About simulations

Simulations are crucial in the assessment process. At the AAT we have many years experience in creating practical simulations that thoroughly test students’ skills and have also been awarded the Plain English Crystal Mark.

Order simulations.

Order the simulations you need

Give us feedback on simulations.

Let us know what you think

Help your students get familiar with simulations.

To order past simulations to familiarise your students with them, email jodene.murphy@aat.org.uk

We’d like to know what you think.

Getting your feedback on simulations is vital in order to improve standards, please let us know what you think.

Creating your own simulations.

If you’re thinking of creating your own simulations, read our recently revised policy on centre-devised simulations:

To date the AAT's policy has been to appraise one draft simulation produced by a centre. The AAT has provided feedback concerning this draft simulation and if the feedback is accepted and acted upon then the AAT has approved the writer of that simulation to write further simulations for all other Skills Tested units up to the same level.

However, AAT quality assurance processes have found that the quality of subsequent simulations produced has varied, and indeed some simulations subsequently produced by writers have omitted to cover key parts of the assessment criteria. This means that in some cases the assessment that students have taken was not fit for purpose, and did not permit the student to demonstrate competence to meet the appropriate performance criteria. This is a serious concern for the AAT and as such a comprehensive review of our Centre-Devised Simulation Policy has been undertaken.

The AAT is now introducing a new Centre-Devised Simulation Policy which will allow us more input to help you produce your own simulations. This policy will follow much more closely the same process that all AAT simulations follow, and the key benefits are that:

for the accounting units AAT will assign a moderator that has knowledge and experience of the unit you are writing for to help you produce each simulation;
you will be able to alter and update an approved simulation up to four times, creating four different simulations for that unit, free of charge; and
all Centre-Devised Simulations will be formally recognised by AAT, recorded and allocated a simulation number, just like AAT simulations.

The fees for this enhanced centre-devised simulation service have risen to help the AAT cover the additional costs incurred, but we expect that the benefits of a step up in quality and consistency will more than outweigh the higher fees.

The AAT's new Centre-Devised Simulation Policy takes immediate effect, although if you are currently using centre-devised simulations you have until 1 September 2008 before all centre-devised simulations must be logged/approved. (please see page 8 of the revised CDS policy).

If you or your colleagues are intending to develop your own simulations for AAT units then please ensure that you read this guide thoroughly.

Revised CDS policy