Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions regarding our courses and teaching methods.
Am I eligible for funding? If you earn under £20,319 or are in receipt of state benefits such as Universal Credits, Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance* AND live in Lincolnshire then the answer is YES. Unfortunately, if you can’t answer yes to both of those questions then you are not eligible for funding at this current time. (other benefits included - please contact us to confirm eligibility)
What qualifications do I need to have before I start with you? In short, the answer to this is none. We do not expect any formal qualifications before enrolment as we will work with you to build on the skills you already have. All we ask is that you have a good basic grasp of the English language and know how to work a calculator.
How long do the courses take? The answer to this is all dependent on your previous level of understanding and any work experience you may have had.
How are the courses taught? We DON’T teach, we tutor on a one-to-one basis. This enables you to get the best and most suitable support throughout your course and your studies.
Do I have to attend a class? It is beneficial to you if you live in the vicinity and are able to get to a class, even on an irregular basis to get one-to-one support from your tutor and take part in the peer-to-peer discussions. If you are a distance or e-learner then your tutor will offer you phone calls or group video conferencing. You will be invited to join the student support group on Facebook to allow you to keep up to date with discussions and get to know your fellow learners.
What are the study methods? With your course you will receive a study book - this contains all of the knowledge you will need along with some practice questions for each chapter - and an online portal account with IAB. Your account is accessible anywhere at any time as long as you have a good internet connection.
What if I struggle/fail? Don’t panic first of all, if you are finding a unit particularly difficult speak with your tutor. They will offer you further assistance and worksheets to enhance your practices. If you are a distance/online learner you will be offered extra virtual meets via Zoom to allow ease of discussion and visual prompts. If you are a classroom based learner your tutor will work with you to explain where you may be going wrong.
Will I have to sit any exams? Yes, all AAT courses have exams. Level 1 has 1 exam, level 2 bookkeeping has 2 exams and level 2 accounting has 4 exams. AAT exams must be taken in an exam centre. 3Cats Grantham exam centre is free of charge to registered learners.
Can I take my exam when I am ready? Yes, provided your tutor agrees that you are ready to sit your exam we can book it for as little as 1 day.
What is the normal route of study that you would recommend? We would recommend starting at the bottom, this is why we take all of our learners through introduction courses and have multiple assignments throughout each unit. If you have some existing knowledge, you will only enhance that and breeze through the unit.
How can I use the qualifications from you? AAT qualifications are nationally recognised and are a great route into self-employment and working in practice.
Will I get any other support from 3CATS? Yes, we always include employability courses to all of our learners which includes job search skills, CV writing and interview techniques. We also offer a range of wrap around courses including office administration skills and setting up your own business. Your tutor will still be available to support you when you finish your courses and get the job you were after or start up your business. We anticipate that this will last around 6 months after completion but we do not put a time limit on our support.
If you haven’t found the answer to your question above then please contact us to find out more.