AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting*

A guide to help you succeed

*In Scotland, AAT Certificate in Accounting at SCQF Level 5.

Your AAT journey

As a standalone qualification, or as a first step towards the

intermediate and advanced levels, the introductory level of the
AAT Accounting Qualification allows you to move up to further
study in accountancy and finance. And we’ll be here to help you
through your studies and support you every step of the way.

Level 4 (QCF) / Level 8 (SCQF) Level 4 (QCF) Higher Apprenticeship /

Diploma in Accounting Level 8 (SCQF) Technical Apprenticeship

Level 3 (QCF) / Level 6 (SCQF)

Diploma in Accounting

Level 2 (QCF)* / Level 5 (SCQF)**

Certificate in Accounting

*QCF: Qualifications and Credit Framework

**SCQF: Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

2 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

AAT support

As part of your membership, you also have access to loads of

other great resources to help you on your way.

Sign up for a MyAAT account to access exclusive services and resources.

Visit our social media channels for help and advice from other AAT students.

Check out our career support resources to get you onto the next rung of your
career ladder.

Watch a study skills webinar event; they’ll help develop your learning and ensure your
study is effective.

Visit AAT forums for accountancy help and advice.

Start your full AAT membership and boost your career, job satisfaction and earnings.

Our interview simulator can help you prepare for your job interview increasing your
chances of success.

Use our online CV Builder to create a CV that stands out from the crowd.

Interactive tutorials are online sessions that allow you to quickly gain the knowledge
and skills you need.

Our Excel e-learning allows you to practice the skills that are relevant to you and
develop your understanding of what Excel can do for you as a finance professional.

Look through thousands of jobs on our job search – from trainee positions through to
senior management roles.

Find out more…

…about getting ready for your assessments and access to our online support materials
at aat.org.uk/level2support

3
Contents

Units

Basic costing (BCST) 6

Computerised accounting (CPAG) 8

Working effectively in accounting and finance (WKAF) 10

Processing bookkeeping transactions (PBKT) 12

Control accounts, journals and the banking system (CJBS) 14

4 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

AAT Level 2 (QCF) / Level 5 (SCQF)
Certificate in Accounting

The AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting

is the introductory level of the AAT
Accounting Qualification. You’ll develop
your skills in finance administration:
double-entry bookkeeping, basic costing
principles and purchase, sales and
general ledgers.
Once you’ve completed the introductory
level, you’ll be awarded the AAT Level 2
Certificate in Accounting.

A guide to help you succeed

If you’re looking for a guide to help you Support materials are available for all units
complete your AAT Certificate in Accounting, at this level – this guide helps you make best
you’ve come to the right place. use of all the resources available to you.
This guide highlights all of the study support
Once you’ve looked at all of the resources,
materials available to help you complete this
use the checklist so you can keep track of
level and progress on to the next level.
which units you’ve prepared for.
It includes the following information:

• an overview of the units

• study support available for each unit
through your MyAAT account
• highlights from the Assessment
performance reports for each unit.

5
Basic costing
(BCST)

Overview of unit Study support category

Understanding an organisation’s cost

Guidance and standards 2
recording system and using it to record
or extract data.
Mapping document 1
Using spreadsheets to convey
information on actual and budgeted
E-learning 4
income and expenditure.
Green Light test 1

Performance feedback 1

Sample assessment 4

Checklist

Use the checklist below to ensure you have accessed all of the support
materials available for Basic costing.

Basic costing study support

Standards: unit specification
Guidance
Mapping document
Inventory valuation using AVCO e-learning module
Inventory valuation using FIFO and LIFO e-learning module
Actual and expected costs e-learning module
Manufacturing accounts e-learning module
Green Light test
Assessment performance report
Sample assessment (questions 1)
Sample assessment answers (questions 1)
Sample assessment (questions 2)
Sample assessment answers (questions 2)

6 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

Assessment performance
feedback for Basic costing

The Assessment performance report, published by the Lead

Assessment Writer for Basic costing, reviews student performance
in all Basic costing assessments taken from 1 October 2014 to
31 March 2015. In the report, we provide task by task feedback and
advice to form a comprehensive review of this unit. This includes
advice on how best to approach the assessment.

