Tips for success in AAT Level 3 Business Awareness exam

Are you gearing up for the AAT Level 3 Business Awareness exam? This pivotal assessment evaluates your understanding of various business-related concepts and your ability to apply them effectively. Here are some insights from the recent examiner report to help you focus your efforts in the right places.

The pass rate for BUAW is 63% – one of the lower pass rates across the exams. Hopefully some of the insight will help you smash this.

Time utilisation

On average, learners use only 76% of the allotted time but tend to exceed the expected duration for written tasks.

Strongest tasks

Organisations and Ethics for Accountants
Micro-economic Environment and Sustainability

Weakest tasks

Ethical and Legal Compliance
Communication and Visualisation

Ethical and Legal Compliance

This task requires written answers, and you need to understand money laundering regulations and the process for reporting money laundering. In particular, the three-stage process of money laundering and the actions which should be taken to report money laundering, including the information to be included in the report and the timescales for reporting.

Communication and Visualisation

This task requires written answers, and you have to interpret visual information to indicate relationships and trends. This requires a high-level view to be taken to identify and understand the patterns in the presented data, and understand the importance of visualising information in different formats. You’ll also need to identify the appropriate format to communicate effectively to meet specific stakeholder requirements.

Examiner’s report comments on exam technique

• Fully address the question and answer it entirely. Read the question carefully and multiple times to make sure you understand what is being asked.
• Use the allotted marks as a guide for the length of your response, and always review your answer against the question to ensure completeness.
• Pay attention to the command verb used in the question, as it indicates the type of response expected.
• Refer to the scenario provided to support your points, avoiding unrelated general comments.
• Familiarise yourself with active verbs and writing professionally.
• Ensure comprehension of command verbs and their implications for response types.
• Utilise scenario information effectively to maximise marks.

By addressing these areas of improvement and implementing effective exam techniques, you can enhance your performance in the AAT Level 3 Business Awareness exam. If you’re worried about your exam, or need help with tricky topics, get in touch with your tutor or the team who’ll be happy to help.