The short answer
To understand why an entry is made, and to have the whole subject in one place, read a textbook.
To make the entry quickly and correctly with the book shut, practise.
The reading in Ledger Drill is short on purpose: a few lines before each set of questions. It does not replace a full explanation.
What a textbook is better for
- Depth. A chapter gives the reasoning behind a rule, with long worked examples you can follow line by line.
- Order. The chapters build on each other, and the author has decided what belongs in the subject.
- A syllabus. A study text written for a qualification covers what that exam asks for.
- Looking things up. A book has a contents page and an index, and it is still on the shelf in five years.
- No screen. A book needs no connection, no account and no battery.
- Keeping it. A book you have bought or borrowed does not end with a subscription.
Ledger Drill has none of this depth. A room carries only the reading a learner needs to answer the questions in that room.
What practice is better for
- Answering before you see the answer. A book cannot stop you turning to the back. Here you do not see the answer until you have sent yours.
- Marking at once. A right answer shows the rule or the working behind it, while you still remember what you did.
- Doing the entry. You post to T-accounts, build a journal, sort accounts into groups and find the wrong line in a table. With a book you draw each layout on paper yourself.
- Volume. Every task in every room ends in questions, and mixed drills bring back questions from the rooms you have finished.
- Short sessions. A room takes a few minutes on a phone.
Who should pick which
- You are studying for a qualification: the study text for your course, with practice beside it.
- You have read the chapter and still get the sides wrong: practice.
- You want one place to look up a rule in years to come: a textbook.
- You are finding out whether bookkeeping suits you: the free rooms here, before you buy a book.
- You learn best from long, careful explanation: a textbook first, then practice on each chapter.
What Ledger Drill is not
Ledger Drill is independent. It does not award a qualification, it has no tutor, and no awarding body or professional body has approved its content. Finishing a path gives a certificate of completion, not a qualification.
It is in beta, and an answer can be wrong. Every question has a Report a mistake link.
It is practice, not tax or accounting advice.
Side by side
| What you get | A textbook | Ledger Drill |
|---|---|---|
| A full explanation of each topic | Yes, with long worked examples | No. A few lines of reading before each set of questions |
| Questions to answer | Exercises at the end of a chapter | Questions in every task of every room |
| Marking | You check your own answer against the back of the book | Every answer, at once, with the rule behind it |
| Looking a rule up later | Yes, through the index | A glossary and a search. The rooms are built for practice, not reference |
| Works with no screen or connection | Yes | No |
| A qualification | No. A study text prepares you for an exam set by someone else | No. A certificate of completion, which is not a qualification |
| What it costs | You buy or borrow the book | Some rooms free, the rest with Premium or a topic pack |
| Best for | Understanding and reference | Speed and accuracy |
Practise it
Questions
Can Ledger Drill replace a textbook?
Not for a full explanation. Its reading is a few lines before each set of questions. It can replace the exercises at the end of a chapter, and it marks them for you.
Can I use Ledger Drill with the textbook for my course?
Yes. Read the chapter, then do the rooms on the same topic. Ledger Drill follows no syllabus, so a room may use a word or a layout differently from your book.
Does Ledger Drill explain why an answer is right?
Yes, briefly. A right answer shows the rule or the working in a sentence or two. A textbook gives the longer explanation.
Is Ledger Drill free?
Some rooms are free, and you can answer questions in them with no account. The rest need Premium or a topic pack. The pricing page has the current prices.
Can I get my money back if it does not suit me?
Yes, if you change your mind within 14 days of buying Premium or a topic pack for the first time. The terms page says how.