AAT AQ2016 New Syllabus
All you need to know
The AAT have announced the launch of their new syllabus AQ 2016 from 1 September 2016.
There are four main changes in the new syllabus (AQ2016):
·
The names of the levels and units have changed.
·
There will be a synoptic assessment at the end of each level. A synoptic assessment is an exam
that will cover the whole syllabus of a level. Level 2 synoptic exams will be available most weeks,
Levels 3 & 4 synoptic exams will only be available 4-5 times a year.
·
Each level will now be graded, your final grade will either be Pass, Merit or Distinction.
·
The new syllabus will limit the number of times you can resit an exam at levels 2 and 3. You will
be allowed to attempt each unit assessment twice within 12 months. If you are unsuccessful on
both attempts you will need to wait until the next 12 month assessment period opens before
resitting.
Level 2 Name Changes
Level 2
AQ2010 - Introductory Certificate in Accounting
AQ2016 – Foundation Certificate in Accounting
Unit Name
Unit Name
Processing Bookkeeping Transactions
Bookkeeping Transaction
Control Accounts, Journals and the Banking Systems
Bookkeeping Controls
Basic Costing
Elements of Costing
Computerised Accounting
Using Accounting Software
Work Effectively in Accounting & Finance
Work Effectively in Finance
Synoptic Assessment
Level 3 Name Changes
Level 3
Intermediate Diploma in Accounting
Advanced Diploma in Accounting
AQ2010 Unit Name
AQ2016 Unit Name
Accounts Preparation
Advanced Bookkeeping
Prepare Final Accounts for Sole Traders and Partnerships
Final Accounts Preparation
Costs & Revenues
Management Accounting: Costing
Indirect Tax
Indirect Tax
Professional Ethics
Ethics For Accountants
Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets for Accounting
Synoptic Assessment
Level 4 Name Changes
Level 4
Advanced Diploma in Accounting
Professional Diploma in Accounting
AQ2010 Unit Name
AQ2016 Unit Name
Budgeting
Management Accounting: Budgeting
Financial Performance
Management Accounting: Decision and Control
Financial Statements
Financial Statements of Limited Companies
Internal Controls and Accounting Systems
Accounting Systems and Controls
External Auditing (optional unit)
External Auditing (optional unit)
Business Tax (optional unit)
Business Tax (optional unit)
Personal Tax (optional unit)
Personal Tax (optional unit)
Credit Control (optional unit)
Credit Management (optional unit)
Cash Management (optional unit)
Cash and Treasury Management (optional unit)
Synoptic Assessment
Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Accounting
Bookkeeping
Transaction
Bookkeeping
Controls
Elements of
Costing
Work Effectively in
Finance
Using Accounting
Software
Level 2
Foundation Certificate in Accounting
Each assessment counts towards the overall
grade of the level
Unit
Assessment
Unit
Assessment
Unit
Assessment
Synoptic Assessment
Unit
Assessment
Bookkeeping Transactions
22%
Bookkeeping Controls
16%
Elements of Costing
16%
Using Accounting Software
16%
Synoptic Assessment
30%
Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting
Advanced
Bookkeeping
Unit
Assessment
Final Accounts
Preparation
Unit
Assessment
Management
Accounting:
Costing
Unit
Assessment
Indirect Tax
Ethics for
Accountants
Unit
Assessment
SynopticAssessment
Spreadsheets
for
Accountants
Level 3
Diploma in Accounting
Each assessment counts towards the overall
grade of the level
Advanced Bookkeeping
20%
Final Accounts Preparation
15%
Management Accounting: Costing
20%
Indirect Tax
10%
Synoptic Assessment
35%
Level 4 Professional Diploma In Accounting
Financial
Statements of
Limited
Companies
Management
Accounting:
Budgeting
Management
Accounting:
Decision and
Control
Accounting
Systems and
Controls
Students must also complete two of the
optional units below and their
associated Unit Assessment
15%
Management Accounting:
Budgeting
15%
Management Accounting:
Decision and Control
15%
Optional Unit 1
10%
External Auditing
Optional Unit 2
10%
Cash and Treasury
Management
Synoptic Assessment
35%
Personal Tax
Unit
Assessment
Unit
Assessment
Synoptic Assessment
Each assessment counts towards the
overall grade of the level
Financial Statements of
Limited Companies
Business Tax
Unit
Assessment
Level 4
Diploma in Accounting
Credit Management
Synoptic assessments
The synoptic assessment is a new element within the AQ2016 accounting qualifications. Under AQ2016 you
need to complete a new synoptic assessment before moving on to your next level. A synoptic assessment
tests the knowledge you have gained throughout the level, covering multiple (but not all) topics.
