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Hi,
If I were to study for the AICB on my own how would I prepare for the computerised exam? I understand I'd have to get my own software, but are there any study guides for the computerised level II course? If so, where would I get this? I know Kaplan sell study texts and exam kits for the manual courses, but I've not seen anything similar for the computerised course(s).
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
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I'd have a look at some of the software training packages. Sage is probably the best for this. Have a look in the Sage shop or Ebay.
Kris
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- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 117 posts
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Hi, I would buy Sage instant and work through the exercises in the manuals provided with it, then attempt a mock and see how you do.
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Hi Kris & Jude,
Thanks. I'm assuming I probably wouldn't need a study text, as such, but it would be more a case of consolidating the knowledge learned in the manual courses, and being able to transfer that to the computer - e.g. set up a certain type of account for Bloggs & Co. Am I right?
Jude, does Sage Instant include exercise manuals, then? It's unusual to include those when buying a software package isn't it? Or are you referring to when you buy it as part of a course through a training provider?
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Sage Instants has a series of walk through exercises built into the package - the package is designed to be used by small businesses/sole traders who might not have any computer bookkeeping experience I believe.
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- Member
- Practice Licence
- 106 posts
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Guestimatesaid:
“Hi,
If I were to study for the AICB on my own how would I prepare for the computerised exam? I understand I'd have to get my own software, but are there any study guides for the computerised level II course? If so, where would I get this? I know Kaplan sell study texts and exam kits for the manual courses, but I've not seen anything similar for the computerised course(s).
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.”
Prior to joining The ICB, through whom I found, and subscribed to, an accredited training-provider, I self-studied SAGE bookkeeping/accounting. I was surprised to find that the 'ICB' SAGE coursework bore no relevance to my self-study coursework.
Even though I attained SAGE certification, the ICB L2 Computerised coursework went way and above what I had already learned. The diffence between the two is akin to learning to drive a car, then learning to be a driving instructor! My training-provider offers L2 Computerised study as a stand-alone package (as, I'm sure, do others), and, in my opinion, it would be money well-spent.
Studying three separate SAGE packages has benefitted me greatly, but the ICB L2 would have sufficed.
Good luck!
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- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider TL
- 115 posts
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Hi Guestimate and all.
The ICB exam requires you to utilise what you have learned in terms of usability in Sage and apply it to a real business scenario. Regardless of computerised accounts software package learned a little extra knowledge is required over and above what you have learned. If not using a training provider the ICB Mock exam could be used for practice and to polish up on the required skills and knowledge. Some help may be required to complete a few of the tasks but with a bit of work and dedication it can be done.
I wouldn’t recommend using any free trial or demo software as often certain required reports are not available. The Sage 180 day training software works fine but unfortunately the conception that they are available free of charge is far from true.
BR
Gary
Edited at 01 Mar 2012 08:35 PM GMT
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Hi everybody,
Thanks for your comments. They will help me to make an informed decision.
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- Member
- Practice Licence
- 27 posts
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I bought mine through Training Link. This gives you all the work books for beginners, intermediate and advanced courses in Sage 50 professional and also provides you with 180 days student software usage. I believe it is £399 including the mock exam plus £36 for the full exam when you are ready. I paid £360 because I have bought all my ICB exams through them so far and found them ideal for distant learning! Their website is www.training-link.co.uk
I definately recommend them if you are not interested in having face to face tutorage, and find their prices very reasonable! I hope that helps! 
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Hi Gary,
I've just been looking at your stand-alone package for this. Can you just tell me what it means when it states duration of course is 40 hours? Is that just an estimate of how long it would/should take to complete the course, does it refer to access to tutor support, or what? Once somebody joins up is there an 'expiry date', as it were?
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Guestimatesaid:
“Hi Gary,
I've just been looking at your stand-alone package for this. Can you just tell me what it means when it states duration of course is 40 hours? Is that just an estimate of how long it would/should take to complete the course, does it refer to access to tutor support, or what? Once somebody joins up is there an 'expiry date', as it were?”
...Sorry Julie I should have directed this at you too, as you've actually done the course. And yes you're right, it does look like a good deal. Thanks for recommending - I'll bear it in mind for the future.
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- Companion
- Accredited Training Provider TL
- 115 posts
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Hi Guestimate
We are not allowed to self promote on this forum and it would be dificult to answer your questions without doing so, but if you drop an e-mail to studentservices@training-link.co.uk we will be able to answer in your questions in detail.
Sorry.
BR
Gary
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garyhupstonsaid:
“Hi Guestimate
We are not allowed to self promote on this forum and it would be dificult to answer your questions without doing so, but if you drop an e-mail to studentservices@training-link.co.uk we will be able to answer in your questions in detail.
Sorry.
BR
Gary ”
I didn't think that would be considered promoting, but okay then. I guess it would make more sense if I do that nearer the time in that case, considering I've yet to do my levels I & II manual. Thanks.
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Questimatesaid:
“Hi,
If I were to study for the AICB on my own how would I prepare for the computerised exam? I understand I'd have to get my own software, but are there any study guides for the computerised level II course? If so, where would I get this? I know Kaplan sell study texts and exam kits for the manual courses, but I've not seen anything similar for the computerised course(s).
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.”
I'm probably WAY too late for this, but I'm doing self-study too, and I've been looking into the available text-books for computerised as well as everything else and, as you say Questimate, there is next to nothing out there. The only one I can find (and it is ICB accredited) is Peter Marshall's Computerised Book-Keeping (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Computerised-Book-Keeping-Dr-Peter-Marshall/dp/184528397X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0). I gather, from reading the reviews, that the only downside to this is that it is very much aimed at Sage users - which isn't so good if you aren't using Sage.
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Hi Elise,
While it is true many of us have done our studying using sage as that is the package the majority of course providers use, as well as the majority of books one can buy, there are many packages available.
What does seem to be true to most 'off the shelf' packages - sage instants, quickbooks and the like - is that they all seem to have some form of built in walk through to help you learn the system.
The ICB do state that you need an actual bookkeeping program - excel or other spreadsheet packages will not produce the types and styles of report they want to see, so that does direct your choice somewhat.
If you really don't want to go the course provider route - and it can be expensive I agree - I suggest that as you learn your manual lvs you try to duplicate the answers on your software package - that should help you become familiar with the package and also teach you all the things you need to be able to do. It may not be a perfect answer but hopefully will gain you enough expertise that the exam is achievable.
I also loudly recommend getting the mocks that the ICB provide. Both the paper ones and the online versions, though bear in mind that the online ones really are like the exams in that they are timed and you only get one shot! Excellent as preparation for the actual thing :)
Good luck with what ever you decide and all your studies
Theresa
As an aside, having read a couple of your other posts - my course provider gives a lovely long time of tutor support for the money and I bet the others do too - if you can afford it, it might be worth calling a few to see who would be flexible enough for your needs.....
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Hi Elise,
Good luck with the self-study. Yes, I'm going that route too at the moment. As I'm new to bookkeeping I decided I'd rather try and give it a go myself first before spending more money than I needed to - to see if I was suited to it and liked it enough as much as anything else. So far so good, and I'm coming to the end of studying Level 1 so I'll be ready to start taking some mocks soon so I guess the proof of the pudding will be then.
There's been some good advice here about how to self-study for the computerised, so it can be done. But by the time I come to do that I won't so much mind investing in a stand-alone course if I decide that's more suitable, as long as it covers the ICB syllabus, naturally (not sure if many course providers offer the ICB computerised on its own though??), so I'll look into that more when I get to it.
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