Accounting technicians 2017/18

jkbah

Hi there. Thought I'd start this thread. Can't see one for the coming academic year. Just signed up for this course. Wondering if anyone else around in the same boat??

Avatar MIA

jkbah wrote: »

Hi there. Thought I'd start this thread. Can't see one for the coming academic year. Just signed up for this course. Wondering if anyone else around in the same boat??

IATI
CAT
or
MAAT

jkbah

Ati

han2000

Just signed up yesterday. Hopefully its not too hard . Are you doing full-time, part-time, online?

jkbah

Doing it part time. Two evenings a week. Have a few little ones at home so going to be busy busy. What about yourself?

han2000

I've signed up to do it online I was going to do part time but I'll be starting a new job in September and wouldn't make it in time. At least we have a thread if there's any questions throughout the year, I'm sure I'll have many.

jkbah

Would love to do it online but I know I wouldn't have the discipline. Best of luck to you with the course. I'm sure I'll be back on looking for info on the near future...

Cats26

Just started it part time myself. Decided after taking 10 yrs off to raise my kids it's time to get back to work!! Finding it tough to get my head back into studying, any tips or advice? I've been writing out notes for myself but it takes so much time, and that's before I have a chance to remember them!! I wonder am I wasting my time doing this and shd I just do sample and past papers???

Avatar MIA

Cats26 wrote: »

Just started it part time myself. Decided after taking 10 yrs off to raise my kids it's time to get back to work!! Finding it tough to get my head back into studying, any tips or advice? I've been writing out notes for myself but it takes so much time, and that's before I have a chance to remember them!! I wonder am I wasting my time doing this and shd I just do sample and past papers???

My 2 cents. Go through the books first. If you're only back studying after a long break the questions and answers are going to feel like ancient Greek. The books are meant to ease you into each topic.

jkbah

Same kinda story. 10 years since college for me too. Had 4 kids since so busy looking after them and trying to do this. It law and business mgt lecturer is brilliant. Really on the ball. I would have more trouble with the practical bookkeeping side of things as that's completely new to me. And lecturer doesn't seem as on the ball. Very nice person and seems very approachable but tends too get side tracked with things that aren't really relevant

Maz2016

Thanks for starting this thread. Started myself a few weeks ago. Doing it part time 2 evenings a week as well. Similar story 10+ years out of the study routine.
Just set down today to do a few hours.
My advice, pick a day/time. I have Sunday mornings to myself in this house so I got stuck into it today. I find the practice questions at the end of the chapters good. The answers are available on the MY REVISION section of the ATI website. All in all I find the whole ATI set up (books and website) to be very good.
Out of the 4 lecturers we have, they are all quite good and on the ball bar one - Law & Ethics. I will struggle big time with that one I think

Pangieob

Hi Started the ATI Course also this year i already feel like i am behind, finding the theory hard to learn. doing 2 evenings a week. the practical i can get in class them i come home and i am so confused again. anyone have any tips on studying?? its been nearly 20 years since i have had to study ....

Cats26

Hi, I'm working away at mine and find I am getting there....very slowly! Firstly I think you need to be selfish with your time. I find I have to leave the house to study as there is always something to be done or someone coming in or out. If I'm at the library I can juat concentrate on what i have to study. I've been doing out notes and then re-writing them after a couple of weeks. You'd be surprised how much you take in doing that plus they get shorter!! I've only started to do questions the last couple of weeks but still with the help of the books. My tutors are quite good and have said that you are not expected to know everything off at this stage. Again for me its just writing and writing that helps. I Am enjoying it though, nice to be doing something for me!!!

jkbah

Agree with being selfish! Have 4 under 7 here and they get handed the iPad if I have work that I need to do. Try to tire them out and then put on TV for them while I get some work done otherwise they're asking questions every 2 minutes.
Finding the tax and financial accounting tough going. Just have to keep at it though. It needs more time than I have.

Sariah

Fair play to you all. Just to give you some hope, I am sitting my final ACCA paper in December after studying the ATI years ago. I have 5 children and work full time and it has been hard but as you have said you just have to be selfish and make the time to study a priority. I was sitting in my office at 7.30am this morning so I could study for an hour before work. Don't let anything get in your way and best of luck to you all.

