CAT or Fast-track accountancy

[haikalanuar]

hi..
In spm..I've got an average score..

the thing is..I'm a pure science stream student..
that means I took biology rather than accountancy..
in case ur wondering..
I got 7A's n 4B's

I am quite interested in numbers and calculation..
so izzit a good choice for me to pick accountancy??
maybe engineering??
If it's not..can tell me what course suit's me best..

Back to the main question..
if i took accountancy..
is it better for me to take fast track in uitm or CAT??

The thing I'm scared about CAT is bcoz I dont even have
a basic knowledge about accountancy.. :(

If I want to take accounting course in the university..

Should I choose :

-CAT
this is a gamble because the risk in failing is high =.="
With this ..I can skip my diploma n degree..
Then I can continue with the professional paper..

or

-Fast track accountancy
a safe choice but still need to study smart =.="
Could obtain diploma n degree in 4 1/2 years..
Not much difference in taking foundation n degree
that took 4 years..

[teiya_drumzaddict]

Hey there

Well for the choice between accountancy or engineering you should consider your interest and passion whether you like chemistry and physics and how well you perform in those subjects. To be honest accounts isn't as hard as science subjects it's more towards tecnical since I've studied both but it is really up to you. Since you don't have basics or take accounts for SPM, I still think that the first CAT paper which includes recording transaction is OK to give you a general idea on what accounts is about since those who attained 1A or 2A in get exemption for that paper so accounts in SPM is basically what you learn in that paper roughly so not to worry.


For your main question, since you are the one who will be sudying I can't make the choice for you. But here is what I think of both programs.

as for CAT, it's the fastest way to become a professional if you pass all in one shot but you've gotta work really hard and don't play around.It will take about 3 years if you pass all in one shot and the pay for a chartered accountant is very very lucrative. But of course, in CAT i think its OK to say you can't really escape from failing and its not too much to say that in CAT you and failure are one.. LoL Last time I heard those with ACCA who worked with Bank Negara get starting pay of rm5700 but I could be wrong... As for the degree after completing CAT and ACCA skills you just have to submit a 6500 research analysis to obtain a degree from Oxford Brooke University so you don't have to worry about not getting a degree. After that you are free to pursue your studies and obtain MBA. If you choose to work for an auditing firm of course the first 3 years after grad will be hard labour but it pays off don't worry.

As for your fast track diploma then of course you don't have to worry much about failing since we hardly heard of anybody who fails a degree right? If you are nice to the lecturer you might be able to escape failing since its your lecturer who mark your papers. As for CAT, your paper will be couriered to UK for marking and those who marked your papers do not know you so everybody's being assesed fair and square-no favours. After diploma and degree then only you will be able to take up ACCA even though you got exemption for some papers it will still take time. But if you are average and don't want to risk failing you can go for this but bear in mind it's taking quite a time even though you call it fast track.

Hope this helps and sorry if there's any mistakes I might be wrong since I might be taking up CAT as well this July and all the above information is based on my Q&A session with the ACCA board and stuffs that I ask from various people involved in this field. Best of luck to you ;)

[shakira]

teiya_drumzaddict, i agree with you. the choice is up to you. i've heard that the CAT is only a little higher level than the SPM level accounting. I plan to do that too. same like teiya_drumzaddict in sunway. i think it will be way too long to do degree. It's 1+3 yrs. CAT and ACCA is 1+2 years only. faster u get the degree and in sunway u can get a double degree from oxford brookes university. that is really fast. 3 yrs with a professional degree and a bachelors.

[teiya_drumzaddict]

yeah but as a matter of fact no matter where you do your ACCA, you can get a degree from Oxford Brooke. ;)

[digital_lifeform]

teiya_drumzaddict, i agree with you. the choice is up to you. i've heard that the CAT is only a little higher level than the SPM level accounting. I plan to do that too. same like teiya_drumzaddict in sunway. i think it will be way too long to do degree. It's 1+3 yrs. CAT and ACCA is 1+2 years only. faster u get the degree and in sunway u can get a double degree from oxford brookes university. that is really fast. 3 yrs with a professional degree and a bachelors.

CAT is way deeper than SPM. I took SPM Acc and am planning to do CAT now and CAT is very deep. SPM accounts is mostly bookkeeping only.