The full report, including the tasks highlighted below where student
performance was strong and where it was weak, is available at
aat.org.uk/level2support

Strong performance Weak performance

The task which students have The task which students have
performed strongest in is task found most challenging is task 6
16 – Spreadsheet exercise – Classification of fixed, variable
reorganising budgeted and actual and semi-variable cost.
data on income and expenditure.
Task 6 is divided into two parts.
Nearly 90% of students either Student performance for this
met or exceeded competence task was the same as last year
requirements, maintaining the with 50% of students meeting
standard reported in last year’s or exceeding the competence
performance report where criteria. This is clearly the weakest
competence achievement was task for student performance for
the same. the period under review and there
has been little improvement from
performance outcomes
as reported in last year’s
performance review.

Have you read the Basic costing Assessment performance report?

This is available at aat.org.uk/level2support

7
Computerised accounting
(CPAG)

Overview of unit Study support category

Entering data at the start of an

Guidance and standards 2
accounting period to set up customer
and supplier accounts.
Mapping document 1
Recording and processing customer
and supplier transactions.
E-learning 5
Recording and reconciling bank and
cash transactions. Sample assessment 2
Processing and using journals to enter
accounting transactions.
Production of reports (day books,
account activity, aged analysis,
statements or remittance advice).

Checklist

Use the checklist below to ensure you have accessed all of the support
materials available for Computerised accounting.

Computerised accounting study support

Standards: unit specification
Guidance
Mapping document
Taking backup copies of data e-learning module
Processing invoices and credit notes e-learning module
How to choose a password e-learning module
Entering receipts from customers e-learning module
Entering opening balances e-learning module
Sample assessment (questions 1)
Sample assessment answers (questions 1)

8 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

Akash Paul MAAT
Baker Tilly

“Everything I needed was on MyAAT. The online sample

assessments were great at preparing me for the real
assessments and really helped me succeed.”

9
Working effectively in accounting
and finance (WKAF)

Overview of unit Study support category

Understanding an organisation’s
Guidance and standards 2
accounting or payroll function.
Using numeracy and literacy Mapping document 1
communication skills.
Working independently or in a team to E-learning 7
prioritise tasks and manage colleagues’
responsibilities. Performance feedback 1
Understanding ethical values,
principles and importance Sample assessment 4
of confidentiality.
Understanding and explaining benefits
to organisations of sustainable values.

Checklist

Use the checklist below to ensure you have accessed all of the support
materials available for Working effectively in accounting and finance.

Working effectively in accounting and finance study support

Standards: unit specification
Guidance
Mapping document
Solvency e-learning module
Report writing e-learning module
Conflict resolution e-learning module
The accounts department e-learning module
Personal development plans e-learning module
Sustainability e-learning module
Introduction to professional ethics e-learning module
Assessment performance report
Sample assessment (questions 1)
Sample assessment answers (questions 1)
Sample assessment (questions 2)
Sample assessment answers (questions 2)

10 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

Assessment performance feedback
for Working effectively in accounting
and finance
The Assessment performance report, published by the Lead
Assessment Writer for Working effectively in accounting and finance,
reviews student performance in all Working effectively in accounting
and finance assessments taken from 1 October 2014 to
31 March 2015. In the report, we provide task by task feedback
and advice to form a comprehensive review of this unit. This includes
advice on how best to approach the assessment.

The full report, including the tasks highlighted below where student
performance was strong and where it was weak, is available at
aat.org.uk/level2support

Strong performance Weak performance

The task which students have The task which students have
performed strongest in is task 9 found most challenging is task 6
– Impact of work on others and – Numeracy.
dissatisfaction.
Task 6 assesses the student’s
Task 9 is particularly well generic numeracy skills and
answered by the majority of is restricted to add, subtract,
students. They appear to be multiply, divide, and calculate
able to understand that the averages, percentages, fractions,
non-completion of specific tasks ratios and proportions. Many
will impact on others. They may students find this task challenging.
be assessed by being given a
specific task which has not been
completed and being asked to
identify the impact on others
within their team, the finance
function or the organisation as
a whole.

Have you read the Working effectively in accounting and finance

Assessment performance report?
This is available at aat.org.uk/level2support

11
Processing bookkeeping transactions
(PBKT)

Overview of unit Study support category

Understanding the double-entry

Guidance and standards 2
bookkeeping system.
Understanding discounts and Mapping document 1
settlement, trade and bulk
discount differences.
E-learning 5
Preparing and processing customer
and supplier invoices and credit notes. Green Light test 1
Totalling and balancing a three-column
analysed cash book. Study support webinar 2
Totalling, balancing and reconciling
petty cash records within an analysed Performance feedback 1
petty cash book.
Processing ledger transactions and Sample assessment 4
extracting a trial balance.

