|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
In the next month or so I hope to sit my Level III manual exam at a centre. I've done the level II at a centre and I thought the space was extremely restricted because of the monitor in the middle of the desk. This was offset by it being easier to fill in the exam as the format for balance sheets etc was already there for you and you just had to fill in the numbers. I was only given one sheet of plastic dry wipe thingy to write on. I understand they now supply 2 sheets.
I've been doing a mock exam (paper style) and I use three, sometime four different A4 pads of paper spread out on a large table. I'm also able to tick things off with a pencil on the exam paper.
How did people find the level III exam at a centre with these restrictions? Is the levl III similarly offset by the ease of filling in the answers. I'd guess with only two sheets of dry wipe thing there won't be much scope for going back over the answers at the end of the exam as you have to give up the sheets when you want a clean sheet.
Is the format drastically changed from the old style paper exams. I thing I'll buy all the available mock exams and do at least one in exam conditions (ie three hours in one sitting, not one question at a time then go and do something else).
|
|
- Fellow
- Practice Licence
- 109 posts
|
Hi Peasie,
you've worried my now.  (the nearest smiley to a worried face). I am doing my level II tomorrow and one of the things that has been worrying me is the paper to calculate things one. I like to write answers in full - so I can double check them and as you said going back and checking answers. Plus I do not write small.
I can understand that they don't want you to take anyting you've written on away.
I am doing my Mock online this morning (having done several paper ones, the last one in exam conditions) so I will bear that in mind.
Thank you. Clare
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 26 posts
|
Hi Peasie and Trippy,
Good luck to both of you.
I appeared in Level II on 25 March 2011 and Level III on 20 April 2011. I did not feel lack of desk space, work sheet or for that matter any other thing. I would advise you to attempt ICB online mock with pen, paper and simple calculator only. You wiill have similar feel at the centre.
Do not brood over too much. Enjoy the study and the examination. You will do well.
Just to let you know, I passed both the examinations with Distinction (99%). However for my result I owe a lot to my course provider Ideal Schools who made me thorough with the subject.
Kind regards
M Dubey
|
|
|
Peasie said:
“In the next month or so I hope to sit my Level III manual exam at a centre. I've done the level II at a centre and I thought the space was extremely restricted because of the monitor in the middle of the desk. This was offset by it being easier to fill in the exam as the format for balance sheets etc was already there for you and you just had to fill in the numbers. I was only given one sheet of plastic dry wipe thingy to write on. I understand they now supply 2 sheets.
I've been doing a mock exam (paper style) and I use three, sometime four different A4 pads of paper spread out on a large table. I'm also able to tick things off with a pencil on the exam paper.
How did people find the level III exam at a centre with these restrictions? Is the levl III similarly offset by the ease of filling in the answers. I'd guess with only two sheets of dry wipe thing there won't be much scope for going back over the answers at the end of the exam as you have to give up the sheets when you want a clean sheet.
Is the format drastically changed from the old style paper exams. I thing I'll buy all the available mock exams and do at least one in exam conditions (ie three hours in one sitting, not one question at a time then go and do something else).”
Hi Peasie,
I agree that space is at a premium at the test centres. I found it was more the fact that I had no room directly in front of me (which is where I like things), as the Desktop PC's they are using are from about 1990!! Surely it can't be that hard for them to add a caddy under the desk to hold the thing, and get some cheap TFT Monitors.
I found the layout of the exam pretty easy. It is very much a case of entering the blanks - the layout and titles of everything is there for you already - just like L2.
You do know you can ask for as many writing boards as you like? I was given 2 of my L3, but if you need more you can just raise your hand and they will bring you some more.
Jason
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
Regarding the monitors - I think they are stuck with them. They aren't really designed for bookkeeping exams, they are designed for doing the driving theory test so they kind of need to be rigid. But it is annoying there is so little space to write what with the keyboard and the monitor being in the MIDDLE of the desk. I tired to pick the monitor up and move it to the back of the desk before I realised it was stuck there. I must have looked a right prat to those watching from outside.
Regarding the writing boards (or plastic dry wipe thingy I previously called them) - I appreciate you can have as many as you want. But if you want a new one, don't they take an old one away so there's no way of going back over your answers at the end of an exam if you have time.