It has been introduced to demonstrate your knowledge of core accountancy skills, your ability to apply them
in the workplace.
The duration of the synoptic assessment will vary depending on the qualification:
• Foundation synoptic assessment: 2 hours.
• Advanced synoptic assessment: 3 hours.
• Professional synoptic assessment: 3 hours.
Each qualification has one synoptic assessment, which should be sat at the end of your qualification when
all the associated learning has taken place.
Unit assessments will still be available on demand, but synoptic assessments will be restricted to fixed
assessment sittings.
Each level will now be graded, this will be determined by the percentage you have achieved in each
unit assessment and the synoptic assessment. Your final grade will either be Pass, Merit or
Distinction.
Grade
Percentage
Pass
70 – 79
Merit
80 – 89
Distinction
90 - 100
New students
Do not wait until 1 September 2016 to start your AAT studies, get started straight
away by registering for the current AQ2013 syllabus. You may then be mid level when
the new syllabus launches.
You will be able to follow the advice above and either:
• Continue your current level under AQ2013 and you will have until 31 December
2017 to complete it.
• Or finish your level under AQ2016 (remember to speak to your tutor or training
provider to decide which units you should study and when).
If you are an existing AAT student what are your options?
If you are currently studying AAT you will need to think about how this syllabus change will affect you.
You may need to make a decision about when you will begin studying the new AQ2016 syllabus.
• Stay on AQ2013 to complete your current level and your next level.
• Stay on AQ2013 to complete your current level and start your next level on the new syllabus.
• Transfer to AQ2016 to complete your current level.
Stay on AQ2013 to complete your current level and your next level
You can still carry on studying AQ2013 syllabus up until 31st December 2017. However, any new level started
after 1st September 2016 will automatically be AQ2016.
If you would like to stay on AQ2013 for your current level and your next level you should:
• Finish your current level before 31 August 2016.
• Immediately registering for your next level. Completing a level will automatically register you for the next
level but you should contact the AAT to ensure you are registered for your next level under AQ2013. This
must be done before 1st September 2016 as from this date a new registration at a level with be for the
new syllabus.
• You will then have until 31st December 2017 to complete that next level.
• When booking your assessment make sure your assessment centre knows your exam is to be AQ2013!
Stay on AQ2013 to complete your current level and start your next
level on the new syllabus
You will have until 31 December 2017 to complete your current level under the new syllabus. If you
complete this after 1 September 2016 you will be automatically registered for the next level for the new
syllabus.
• Make sure you book your current level exams under AQ2013 (you will need to mention this when
booking in to your assessment centre).
• Complete your current level by 31 December 2017.
Transfer to AQ2016 to complete your current level
If you are part way through a level at the end of August 2016 you can choose to complete the level under
the current syllabus or transfer to AQ2016. If you transfer to AQ2016 remember that some units will not
transfer across from AQ2013 to AQ2016. You will also be required to sit the synoptic assessment for that
level.
• Continue to work through your assessments under the current syllabus until 31 August 2016 and then
any assessments after this date can be taken under AQ2016.
• Speak to your tutor/training provider to decide which order to complete the units at your current level
(you do not want to complete an assessment for a unit which does not transfer across).
• Review the detail of the new syllabus and the new synoptic assessment to ensure you understand the
impact the changes will have on your studies should you choose to transfer to the new syllabus.
Please contact your tutor with any queries you have regarding the new syllabus or visit
aat.org.uk/2016update for more information or use their recommendation tool to see when AAT suggest
you move onto the new syllabus.