Accounting 9706/42 October/November 2023: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Accounting (9706), Paper 4 Cost and Management Accounting, October/November 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) Explain what is meant by ‘activity based costing’ (ABC).
…… [3]
(b) Calculate the overhead absorption rate if a single rate is used.
…… [1]
(c) Prepare the budgeted statement of profit or loss for each product if absorption costing is used.
M1 V1
$ $
[7]
(d) Prepare the budgeted statement of profit or loss for each product if ABC is used.
M1 V1
$ $
Workings:
[7]
(e) Advise the directors whether or not the ABC system should be adopted in setting selling prices for the coming years. Support your answer with reference to (c) and (d).
…… [7]
[Total: 25]
Mark scheme
1(a) Explain what is meant by ‘activity based costing (ABC)’. 3
ABC uses cost drivers (1) which are based on activities (1) which cause overheads to be incurred / grouped in cost pools
(1)
Max 3
Accept other valid responses.
1(b) Calculate the overhead absorption rate if a single rate is used. 1
Overhead absorption rate $216 000/[(5000 × 4) +(8000 × 1.5)] = $6.75 per labour hour (1)
1(c) Prepare the budgeted statement of profit or loss for each product if absorption costing is used. 7
M1 V1
$ $
Sales revenue 915 000 } 703 500 } (1) OF row
Direct materials 175 000 } 208 000 } (1) row
Direct labour 300 000 } 180 000 } (1) row
Fixed overhead W1 135 000 (1) OF 81 000 (1) OF
Total cost 610 000 } 469 000 } (1) OF row
Profit 305 000 } 234 500 } (1) OF row
W1
5000 × $6.75 × 4 = $135 000, 8000 × $6.75 × 1.5 = $81 000
1(d) Prepare the budgeted statement of profit or loss for each product if ABC is used. 7
M1 V1
$ $
Sales revenue 877 380 } 741 120 } (1) OF row
Direct materials 175 000 208 000
Direct labour 300 000 180 000
Fixed overhead W1 109 920 106 080 (4)
Total cost 584 920 } 494 080 } (1) OF row
Profit 292 460 } 247 040 } (1) OF row
W1
$ $
Handling the purchase of direct materials 19 200 } 24 000 } (1) row
Inspecting and testing 11 520 } 17 280 } (1) row
Supervising factory workers 60 000 } 36 000 } (1) row
Setting up and testing of machines 19 200 } 28 800 } (1) row
109 920 106 080
$43 200 × 20 / (20 + 25) =$19 200, $43 200 × 25 / (20 + 25) = $24 000
$28 800 × 20 / (20 + 30) =$11 520, $28 800 × 30 / (20 + 30) = $17 280
$96 000 × 20 000 / (20 000 + 12 000) = $60 000, $96 000 × 12 000 / (20 000 + 12 000) = $36 000
$48 000 × 12 / (12 + 18) =$19 200, $48 000 × 18 / (12 + 18) =$28 800
1(e) Advise the directors whether or not the ABC system should be adopted in setting selling prices for the coming 7
years. Support your answer with reference to (c) and (d).
Calculations (max 4)
Unit selling price: one absorption rate - M1 $183 ($915 000/5000) (1) OF V1 $87.94 ($703 500/8000) (1) OF
Unit selling price: ABC - M1 $175.48 ($877 380/5000) (1) OF V1 $92.64 ($741 120/8000) (1) OF
Comments (max 2)
If absorption rate is used M1 is overpriced / V1 is underpriced (1) OR if ABC is used M1 selling price will decrease / V1
selling price will increase. (1)
Overpricing means that the product is less competitive / underpricing means the loss of revenue / profit. (1)
Cost and benefit of implementing the ABC system must be evaluated. (1)
(1) mark for decision supported by a comment
Accept other valid responses.
Read Source B in the insert.
(a) State three advantages of budgeting.
1 ……
2 ……
3 ……
[3]
(b) Prepare the following budgets for each of the months of May and June:
(i) trade receivables, showing the opening and closing balances for May and June
Workings:
[7]
(ii) production (in units)
…… [4]
(iii) purchases (in dollars).
