AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting Qualification Update – August 2021
As you may know, AAT has made a number of changes in the AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting Qualification recently. Some of the changes are listed below.
A. New Advanced Diploma Synoptic (ADSY) assessment specification
From September 2021 synoptic sitting (Monday 13 September–Sunday 19 September 2021), the Advanced Diploma Synoptic will no longer assess the Spreadsheets for Accounting (SPSH) Unit. It will continue to assess learning outcomes from the below units:
- Advanced Bookkeeping (AVBK)
- Final Accounts Preparation (FAPR)
- Management Accounting: Costing (MMAC)
- Ethics for Accountants (ETFA).
However, the contribution of the synoptic assessment towards the overall qualification grade will remain unchanged (35%).
The assessment duration is confirmed to be two hours, 30 minutes.
B. Spreadsheets for Accounting (SPSH) is now assessed as a standalone assessment
From September 2021, Spreadsheets for Accounting (SPSH) will be assessed via an on-demand assignment (in a .xlsx format) that will be set and marked by AAT with a six-week turnaround for results. There are no specific scheduling rules for sitting SPSH – this assessment can be sat before or after ADSY. It can even be scheduled on the day of assessment.
The assessment will be marked by AAT (with results being made available in six weeks) and the pass mark for this assessment will be 70%.
Although marked as “Competent/Not Yet Competent”, this assessment will not contribute towards the overall grade of the qualification. However, the assessment will be mandatory for those wanting to gain the full Advanced Diploma in Accounting.
What we have done?
- Updated the relevant course materials on the VLC or Online Learning Portal with new additional Practice papers incorporating the changes.
- You can now book exams for Spreadsheets for Accounting through the Website/VLC Portal.
For full details on the changes made by AAT please click on the link below
https://www.aat.org.uk/assessment/advanced-diploma-synoptic-changes
According to AAT, the changes will reduce malpractice and improve the quality of the assessments and qualifications.
