Are you a pen and paper person, do you love an online project management workspace, or do you have more phone notes than you can handle? However you like to do it, note-taking is part of most of our daily lives – the to-do lists, social media content ideas and life goals. And never is this jotting down more prevalent in our lives than when we’re revising.

But it’s a shame to spend all that time writing things down if you don’t have a process in place that makes them of most use to you. Don’t take your note-taking for granted; read these tips to supercharge your studies.

The 5 Rs of note-taking

Study and productivity expert Ali Abdaal managed to grow a six-figure business and create a YouTube channel with millions of followers, all while studying medicine at Cambridge University. He recommends these 5 Rs of note-taking:

1. Record – there should be somewhere to take our notes (obviously).
2. Reduce – there should be somewhere to summarise those notes.
3. Recite – there needs to be an easy way to test ourselves using our notes.
4. Reflect – our notes should be related to other notes we’ve already written.
5. Review – we should regularly revisit our notes to ensure maximum retention.

The Cornell Method for recording and reducing your notes

Alongside these tips, you can use the Cornell Method for note-taking, which was invented in the 1950s by Professor Walter Pauk at Cornell University, USA. It has been proven again and again to still be not only one of the most efficient ways to make notes but also makes it a lot easier to read them back and digest them, which makes it an especially good method for exam notes.

To follow the Cornell Method, you simply divide your page into four sections:

1. Draw a horizontal line to create a small title section across the top of the page.
2. Draw a horizontal line to create a small summary section across the bottom of the page. This is where you’ll write a short outline of that page.
3. The large middle section of the page that’s left should be divided into two with a vertical line that leaves about 30% of the space on the left which will be used to jot down keywords, comments and questions relating to your main notes on the right.
4. The large (70%) space on the right is for your main notes and key thoughts.

You can see an example and download a free Cornell note-taking template here.

The Feynman Technique for remembering our notes

This four-step method was designed to enhance our understanding when self-teaching.

Step 1: Identify the topic you’re learning about

Choose the topic that you have the most weaknesses in (where the exam is coming soonest!) and keep it specific to this one area.

Step 2: Teach it to someone else (preferably a child)

Learning is often treated as a passive activity, but teaching is an active method and will be far more effective. Teaching to someone else (especially a child, but it could be a study partner) will allow you to really see if you understand the topic. It will force you to break it down into its simplest parts, and you’ll receive external feedback.

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.”

 – Richard Feynman

Step 3: Identify any knowledge gaps you have

Teaching the topic to someone else will allow you to identify any knowledge gaps you have. Which bits did you find difficult to teach? Write these down.

Step 4: Simplify

Re-write your notes for any areas you identified in step three and break them down into their simplest terms.

Building your second brain

In his recently released book Building A Second Brain, Tiago Forte explains his methods for organising your digital notes to unlock your potential and increase productivity. An online workspace like Notion or Evernote is perfect for this. Tiago recommends splitting your notes into four sections (P.A.R.A.):

1. Projects – tasks you are working on now with a specific goal and deadline. 
2. Areas – areas that you are responsible for on an ongoing basis – they don’t have a specific deadline but are not simply interests.
3. Resources – topics of ongoing interest.
4. Archive – notes that are not relevant to you right now but there to be reinstated later if needed.

A summary of 6 top tips for tip-top note-taking

1. Use bold and headers throughout your notes to break them up.
2. Leave as much white space as you can to make them easier to read back.
3. Use abbreviations – create your own.
4. Keep your notes as simple as possible.
5. Use active teaching instead of passive learning if possible.
6. Have a method in place for organising your notes.

Further reading

• Evidence-based revision tips that work
• Should I have a study partner?
• What can I do to manage stress and anxiety while studying?

The role of the accountant is changing as a result of new technology and software which can now do many of the process-heavy jobs which accountants used to have to do.

In the future an accountant will need not only numerical skills, but a knowledge of technology, an understanding of how business works, the ability to communicate and present figures and information effectively, and the skill to work across different teams and departments.

This new world of accountancy means that training needs to change and adapt to the new demands of the role. As an awarding body, AAT has to review the qualifications we offer every four or five years anyway to make sure that they are relevant. Changes are needed as the industry moves on and develops and Qualifications 2022 is the result of our research and development of the AAT qualifications suite.

Why are we introducing Qualifications 2022

We undertook research with business leaders and experts in accounting technology and asked about where the industry was going and skills that employers will need technicians to have in the future.

