Feel like I need to clarify on the point of 'I know the answers'
I can apply each module to the work I already do and what I am reading in the study guidance is nothing new to me, so I understand the content but I just cant get it into an answer that a marker finds acceptable.

Hi Hannah,

During my level 5 I had a heck of a time trying to get it done. There were 3 distinct points during the course where I decided to quit and gave up, only to then give myself even more pressure by resuming my studies after a few weeks and having the deadline looming.

It is a daunting course for sure.

You're a HR manager so your skills have been recognised in the workplace, this is further demonstrated by your employer knowing you can achieve this by paying for it, if they ask for your progress just give them a quick update about what you are currently learning.

It may be that because you are doubting yourself, you are adding unnecessary pressure by worrying about letting them down.

You failed an assessment, but you also passed one so you can do it, you're just getting back into the swing of formal writing, the feedback has had an effect but use it as a motivator rather than a knock to your confidence.

Can you reach out to anyone else on your course and set up a study WhatsApp group, there may even be one on here from some of the students. Bouncing ideas off of people in the same situation will always help.

Once you have a few more assessments under your belt, the format becomes familiar and so does the writing as you know what they are looking for.

You've got this.

In reply to Graham:

Thanks Graham, you make very valid points and I appreciate your response. Your experience is similar to mine, I try, give up with frustration, put it to the back of my mind (kind of), then just feel more pressure as time ticks on by.
I know why I'm struggling
1. A part of me feels withdraw from the course, especially after learning I could have done the experience assessment, I don't really feel I am gaining anything, other than trying to tick some boxes to receive a qualification (bad I know)
2. The markers feedback has knocked me big time, I'm used to just giving things a go, doing my best and submitting, then go from there, but this time, I feel like nothing Ive done is right and its left me second guessing every word I put to paper, which is ultimately preventing me from making any progress.
3. I just don't have the mental capacity for it, between work and home life, I'm burnt out. I'm not an anxious person by nature but I can tell I'm struggling which is creating anxiety and its showing through brain fog and daft mistakes.

Anyway, sorry to go on, I appreciate your response :)

I know ill get it done, because I have no other choice, just don't really know how at this point.

In reply to Hannah:

Hi Hannah,

I'm the same, I'm really struggling with mine. I'm having similar issues in that I'm finding the course provider is awful. I submitted module 3, based upon the unit guide and got told what I'd done is wrong, even though I'd followed it to the letter. ICS are now basically holding me to ransom by essentially holding another unit in permanent limbo.

I'm specialising in L&D which is something I've been doing for the past 16 years in various forms so I guess my studies will split away from yours slightly.

I'm on module 4 as well at present, but I really don't understand it at all and to top it off, there's no master class for it, or unit guide and the 'resources' are laughable in the sense that 1 of them is a link to a similar course elsewhere!

It's hit my mental health big time to the point of having someone I've confided in has told me is frightening thoughts around self harm because of the stress its causing me.

Chris

Hi Hannah,

Gosh I could have written this myself. I'm also a full time HR Manager with a (nearly) two year old who found L5 incredibly difficult. I did it with Avado and found it to be a really bad experience to be honest. I finally completed it last month.

Half of the battle for me was understanding what exactly the marker wanted, and what the question was actually asking, it's so easy to miss bits.

What I found helped was copying and pasting the entire AC into a word document, and then splitting it up into headers which I then wrote bits of my answers under, to ensure I didn't miss anything.

For me, splitting everything up and getting something down on paper right away helped me to not feel so overwhelmed, so at the beginning of each module, I would save word documents with each task and then split those up further into each AC and then I'd start doing my research - I'd put all of the corresponding links under each header and write my references out as I went, which helped tremendously when I referenced something multiple times, e.g., CIPD, 2021a, CIPD 2021b etc. (I hope that makes sense!)

My number one recommendation is to buy Armstrong's Handbook of HR Management, I did this halfway through the course and boy did it make a difference! There are chapters that massively correspond with the course and gave me a much better idea of what the course was asking for. The assessors seem to value references from books/academic journals more than random websites as well so it can help get higher marks.

I felt overwhelmed and stressed the entire time I was doing it, but you will get there before you know it and it will be so worth it! If your course is anything like mine was, sometimes the assessors are a little out of step with the tutor, so don't beat yourself up if you get a referral - you can absolutely do it!

Exactly the same for me with ICS learn. I have been an HR manager and operations manager for years and I know the subject well but cannot work out how to format it how they would like. I have work full time and my company is really helpful so that I canpick one day a week to take out to just concentrate on the course. If I have an issue at say 09:00 and ask for help I will have to wait three days for a response and so have lost my window that week.
And don't get me started on the 'learning hub' Probably the most un user friendly system I have ever used.

I am so pleased I have just stumbled on this thread as I genuinely thought I was going crazy trying to get this done. I am a HR Support Officer full time, mum of two and single parent and am going slightly crazy! I have done 3 of the 7 modules so far and feel under such pressure so please don't think you are the only one!

Would it help to set up a whatsapp support group? That way we can bounce ideas of each other if someone is struggling or give ideas if one of us has passed a module that others are struggling with?
Happy to set something up if anyone feels it might help.

Keep at it - I find giving myself say half an hour a day rather than sitting for hours racking my brains helps a little better for me.
Danielle

In reply to Danielle:

I think thats a brill idea. Or email group or something. Regardless of what provider we use, can all help each other out and support each other.

In reply to Chris:

I'm in exactly the same boat, understand all the materials and learning but the marker feedback leaves me feeling like I don't know anything. I'd be happy to join you all.

Hi Hannah.
I feel your frustration! My experience so far is the same as yours.

During the online lessons everything makes sense, the study material I perfectly understand, but the assignments well, they don't seem to bear much resemblance to the lessons or study material once they are marked, and I'm really struggling to understand the markers feedback, it just doesn't make any sense, I really wish they could just talk in a language that's easy to understand.

Hi All,

Thanks everyone for your responses, its good to know I'm not the only one and makes my feelings towards it feel validated. I think the group chat is a good idea and i liked the advice on pasting in the questions and splitting them out etc.
Ive taken a full break from my studies since posting the thread, my motivation has plummeted and I'm basically burying my head in the sand for now... which I absolutely know is not the answer haha.

In reply to Hannah:

Hi Hannah/Jane/Danielle (Or anyone else that wants to join in for support & help) The best email address for me for support on this is: auricom.cn@gmail.com

In reply to Chris:

Hi Chris & All, for me it's: janecaci1301@gmail.com

Hi Hannah. I wanted to check in to see how you are getting on. As I posted previously I was really struggling with the assessor feedback, but I'm 2 modules through now and I can vouch with Rosie's comment, if you are able, please obtain a copy of Armstrongs Handook of Human Resource Management Practice, the current edition is 16, but you may be able to get hold of an earlier edition from the local library. It has so many academic quotes and references and is broken down into sections so it's easy to find info on the module you are studying. Anyway, I hope you are okay and just wanted to say that you can do this, I was ready to give up but the book and support of others studying has made a difference.

Hi,

I am so glad I have come across this post! I have just submitted my first assignment with ICS Learn on my Level 5 and didn't really get much help either, when I did manage to speak to someone she told me about having some bits in my assignment that weren't even written down anywhere in the brief or on the masterclass!

Praying for a good result back on my first assignment. Does anyone know how long until you hear back from submitting?

Thanks