Maz2016

Hi all, how is everyone doing with it? Only 5 weeks to the exams, I feel a bit over whelmed by it all to be honest. Panic mode is setting in

Cats26

I'm the same!! I'm finding tax hard, Just because there are so many little bits and pieces to it. Plus the theory subjects I've just put on the long finger and now exams are nearly here I realise should've given them a bit more time😬😬😬

Maz2016

That’s exactly how I feel. Although tax is the one subject I’m ok in. I’m struggling with the accounting and theory subjects. I read them but just can’t absorb them

Cats26

I'm just hoping that putting the head down for the next 5 weeks and ploughing through past papers will get me over the line. Planning on getting up an hr and half earlier in the mornings to do a bit and full day Saturday and a few hrs in a Sunday.

Maz2016

It’s hard though when you do a full day at work as well. Are you doing the revision courses?

jkbah

FEELing the pressure alright. Think I’ll buy the revision after. Our lecturer said they will be available to purchase. Can’t afford a day of travelling to Dublin and back, all that time wasted.

Maz2016

It is s long day and expensive too. And as you say maybe even wasted time

Cats26

I'm not going either. Full day if getting the kids sorted too. Though they are supposed to be good, some people from my class went to the last ones. They were very good though and shared their notes. I just keep trying to reassure myself that we it need 50% so hopefully I'll know enough 🀔🀔

Maz2016

Can I ask what way people are revising? I was reading each chapter and going over the practice questions then. Last night one of our teachers totally shot down that method. Said the best way was to do the past papers and sample papers. For some subjects like law, you can print 11 papers 2014-2017 plus the 3 samples.

HeinekenTicket

Maz2016 wrote: »

Can I ask what way people are revising? I was reading each chapter and going over the practice questions then. Last night one of our teachers totally shot down that method. Said the best way was to do the past papers and sample papers. For some subjects like law, you can print 11 papers 2014-2017 plus the 3 samples.

At this point, I would spend much less time reading and much more time practising.  Make mistakes and learn from those mistakes so that you don't repeat them in the exam - this is more effective than reading.
In addition to past and sample papers, there is MyRevision available to you.  Generate short quizzes when you can only do a short study session.  Many of the longer questions are based on  past exam questions.

Cats26

I'm finding bm so hard to revise...its mind numbingly boring!! Any tips.....please?!!!!

ash23

I'm struggling to even start my revision. I think the best thing is to do the exam papers too. I've printed all of the accounting ones and going to start there.
I'm not too worried about the theory ones as I tend to do better with theory than the practical subjects.
I feel I've bitten off more than I can chew with this course and if I pass I'll probably just take the cert and run and not do Year 2

Maz2016

I’m the me. Struggling now. We had a BM assignment - it was basically 5 questions. We had the use of the book to answer the questions. I got 50%. He said I didn’t put in enough theorists and my answers needed to be longer. I thought once I got the point across I’d be ok. Now I’m panicking

Cats26

I'm starting to panic a bit, I feel the more I do the less I know!!! I am putting in the hours but don't know how much is actually going in 😬😬

Maz2016

Cats26 wrote: »

I'm starting to panic a bit, I feel the more I do the less I know!!! I am putting in the hours but don't know how much is actually going in ����

I feel like that. Especially with the theory. I suppose all we can do is keep going and hopefully all the nuggets of information will stick.

jkbah

The revision workshops are well worth the investment. Found them very good. Tied up loose ends and learned a lot.

Maz2016

jkbah wrote: »

The revision workshops are well worth the investment. Found them very good. Tied up loose ends and learned a lot.

I didn’t find the business one great. Taxation was absolutely well worth it

ash23

I'll probably buy the tax and accounting revision workshops as those are the ones I'm struggling with.

Cats26

Tip we were given in relation to bm and law is to focus on sample papers as that's the pool thr examiner takes the questions from

123ofr

Cats26 wrote: »

Tip we were given in relation to bm and law is to focus on sample papers as that's the pool thr examiner takes the questions from

That’s not always the case. I did first year last year and nothing from the sample law papers came up in the exam, not even the compulsory question. There were lots of complaints. It might be different this year after the feedback from last year but I wouldn’t be focusing all my studies on sample papers.

A good bit of the business management was based on the sample papers tho.

