Q2022 – Students

What’s changing and what you need to know.

 

An exciting new qualification

AAT is introducing Qualifications 2022 (Q2022), new versions of its bookkeeping and accounting qualifications. Here’s everything you need to know about the new qualifications and what these changes mean for you.

1. What is Q2022, and how does this affect me?

Q2022 is the updated suite of our qualifications. The new Q2022 bookkeeping and accounting qualifications will replace the current AQ2016 Access, Foundation, and Advanced level bookkeeping and accounting software qualifications, and Foundation, Advanced and Professional level accounting qualifications.

Click on the drop downs below to get up to speed on what these changes are and how they will affect your studies.

Qualification names

The names of the qualifications are changing from using Access, Foundation, Advanced and Professional to Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4.

Qualification grading

The Level 2 and Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping qualifications for Q2022 will be graded – in the same way that the accounting qualifications are graded.

The final grade will be calculated based on the weighted results from the unit assessments and you’ll be awarded an overall qualification grade of either a Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Synoptic assessments

Currently the AQ2016 Foundation, Advanced and Professional accounting qualifications all include a synoptic assessment.

For Q2022, the only qualification that will include a synoptic assessment is the Level 2 Certificate in Accounting. All other unit content will be assessed by individual unit assessments.

The synoptic assessment will holistically assess the following units:
1. The Business Environment
2. Introduction to Bookkeeping*
3. Principles of Bookkeeping Controls*

*Units will also be assessed independently

The Level 2 synoptic assessment will be made available to be scheduled on demand throughout the year alongside all other Q2022 assessments. As always however, there may be occasions when an assessment is not available during periods set and communicated by AAT in advance.

Three qualifications withdrawn

AAT is not replacing the current Access Award in Accounting Software, Foundation Award in Accounting Software and the Foundation Diploma in Accounting and Business.

If you were considering studying any of these qualifications, you must register for them before 31 August 2022. You’ll then have until 30 September 2023 to complete the qualification.

2. What you need to do

  1. You can continue with your studies on the current, AQ2016 version of your qualification – If you choose this option, you’ll need to continue to pay your annual membership fee and successfully complete all the assessments by 30 September 2023.
  2. You can transfer your current qualification onto the equivalent Q2022 qualification. Most assessments achieved on the AQ2016 qualifications will automatically transfer over to Q2022, however, there are some exceptions.

Use the below tool to help you understand the transfer arrangements for your assessments.

Transitional tool

3. How this will impact fees

  • With the launch of Q2022 we’re changing our payment/fee structure and students will not be required to pay an annual student membership fee for the Q2022 qualifications.
  • Instead, you’ll pay a one-off registration fee at the point you register onto the new qualification of choice. This will give access to the qualification for its lifetime, typically four to five years. Registration will also give access to the study support resources and the ability to be scheduled for assessments. Assessment fees will be charged extra.

4. Key themes

Four key themes have been embedded into the learning within the new Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 qualifications. The key themes are:

  • Ethics
  • Communication
  • Technology
  •  Sustainability

Videos from employers on why these areas are important are available below. These five short videos will cover everything from why we’ve made the changes to how accounting software and data analytics are built into Q2022.

Watch the videos

5. Dates for your diary

  • 31 August 2022 – The last date for students to register for an AQ2016 Foundation, Advanced or Professional level accounting and bookkeeping qualification, and the Access Awards in Accounting Software, Bookkeeping and Business Skills qualifications.
  • 1 September 2022 – The first date students can register onto the new accounting and bookkeeping qualifications – Level 1, 2, 3 and 4, under the banner of Q2022.
  • 30 September 2023 – The last chance for students to sit an assessment on any of the current AQ2016 Access, Foundation, Advanced and Professional level qualifications.

Read more about Q2022 (login to view).