They put forward a number of recommendations in terms of skills within accountancy, as well as broader business, technology and communication skills.

This includes training in softer skills and understanding the role of technology in accountancy and business and how it is evolving, how digital and cloud accounting works, and the benefits and potential drawbacks.

The qualification that we have created continues to have the core fundamentals of bookkeeping and accounting at its heart, while adding the new skills that the technicians of the future will need.

The feedback that we were getting from businesses and employers was that accounting technicians have gone from just people that process numbers to a more strategic and advisory role. Although accountants still do a lot of number processing, they need to understand what those numbers mean and to be able to evaluate them, analyse them, and then advise colleagues, businesses and clients on their implications.

So for example, if you don’t make a change, what’s that going to do to the business? If you do make a change, what impact will that have? The role of a technician has really developed to become a more advisory role, so the new qualification includes understanding the business environment.

What are the new levels?

Level 1

This is an entry level qualification in Bookkeeping and a Level 1 in Business Skills. This is an ideal introduction to accountancy and bookkeeping that would be suitable for school leavers, or people who have come to the UK and are looking to gain basic skills to complement skills they have from their own country.

Bookkeeping teaches single entry bookkeeping, while the Business Skills qualification looks at how numbers are used in business.

Level 2

Bookkeeping and Accounting qualification are offered at AAT Level 2 and develop some of the skills obtained in Level 1. This qualification takes around six to months to complete.

Level 3

As you go through to level three more advanced level skills, you’ll start to learn more about how to analyse and evaluate figures. This qualification takes around 12 months to 15 months to complete.

Level 4

At AAT Level 4 there is much more focus on the skills required for effective management accounting. In addition, there are a number of exciting optional units which gives students the opportunity to specialise – for example in tax and audit, or in credit and debt management. This qualification takes around 15 months to 18 months to complete.

You can go in at any level, and it very much depends on your previous experience. Most people will start at Level 2 if they have come out of college and have GCSE and/or A level qualifications, although there are no specific entry requirements. For example, someone who has been working in an accountancy or a finance department and who wants to enhance their learning could start at Level 2.

How has the qualification been redesigned?

Based on the outcome of the research, there were four key themes which we identified as being important. These skills and qualities have always been at the heart of the AAT qualifications, but this iteration of qualifications has enhanced them. They

Ethics, communication, technology and sustainability and they are all introduced at Level 1.

As students progress through all the way through the qualification, their level of knowledge around these four areas builds. The qualification enables them to see how these skills are embedded into the role.  

These four themes have always been at the heart of the AAT qualification, but our research indicated there was much more awareness needed around these areas.

Ethics

The ethical background to accounting, what that means both personally and professionally. This covers regulation including Anti Money Laundering legislation and knowing your clients.

Communication

Being able to understand the numbers and convey them to the client or business. The role of the accountancy technician is changing and students need to be able to communicate, analyse the figures, and then report on what those figures means, internally, to a business, or to a client.

Communication covers how you present how you present the numbers and how you report back on them. It is the real analysis and presentation skills that technicians will need going forward. Students are often surprised about how much writing is required in assessments because they think it is purely a numbers qualification.

Sustainability

This looks at the development of digital technology, how businesses are sustainable in the context of proper investment, management of their accounts and using digital tools. Where once people came and dumped a bag of receipts on an accountant’s desk, now receipts can be collected and processed online using apps and software.

Technology

Students will look at the pros and cons of technology and interpret how technology is changing the role of the accountant. For example, we assess the positives and negatives of implementing cloud accounting versus standard software packages. This section also covers Making Tax Digital (MTD) and the move toward more frequent online reporting and cybersecurity.

Further reading:

• Find out more about Qualifications 2022 and the exciting new opportunities
• Watch the videos on why these changes to the qualification have been made
• More resources and information on Qualifications 2022 (login to view)

On 1 September 2022, AAT launched Qualifications 2022 (Q2022), new versions of our bookkeeping and accounting qualifications.

Here we answer your frequently asked questions about Q2022.

Q: I haven’t completed my AQ2016 qualification yet. What happens now that Q2022 has launched?

A: Nothing. You won’t lose any of the assessments you’ve already achieved. You’ve got until 30 September 2023 to complete your current AQ2016 qualifications. And even if you have not completed it by then, you can transfer to the Q2022 equivalent qualification, you’ll just need to check the AQ2016 to Q2022 Transitional Arrangements tool to see which assessments transfer, as you may have additional assessments to sit.

