Accounting 9706/42 May/June 2023: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Accounting (9706), Paper 4 Cost and Management Accounting, May/June 2023. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
Read Source A in the insert.
(a) Calculate:
(i) the net cash flow for each year and in total for the project
…… [4]
(ii) the accounting rate of return (ARR) to two decimal places.
…… [3]
Additional information
Hiram’s cost of capital was 10%. The relevant discount factors were as follows:
Year Discount factors
1 0.909
2 0.826
3 0.751
4 0.683
(b) Calculate the net present value (NPV) of the project.
…… [4]
Additional information
As Hiram remained undecided as to whether he should proceed, the residents made a further suggestion.
In addition to the sea wall, Hiram could build an extension to enable local fishermen to land their catches more easily. This would add $20 000 to the building cost.
The residents believed that if the extension was built, it would result in a further increase of another 20 new houses being built in each of the years 2, 3 and 4.
(c) Calculate the change in NPV which would arise if the extension was also built. Your answer should indicate whether the change is an increase or a decrease.
…… [7]
(d) Advise Hiram whether or not he should agree to build the sea wall and the extension. Justify your answer.
…… [7]
[Total: 25]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) Calculate: 4
the net cash flow for each year and in total for the project.
$ $
Year 0 – cost (400 000) (1)
Year 1 – grant 142 000
Year 1 – fees 64 000 206 000
Year 2 – fees 80 000 (1)
Year 3 – fees 96 000
Year 4 – fees 112 000 (1)
94 000 (1)OF
1(a)(ii) Calculate: 3
the accounting rate of return (ARR) to two decimal places.
23 500 (1of)
× 100 = 11.75% (1)OF
200 000 (1)
1(b) Calculate the net present value (NPV) of the project. 4
Year Cash flow Discount Discounted
factor cash flow
$ $
0 (400 000) (400 000) (1)
1 206 000 0.909 187 254
2 80 000 0.826 66 080 (1) OF
3 96 000 0.751 72 096
4 112 000 0.683 76 496 (1) OF
NPV 1 926 (1) OF
1(c) Calculate the change in NPV which would arise if the extension was also built. Your answer should indicate 7
whether the change is an increase or a decrease.
Year Cash flow Discount factor Discounted cash flow
$ $
0 (420 000) (420 000) (1)
1 206 000 0.909 187 254
2 84 000 (1) 0.826 69 384
3 104 000 (1) 0.751 78 104
4 124 000 (1) 0.683 84 692 (1) OF
NPV (566)
Change in NPV = 1926 – (– 566) = 2492 (1) OF decrease (1) OF
1(c) OR
Year Cash flow Discount factor Discounted cash flow
$ $
0 (20 000) (20 000) (1)
1 0 0.909 0
2 4 000 (1) 0.826 3 304
3 8 000 (1) 0.751 6 008
4 12 000 (1) 0.683 8 196 (1) OF
Decrease (1) OF (2 492) (1) OF
increase in NPV
1(d) Advise Hiram whether or not he should agree to build the sea wall and the extension. Justify your answer. 7
Max 6 marks for comments
1 mark for decision supported by a comment.
Building the sea wall alone has a positive NPV (1). But when the extension is added to the project the total NPV becomes
negative (1).
The ARR of the sea wall alone is greater than Hiram’s cost of capital (1). But when the extension is added the ARR will
change (1).
There is considerable risk involved in this project (1) as the figures are based on estimates (1). The existing residents may
change their minds and not pay their annual fees (1). The new houses may not be built or their owners may not want to
pay an annual fee (1).
Hiram may have a desire to help the community such that he would take on a project at a loss (1). He may have been
chosen by the village because he already has links with it/has family there/lives there himself (1).
Accept other valid responses.
Read Source B in the insert.
(a) Complete the following statement to reconcile the flexible budgeted profit with the actual profit for April 2023.