In my opinion, doing CAT, then ACCA is way better than doing any form of an accounting degree. With the ACCA or Certified Chartered Accountant qualification, you are recognized everywhere and no one would bother much even if you studied in a tuition center or even on your own. I know someone who has an accounts degree and has already been working for sometime but re-enrolled in college for an ACCA course because he has not much job prospects with just the degree. Nowadays, professional qualification matters much.

If you can handle the load it would also be good to take a degree in finance, marketting or some other business related course and self study or go for extra classes for CAT and ACCA, a better combination.

[HiddenEyes]

CAT is way deeper than SPM. I took SPM Acc and am planning to do CAT now and CAT is very deep. SPM accounts is mostly bookkeeping only.

In my opinion, doing CAT, then ACCA is way better than doing any form of an accounting degree. With the ACCA or Certified Chartered Accountant qualification, you are recognized everywhere and no one would bother much even if you studied in a tuition center or even on your own. I know someone who has an accounts degree and has already been working for sometime but re-enrolled in college for an ACCA course because he has not much job prospects with just the degree. Nowadays, professional qualification matters much.

If you can handle the load it would also be good to take a degree in finance, marketting or some other business related course and self study or go for extra classes for CAT and ACCA, a better combination.
How would you suggest someone to self study ?

[aitheng]

hi..
In spm..I've got an average score..

the thing is..I'm a pure science stream student..
that means I took biology rather than accountancy..
in case ur wondering..
I got 7A's n 4B's

I am quite interested in numbers and calculation..
so izzit a good choice for me to pick accountancy??
maybe engineering??
If it's not..can tell me what course suit's me best..

Back to the main question..
if i took accountancy..
is it better for me to take fast track in uitm or CAT??

The thing I'm scared about CAT is bcoz I dont even have
a basic knowledge about accountancy.. :(

If I want to take accounting course in the university..

Should I choose :

-CAT
this is a gamble because the risk in failing is high =.="
With this ..I can skip my diploma n degree..
Then I can continue with the professional paper..

or

-Fast track accountancy
a safe choice but still need to study smart =.="
Could obtain diploma n degree in 4 1/2 years..
Not much difference in taking foundation n degree
that took 4 years..

im currently doing CAT and i think i can provide u with some real life experiences.

CAT syllabus is more on calculation except for paper T5(management paer) which u cant even find a single digit in the textbook. All together u will hav to seat for 9papers to complete CAT. the textbooks will go thicker and thicker when u advance to higher level. Don worry if u r a science student, i believe u can do CAT without much problem. in my college, i hav many sc students doing CAT. They did pretty well.

T1 until T4 papers r basic which will cover accounting principles till some company law. so u do not need to worry if u dont hav any acconting background.
these four papers, u will b assess based on computer, known as computer based exam. u'l b directly connected to UK ACCA server n get ur result within 3 sconds.

CAT is not difficult n it is also the faster way to achieve proffesional level.

u may ask me anything u wanna know.

thanks

[winnie_08]

im currently doing CAT and i think i can provide u with some real life experiences.

CAT syllabus is more on calculation except for paper T5(management paer) which u cant even find a single digit in the textbook. All together u will hav to seat for 9papers to complete CAT. the textbooks will go thicker and thicker when u advance to higher level. Don worry if u r a science student, i believe u can do CAT without much problem. in my college, i hav many sc students doing CAT. They did pretty well.

T1 until T4 papers r basic which will cover accounting principles till some company law. so u do not need to worry if u dont hav any acconting background.
these four papers, u will b assess based on computer, known as computer based exam. u'l b directly connected to UK ACCA server n get ur result within 3 sconds.

