Status: Original worked teaching examples, aligned to the 2026–27 detailed study guide and FR examinable documents. This atlas groups distinct decisions a question can test. ACCA can change figures, wording and combine decisions, so no finite set can enumerate every question. Section B consists of three unique cases, each with five independent two-mark objective tests; the examples below are standalone question types, not predictions or copied ACCA questions. ACCA examiner approach.
How to use: For each type, read the fact pattern and question, decide the rule first, then compare the worked answer. All amounts are $ unless stated otherwise. A single case can draw five independent types from one family or several families. Each example is deliberately small; a case may supply more facts than needed.
A. Conceptual and regulatory framework
B-A1 — Conceptual Framework (A1–A2)
- Asset or expense? An entity pays 30,000 for an advertising campaign expected to increase sales; it cannot control customers' future purchases. *Question:* Is the spending an asset? Solution: No identifiable present economic resource is controlled as a result of the campaign; expense the 30,000, subject to any separately identifiable prepaid service at reporting date. Expected benefit alone does not establish an asset.
- Present obligation? The board plans to close a branch next year but has not announced or begun the plan. *Question:* Is there a liability today? Solution: A plan alone creates no present obligation to another party; no liability solely from the board decision. Reassess if a legal or constructive obligation arises.
- Useful-information qualities. Management selects a highly favourable valuation unsupported by observable evidence to make a property figure look current. *Question:* Which fundamental quality is most threatened? Solution: Faithful representation; a current number is useful only if it represents the economic substance without material bias. Relevance alone is insufficient.
- Measurement choice. A machine has historical cost 100,000 and current replacement cost 130,000. *Question:* What does each measure represent? Solution: Historical cost reflects the original transaction basis (subsequently adjusted where required); current cost reflects the amount to acquire an equivalent asset at the measurement date. Neither amount is automatically the correct reported carrying amount; the applicable standard and model decide.
- Recognition versus disclosure. A lawsuit might create an obligation but the facts do not establish the IAS 37 recognition conditions. *Question:* Does the Conceptual Framework alone mandate recognition? Solution: Apply the specific IAS 37 requirements. The Framework informs reasoning but does not override an applicable standard; a possible obligation may require contingent-liability disclosure rather than recognition.
B-A3 — Regulatory framework (A3)
- Why regulate? Two companies use different reporting treatments for identical transactions. *Question:* What is a primary reason for common IFRS standards? Solution: Comparable, decision-useful reporting and reduced scope for inconsistent or self-serving policies. Standards still require judgement and enforcement.
- Principles and rules. A proposed system contains broad principles but no application guidance. *Question:* Name one strength and one limitation. Solution: Principles can reflect economic substance across novel transactions; they can also produce inconsistent judgements without suitable guidance, disclosure and enforcement.
- Standards are not the whole framework. An entity claims IFRS standards alone guarantee reliable reporting. *Question:* What else matters? Solution: Corporate law/regulation, governance, audit, enforcement and ethical behaviour affect reporting quality. Merely citing a standard does not ensure faithful application.
- Standard-setting process. A new accounting issue has emerged. *Question:* Which body issues IFRS Accounting Standards, and why is public consultation used? Solution: The IASB develops and issues IFRS Accounting Standards; consultation and exposure drafts gather evidence and feedback before finalisation. The IFRS Foundation oversees the boards.
- National role. A national standard setter comments on an IASB proposal. *Question:* Has it thereby changed an IFRS standard? Solution: No. National bodies can contribute evidence and feedback or determine local adoption, but only the IASB's due process changes an IFRS Accounting Standard.
- Sustainability standard setter. A candidate confuses the IASB and ISSB. *Question:* Which board develops IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards? Solution: The ISSB. The IASB develops IFRS Accounting Standards. The FR outcome asks for the ISSB's purpose and role, not detailed climate-standard application.
B-A4 — Group concepts (A4)
- Control. Investor P owns 45% of S but has contractual power to direct S's relevant activities and exposure to variable returns. *Question:* Can S be a subsidiary despite ownership below 50%? Solution: Yes, if P can use its power to affect its returns. Voting percentage alone is not decisive; confirm all control elements.
- Associate. P owns 30% of A and participates in financial and operating policy decisions without control. *Question:* How is A treated in consolidated statements? Solution: Significant influence indicates an associate; apply the equity method, not full line-by-line consolidation.