Statement to reconcile flexible budgeted profit and actual profit for April 2023
$ $ $
Flexible budgeted profit 25 500
Variance Favourable Adverse
Sales price
Material price
Material usage
Labour rate
Labour efficiency
Fixed overhead expenditure
Fixed overhead volume
Actual profit
Workings:
[15]
Additional information
The directors of QW plc discovered that the company was losing customers because they preferred the competitor’s product as it was recyclable. QW plc’s product was made of non‑recyclable material.
(b) Explain one possible reason for the material price variance.
…… [2]
(c) Explain one possible reason for the labour efficiency variance.
…… [2]
(d) Advise the directors whether or not they should replace the existing material used in production with a recyclable material. The recyclable material would cost $24 per kg. Justify your answer and support it with relevant calculations.
…… [6]
[Total: 25]
Mark scheme
2(a) Complete the following statement to reconcile the flexible budgeted profit with the actual profit for April 2023. 15
$ $ $
Budgeted profit 25 500
Variance Favourable Adverse
Sales price 18 750 (2)
(190–165) × 750
Materials price 9 450
(18–15) × 3150 (2)
Materials usage 2 700
(4–4.2) × 13500 (2)
Labour rate 3 825
(12–10.5) × 2550 (2)
Labour efficiency 3 600
(3–3.4) × 9000 (2)
Fixed overhead 1 800
expenditure (2)
(48 000–46 200)
Fixed overhead volume
(48 000–36 000) ______ 12 000 (2)
15 075 37 050 (21 975)
Actual profit 3 525 (1)
Marks for variances – (1) for amount and (1) for favourable / adverse
2(b) Explain one possible reason for the materials price variance. 2
The market price for the material had fallen (1) because there is lower demand for non recyclable material (1).
NOT lower quality material
Accept other valid responses.
2(c) Explain one possible reason for the labour efficiency variance. 2
More hours have been worked (1) because the hourly rate had been cut / the workers were demotivated (1).
NOT less experienced workers had been hired.
Accept other valid responses.
2(d) Advise the directors whether or not they should replace the existing material used in production with a recyclable 6
material. The recyclable material would cost $24 per kilo. Justify your answer and support it with relevant
calculations.
Max 2 marks for calculations
Max 3 marks for comments
1 mark for decision supported by a comment.
With the cost of the new material the profit from the flexible budget statement would be only $7500/fall by $18 000 (750 × 4
× 6) (1) and the actual profit would be a loss of $24 825/fall by $28 350 (750 × 4.2 × 9) (1).
The new material is more expensive (1).
If the company does not make the change it may struggle to continue production / make sales (1). If the product became
more popular again the selling price / sales could increase (1).
Costs of advertising would have to increase to ensure that customers knew of the change (1).
There may be factors other than the recyclability of the material affecting customer behaviour (1).
Consideration would have to be paid to the selling price of competitors’ products (1).
Accept other valid responses.
Checked your answers against these? Let AI mark the whole paper, on your own working.
Examiners follow the generic marking principles at the front of the scheme, then each question's points: method (M), accuracy (A) and independent (B) marks, error carried forward where the scheme allows it, and positive marking, so you're credited for what you got right.
Check your answers against it
Done this paper? Upload your script and CIE Buddy's AI marker marks it question by question against this exact scheme, puts the ticks on your own working and says what each lost mark needed.
Where can I find the 9706/42 May/June 2023 mark scheme?+
On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Accounting 9706/42, May/June 2023 (9706_s23_ms_42), and the question paper (9706_s23_qp_42), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
How many marks is 9706/42 out of?+
Accounting 9706/42 for May/June 2023 is out of 50 marks, with 1 hour to answer it, across 2 questions.
Can I get my 9706/42 answers marked?+
Yes. Upload your answers to 9706/42/M/J/23 as a PDF or photos, and CIE Buddy marks every question against this paper's official mark scheme, using Cambridge's marking rules. You get your score, each lost mark explained on your own script, and the topics to revise. It's a guide, not an official Cambridge grade.