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ICB Level 1 - Study

  • 5 posts
  • # 92308

I am considering starting a career as a bookkeeper with a view to being able to set up self employed and work from home.

I currently work full time and have the luxury of being able to study whilst still maintaing an income and upon completion of the Level 2 & 3 qualifications begin to build up a client base until I am in a position to leave my job and start working for myself.

My question is.... Do I need to sign up on a course to complete my level 1 (i.e. Online/distance learning) or am I able to buy a relevant text book (such as the one published by Kaplan) and then pay the ICB for the mock test and then utimately the exam.

My mum is a bookkeeper so in the early stages and at Level 1 I should think that she is suitably experienced enough to help me without the need for a mentor from a training company but I appreciate I may be way of the mark here.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Neil
David
  • Fellow PM.Dip
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  • 424 posts
  • # 92309

Hi Neil

You do not need a distance learning course if you do not want to go that route. The advantage of one of these courses is that you have very good, qualified tutors should you get stuck on any particular part of the subject.

It is entirely up to you which route you take, but mock exams are a very good way of:

1 Getting a feel for the actual exam
2 Seeing where your weak points are

The decision is entirely yours.
  • 5 posts
  • # 92310

Hi David,

Thank you for the response.

I agree about the mock courses, inparticular point 2 and this is where I would intend to use my mums 20 years of experience to help me.

The worst that can happen is that I spend £40 on the course books and mock exams and find that its not working and then sign up to a training provider. The beauty is that at least I have the option to go down either route.
  • 59 posts
  • # 92321

Hello

I am self studying and have managed to pass level 1 level 2 and level 3 Payroll all with distinctions.

I initially tried the shotgun approach and toured the local libraries scooping up anything that looked vaguely bookkeepingish. I quickly found that most were childishly superficial and ended up with 3; 'Mastering Bookkeeping' (2010) and 'Computerised Bookkeeping' (2010) by Peter Marshall and the best one that I actually paid for 'Business Accounts' (2012) by David Cox. The Marshall books have sample papers and answers from IAB, ICB and one or two others. The Cox book has loads of practice questions and answers.

The advantage with using multiple books is that where one is confusing or skimps on detail, the chances are that the other will fill in the gaps. The other author you might consider is the late Frank Wood whose tomes have been the accounting standard for yonks.

Good Luck
Ebeneezer
Chris Flaherty
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  • 53 posts
  • # 92322

Hi Neil,

I've done level one and two manual and computerised through self study and also achieved distinctions.  I used some books I had from an AAT course that I never completed a few years ago.  For the computerised exam I used the the E-Learning and help modules in sage (which came with the AAT course) and a fair amount of trial and error! (I'm usually quick at picking up new software so didn't find this too hard once I'd studied the manual side and had a good grounding in the theory behind it all)

I also purchased the mock exams and found them extremely helpful, both the downloads and the online timed mock when I felt I was ready.

Particularly as your mum is a bookkeeper so you can call on her for help, I would say go for it by yourself!  As you've said, the worst that can happen is you decide you need more than just books etc and end up enrolling on a course, but you haven't lost much.

Good Luck with it!!

Chris        
  • 5 posts
  • # 92340

Thank Ebeneezer and Chris for your comments.

Its great to hear that people have been able to achieve such positive results without the need and additional cost of paying for a training provider.

You have both certainly confirmed that the self study approach is the way I am going to go and its pleasing to hear that people have gone on to complete level 2 without the need to spend £400-£500 on a training course.

I will certainly be looking those books up Chris as they will always come handy as a reference once I am qualified and working.

Once again thank you for time and comments its much appreciated.

Neil
  • 5 posts
  • # 92426

Well the Level One study book from Kaplan arrived on Friday and I am about a third of the way through reading it. I've also begun to write up the first 2 chapters in to my own notes. I am giving myself about 4-6 weeks to read through it and make my notes and then 1-2 weeks working through the question pages on each chapter to consolidate my learning before taking the final exam.

Any recommendations on which way round to do Level 2, manual then computer or vice versa or does it not make much a difference?

Thanks

Neil
Brian @ Ideal Schools
  • Companion
  • Accredited Training Provider IS
  • 435 posts
  • # 92427

Hi Neil,

You will need to complete the manual exam first before moving onto the computerised element. Those that are currently completing the computerised element first are registered on course packages that do not include the manual section of study.

Good luck with your self study, it sounds as though it is going well.

Kind regards      
  • 5 posts
  • # 92428

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the response its much appreciated. So far so good on the self study approach, however, I'm sure that our paths will cross in the future (especially reading the positive reviews about yourself) as I move up the levels.

Neil
Brian @ Ideal Schools
  • Companion
  • Accredited Training Provider IS
  • 435 posts
  • # 92429

No problem Neil, we do aim to please Smile
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