- Intragroup sale. P sells inventory to S and S still holds it. *Question:* Why eliminate P's sale and any unrealised profit? Solution: The group is one economic unit; a transfer within it is not a sale to an external customer, and profit on unsold inventory is not realised externally.
- Accounting policies and dates. S uses a different inventory policy from P. *Question:* What is required for consolidation? Solution: Adjust S's information to uniform group accounting policies for like transactions; align reporting dates or make permitted adjustments to achieve comparable group information.
- Exemption. A subsidiary's parent is itself part of a larger group. *Question:* Is it always exempt from preparing consolidated accounts? Solution: No. Apply the specific IFRS 10 exemption conditions; the mere existence of a higher parent is insufficient.
B. Transactions — assets and impairment
B-B1a — PPE initial cost (B1)
- Capitalise or expense. A machine costs 200,000; delivery 8,000, installation 12,000 and staff training 5,000. *Question:* Initial PPE cost? Solution: 220,000 (200,000 + 8,000 + 12,000). Training is not a directly attributable cost of getting the machine into the condition necessary to operate as intended; expense it.
- Self-construction. Direct materials 90,000, direct labour 40,000 and abnormal wastage 6,000. *Question:* Cost before other eligible items? Solution: 130,000; abnormal wastage is expensed, not capitalised.
- Borrowing costs. A qualifying building is being constructed using specific borrowings; 12,000 eligible interest accrues while construction is active. *Question:* Treatment? Solution: Capitalise borrowing costs attributable to the qualifying asset during the eligible construction period; do not capitalise interest after the asset is substantially ready for use.
- Depreciation start. A machine is ready for intended use on 1 October but first used on 1 December. *Question:* When does depreciation begin? Solution: 1 October, when available for use, not the first day of actual production.
B-B1b — PPE subsequent measurement (B1)
- Component replacement. An aircraft engine component with carrying amount 18,000 is replaced by a new 60,000 component meeting recognition criteria. *Question:* Entries? Solution: Derecognise the old component (18,000 loss before proceeds, if none) and recognise the new 60,000 component; do not leave both in PPE.
- Revaluation surplus. PPE carrying amount 80,000 rises to fair value 100,000 with no prior loss. *Question:* Where is the 20,000 increase? Solution: Other comprehensive income and revaluation surplus in equity, subject to the rule for reversing a previous revaluation decrease in profit or loss.
- Depreciation after revaluation. Asset revalued to 120,000, residual value zero, remaining useful life six years. *Question:* Annual straight-line depreciation? Solution: 20,000 per year from the revalued carrying amount, assuming no later changes.
- Disposal. Carrying amount 45,000, sale proceeds 52,000 and selling costs 2,000. *Question:* Gain or loss? Solution: 5,000 gain: net proceeds 50,000 less carrying amount 45,000.
B-B1c — Investment property (B1)
- Classification. A building is held solely to earn rentals. *Question:* PPE or investment property? Solution: Investment property under IAS 40, because the purpose is rental income rather than owner occupation.
- Fair-value model. Opening fair value 300,000; closing fair value 324,000. *Question:* Treatment? Solution: Carry at 324,000 and recognise the 24,000 gain in profit or loss. Do not depreciate while using the fair-value model.
- Cost model. Cost 300,000, residual zero, 30-year life. *Question:* Is depreciation ignored because it is investment property? Solution: No. Under the cost model, apply relevant depreciation and impairment requirements; straight-line depreciation is 10,000 annually on these facts.
B-B2 — Intangible assets (B2)
- Research/development cut-off. Project research costs 20,000; 40,000 of development expenditure is incurred before all recognition criteria are demonstrated and 30,000 after. *Question:* Maximum amount capitalised from these costs? Solution: 30,000, assuming the post-criteria spending is directly attributable. The earlier 60,000 is expensed and cannot later be reinstated as an asset.
- Purchased versus internal brand. P buys a separable trademark for 50,000; it also estimates its internally built brand at 200,000. *Question:* Which asset is recognised? Solution: Recognise the purchased trademark at cost, subject to the relevant requirements; do not recognise the internally generated brand simply from management's valuation.
