Accounting AS and A Level

Is this subject right for me?
Are you numerate?
Do you enjoy the challenge of thinking logically?
Would you like to explore the link between accounting and the real business world?

Mansy careers involve an understanding of business performance and this course will provide a good grounding in both formal accounting and financial management techniques currently employed throughout industry.

This qualification will provide an assessment of the knowledge, skills and
understanding of the purposes of accounting, information procedures, techniques and concepts as well as the role and limitations of accounting in decision-making. No prior knowledge of accounting is necessary. This course is particularly suitable for candidates studying A Level Business Studies. However, any student thinking of working in a business area in the future would find this subject useful.

What is the course content?

AS Level (Year 1)

Unit 1

• Purposes of accounting
• Accounting records: subsidiary books and ledger accounts
• Verification of accounting records
• Trading, profit and loss accounts and balance sheets including simple adjustments.

Unit 2

• Types of business organisation
• Accounting concepts
• Further aspects of the preparation of the final accounts and balance sheets of sole traders
• Internal final accounts of limited companies
• Ratio analysis and the assessment of business performance
• Introduction to budgeting and budgetary control
• The impact of ICT in accounting.

A Level (Year 2)

Unit 3

• Sources of finance
• Incomplete records
• Partnership Accounts
• Published accounts of limited companies
• Stock valuation.

Unit 4

• Manufacturing costs
• Marginal, absorption and activity based costing
• Standard costing and variance analysis
• Capital investment appraisal
• Budgeting: further considerations
• Other factors affecting decision-making: social accounting.

How will your work be assessed?

AS Level (Year 1)
All modules are tested by examination of 1 hour and 30 minutes duration. They will cover four compulsory questions. Each is worth 25% of the AS grade.

A Level (Year 2)
All modules are tested by examination of 2 hours duration. They will cover four compulsory questions - each carrying a variable number of marks, each with a variable number of sub questions. Each is worth 25% of the A level mark.

What are the entry requirements?

The general entry requirements for studying at Advanced level apply, and must include a minimum of grade C in Maths GCSE at higher level or grade B at Intermediate level.