AAT Exams
How many exams are in each course?
In the AAT Accounting qualifications, there are:
- Level 2 Certificate in Accounting: 4 exams
- Level 3 Diploma in Accounting: 4 exams
- Level 4 Diploma in Accounting: 5 exams (3 mandatory exams and 2 from a choice of 5 optional units)
In the AAT Bookkeeping qualifications, there are:
- Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping: 2 exams
- Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping: 2 exams
For more information about which subjects are covered in each qualification, please visit the ‘Our Courses’ page here
What is the exam format?
All AAT exams are completed on a computer using the AATs online SecureAssess system. Exams (Assessments) must be sat at an AAT approved assessment venue.
Types of assessment question:
Level 2:
- Questions generally consist of multiple choice, selecting answers from a drop down menu and typing numbers into form fields
- You will not have to type any text into a form field
Be sure to let your assessment venue know which computerised accounting package you have been learning with, as different assessment venues will have differing access to software.
Level 3:
- Questions include multiple choice, selecting answers from a drop down menu and typing numbers into form fields
- For some assessments, you will be required to type text into form fields. In the Synoptic assessment, there will be a significant amount of text input for the ‘Ethics’ element of the assessment
- For ‘Spreadsheets’ (again, in the Synoptic), you will use Excel software. Be sure to let your assessment venue know which version of Excel you have been learning with.
Level 4:
- Questions include multiple choice, selecting answers from a drop down menu and typing numbers into form fields
- For some assessments, you will be required to type quite lengthy amounts of text, in particular with the Synoptic assessment.
Where can I sit my exams?
You have to sit all of your AAT exams (assessments) at an AAT Approved assessment venue. There are a large number of assessment venues across the UK, so you should be able to find one fairly close to you. To find your nearest assessment venue, please visit the AATs online assessment venue search here
Just type in your postcode (or local town) and the type of assessment you want to sit – this will then display a list of the venues closest to you.
Sitting your exams with us
As well as being an AAT Approved Training Provider, we are also an AAT Approved Assessment venue. If you are live close by to us, you can choose to sit your assessments in either our Exeter, Taunton or Plymouth venues.
You can find the online booking system and available dates here.
Synoptic windows
Synoptic assessments are designed to test your understanding of a range of subjects across your AAT qualification (you do not have to sit a synoptic assessment for the AATs short qualifications e.g. Bookkeeping).
Generally, you should sit your synoptic assessment at the end of your AAT qualification (at each level i.e. Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4)
For each AAT level, there are specific times of the year when you are able to sit synoptic assessments (known as ‘Synoptic Windows’), these are as follows:
- Level 2: synoptic windows for most weeks of the year
- Level 3: 6 synoptic windows during (usually every other month)
- Level 4: 6 synoptic windows during (usually every other month – the week following the Advanced synoptic window
Please click here for the full synoptic timetable for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
External students
In addition to our own students sitting their AAT exams with us, we also accept external candidates. So, if you are located in the Exeter, Taunton or Plymouth area, but have enrolled with a different training provider, you can still sit your exams with us.
Click here to find out availability and to book your exams online.
