DEBK Exam

bloodninja

Lads how come this exam is so hard and why are so many failing?

rathmaniacal

Is this the one for Cap 1? I did it a while ago and got through it (I think it was due to good karma...because it certainly had little to do with my accounting knowledge). The reason people are failing it simple enough- the study material is full of errors, the kind that would throw you off if you are doing accounting for the first time. Also, there have been reports of typos on the exam itself, just to confuse matters. Did you hear of a whole bunch of people failing it?

Newaglish

I know a good few who have had problems with it. I find that the reasons most would have problems are:

a) Errors in the study material - as mentioned above, it's really confusing when you're learning something for the first time and the answers given aren't consistent

b) Incredibly vague questions - I looked at some of the questions and found myself wondering what exactly the preceding transactions were and whether something had been entered correctly or not. For example, one suspense question gives four entries but fails to say if they were debited or credited originally.

c) Single answer format - It's insane to have an exam question with about 4 or 5 workings that only gives marks for the answer.

Still, more fails = more repeats = more money for the institute.

Anyone know what the pass/fail rate actually is?

rathmaniacal

It is claimed that about 70% of those who have attempted it have passed so far.....but i wonder.....

bloodninja

I think maybe people are confused that 70% of people booked the test not passed it. That was from an e-mail circularised in december.....but then I did not see this e-mail.

Carlitos

I've taken it twice now and have it for the third (maybe last) time this week. I found that I have no problem with the course itself as you either get it or you don't.

However I've failed twice and I agree that the material is a joke with so many errors. i had an accountant go through it with me for two grinds and she couldnt believe the mistakes.

But I won't make excuses, I'm just a bit annoyed that I could be prevented from taking CAP1 and therefore possibly let go because of a very suspect exam.

JD1763

First time I took it failed by 2 marks. Test itself was an absolute nightmare in terms of the section 2 & 3 questions with stuff coming up that wasn't in any of the examples. Also fecked up section 4 (hold my hands up on this one stupid mistake due to lack of practice on that section).

Second time passed after a much better test, got questions that were similar to the examples, layouts were better (t account for depreciation as opposed to a wall of text first time round) and got section 4 out correctly.

From what I can see if you get highly competent in sections 1 & 4 and poor or above in 2 & 3 you'll score enough to pass (dont quote me on this just my own figuring looking at my marks).

Only advice I can give is to practice all the questions repeatedly and in the week up to the exam just keep doing the online examples. Particularly section 4 - look at the different adjustments that they can ask and be able to do them backwards. I think section 4 is the real clincher and is the difference between passing and failing.

Outside of this its really just the luck of the draw on the day in terms of the test you get as no matter what anyone says they are not all of equal difficulty.

jhn_nolan

Can anybody put up a few sample questions to see what they are like? Is it tough because you are just starting out with accounting or tough in general?

Onearmedbandit

I passed first time in the first year that it came in thank god. The material given is riddled with vague answers and mistakes, the best thing to do is to go to one of the institute classes on it to get the answers and then re-do the questions until you have learned all of them. If you fail it I would appeal to the institute regarding the crapiness of the material and do not pay any further fee to re-sit.

BESman

This exam is unnecessarily difficult. Passed first time by the skin of my teeth. Sections 2 and 3 are much too hard, given a tiny narrative, a few boxes to complete the journal entries and thats it. Very difficult to tell if your right or wrong. Its a joke.