- Finite useful life. A licence costs 80,000, has an eight-year useful life and zero residual value. *Question:* Annual straight-line amortisation? Solution: 10,000 from when the licence is available for use, unless the consumption pattern requires another method.
- Indefinite life. An intangible has no foreseeable limit to useful life. *Question:* Amortise? Solution: Do not amortise while life is indefinite; test for impairment annually and reassess the indefinite-life conclusion each reporting period.
B-B3 — Impairment (B3)
- Recoverable amount. Carrying amount 120,000; fair value less costs of disposal 95,000; value in use 102,000. *Question:* Impairment? Solution: Recoverable amount is the higher figure, 102,000; impairment loss is 18,000.
- CGU allocation. A CGU loss is 30,000 and includes goodwill of 12,000. *Question:* First allocation? Solution: Reduce goodwill by 12,000 first; allocate the remaining 18,000 to other CGU assets pro rata, subject to individual floors and other restrictions.
- Reversal cap. An impaired asset has carrying amount 70,000; revised recoverable amount 95,000; without prior impairment its carrying amount would be 88,000. *Question:* Maximum reversal? Solution: 18,000, raising carrying amount only to 88,000. A goodwill impairment is never reversed.
B-B4 — Inventories and agriculture (B4)
- Inventory NRV. Inventory cost 50,000; expected sale proceeds 54,000, completion costs 5,000 and selling costs 2,000. *Question:* Carrying amount? Solution: NRV is 47,000; carry at lower of cost and NRV, 47,000, with a 3,000 write-down.
- Biological asset. Livestock fair value 90,000 and costs to sell 4,000 at year-end. *Question:* Measurement? Solution: 86,000 fair value less costs to sell, with the relevant movement in profit or loss; apply the narrow IAS 41 reliability exception only if its conditions are met.
- Harvest. Produce is harvested when fair value less costs to sell is 20,000. *Question:* What is its cost for subsequent IAS 2 accounting? Solution: 20,000 becomes deemed cost at harvest; subsequent inventory accounting follows IAS 2.
- Bearer plant. A fruit tree produces crops over multiple periods. *Question:* Is the tree itself measured under IAS 41 fair value less costs to sell? Solution: A bearer plant is accounted for under IAS 16; produce growing on it remains within IAS 41.
Sources for this block: IAS 16, IAS 36, IAS 40, IAS 41, plus the ACCA detailed study guide above.
B. Transactions — instruments, liabilities and performance
B-B5a — Financial assets (B5)
- Factoring with recourse. Receivables of 100,000 are transferred for 95,000 but the seller must reimburse the factor for customer defaults. *Question:* May the seller simply remove the receivables? Solution: No automatic derecognition. Assess whether substantially all risks and rewards were transferred; continuing significant credit risk points to retaining the receivables and recognising financing for cash received. The precise facts determine the outcome.
- Amortised cost. A debt asset is held to collect contractual cash flows solely of principal and interest. *Question:* Likely classification? Solution: Amortised cost, if the relevant IFRS 9 conditions are met; use the effective interest method and assess impairment.
- FVOCI debt. A qualifying debt asset is held both to collect and to sell; fair value increases by 6,000. *Question:* Where does the fair-value movement go? Solution: Other comprehensive income for a qualifying FVOCI debt asset, while interest and impairment effects follow IFRS 9 profit-or-loss rules.
- FVOCI equity election. A non-trading equity investment has a valid irrevocable FVOCI election. *Question:* Is a fair-value increase reported in profit or loss? Solution: No; it goes to OCI. The election is available for qualifying equity instruments not held for trading and is made at initial recognition.
- FVTPL. An investment does not qualify for, or is designated to, an alternative measurement category. Fair value rises 8,000. *Question:* Effect? Solution: Recognise the 8,000 fair-value gain in profit or loss for an FVTPL asset.
B-B5b — Financial liabilities and equity (B5)
- Substance of preference shares. An issuer must redeem preference shares for cash on a fixed date. *Question:* Equity or liability? Solution: The unavoidable contractual cash obligation makes the instrument a financial liability in substance, regardless of its share name.
- Effective interest. Liability opening carrying amount 95,000, effective rate 10%, cash coupon 6,000. *Question:* Closing carrying amount? Solution: Finance cost 9,500; closing liability 98,500 (95,000 + 9,500 − 6,000).