Maz2016

Did anyone do the finincial accounting workshop today? I had booked in but my little fella was sick and my other half couldn’t get out of work. Raging as it’s the one subject where I literally don’t know my debits from my credits. I’m a lost cause I think

ash23

Maz2016 wrote: »

Did anyone do the finincial accounting workshop today? I had booked in but my little fella was sick and my other half couldn’t get out of work. Raging as it’s the one subject where I literally don’t know my debits from my credits. I’m a lost cause I think

Hope your little guy is feeling better.
I didn't do the workshop but it will most likely be available to buy online on the website. I know there's one there already. They're 30 euro to download.
I will probably end up doing it online too but wanted to see what the content is first. I'm struggling a bit with suspense accounts and account corrections. Trying to get my head around it but there's a few ones I keep getting caught on. And I haven't looked at non-profits yet......

bridalmum

Hi everyone is anyone doing year 2? I have management to do in May. Can’t believe tomorrow I will only have 3 weeks left to revise. Lecturer won’t lead as to what to expect in paper or give any tips? Have yours ? This is my last exam for IATI so please feel free to message me any questions. I gave friends for FA in year 1 so happy to help ye if I can !

Anyone doing management accounting 2nd year in May? Would love to chat !!

I think defo the best way to revise is exam papers

jkbah

Yes. The business mgt one it's terrible. I feel asleep watching it. It's my most hated subject anyway. Still a fortnight to go. Can fit in a good bit before then. Hopefully!!

Cats26

Feel like a headless chicken with bm, literally nothing going in. Wondering if I shd just chalk it down to a fail and concentrate on the other 3 and resign myself to the fact that I'll have to resit it in August

jkbah

I hate business mgt!!! I'm trying to learn the last 3 chapters as best I can, take my two questions from section c. Hopefully get a bit of other stuff I can bull sh1t in in the other sections and scrape the 50%

Cats26

jkbah wrote: »

I hate business mgt!!! I'm trying to learn the last 3 chapters as best I can, take my two questions from section c. Hopefully get a bit of other stuff I can bull sh1t in in the other sections and scrape the 50%

It's the last 3 chapters I'm struggling with!! I'm struggling even to read it, I can't do the waffle!!

Maz2016

jkbah wrote: »

I hate business mgt!!! I'm trying to learn the last 3 chapters as best I can, take my two questions from section c. Hopefully get a bit of other stuff I can bull sh1t in in the other sections and scrape the 50%

I think this is good advice too. The last 3 chapters are only 55 odd pages. If you only studied them and aced them that’s enough to pass! Realistically if you aim for 20/25 that’s 40%, you’d pick up 10% between the other 2 wquestions. I struggle with section B.
Has anyone any tips for FA? I feel as it’s completely over my head. I’ve accepted the fact I’ll be repeating it but still want to give it my best shot.

jkbah

Has anyone any tips for FA? I feel as it’s completely over my head. I’ve accepted the fact I’ll be repeating it but still want to give it my best shot.
I've just done millions of questions and watched the revision workshops. Going to watch them again today and tomorrow and hope for the best, 🀞

Cats26

jkbah wrote: »

Has anyone any tips for FA? I feel as it’s completely over my head. I’ve accepted the fact I’ll be repeating it but still want to give it my best shot.
I've just done millions of questions and watched the revision workshops. Going to watch them again today and tomorrow and hope for the best, 🀞

I personally think if you've done the questions out you'll be good. I spend last week doing just the theory. There's one full question and and a question in question 3 and a few 5 markers in other questions. My feeling is if I have the theory down you've a good chance of passing.

jkbah

Theory is going to be my down fall. I'll give it my best shot

Cats26

jkbah wrote: »

Theory is going to be my down fall. I'll give it my best shot

Spend the day going through past papers doing just the theory, it's quite repetative. You'll be surprised at how much of it you know. I just keep saying 50%, that's all we need. I'm trying not to panic about it cos I'll just freeze then.

Maz2016

Thanks for the replies guys, that’s my downfall.... panic is setting in

Maz2016

Good luck tomorrow everyone , I’m leaving super early Dublin traffic can be stressful at the best of times and I don’t need any more stress.

Cats26

Best of luck everyone!! Plan on getting there early myself. I'm not too far from swords but just want to get there and settled!!

bridalmum

Good luck everyone and as another post says it only takes 50 to pass !