|
|
Hello
I was just wondering if someone could inform me on what is the best way to study level 3 Manual and computerised.
Has anyone gone with a learning provider that they have found worth while? as i went with Home Learning College for Level 2 and would not study with them again and dont want to waste my money on one that i wont like.
Kind Regards
Zoe
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
For the level III manual I went to extreme measures. I was already with a course provider (Ideal Schools) and they supplied a couple of mock exams but I bought all the other available mock exams from the ICB. I also bought the Kaplan book with level III questions.
I worked my way through all the exams. When I got stuck I'd look at the answers for hints. Second time of going through all the exams I didn't look at the answers. I must have done all the exams about three times before I was happy. Then I did the mock online. Then the real thing.
My mark went up from 94% (I think ) for manual level II to 98% for Manual level III.
I also assume you will be doing the level III manual before doing the computerised as level III manual will help you with computerised but it won't work as well the other way around.
|
|
|
Hi Peasie
Have you worked in bookkeeping before? as i have not. So was just wondering if you would still think your way of studying would work for me? i have got the level 3 book from kaplan but just didnt know where to start
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
I should emphasise my extereme measures with the mock exams came after the course with Ideal Schools. I don't have the discipline to work on my own and needed their pointers and hints at times. To put it another way, I wouldn't have passed without the help of the course provider but I think I may have added a few points onto my mark with the extra exams I did.
I have worked in bookkeeping before but I don't think that had anything to do with the way I studied.
What are your plans for the future? Are you going to be setting up in self-employment? Do you really need to study level III just now? Many people do the level II exams, set up in practice then do the level III exams. Part of my reason for asking these questions are my own case I looked on the money I spent on a course provider as an investment in my future and I think it will end up being money well spent. I know you've had a bad experience (by the sounds of things) with a course provider - but they're not all like that. Also be aware that while some others sing the praises of one course provider (like me with Ideal Schools) others may not have had the same experience.
|
|
|
i am looking to go self employed. i was looking into doing level 3 as werent sure how many soletraders would use a bookkeeper where as i know Companies are alot more likely so thought it would be worth doing, however i suppose it wouldnt hurt to put on hold as could do with starting small and gettting practice. Have you done the Payroll or Self Assessment and if so how did you do these and how did you find them? Sorry for all the questions
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
Yes - I've done the Payroll Diploma and the Self Assessment one as well.
Again, these don't need to be done at the start. You could set up and then study these later.
My logic behind doing boh of these....
Payroll - you may get a client that wants the bookkeeping and payroll done. They might want just the one person doing both. If you couldn't do payroll you may lose out on that client. I didn't do the payroll course because I wanted to offer payroll services on their own (which if asked I still would do) but rather as a complete package.
Similarly with Self Assessment Tax Returns. You may get a sole trader that might want someone to do their bookkeeping and then go on and complete their tax return for them. It might be a lost client if you can't offer this. Like Payroll, I wouldn't want to do Tax returns on their own but rather as part of a more complete package.
Don't worry about asking questions. The answers may help other people. Others may chip in with their pennyworth.
Havings said all that I have said about being able to set up after doing level II - in my own case I also waited until I had passed level III and the other exams. That's mainly down to my own general lack of self-confidence not just in bookkeeping. I will be advertising in the local newspaper at the start of November (next Wednesday) and I should have an A3 advert in the local Post Office. I haven't actually been down to check yet, they told me two months ago it was going up Mid-October.
|
|
|
Here comes my penny-worth.
I set up in March, having just passed level 2 manual. (I completed Level 2 comp 2 years ago). I have now got 5 clients (one sole-trader, one partnership and 3 Ltd companies). I have just ordered the SA exam this morning, as I've earnt enough to be able to afford further study. I've also bought the Sage Instant Payroll Course, which I hope to be starting as soon as I've got the SA exam out of the way. I will be doing level 3 at some point in the mid-near future, but again, I need more funds behind me to allow this.
