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Hi
Really put my heart and soul (many hour studying I can assure you) only to fail BA6 several times this weekend. Anyone else having problems? The exams do not reflect the course material nor the revision kit or indeed the mock papers when it comes to the I&E section. Even the format on the last paper was completely different.
My pass rates are usually in the 90s, some 97 and with a strong background in accounts so I am naturally disappointed at failing several times.
Would be interested to hear back from anyone else struggling or have any past papers or can provide some helpful tips, before I give up due frustration, cost and more grey hair!
Thanks
Claire
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Hi Clare
I am also finding this hard- and agree with you competely, infact I came on to check to see if anyone else had any problems.
I dont see how I am going to pass as ive done it twice - I havent had a problem with all the other exams I have taken so far so feeling very deflated at the moment.
Suzie
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Hi Suzie,
Sorry to hear you've encountered the same problem. I feel your frustration and glad I'm not the only one. Like you, I've always had good marks.
I've sent another email to ICB as I believe the course material is very limiting, and together with the revision kit, in my opinion, do not give the coverage for the mocks or actual exam papers. Whilst I won't go into what was in the exam on here, we probably sat the same exams. Perhaps you could write or phone in with your concerns. Whilst frustrating it has been a costly experience and we're still to cross the finish line!
I'm currently researching the internet for further working examples which we shouldn't have to do but I'm determined to pass.
I've sent my workings to ICB as there is no feedback on where I've gone wrong.
Hope we find some answers soon.
Claire
Edited at 13 Apr 2015 08:34 PM GMT
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- Member PM.Dip
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I failed my BA6 twice 2 and passed 3rd time after further reading and tutor support and my advice is this:
Phone the ICB and ask for a report on your exam. It will cost you £25 for administration and examiner time but it is worth the money as you will then have an idea on the areas you are going wrong in.
Then get back to your tutor and explain the results and the tutor should be able to point to to the area that you need to revise again with an explaination of the subject.
obviously you cannot discuss the actual exam with anyone.
I also suggest you get the Kaplan book keeping manual level 3 for BA6/7. It has got some understanding of the subjects needed to pass.
Business accounts 4th edition by osbourne books is also good for more practice and knowledge for the exams and further practice on working out of non profit organisations accounts .It does have a lot more scenario based questions
Edited at 20 Apr 2015 08:15 AM GMT
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Hi
Thanks for the reply and welcome feedback on tips. Good to hear you passed.............eventually!
I have the Kaplan book and revision kit and I'm beginning to think the book sent is for the old syllabus, mainly because there is no indepth coverage of the subject. The revision kit only have 2 examples which again are far easier than the exams themselves.
ICB are great for feedback so I'm hoping for some guidance soon. Just very disappointed at the lack of coverage in the book which I feel has played a part to my failed papers.
Here's to passing soon :-)
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I failed BA06 twice as well but eventually passed on the 3rd attempt.
I think the Kaplan book is very poor on the not for profit examples. It brushed over very quickly without very good explanations. THe revision book is also poor for the number of practice questions given.
The poor Kaplan books means tat trying to tackle the exam is not easy especially as the main question does have situations that can catch you out.
Obviously I can not discuss the questions here but my advice is to remember that on the main question you must get the figures to balance and if they don't then work through the figures because there are some things there to catch you out to test your understanding of various processes.
Kevin
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- Member PM.Dip
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Yes, I also had the same experience with the BA06 exam 3 weeks ago. Passed every exam to this point including new BA05 and got 100% for the ICB BA06 mock and had never come across an exam question that I couldn't attempt with reasonable confidence before. I did everything correct related to the not for profit calculations but didn't know how to treat the unusual and specific income / expense scenario that I'd never covered in the syllabuses (I transferred from old Level 2). Because this wasn't right I then couldn't get enough points to achieve the pass mark required. On the advice of my training company, Training Link I contacted the ICB exams team with these issues. I thought I was just unlucky with the paper but if other people are in same situation the ICB should look at what the exam is trying to test knowledge of.
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- Member PM.Dip
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I know that Kaplan are limited to the subject Kevin hence my recommendation of business accounts by Osbourne books will cover questions on non profit. There is plenty of scenario questions to go through and shows workings for previous and current years sub's and accruals and prepayments.
There are answers in the book plus extra answers and download worksheets on their website.
For the record also ICB will not answer exam queries through e-mail. They do this only through a report request. This is stated on their website.
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Lucia D said:
“Yes, I also had the same experience with the BA06 exam 3 weeks ago. Passed every exam to this point including new BA05 and got 100% for the ICB BA06 mock and had never come across an exam question that I couldn't attempt with reasonable confidence before. I did everything correct related to the not for profit calculations but didn't know how to treat the unusual and specific income / expense scenario that I'd never covered in the syllabuses (I transferred from old Level 2). Because this wasn't right I then couldn't get enough points to achieve the pass mark required. On the advice of my training company, Training Link I contacted the ICB exams team with these issues. I thought I was just unlucky with the paper but if other people are in same situation the ICB should look at what the exam is trying to test knowledge of. ”
Training link should be supporting you by checking that they are providing you with the information in reference to that set by ICB. It should be in their syllabus after all. If you have not quite passed due to the change, get Training Link to contact head of exams to request another look at your work.
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Thanks Swinnk8 for the Osborne book recommendation. I have been looking at examples on the internet given the low coverage in Kaplan books. Hoping for a pass next time!
