Adult Education Advice

Ladyra

Hi, I've decided to apply for an Accounting: Level 1 - AAT course at the local college while my daughter is at nursey.

The course starts in September for 1 morning a week. However before I am accepted onto the course I have to do an Initial Assessment. I have GCSE maths and english above grade C but because theses qualifications are over 5 years old I have to do the assessment first

Does anyone know anything about these IAs? I try to keep my brain active with puzzles etc but I know I've forgotten a lot since I took my GCSE's. Will it be basic maths, adding, multiplication etc or will it include algebra??:eek:


My appointment for the assessment is on the 18th July so I have a couple of weeks to do some research. Is there any sites I can look at to refresh my memory with some of the information I might need to know?????

Any help would be greatfully appreciated

I'm trying not to panic lol

Sarah

Mista_C

and breathe

Initial Assessments are just basic tests on Maths, English, etc and are designed to get a grasp of your ability in these areas. The basic idea is to find out at what level you are at in order to provide you with the right kind of support for your course.

A rough example of the kind of thing often seen is...

Laura was late for school so she had to ___ for the bus. Hop | Donut | Run

These will vary based on your skill level but they really are very basic. I used to have to complete various skill levels of these tests on a daily basis for IT testing purposes after an install. On average it took less than 10 minutes including processing answers.

All you need to remember is the keyword 'Assessment'. They are for assessing the support you may need to help you, they're not used for any kind of final score that will stick with you.

princessdon

if you go to the BBC Skillswise site it will give you chance to sample the type of questions.

google online numeracy level 2 for other examples.

They basically do a diagnostic level 2 numeracy test. If you were "close" but not passing they would look at the diagnostic to see if it makes a difference.

They CAN deny access to a course if this is very low - but as you have a level 2 already (your GCSE) this is extremely unlikely in your case and worst case scenario for you will be they will ask you to enrol on the Numeracy FS, but I severely doubt that will happen.

Play with skillswise website - it will put your mind at rest as to how easy the tests are. My 9 year old can pass them with ease.

Ladyra

Mista_c and princessdon thank you so much for your replies, I feel happier now . I also have a 9 year old son and am still able to help him with his homework (phew!!)

I'll have a good look at skillwise site and that should give me an extra confidence boost lol

Thanks again for your replies

Sarah x

princessdon

They really are basic tests - to ensure you can add up.

I have never had a student who had a GCSE C+ ever have a problem. some who got D/E's are asked to do further study, but as I say never with a GCSE C+ (the level is very much below that).

Google any C&G Numeracy Level 2 online mock tests (there are many around for practise), and good luck but I feel sure you will not need it. It makes sure you can add a few numbers and have a good numeracy understanding (most of which happens in real life). It's not about pytharorus and the other theories you do at GCSE just the ability to work out what time a train will arrive from a timetable, how many Sqm a room is etc.

Ladyra

Ahh yea i can do that lol, plus I deal with all the bills and money coming in and out of the house too so maybe my brains not as rusty as i think. I'll still check out those mock tests tho. Thanks again x

Sarah x

Kynthia

Good luck with the AAT. I studied it at a local college two evenings a week and really enjoyed it. It was tiring but rewarding.

I then persuaded a family member who was left on her own with two small children to try it. She put her one year old in the college nursery and said she'd only do the first level. Now her youngest has started school and she attended a graduation ceremony a few months ago for passing the whole qualification. :-)

shandyclover

If these assesments are the new ones you do on a computer I think you'll sail through them.

My 15 yo whos been home schooled with an american correspondence course and starts college this sept took these assesments recently to see if they would grant her permission to start college a year early. Technically she hasn't even done gcse's yet came out assesed at a'levels in english and gcse level in math.

barrywhittakerbmw

I have just started off my AAT's! I hope to complete them within the next couple of years. Don't worry about the assessment. It is fairly simple and easy to use. Go to the AAT website to learn more about the assessment. You really will be asked the most basic and simple questions on basic accounting and finance.