I could have paid up front for all the exams, but given the economic situation, I didn't want to get into debt - just in case my business didn't work out. Was looking very possible too. Didn't get a single enquiry for the first 4 months of some pretty intense marketing. Then picked up 3 clients in a little over a week. Strange how things happen in little clutches. Other 2 clients I picked up within 24 hours of eachother.
|
|
|
Thanks peasie and gigagirl for your posts, it is encouraging to see people in your situations who have been able to set up. I am currently trying to find the confidence and bravery to leave my job and start out on my own...not quite ready to take the plunge yet. Like peasie, I am going to get my level 3 manual out of the way first to boost my confidence a bit!
I am currently ploughing through the level 3 past papers, and am also with ideal schools, who are very prompt at answering queries and marking work, but hopefully most course providers would be like that.
|
|
|
Dear Zoe,
Like you I tried and left a Learning College as they were completely hopeless. I got some good advice from ICB, looked at their website and then decided to go with Ideal Schools for ICB levels 1,2 that I passed first time scoring over 90% and level 3 which I sit this Thursday. I would suggest you invest £10 on the ICB mock exam and take it from there. While I found Ideal Schools material and tutoring excellent the mock exam is somewhat different and it does prepare you for the centre based exams where you only require a calculator. If you call Ideal Schools aks to speak with Brian or Scott they are nice guys and will give you sound adivce. I'm not on commission,honestly.
Best of luck
Tim
|
|
|
Could I suggest to all users of the forum that they choose their words carefully when referring to others such as course providers.
Suggesting that anyone is "completely hopeless" is not appropriate, what may not have suited one person may be more than suitable for someone else.
We have to remember that this is a public forum, comments can be considered defamatory, and I suspect that all providers have an appropriate procedure which their students should follow if they are unhappy.
I make no particular reference to any member but of course when issues arise it could also be down to an individual student who has not performed as well as they (the student) thought they would. Some run before they can walk, some do not put in the required hours of learning and so forth.
I have recently started lecturing A level accounts - I have one student who has not performed well, he probably thinks I am completely hopeless (and he may be right). But he does not help himself when he brings me work which is not of a satisfactory standard - and his friend who works in a bank has given him answers which are totally incorrect!
An 18 year old telling a level III '50 something' with over 40 years experience that he is not teaching correctly........!!!
Geoff Smith
Member ICB Advisory Council
|
|
- Member
- Practice Licence
- 2 posts
|
I went with Clever Cloggs training and found them brilliant. I got 100% in my level 3 computerised and 98% in the manual which proves they are good! I liked the fact that a tutor is always available to help (even now my course has finished) and the fact that they don't do high pressure sales. No-one comes to your door to sell you the course which is a plus as they are about the only distance learning company I found that was prepared to tell me on the phone how much the course would cost! As a bookkeeper I would have thought tracking your expenditure would be important!
I can't recommend them highly enough. Give them a ring and see for yourself!
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
Geoffsaid:
“Could I suggest to all users of the forum that they choose their words carefully when referring to others such as course providers.
Suggesting that anyone is "completely hopeless" is not appropriate, what may not have suited one person may be more than suitable for someone else.”
I think when people have problems with distance learning providers it is usually more down to delays in answering queries or answering assignments than the actual ability of the tutor to teach the subject. Or maybe they have a problem with their sales technique at the start and it sours things for them.
I can't comment myself as I've only been with one learning provider and was happy with them. Their only sales technique in my case was when I enquired about another course I was informed I was entitled to a discount because I had taken a previous course with them.
You other point reminds me of when I was 11 and in Primary 7 at school. I would constantly argue with the headmaster of the school (he taught Primary 7) that he was wrong when he said "practise makes perfect" - I would insist it was "practise makes perfection". I would actually get quite angry about it every time. It was only years later I found out he was right and I was wrong.
|
|
|
At last the perfect opportunity (and I have been waiting a long time) -
Who said it was "easy peasie"? 
-------------------------------------------
(some of ) the problems with distance learning are that people expect a) that the tutor is available 24/7 b) that the student thinks they are the only student (and sometimes the tutor has to make the student believe they are) c) the difficulty in not having a face to face discussion - especiallly when there is often much misinterpretation in written Q&A.
I can't wait for the thousands to sign up to the Certified Legal Bookkeeper course so that I can provide such quality support that everyone will have such a rose coloured view of distance learning tutors again.....!!
|
