HN Accounting Arrangements Workshop Session 1

2. HN Accounting ArrangementsWorkshop Session 1

3. Background • Review team set up April 2008, comprising representatives from 6 colleges • ‘Limited’ review • structure of HNC and HND awards unchanged • content of mandatory Units remains broadly similar

4. Scope of change • Overall requirements • Reduce volume of assessment • Remove/reduce prescriptive assessment conditions • Improve statement of standards – 70% cut off considered inappropriate for competence based qualification • Improve Core Skills signposting and guidance

5. Scope of change (cont) • Also consider • Retain existing links with professional body qualifications and exemptions (ACCA, CIMA) • Ensure in line with current disability/discrimination legislation • Map to National Occupational Standards (NOS)

6. Current status • All individual Unit specifications re-written, validated and available on SQA web site • Revised HNC and HND Group Awards, including Graded Units, validated January 2010 • Revised awards available for session 2010/2011

7. Award Frameworks and Credit Transfer • Structure of HNC and HND Group Awards unchanged • Unit titles and credit values unchanged • Full credit transfer is given between the predecessor Unit and the revised Unit • Bulk credit transfer arrangements will be available

8. Delivery and assessment • Continued focus on practical application of accounting principles and techniques • Delivery schedules could remain unchanged • UK GAAP and IAS: Candidates should be made aware of the differences in presentation of financial statements

9. Changes to Evidence Requirements • 70% cut off scores considered inappropriate for competence based qualification and have been removed • ‘Error tolerance’ has been allowed for most Outcomes, as appropriate • Specified maximum numbers of ‘errors of principle’ and/or ‘arithmetic/computational errors’

10. Assessment conditions • For some Outcomes, assessment conditions changed from closed book to open book or open book with access to a layout/formulae only • Most remain under supervised conditions • Recommended assessment time remains as a guideline only

11. Assessment Exemplars • One new exemplar for each mandatory Unit and for Payroll and Income Tax • Two new exemplars for each Graded Unit - 1, 2 and 3 • Exemplars will be available on SQA secure web site • Centres may need to devise re-assessment instruments and prior verification is recommended

12. Assessment Exemplars (cont) • Current exemplars must remain secure as existing Group Awards may continue to be offered by centres

13. Graded Units • Graded Unit 1 – Examination at SCQF level 7 • 60% computational; 40% narrative • Graded Unit 2 – Project at SCQF level 8 • Case study • New exemplar to be less time consuming for candidates and markers • Graded Unit 3 – Examination at SCQF level 8 • 80% computational; 20% narrative

14. Core Skills • Recommended exit profile is SCQF level 6 for all Core Skills • Revised Unit specifications state which Core Skill components are embedded or signposted • Mandatory Units provide many Core Skill components, especially Numeracy and Problem Solving • Broadening optional Units can be included in course programmes for other Core Skills

15. Articulation to Higher Education • HNC Accounting continues to provide entry to year 1 of most degree programmes • HND Accounting continues to provide entry to year 2 or year 3 • Centres should liaise with local HEIs to confirm

16. Exemptions from professional bodies • ACCA - HNC: CAT papers T1 to T7; ACCA papers F1 to F3 - HND: CAT all papers; ACCA papers F1 to F5 • CIMA - HNC: papers CO1 to CO5 - HND: papers CO1 to CO5 plus P1 and F1

17. Next steps • Revised HN Group Awards available for delivery for session 2010/2011 • Current Group awards will go into lapsing period: - HNC will end on 31 July 2013 - HND will end on 31 July 2014