- Convertible debt split. Proceeds of a qualifying compound instrument are 100,000 and the present value of equivalent non-convertible debt is 91,000. *Question:* Initial equity component? Solution: 9,000 residual equity component; liability component 91,000, before transaction-cost allocation.
- Ordinary shares. An entity issues ordinary shares for 120,000 with no obligation to repay. *Question:* Finance cost on the proceeds? Solution: No effective-interest finance cost from the ordinary share issue; recognise equity, subject to share capital/premium classification and eligible issue costs.
B-B6a — Lessee leases (B6)
- Initial liability. Three annual end-of-year payments of 10,000 have supplied present-value factors 0.91, 0.83 and 0.75. *Question:* Initial lease liability? Solution: 24,900 (9,100 + 8,300 + 7,500), assuming those are the only included payments.
- Subsequent liability. Opening lease liability 24,900, interest rate 10% and end-year cash payment 10,000. *Question:* Closing liability? Solution: 17,390 (24,900 + 2,490 interest − 10,000 payment).
- Right-of-use depreciation. ROU asset cost 24,900, no ownership transfer, three-year lease term and five-year underlying useful life. *Question:* Annual straight-line depreciation? Solution: 8,300 over the three-year lease term, assuming no purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised and no other changes.
- Recognition exemption. A 10-month lease has no purchase option. *Question:* Can the lessee elect a recognition exemption? Solution: It can elect the short-term exemption if the IFRS 16 conditions are met; payments are generally expensed systematically. Also assess low-value exemption where relevant.
B-B6b — Sale and leaseback (B6)
- Is there a sale? Seller-lessee transfers an asset but retains control under a repurchase arrangement. *Question:* Recognise a sale gain? Solution: First test IFRS 15 transfer-of-control requirements. If the transfer is not a sale, retain the asset and account for proceeds as a financial liability; no sale gain.
- Rights transferred. Asset carrying amount 80,000, fair value and proceeds 100,000; the seller-lessee retains a right of use equal to 40% of fair value. *Question:* Gain recognised at transfer if it qualifies as a sale? Solution: Total gain is 20,000; recognise only the 60% relating to rights transferred, 12,000. The remaining 8,000 relates to retained use and is not an immediate gain. This is a simplified fair-value fact pattern within FR scope.
B-B7a — Provisions and contingencies (B7)
- Warranty expected value. 1,000 products sold: 80% no claim, 15% minor repair at 20, 5% major repair at 100. *Question:* Provision? Solution: 8,000: 1,000 × [(0.15 × 20) + (0.05 × 100)]. A sale with warranty obligation occurred; expected value suits a population of similar claims.
- Onerous contract. Unavoidable cost of meeting a contract is 70,000; benefits are 50,000; compensation to exit is 12,000. *Question:* Provision for unavoidable loss? Solution: 12,000, the lower cost of fulfilling (20,000 net loss) and exiting (12,000), after considering any impairment of assets used in the contract first.
- Restructuring. Management approves a plan internally but has not communicated it or begun implementation. *Question:* Provision? Solution: No constructive obligation yet merely from board approval. A detailed formal plan plus a valid expectation in affected parties is needed.
- Contingent asset. An entity has a probable but not virtually certain legal recovery. *Question:* Recognise an asset? Solution: No. Disclose a contingent asset where inflow is probable; recognise only when realisation is virtually certain.
- Decommissioning. A legal obligation to restore a site exists when equipment is installed. *Question:* Initial treatment? Solution: Recognise a provision at present value if material and include the corresponding eligible cost in the asset; subsequently unwind discount as finance cost and depreciate the asset component.
B-B7b — Events after reporting period (B7)
- Adjusting event. A customer owing 30,000 at year-end enters bankruptcy after year-end; evidence shows severe financial difficulty already existed at year-end. *Question:* Adjust receivables? Solution: Yes. The later bankruptcy confirms a pre-existing condition; adjust the year-end carrying amount for expected loss.
- Non-adjusting event. A fire destroys a factory two months after year-end with no pre-existing condition. *Question:* Adjust year-end PPE? Solution: No. Disclose nature and estimated financial effect if material, or state inability to estimate.
- Dividend declared later. Directors declare a dividend after reporting date. *Question:* Year-end liability? Solution: No liability at the reporting date merely because it was declared later; disclose if material as appropriate.
