IT - Frequently Asked Questions
ECDL is widely recognised as an “Industry Standard” IT Qualification and frequently appears as an IT qualification requirement in job adverts. It is especially useful as an IT qualification for those seeking work in Europe.
The current prices can be found on the enrolment form
Formal ECDL workshop sessions are held in Exeter on Tuesdays and in Plymouth on Wednesdays when a qualified IT tutor will be available. Outside these times is usually possible to obtain help over the phone. In the first instance please contact our Plymouth Office on 01752 256610.
The following resources are available to you:
- ECDL manuals. You will be supplied with a set of these at your Induction Session.
- A CD ROM produced by A+. You will be supplied with this at your Induction Session. It contains all the files that you will need, together with additional information and practice material for you to read or print out if you prefer.
- A set of Mock Test Papers. You will be supplied with a set of these also at your Induction Session.
- A Booklet containing Further Practice papers is also available if required. • Tutor help and guidance on Workshop days.
- The mock tests and the feedback that you receive after these are marked should also be regarded as part of your learning.
- If you have any special requirements to assist you with your learning please feel free to discuss this at enrolment / induction.
The course uses the Microsoft Office suite of software. At A+ we have Windows XP and Vista and Microsoft Office 2003 & 2007. Please note that if you are working on your ECDL course at home or at work you will need to check that you have the Microsoft Office Professional version as this contains Microsoft Access that you need for the Database Module and Microsoft Power Point that you need for the Presentations Module.
In the first instance contact us at our Plymouth office on 01752 256610 You will be sent an enrolment form and invited to attend an induction session. This is usually at one of our centres, either Plymouth or Exeter.
You are supplied with an ECDL manual which covers all the modules in the course For each module your study follows the following pattern:
- You work on one Module at a time.
- You work through the Manual and the Exercises at the end of each section
- You then do a Mock Test (This can be done at home and mailed in to us)
- We mark the Mock Test and give you feedback (Usually this involves a visit to one of our centres)
- You then arrange to come in to one of our centres – Live tests can also be arranged at your place of work if this is agreed when you enrol on the course.
No, the basic ECDL course of 7 Modules is regarded as a Level 1 course. However some basic experience working with a Computer, using a keyboard and mouse is an advantage.
Q/ If I have to use a Keyboard does that mean that I need to be able to touch type?
No. With this course the amount of typing or data input is kept to a minimum. However some experience of a keyboard layout will be helpful.
As part of the enrolment process you will be given an initial assessment and an opportunity to discuss this.
No you do not have to take the modules in a set order. However experience over several years has led us to suggest that you start with Word Processing as this is already familiar to most people and will allow you to concentrate on the way the course and exam runs. You can then progress to another module of your choice. You will have the opportunity to discuss this when your Individual Learning Plan is agreed during your Induction.
Remember that you are taking the course for the very reason that you don’t know some things about your computer so now is the opportunity to learn. The ECDL manuals will help you to learn all the topics that are in the ECDL syllabus. Tutor support is also available if there are things that you have difficulty in understanding.
The quick answer is NO, we do not recommend this! The three main reasons are:
1) Many students taking ECDL have considerable Word Processing experience and all have said how much new information they have learned from the course. They also say that many of the techniques learned during the course are easier or faster to use than those they have previously been using.
2) In the ECDL syllabus considerable importance is given to using “the correct tool” for a task. Marks will be lost for not using the correct tool so a structured study of each module is essential. 3) If you are not fully prepared for the live test then it is very likely that you will fail on the first attempt which can be very demoralising.
This will depend on various factors such as: How much time per week you are prepared to spend studying; How much previous IT knowledge and ability you have already; How easily you can learn a particular Module. Different learners will always progress at different speeds and this can also vary from module to module. As a rough guide, if you are working through the manuals at home and attending an A+ centre both for feedback on your practice tests and to take live tests, you should aim to complete one module every 4 to 5 weeks.
If posted in to A+ mock tests will normally be marked on the following Wednesday or Thursday. If handed to an IT tutor before Monday mock tests will normally be marked on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Marking results are sent to our assessor by email the same day and a letter is then sent out advising the student the result. This is only a guide. In some instances a mock test will be marked, feedback given and a live test taken all in the same session.
Live Tests taken at our centres at Plymouth or Exeter on a Tuesday or Wednesday will normally be marked the following day (Thursday). Marking results are sent to our assessor by email the same day. If the result is a “Pass” a letter is then sent out advising the student the result. If there is a borderline Pass then it is necessary for the paper to be verified by another tutor before a result is given. This will take longer but should not be longer than one week. If the result should be a “Fail” we will contact the student as soon as possible, often by phone, so that they can revisit that module and prepare for a Resit.
The Mock test is marked and the result entered in your portfolio as part of your record of progress. You do not actually Pass or Fail this test. It is better to regard it as a way of monitoring your learning and understanding. If the mark is low then this indicates that there are areas of your learning that need reinforcing. You will be given detailed feedback of this and your tutor will help you with any queries or difficulties that you have. Provided that you now fully understand these areas and feel competent with them you can then still progress on to a Live Test.
Although BCS do not allow detailed feedback on Live Tests you will be given suggestions by your tutor for areas of your learning that need further practice before you Resit a live test. Please note! – It is a requirement by BCS that if a student fails a Live Test they cannot Resit a Live Test for the same Module on the same day.
As part of your induction you will discuss your Individual Learning Plan (ILP) with one of the IT tutors. This will establish target dates that you should aim to achieve. When discussing your ILP please remember to allow for existing fixed commitments such as holidays.
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Your progress will be monitored and reminders will be given. If for unexpected reasons you cannot meet the agreed dates arrangements will be made to discuss your progress and if appropriate a revised Learning Plan can be agreed.
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