Have you ever wanted to know before hand how a CeMAP training course might run on a daily basis? Well here is a fly on the wall account of a recent CeMAP 2 & 3 combined training course that I attended in London run by Money Marketing Limited for 10 budding mortgage advisers.

Monday 9.00 am

We all reported to the conference centre of the Premier Travel Inn at Enfield, where the trainer greeted 10 very apprehensive and nervous delegates all looking for our allocated seats and nodding to each other in greetings. The most pleasing thing was the friendly atmosphere that was created by the welcoming trainer and quickly putting us at ease and introducing the week ahead. The most surprising thing was two large folders in front of each delegate, one labelled Course Notes and the other Course Exams.

Well away we go covering the first part of the course and hey, whats this? Are we being tested so early? Yep, sure thing, mock multiple choice exam questions at the end of each covered section. Not used to this, not done any exams since my school days. Still, must attempt them and see how it goes.

The first day flew by. What? Homework? Not much chance for socialising in the bar tonight then. Still, I had better get my head down and focus.

Tuesday 9.30 am

Later start today, needed that extra half hour to pull myself together. Marked the homework first thing and got 72% not bad. Off we go following the course notes, delegates asking questions to the trainer who shows a high degree of knowledge. Quite liked being able to ask questions and clarify things, certainly couldnt do that on a self-study course. Im getting into this multi choice exams system now, usually there are two definitely wrong answers and that only leaves two left to think about.

Some of these questions are rather difficult and I havent done formulas and maths for ages. Hey, the trainer said that all us that are struggling with our maths could stay behind for some extra tuition. I like the trainer! Goes out of his way to help. Good sense of humour too. Homework again? Looks like its going to be a daily thing.

Two days gone, had five mock exams already and done OK so far.

Wednesday 9.30 am

Here we go mid week and Im starting to get the hang of this course and really enjoying it at last. Although its not easy, people on the course are starting to make friends, forming groups and socialising. Enjoying today even more as its about mortgage products and that what the jobs all about anyway.

Stayed behind last night with a few of the others to get to grips with the formulas. Its OK for some of the young people on the course as its not long since that they left school but me, I havent done any serious maths for twenty odd years.

More mock exams today and I think that I am coming to terms with the style of questions and the time allocated. Some of my mock examination marks are starting to improve, including the homework. Missing the family though, not long to go now!

Thursday 9.30 am

This trainer is incredible, cracking jokes and light conversation about some of the homework answers has certainly clarified one or two things that I was a bit shy to ask about, just in case I showed myself up in front of everyone. Its as though the trainer knows how we think and act in front of other people.

Starting to feel tired today as it is starting to catch up on me. Although the exam technique is now OK, the course content is getting a bit much but we are all in the same boat and its full mock exams all day tomorrow. Last day to learn about mortgages and things but I must admit that all the insurances are rather confusing. What with Full Endowments, Low cost, Unit linked, Decreasing term, Level term, its all a but confusing at the moment. Must stay behind tonight to go through these different policies to better understand them. More homework for tonight, last chance to get the preparation right for tomorrow. Must get a good night sleep tonight, no Stella Artois.

Friday 9.30 am

I dont believe it, the week has gone so fast, yet I feel so tired. Full mock exams today on both CeMAP 2 and 3 papers. Hope that I do well but it should be a good test today to see if Im ready or not to sit the proper exam next week. We are all tense and ready for the mocks but dont know what to expect.

Here we go, start. Hey this is OK, some of the questions are easy and I dont know what I was worried about. Whoops! There goes that low cost endowment question again. Dont really understand why they ask questions about endowments as they are not arranged anymore.

85% in the CeMAP 2 mock exam that only took me 1.5 hours of a two-hour question makes me feel good this morning and Im dying to discuss some of the questions with the others. Not looking forward to the CeMAP 3 exams this afternoon.

Just got through he CeMAP 3 mock exam with a score of 71%. Not good enough as its borderline and I need to do more work for next week before I take the proper exam. The good news is that I can take my Course Notes and Course Exams booklets home with me and test myself on a further three mock exams before I sit the actual exams.