B-B8 — Taxation (B8)
- Current tax. Taxable profit 200,000 and tax rate 25%; 8,000 of current tax has already been paid. *Question:* Current tax charge and closing payable? Solution: Charge 50,000; payable 42,000, assuming no opening balance or other tax adjustments.
- Taxable temporary difference. PPE carrying amount 100,000 and tax base 70,000; tax rate 25%. *Question:* Deferred tax liability? Solution: 7,500 (30,000 taxable temporary difference × 25%), subject to any relevant exceptions.
- Deductible temporary difference. Provision carrying amount 20,000; tax deduction arises only on payment; tax rate 25%. *Question:* Potential deferred tax asset? Solution: 5,000, recognised only to the extent that future taxable profit is probable and any relevant exception is satisfied.
- Revaluation tax. PPE revaluation gain 40,000 is in OCI and gives rise to a 25% taxable temporary difference. *Question:* Where is the related 10,000 deferred tax charge? Solution: OCI, following the underlying revaluation, with a corresponding deferred tax liability.
B-B9a — Held for sale and discontinued operations (B9)
- Classification. An asset is available for immediate sale and its sale is highly probable. *Question:* Held for sale? Solution: Yes if all IFRS 5 criteria are met; a management intention without a committed, highly probable sale is insufficient.
- Measurement. Eligible non-current asset carrying amount 90,000; fair value less costs to sell 84,000. *Question:* New amount and depreciation? Solution: Carry at 84,000, recognise a 6,000 loss and cease depreciation while classified held for sale. Apply exceptions to assets excluded from IFRS 5 measurement where relevant.
- Discontinued operation. A component is disposed of and represents a separate major line of business. *Question:* Presentation? Solution: Present a single post-tax discontinued-operation amount separately in profit or loss, with required analysis; a disposal of an immaterial ordinary asset does not necessarily qualify.
B-B9b — Policy, estimate and error (B9)
- Estimate. Remaining useful life of a machine changes from five to three years after new information. *Question:* Restate past depreciation? Solution: No. Account prospectively by allocating the current carrying amount over the revised remaining life.
- Policy change. Entity voluntarily changes an accounting policy and the new policy gives reliable, more relevant information. *Question:* Prospective or retrospective? Solution: Apply retrospectively unless impracticable, restating comparatives and opening equity as required, subject to transition provisions.
- Prior-period error. A material expense was omitted last year. *Question:* Charge this year's profit? Solution: Correct retrospectively by restating last year's comparative amounts (or earliest practicable opening balance), rather than treating it as this year's expense.
B-B9c — Earnings per share (B9)
- Basic EPS. Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders 120,000; weighted-average ordinary shares 60,000. *Question:* Basic EPS? Solution: $2.00 per share.
- Bonus issue. A one-for-four bonus issue occurs during the year. *Question:* What happens to comparative EPS? Solution: Restate the comparative weighted-average share number for the bonus element as though it had always existed; profit numerator is unchanged.
- Rights issue. Shares are issued below market value. *Question:* Why adjust earlier-period shares? Solution: A rights issue has a bonus element; calculate the theoretical ex-rights price and bonus factor, then restate pre-issue and comparative share numbers.
- Diluted EPS. Convertible debt would add 10,000 after-tax interest to earnings and 20,000 shares. *Question:* Include it automatically? Solution: Test whether the resulting EPS is lower than basic EPS. Include only if dilutive; use adjusted earnings and shares consistently.
- Options. 10,000 options have exercise price below average market price. *Question:* Are all 10,000 added to denominator? Solution: No. Use the treasury-stock method: add only shares issued for no consideration after assuming proceeds buy shares at the average market price.
B-B9d — IFRS S1 overview (B9)
- Objective. An entity asks why IFRS S1 disclosures exist. *Question:* What is the high-level aim? Solution: To disclose sustainability-related risks and opportunities useful to primary users in decisions about providing resources to the entity, where they could reasonably affect prospects.
- Core content. A report contains only emissions figures. *Question:* What broad areas does IFRS S1 organise disclosures around? Solution: Governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. FR asks for the overview, not full SBR-level application.