…… [4]
Additional information
During the budget committee meeting, the sales manager requested $100 000 for a sales promotion for the existing product. The production manager requested the same amount for research and development for a new product. The accountant reported that due to a financial constraint only one of the requests could be allowed.
(c) Advise the budget committee which request should be allowed. Justify your answer.
…… [7]
[Total: 25]
Mark scheme
2(a) State three advantages of budgeting. 3
Coordinate plans of different departments (1)
Planning / controlling costs (1)
Motivates employees to achieve common goal (1)
Forward looking / decision making, e.g. remedial actions taken for any shortage of resources / limiting factors (1)
Responsibility accounting (1)
Communication (1)
Max 3
Accept other valid responses
2(b)(i) Prepare the following budgets for each of the months of May and June: 7
trade receivables, showing the opening and closing balances for May and June
Trade receivables budget May June
$ $
Balance b/d (100% of last month +60% of previous month) 510 000 } 561 000 } (1) row
Credit sales of current month 363 000 } 399 300 } (1) row
Bank receipts (40% of last month <5% discount> + 60% of previous month) (305 400) (1) (335 940) (1)
Discount allowed (6600) (1) (7260) (1)
Balance c/d 561 000 } 617 100 } (1) OF row
Workings:
March April May June
Sales (units) 20 000 22 000 24 200 26 620
Sales (in dollars) $400 000 $440 000 $484 000 $532 400
Credit sales 75% $300 000 $330 000 $363 000 $399 300
2(b)(ii) production (in units). 4
Production budget (in units) May June
Closing inventory (25% of sales next month) 6655 6655 (1) row
Add: Sales 24 200 26 620 (1) row
Less: Opening inventory (25% of sales current month) 6050 6655 (1) row
Units to be produced 24 805 26 620 (1) row
Workings:
March April May June July
Sales (units) 20 000 22 000 24 200 26 620 26 620
2(b)(iii) purchases (in dollars). 4
Purchases budget (in dollars) May June
$ $
Closing inventory (50% of production required next month) 79 860 79 860 (1) row
Add: Used for production of current month 148 830 159 720 (1) OF row
Less: Opening inventory (50% of production required current month) 74 415 79 860 (1) OF row
Purchases (in dollars) 154 275 159 720 (1) OF row
Alternative answer
Purchases budget (in kilos) May June
Closing inventory (50% of production required next month) 53 240 53 240 (1) row
Add: Used for production of current month 99 220 106 480 (1) OF row
Less: Opening inventory (50% of production required current month) 49 610 53 240 (1) OF row
Purchases (in kilos) 102 850 106 480
Purchases (in dollars) $1.50 per kilo $154 275 $159 720 (1) OF row
Alternative answer
Purchases budget (in units) May June
Closing inventory (50% of production required next month) 13 310 13 310 (1) row
Add: Used for production of current month 24 805 26 620 (1) OF row
Less: Opening inventory (50% of production required current month) 12 402.5 13 310 (1) OF row
Purchases (in units) 25 712.5 26 620
Purchases (in dollars) $6 per unit $154 275 $159 720 (1) OF row
2(b)(iii) Workings:
May June July
Units to be produced 24 805 26 620 26 620
4 kilos per unit 99 220 106 480 106 480
@$1.50 per kilo $148 830 $159 720 $159 720
2(c) Advise the budget committee which request should be allowed. Justify your answer. 7
Sales promotion for existing product (max 3)
can boost sales / demand / market share and increase revenue / profit (1)
can promote the reputation/goodwill of the company associated with the product (1)
product life cycle may be at the declining stage (1)
should not aim at short-term profit/revenue at the expense of the long-term development of product (1)
Research and development for new product (max 3)
should aim for new products to keep abreast with the customers’ changing tastes (1)
new products ensure the competitiveness of the business in the future (1)
the success of any new product is uncertain (1)
the financial benefits from a new product may not be realised for a period of time (1)
(1) mark for decision supported by a comment.
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 October/November 2023 mark scheme?+
On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Accounting 9706/42, October/November 2023 (9706_w23_ms_42), and the question paper (9706_w23_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 October/November 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/O/N/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.