CAT is not difficult n it is also the faster way to achieve proffesional level.

u may ask me anything u wanna know.

thanks

i'm interested in the CAT and planning to do it on this july intake.but i heard many people said that CAT is harder and many people failed it's papers.
Thus juz wanna ask that is it very very hard?would u mind to tell me which college r u in for doing this course presently.Coz i'm doing the research on which college is best for doing this course.As wat i gained from the research is that Sunway university college is the best,but the exams are tougher there.

would u mind to furnish me more info bout ur experience on studying CAT?

thanks

[aitheng]

i'm interested in the CAT and planning to do it on this july intake.but i heard many people said that CAT is harder and many people failed it's papers.
Thus juz wanna ask that is it very very hard?would u mind to tell me which college r u in for doing this course presently.Coz i'm doing the research on which college is best for doing this course.As wat i gained from the research is that Sunway university college is the best,but the exams are tougher there.

would u mind to furnish me more info bout ur experience on studying CAT?

thanks

hard or not its all depends on u. to me the papers in CAT r x very hard. as long as u grab the concept and formula well, it wont b a problem to u. if u like numbers, i think it wont b too hard for u.

im staying in kedah so im doing it in institute perkim goon (penang). sunway is gd. it got the platinum status award from acca.

basically CAT exam is the same every where as the questions r set by ppl from acca uk. as u know, paper t5 and above r all written papers. ur examiners r from uk too.

hurm..when i was doing my t1, t2, t3 n t4, i was quite free as so parts r covered in spm. but for t5, its a bit tough in my opinion. sincerely, i messed up my t5 during my June exam this year. I'll keep my fingers crossed that i'l pass that paper so that i don't need to do it again.!!! it was a great headache to me..., memorizing motivation theories, team-work theories and so on. t5 is a management paper.

i had reached the intermediate level and im going to do my advance level papers later.

[teiya_drumzaddict]

hard or not its all depends on u. to me the papers in CAT r x very hard. as long as u grab the concept and formula well, it wont b a problem to u. if u like numbers, i think it wont b too hard for u.

im staying in kedah so im doing it in institute perkim goon (penang). sunway is gd. it got the platinum status award from acca.

basically CAT exam is the same every where as the questions r set by ppl from acca uk. as u know, paper t5 and above r all written papers. ur examiners r from uk too.

hurm..when i was doing my t1, t2, t3 n t4, i was quite free as so parts r covered in spm. but for t5, its a bit tough in my opinion. sincerely, i messed up my t5 during my June exam this year. I'll keep my fingers crossed that i'l pass that paper so that i don't need to do it again.!!! it was a great headache to me..., memorizing motivation theories, team-work theories and so on. t5 is a management paper.

i had reached the intermediate level and im going to do my advance level papers later.



Hey I agree. I find CAT easy. and if you do commerce in spm. you'll find paper 5 a do-able paper too. i like management A LOT. its really not that deep. like my lecturer said. just change your perception. there are students who are just 15 years old and they're doing it. It's just studying and learning, all those levels are just imaginary barriers that cause us to limit ourselves.

its seldom that we can score 100 and 90+ for all papers in spm. but its attainable all the time in CAT. that would give you the idea of how CAT is. As long as you keep it to yourself that you can do it. but I think ACCA will be harder by far. It's of the same level as doing masters. but I'll check it out when the time comes and share with those considering on taking it. heheh.

P.S. If you will be doing it in sunway tell me. hope to see you soon! ;)

[starfire]

i'm an stpm science student, so i'm wondering if it's possible to take up ACCA after stpm? what's da difference in opting for da financial course ACCA full time, and opting for the Accounting and Finance undergraduate programme??

btw, are the fees in sunway TES very expensive?

[Smilehoe]

here (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Difference_between_certified_accounting_techinician_and_ACCA)
You'd be surprised by the information you could find by typing "cat acca difference". =)

[teiya_drumzaddict]

i'm an stpm science student, so i'm wondering if it's possible to take up ACCA after stpm? what's da difference in opting for da financial course ACCA full time, and opting for the Accounting and Finance undergraduate programme??

btw, are the fees in sunway TES very expensive?
the fees in Sun Tes is worth it. you got the best lecturer teaching you there and they'll have progress tests too often to make sure that you study enough. those who did not score pass their benchmark will be barred from taking the final exam so students do not really play around when it comes to progress test. Mind you ACCA is one of the cheapest programme compared to other degree programmes in private colleges. the total fee would be around 20 thousand + , 36 thousand if you are to take CAT. and adding to what smilehoe said about the difference between CAT and ACCA, you don't really know who's marking your paper for ACCA. If you are taking a degree, your lecturer's the one marking your paper but ACCA markers will be extremely impersonal when it comes to marking so no extra credits. And you do not have assignments to top up your grades at the end of semester.