Sorry to hear you've also experienced problems Kevin and Lucia. I do believe there is now a comment on the exam result report now explaining where marks have been lost through incorrect calculations. However, as this is newly introduced it wouldn't help where we lost our marks but still a good tool introduced for ICB students, or indeed our next round of exams.
Have you completed BA7? Hoping there isn't the same problem! Does the Osborne book cover BA7 as well?
Hoping ICB expand on BA6 for the next round of students. Failed exams from students normally with high marks should raise concerns.
Thanks for your input everyone
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clairepoppy said:
“
Thanks Swinnk8 for the Osborne book recommendation. I have been looking at examples on the internet given the low coverage in Kaplan books. Hoping for a pass next time!
Have you completed BA7? Hoping there isn't the same problem! Does the Osborne book cover BA7 as well?
You should have had all the underpinning knowledge of the subjects from you learning provider.
BA7 exam is coverage of the whole of level 3 so once you have completed the BA6 exam you should not have a problem with BA7 which is taken at a pearson vue centre.
Business Accounts by David Cox, covers accounting/bookkeeping from scratch andcovers the subjects you should have studied in the BA4 to BA6 syllabus.It has a whole chapter on Clubs and Societies, and covers final accounts and reconcilliation.
Business Accounts takes you up to Limited companies.
It is not created by the ICB but it has plenty of multiple choice,scenario(including tricky ones) and underpinning knowledge questions to build your confidence with what you should already know.
It is not a replacement for the paperwork you would of recieved with your course so do please still refer back to your original course info too. The book will help get your mind set ready for your exams.
”
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You could download the bible - Frank Woods - Business Accounting 1 (for free)
http://anybook4free.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/frank-wood-business-accounting-1pdf.html
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Thanks Swinnk8 and Trevor, great to have additional material at last. Should keep me busy before tackling BA6 again and finally BA7. I have the Level III revision kit so with this hopefully a pass awaits :-)
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Hi
The Frank Woods - Business Accounting 2 (for free) is out there too, cant remeber which site i got it from, saw it as i was surfing and downloaded it for future reference, if you cant find it let me know your email and al send it over to you :)
nicky
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Looking on the bright side.
I've just done and passed BA7 at the exam centre and it was a breeze compared to BA6
If you can get you head around BA6 then you are in good condition for the external exam
Kevin
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Well done Kevin! You must be thrilled to pass BA7 following the disasterous BA6!!
I'm still waiting to hear back from ICB regarding the wrong books being issued but already preparing for BA7. The coverage in the Frank Wood's is excellent so hoping to feel more confident on the next BA6 paper.
Congratulations again :-)
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clairepoppy said:
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Well done Kevin! You must be thrilled to pass BA7 following the disasterous BA6!!
I'm still waiting to hear back from ICB regarding the wrong books being issued but already preparing for BA7. The coverage in the Frank Wood's is excellent so hoping to feel more confident on the next BA6 paper.
Congratulations again :-)
”
Hi,
How you getting on with your exam I have failed as well did you get any feedback regarding learning materials?
Regards
Vaida
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Hello All,
I am also left frustrated by this BA6 exam! I have now failed twice and I am starting to see a pattern with other fellow students. First paper I got 83% passmark and was so confident I booked another paper only to get a worse score having met questions and scenarios not covered by Training Link!!!
I spoke to ICB on the phone and they told me the BA6 paper was not able to be marked for the £25 fee which is ridiculous as I read below someone else got theirs marked! This is a total calamity and I will be calling ICB back and pressing for a remark. I now have 1 more chance to do the BA6 exam and my confidence has dropped significantly. This shouldnt be the case as Ive had 3 years accounting experience, a degee and part qualified ACCA. I am starting to doubt myself which I have never done before!
Can anyone please provide some advice?
Thanks.
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Hi All,
I've just passed BA6 at the 2nd attempt. The thing I found that really helped was taking both mock papers (available from the ICB shop for £10 at time of writing).
Someone mentioned the Training Link coursework above and how it doesn't cover everything. I've found that too but to be fair to Training Link and all training centres, ICB won't let them know what's in the exams (although I am taking Training Link's word for that!) so they give you as good a grounding as they can.
The mock papers do tell you all the questions you got wrong and give you the correct answers too, so well worth buying both.
Anyway, it's a relief reading this forum and knowing I wasn't the only one who struggled. Good luck to anyone still to take it!
Alex
Edited at 28 Nov 2016 07:36 PM GMT
Edited at 28 Nov 2016 07:38 PM GMT
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Had the same problem. I could do the old syllabus questions dead easy but not this exam. Failed twice and have had a break from it. These computerised exams unfairly penealise you for one mistake,
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am i the only one who believes we should be told how many marks each question is on these computerised exams???!
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To update you all, I now passed on my 3rd attempt with 93% and I have my confidence back!
Doing as many mocks as possible before the real exam is highly advisable.
Thanks to all.
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Congratulations Ade.
I agree that taking the mock exam from ICB before you attempt any exam is a MUST. From my experience of taking 8 mocks & exams so far, I can confirm the mock is very similar to the real exam. The mock is only £10 so if you get the practice to help you pass first time (hopefully) then it's better than paying £31 to £62 to take the real exam and having to pay as much to retake it with no benefit of the feedback that the mock answers give.
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