Checklist

Use the checklist below to ensure you have accessed all of the support
materials available for Processing bookkeeping transactions.

Processing bookkeeping transactions study support

Standards: unit specification
Guidance
Mapping document
Balancing ledger accounts e-learning module
Accounting Equation and Basic Posting e-learning module
Writing up sales and purchases day books e-learning module
Posting from sales and sales returns day books e-learning module
Posting from purchases and purchases returns day book e-learning module
Green Light test
Webinar recording and supporting notes
Assessment performance report
Sample assessment (questions 1)
Sample assessment answers (questions 1)
Sample assessment (questions 2)
Sample assessment answers (questions 2)

12 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

Assessment performance feedback for
Processing bookkeeping transactions

The Assessment performance report, published by the Lead

Assessment Writer for Processing bookkeeping transactions, reviews
student performance in all Processing bookkeeping transactions
assessments taken from 1 October 2014 to 31 March 2015. In
the report, we provide task by task feedback and advice to form a
comprehensive review of this unit. This includes advice on how best
to approach the assessment.

The full report, including the tasks highlighted below where student
performance was strong and where it was weak, is available at
aat.org.uk/level2support

Strong performance Weak performance

The task which students have The task which students have
performed strongest in is task 1 found most challenging is task
– Make entries in an analysed 4 – Transfer data from a three
day-book. column cash-book.

Task 1 requires students to make Task 4 is challenging for students

entries into a partially completed and performance is the poorest of
analysed sales/sales returns/ the whole assessment. Common
purchases/purchases returns errors include reversal of entries
day-book using source documents and selecting incorrect control
and/or other information. Students accounts. Some students select a
may be required to calculate net, general ledger account name to
VAT and total amounts and to add record a payment or receipt in the
account codes. The majority of purchases/sales ledger. However,
students perform very well in by far the most common challenge
this task. is how the entries are affected
when the cash-book is a book of
prime entry only.

Have you read the Processing bookkeeping transactions

Assessment performance report?
This is available at aat.org.uk/level2support

13
Control accounts, journals and the
banking system (CJBS)

Overview of unit Study support category

Understanding the purpose and use of

Guidance and standards 2
control accounts and journals.
Maintaining and using control accounts Mapping document 1
and the journal.
Reconciling a bank statement with the E-learning 5
cash book.
Understanding the banking process Green Light test 1
and main services of banks and
building societies. Study support webinar 2
Understanding retention and
storage requirements. Sample assessment 4

Checklist

Use the checklist below to ensure you have accessed all of the support
materials available for Control accounts, journals and the banking system.

Control accounts, journals and the banking system study support

Standards: unit specification
Guidance
Mapping document
Correcting errors e-learning module
Sales and Purchases Ledger Control Accounts e-learning module
Wages Control Account e-learning module
Analysed cash payments book e-learning module
Analysed cash receipts book e-learning module
Green Light test
Webinar recording and supporting notes
Sample assessment (questions 1)
Sample assessment answers (questions 1)
Sample assessment (questions 2)
Sample assessment answers (questions 2)

14 To access these study support materials, visit aat.org.uk/level2support

Assessment performance feedback
for Control accounts, journals and the
banking system
The Assessment performance report, published by the Lead
Assessment Writer for Control accounts, journals and the banking
system, reviews student performance in all Control accounts, journals
and the banking system assessments taken from 1 October 2014 to
31 March 2015. In the report, we provide task by task feedback and
advice to form a comprehensive review of this unit. This includes
advice on how best to approach the assessment.

The full report, including the tasks highlighted below where student
performance was strong and where it was weak, is available at
aat.org.uk/level2support

Strong performance Weak performance

The task which students have The task which students have
performed strongest in is found most challenging is task 5
task 1 – Prepare journals for – Balance the trial balance and
opening entries. prepare journals for correction
of errors.
Task 1 requires students to
prepare journal entries to record Task 5 proves challenging for
the opening trial balance for a new some students. Common errors
business. Performance in this task include reversal of entries and
is excellent, giving this task the identifying incorrect account
highest achievement percentage names. Students also produce
of the assessment. journals that do not balance.

Have you read the Control accounts, journals and the banking system
Assessment performance report?
This is available at aat.org.uk/level2support

15
Any questions?

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