, the help and advice we can all just ask for is simply priceless, the level of knowledge sometimes astounds me too, I just hope someday, I can get near that level, I suppose like anything else experience and CPD is what its all about.

Karen GTS wrote:

---

Hi Martin,

A very interesting thread and even more interesting to hear that the IAB are now allowing students to take their exams in 2018 for the presumably current QCF qualifications as this is what was offered by HLC?

The main difference in my opinion is the IAB are for people who want to become bookkeepers and the AAT are for those wishing to go into accountancy. I have taught both over the years, however now, only teach AAT and Skills First/Sage Computerised Accounting for Business.

Based on what you have said Martin, I think you have completed the Level 2 Award in Manual Bookkeeping and the Level 2 Award in Computerised Bookkeeping. If so, and you plan to do bookkeeping work then I would move to the IAB Level 3. If you want to go down the accounting route and have a good double entry knowledge, I would probably recommend purchasing the Kaplan Elements of Costing study text for AAT Level 2, work through this as you will need the basics and you wont have covered this with the IAB units, and then go straight in at Level 3 AAT.

Good luck

Karen

---

 Hi Karen

Sorry but I have to disagree with the highlighted line.  IAB offer beyond TB and are seemingly going out of their way to encourage folk to work with sole traders, most of whom are looking for a one stop shop, so the accounts prep and tax return is well into Accountants territory. For over 10 years AAT have offered a standalone bookkeeing course, albeit now when I mention AAT I am referring to the Accounting Technician qualification, which you do have the option of moving up to once level 4 is complete, or stopping at the end of level 3 and using their bookkeeping qualification.  The rest of the argument has been done a million times on here in the last 12months alone and so Im not going to regurgitate it just now.

Good shout to Martin on the elements of costing book, although some of the training providers do go over the basics again in the level 3 books, albeit briefly. 

Hi Lisa, I don't think you have your private messages active? I've been wanting to contact you.

Hi Lisa
Your email does not allow PMs. Go to settings then email visible and opt for 'no, accept email anon' and then folk can PM you. See pic.

Lisa/Martin
Its been said on here many times, its great to keep Qs on here so you can then help other people as well, some of whom are too scared to ask for help (#). Also given you are still both students (no disrepect intended) if you are giving wrong answers someone else can hopefully then set you right.

There was someone who posted on the 22 October, a new student looking for advice - perhaps you can assist? Its all good practice.





(#) by that I do not mean the tight fisted business owners who cannot be arsed paying a professional for assistance and would rather be freeloaders!

Good to see Lisa has updated her profile to accept emails now as well, so good luck both of you with the next round of exams.

Good luck with that for January Martin and before then with getting through the Christmas madness at work. Hope you dont have to work Christmas Day, or one of my sons Christmas nightmares - an 8 days straight double shifted day covering both Christmas and New Year (with his Mother having to be chaffeur given the public transport in the wee small hours is so naff!).

Thanks Joanne... I followed your instructions, and I am available Martin, if you still have that query about the textbooks.

I took my final exam today, it was all going so well until Sage One crashed! Fortunately I had finished all the exercises, but I was unable to print out some of my reports. I'm assuming I won't be penalised for it.

Hi Joanne,

Thank you for your feedback, and I do apologise that I haven't been on the site sooner to see your post. With the IAB computerised Sage One exam, I am given a username and password for the exam. I assumed this is so that the examiner can use those details to log in and see in detail exactly what I have done. There's only a few reports that needed doing, so I think that particular portion of the exam is just to prove that you know how to print out reports and collate them. I did consider phoning the IAB to explain, but the exam invigilator took a screenshot of the broken link and wrote a report of what I wanted to print but could not, so I didn't want to pester them (I am far to placid for my own good). The invigilator did stress that if the IAB have a problem with it, then I would get an exam re-sit free of charge.

My Sister-in-Law a few months previous, took her AAT level 3 computerised, and had technical issues... She did have to re-sit, so perhaps there is a difference in the way it's all done.

I'm really missing learning at the moment, and I loved all the train journeys to Newcastle to take my exams - the buzz of feeling like I've passed another level. So if I do have to re-sit, then i'll be fine, but I'd rather be cracking on, I want to do Payroll next.

If I were to suggest/recommend any of the two, it would be AAT. There is room to up-scale your skills through the levels, it's more recognized and would get you exemptions from any of the senior accounting qualifications.