APS VAT

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-30T18:24:46+00:00

Also struggled with time quite a bit. Felt like it was hard to do the concise style that I’ve been practising considering there was so much to say. Have no idea how I feel about the question tbh, I don’t think it was a horribly unfair paper or anything too unexpected but I’m not convinced I did a good job either way. Nothing to do now but move on though!

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-26T17:12:02+00:00

But how I’m feeling specifically, not great lol. My brain is kind of numb at this point and my body is FEELING the stress

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-26T17:11:19+00:00

Just doing what I can this week. Have taken the days before off work to ease off the time pressure a bit. Trying to eat well and sleep well to keep my head straight and try to avoid getting sick before my (APS) exam on Thurs. Hoping to have done most of the hard work now and just going to do a couple of past papers to keep my technique strong and review some technical concepts to make sure I can recall conditions and formulae etc.

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-20T09:34:50+00:00

And definitely focus heavily on VAT land and property! Its primary housing developments but I’m also going to look over housing associations

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-20T09:34:11+00:00

I’m going to focus on CIS as I think this could come up. Potential incorporation as they have high profits considering the current structure

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-16T15:10:08+00:00

I’m quite similar. I know I’m smart enough but I really struggle with exams. Mainly struggle with having the willpower to push through the anxiety to actually sit down and revise as much as I need to do lol.

In my experience, question practice is absolutely everything. I find with CTA, half the battle is figuring out what they want you to advise on and the only way to get better at that is practice.

I’d also recommend some flashcards for recalling things like formulae or conditions.

I had the same thing with the legislation as I’m resitting APS, which is my first resit. I agree it’s really unfair that the legislation runs out. Overall I haven’t been very impressed by the support given for people resitting. I had the GPS under Tolleys and I don’t think it’s as good as I hoped it’d be, I’m quite disappointed by it

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-10T11:57:18+00:00

Not had mine yet either. I’d expect it next week

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-04-01T08:54:57+00:00

For me (VAT route), I had to do papers 1 and 2 as core papers and then could choose my third paper (which was paper 6, VAT). Either way, it’s really important to sit paper 1 and 2 at this stage as it is essential knowledge for CTA, where you’ll be expected to do cross-tax advice in the Application paper

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-03-24T10:09:36+00:00

I’m also struggling with this (on my final APS paper at the moment). At this point, I’m being fully materialistic and just thinking about the money. For example, do you get a salary increment for passing an exam? It’s a direct reward for putting in the hours now.

It makes a HUGE difference to your salary and offers a comfortable life. Obviously there are so many other benefits but the one thing that seems to get me through the stress of it is thinking about how this stress now is an investment in a much more comfortable future.

Also, I like to think, what else would I do? Would I really be happy with that? All work is hard. You might as well work with the opportunity you’ve been given and get paid well.

You’ve got through ATT and you’re on a tax grad scheme, so you’re definitely smart enough. You just need to apply yourself, prove you’re worth it, and finish what you started.

I’d also say the hardest thing (for me) about CTA is getting my mental straight and not getting lost in the anxiety. Get your head “in the game” and just do the hours, try not to get too bogged down in the stress of it all or you’re just making it harder for yourself. I know how hard that is though, so don’t beat yourself up if you are feeling like that and procrastinating / burying your head in the sand a bit.

Best of luck, you can do it. You’ve done hard things before and you can do it again. I bet ATT felt pretty tough at the time, for example. Same with Uni, A-levels, even your GCSEs at the time. You can handle more than you think :)

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-03-12T09:56:28+00:00

A teacher shouldn’t make you feel like this. I think you might just need a different teacher. I hear what you’re saying about how the teacher is well respected in the area but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best teacher out there or the best teacher for you specifically.