Q: What happens if I finish Level 2 and want to start Level 3 under Q2022? Will the results not transfer and will I have to take the synoptic again?

A: Once you’ve finished your qualification on AQ2016, it won’t transfer over to Q2022, but that’s because it doesn’t need to – because you’ve completed it in its own right on AQ2016. You will then just go ahead and start fresh – you’ll register for Q2022 at Level 3 and you’ll start your student journey from there and go through that qualification. You won’t need to do anything again in relation to Level 2.

Q: Will there be synoptic assessments for Q2022?

A: Synoptic assessments are currently in AQ2016 across Levels 2, 3 and 4. For Q2022, there is only one synoptic assessment at Level 2 – the business environment synoptic.

Q: What happens if I only have one synoptic assessment to complete?

A: You have until 30 September 2023 to complete your AQ2016 synoptic assessments. However, there are specific synoptic windows, and you cannot sit synoptic assessments outside these windows. Check your MyAAT account for the synoptic assessment window calendar to ensure you can complete your synoptic assessment before the deadline. If you don’t, you’ll need to transfer over to Q2022 and complete one outstanding module. For Level 3, this will be Business Awareness, and for Level 4, this will be Internal Accounting Controls and Systems.

Q: What are the benefits of changing to Q2022, besides not having to do the synoptic?

A: AQ2016 is a massively valued qualification – employers love it, we know that it meets the market demands, and it’s still fit for purpose and will continue to be fit for purpose as the years go on. We have to review and update our qualifications periodically, generally around every four years. When we do this, we liaise with employers and experts in the field, and we consider what the future of the industry is going to look like – so we have to make some amendments to our qualifications accordingly. Some additional learning areas around sustainability and technology have been brought into the Q2022 qualifications, as these are relevant to all industries, not just accountancy.

Q: Will the bookkeeping qualifications be graded in Q2022?

A: Yes, the bookkeeping qualifications will be graded under Q2022.

Q: I’m currently studying Level 4 and have completed all the modules except for the optional units. Can I transfer to Q2022?

A: Yes, you can – and what’s even better is all the assessments on the current qualification will transfer to the Q2022 equivalent, so you’ll only have to complete the outstanding optional units.

Q: If I’ve completed Management Accounting: Budgeting and Decision and Control for the current Professional Diploma in Accounting, will my grade be capped at 70%?

A: Yes, it will. With this in mind, you may wish to complete your studies on your current AQ2016 qualification if your grade is particularly important to you.

Q: If I have completed Management Accounting: Budgeting, but not Decision and Control, or vice versa, will it transfer over to Q2022?

A: No, this would not transfer over. You would need to complete both Management Accounting: Budgeting, as well as Decision and Control for this to transfer over to Applied Management Accounting under Q2022. Refer to the AQ2016-Q2022 Transitional Arrangements document at aat.org.uk/2022update for full details about which assessments will transfer.

Q: Will there be an Accounting Software qualification under Q2022?

A: No, the Access (Level 1) and Foundation (Level 2) Accounting Software qualifications are not being provided under Qualifications 2022. Additionally, the Foundation Diploma in Accounting and Business is also being withdrawn.

Q: When will the books be available for Q2022?

A: They are already available. You can purchase the books online or contact your training provider (if you have one) regarding books for Q2022.

Q: How will student membership to AAT work with Q2022?

A: We’ve removed the annual student membership fee for students starting their studies under Q2022. Instead, students will pay a one-off registration fee for the qualification, which will provide access to the purchased qualification for its lifetime (typically four to five years), access to all AAT’s study support resources, and the ability to be scheduled for your assessments. Assessment fees will be extra. If you’re thinking about transferring from your current AQ2016 qualification to the Q2022 equivalent, you might be eligible to pay the one-off transfer fee, instead of the one-off registration fee. To be eligible, you need to have an active student membership and have achieved at least one assessment on the qualification you are transferring from.

Q: Has anything changed regarding booking an assessment for Q2022?

A: No, the process for booking an assessment has not changed.

Further reading:

• Here’s what you need to know about Qualifications 22
• FAQs: What is Q2022, why, and what does it mean?
• Find out more about Qualifications 2022 and the exciting new opportunities