I think like Clare I will be doing as many paper exams as I can. I've done the first one supplied by Ideal Schools but kind of cheated. I have a book by Dr Peter Marshall where they have an exam and answers. Different questions and answers but roughly the same format so I looked at the answers (to a different exam) for hints. I suppose this is where the format of the exam may help me in that I'll get the hints from the layout provided on screen. It's partnerships I struggle with. I'll be doing at least one paper exam in exam conditions (minus the monitor stuck in the middle of my desk).
|
|
- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider IS
- 435 posts
|
Hi Peasie,
I'm sure all will go ok for you on the day. In the run up to your exam please contact us whenever you feel you need any guidance on any of the Level III topics. You can never have too much practice, so you are doing the right thing with regard to additional past papers, but, as M Dubey stated, pleaseensure you attempt the online practice paper as well.
I wish you the best of luck when the time comes.
Kind regards
|
|
- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider IS
- 435 posts
|
M Dubey said:
“Hi Peasie and Trippy,
Good luck to both of you.
I appeared in Level II on 25 March 2011 and Level III on 20 April 2011. I did not feel lack of desk space, work sheet or for that matter any other thing. I would advise you to attempt ICB online mock with pen, paper and simple calculator only. You wiill have similar feel at the centre.
Do not brood over too much. Enjoy the study and the examination. You will do well.
Just to let you know, I passed both the examinations with Distinction (99%). However for my result I owe a lot to my course provider Ideal Schools who made me thorough with the subject.
Kind regards
M Dubey
Hi Mr Dubey,
Many thanks once again for your kind comments. It is great to hear that you are enjoying your study experience, and your results so far prove that you have really taken in all aspects of your course work.
Kind regards
”
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
Brian @ Ideal Schools said:
You can never have too much practice, so you are doing the right thing with regard to additional past papers, but, as M Dubey stated, pleaseensure you attempt the online practice paper as well.
I'll definitely be doing an online practise paper and will only be booking my exam if I get a sufficiently high mark. On these previous papers the pass mark is 60%. I reckon I could sit the exam in a couple of weeks and get that pass mark. But I'll be stuck with that mark on my certificate. It won't exactly instill confidence in potential clients if they see that was all I got. I think I'll keep going for a few more weeks to try and get as high a mark as I can. Besides, I've nearly done the final assignment on ratios but I doubt I could remember them in an exam. Time to get cards prepared with the name of ratio on the front and formula on the back.
|
|
- Fellow
- Practice Licence
- 109 posts
|
Hi All, Just to follow up on this Thread and Peasie I know that you know this.
Yesterday I sat my Level II Manual at the centre. Yes there was a lack of space on the desk but I found that the way the questions are structured I did not need to write too much down - having said that I did use up both sides of my 2 wipe boards.
The problem I had was the the screen was so close, Because it is a big screen sitting on a box (containing the Computer?) I found the screen very close to the front of the desk which was uncomfortable and awkward as I had to lean back to read it and forward to write on my sheets.
The other problem I had was that when I arrived at the centre they said I had to use their calculator. I did say I liked mine with big buttons and I mean BIG) and very simple but no - I HAD to use theirs. I am sure that I had read that I could take my own. This flustered me a bit but I remembered the words of the Hitchers Hikers Guide. DON'T PANIC. (or was it the "answer is 42" , there must be a bookkeepers joke in there somewhere).
Anway. I left the centre knowing I had passed but I have just found out that I got a 100% YES, along with 100% for Level I, I am feeling chuffed. Just ordered My Level II computerised exam. My level III books arrived yesterday. (BTW I studied via KAPLAN but never used the tutor so I am studying Level III just via the Kaplan books to save money with Additional support via the Frank Wood Book).
Have a good weekend all. I know that I will, a weekend off.
Clare
Edited at 13 May 2011 12:55 PM GMT
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
I think I forgot to say "congratulations" on the other thread, so - congratulations on passing.
The calculator thing - must depend on which centre you use. I also have a calculator with massive buttons. I was asked if the calculator was programmable. I said it wasn't so was allowed to use my own.
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 26 posts
|
Hi Trippy,
Congratulations for excellent result.
Wish you good luck for future exams.
Kind regards
M Dubey
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 194 posts
|
Congratulations Trippy! Bet you are pleased!
I too found the space on the desk very restrictive as I like to spread myself out...lol Also I was allowed to take my own calculator into the Level II exam but not into the Level III exam, had to have one of theirs, even though mine was a simple one. And this was at the same exam centre. Make your minds up!
I also couldn't take my own tissue in and was told that if i wore my cardigan I wouldn't be able to take it off once in there, so took it off and put it in my locker and then I was freezing as the air con was blasting right at me..lol I also found it very intimidating that I knew I was being recorded both audio and visual.
Sorry finished my moan now :-)
Pauline
|