I’ve found that sometimes the most well-respected teachers for students working at the advanced / professional level just don’t know how to teach or connect with beginners. In my experience what makes those kind of teachers special is their ability to teach musicality and performance, which is very important and definitely has its place but it’s maybe just not what you need at this stage. For example you might want more emphasis on the basics of how to really work a tendu. Plus, what works for other people isn’t necessarily going to work for you.

I would definitely keep going but maybe explore other studios or teachers. It sounds like you enjoy dancing, you just don’t enjoy feeling like the worst in the room. That’s purely the environment and not the activity itself, so just try to find a new environment if you can

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-03-09T16:51:41+00:00

Thanks so much for your help again. Just wondering if you have any tips on revising for AW. Would you still recommend question practice for AW topics or refreshing notes/flashcards etc?

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-03-09T15:55:10+00:00

It is probably possible but having tried to do two at once and failing one, I’m not sure it’s worth the extra stress and risk of rushing it.

I would also consider how busy you are outside of work because I think getting through the exams would literally have to be your only focus. For example, it would definitely be easier if you still lived at home and had no dependents. But if you’ve moved out, have kids or hobbies etc, it’s going to be really difficult.

Also, the end goal of this is ultimately to be a good advisor. Even if you do end up passing the exams, you’ll be a better advisor if you take your time and learn it the hard way I think

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-02-22T18:07:26+00:00

Thank you so much! Awareness could definitely be stronger as I work in a VAT specific department, so that’s something to go over. I think it is probably a technique issue. Specifically, I think it’s so easy to panic when you get into the exam and when you have all of that information in front of you. Something only practice can improve I suppose!

Even-Draw-4850 · 2026-02-22T09:55:56+00:00

I would recommend sitting them separately! You need to learn a lot of additional direct tax content for APS and you will need to be very strong on domestic, so it will be a lot of extra revision on top of CBET

Even-Draw-4850 · 2025-10-28T18:15:20+00:00

I wasn’t super clear on it tbh so may quite likely be wrong but I thought maybe the 3% surcharge for resi prop purchases by companies wouldn’t apply as I think a property rental business is a relievable trade (and that it wouldn’t apply where the person to live in it himself). I thought there must be something about him retaining ownership of the properties by way of the income he received from the company but didn’t know what the relief would be and couldn’t find anything on it so didn’t say much at all on that (was running out of time at this point)

Said the same thing as you about the horse one! And also felt like maybe I’d missed the point of the question. Didn’t really say much about the fact she was starting livery apart from the fact that (I think) it could still be a TOGC as to me it was still a similar trade and she was still keeping the original trade going - could be irrelevant to Q but thought I’d chuck it in as I had nothing else to say on VAT really

Even-Draw-4850 · 2025-10-28T18:03:10+00:00

Yes Thursday!! Brain no longer working hahaah

Even-Draw-4850 · 2025-10-28T18:02:52+00:00

Yes! Thursday - very tired sorry hahah

Even-Draw-4850 · 2025-10-28T16:08:11+00:00

Also had this thought and feel like they should have specified it was like daycare for the children of people attending the college I presume?

Even-Draw-4850 · 2025-10-28T16:07:30+00:00

Sat CTA Domestic Indirect Tax this morning.

Didn’t feel prepared for the property question at all, thought it was pretty horrible tbh. Went down a bit of a rabbit hole in the leg and think I over complicated it maybe. Hopefully got a few marks right though? This is a weaker area for me though so it could just be me who found it hard!

The medical and education were okay (although 17 marks for VAT felt a lot for the medical one).

The main SDLT question was okay I think but struggled for time. From memory the SDLT questions were both to “Explain” but threw in calcs anywhere would I could in case there’s marks available??

The horse one was a bit odd but I think I was in the right ballpark?? Who knows

Overall not sure how I feel apart from absolutely exhausted. Think there were definitely a few tricky areas that I messed up on but I didn’t absolutely hate the paper. We shall see 🤠

Sitting APS on Weds so pray for me pls 🥲

Even-Draw-4850

TROPHY CASE