B-D1p — IFRS 18 presentation (D1 cross-cutting)
- Mandatory subtotals. A draft statement shows gross profit and profit before tax but no operating profit. *Question:* Is it complete under IFRS 18? Solution: No. Operating profit and profit before financing and income taxes are mandatory defined subtotals, along with profit or loss; gross profit and profit before tax may be shown but are not the mandatory substitutes.
- Operating category. Management labels every income item as operating. *Question:* Correct? Solution: Not necessarily. Classify income and expenses in the IFRS 18 operating, investing, financing, income taxes and discontinued-operations categories according to the facts and relevant requirements.
- Indirect cash flow. An older template begins with profit before tax. *Question:* What starting subtotal is required by IAS 7 as amended by IFRS 18? Solution: Operating profit or loss. Adjust only relevant non-cash items included in that starting subtotal and working-capital movements.
B-B10 — Revenue: general model (B10)
- Separate obligations. A device and a separately usable two-year service are sold together for 1,200. Stand-alone prices are 1,000 and 500. *Question:* Allocate transaction price? Solution: Device 800 (1,200 × 1,000/1,500); service 400 (1,200 × 500/1,500). Recognise each as its performance obligation is satisfied.
- Variable consideration. Contract promises a 10,000 bonus if delivery is early, but the outcome is highly uncertain and inclusion would risk a significant revenue reversal. *Question:* Include bonus now? Solution: Constrain the estimate; do not include the uncertain amount in transaction price until the IFRS 15 constraint is met.
- Over-time criterion. A customer controls a building as it is constructed. *Question:* Point-in-time or over-time? Solution: Over time if the customer controls the asset as created; measure progress using a method that faithfully depicts performance.
- Contract balance. Revenue earned to date 60,000; amounts billed 45,000. *Question:* Contract asset or liability, ignoring receivable distinctions? Solution: A 15,000 contract asset if the right to consideration remains conditional on more than passage of time; an unconditional right is a receivable.
- Contract costs. An incremental sales commission is payable only if a contract is won and is expected to be recovered. *Question:* Expense immediately? Solution: Recognise a contract-cost asset under IFRS 15 unless a permitted practical expedient applies, then amortise consistently with transfer of related goods or services.
B-B10b — Revenue: special arrangements (B10)
- Principal or agent. A platform arranges a third party's service and never controls it before transfer. *Question:* Gross or net revenue? Solution: Agent revenue is its fee/commission, not the gross customer payment; assess control before transfer.
- Repurchase. Seller must repurchase an asset at a specified price. *Question:* Is ordinary revenue necessarily recognised? Solution: No. Assess the repurchase terms and IFRS 15 guidance; a forward or call option generally prevents the customer obtaining control and may produce a lease or financing arrangement.
- Bill-and-hold. Customer is billed but goods remain at seller's premises. *Question:* Is billing alone sufficient? Solution: No. Assess whether the arrangement has a substantive reason, goods are separately identified and ready for transfer, and the seller cannot redirect them, alongside control criteria.
- Consignment. Dealer can return unsold goods and supplier retains control until sale to end customer. *Question:* When does supplier recognise revenue? Solution: When control transfers to the end customer, not when goods are delivered to dealer.
B-B11 — Government grants (B11)
- Recognition threshold. Government offers a grant subject to conditions that the entity cannot yet demonstrate it will satisfy. *Question:* Recognise income? Solution: No, until there is reasonable assurance that the conditions will be met and the grant received.
- Expense grant. 30,000 grant compensates three years of eligible training costs, evenly incurred. *Question:* Annual income? Solution: 10,000 each year to match the related costs, assuming the grant conditions are met.
- Asset grant. 50,000 grant relates to an asset with a five-year life. *Question:* Is all 50,000 immediate profit? Solution: No. IAS 20 permits deferred-income or deduction-from-asset presentation; recognise the benefit systematically over the asset's useful life. Under deferred income, 10,000 is released annually on these facts.
B-B12 — Foreign currency (B12)
- Initial transaction. Goods cost €10,000 when $1 = €0.80. *Question:* Initial $ amount? Solution: $12,500 (€10,000 ÷ 0.80), assuming $ is functional currency.
- Monetary retranslation. The €10,000 payable remains unpaid at year-end when $1 = €0.75. *Question:* Closing payable and exchange effect? Solution: $13,333.33 (€10,000 ÷ 0.75); exchange loss $833.33 versus initial $12,500, in profit or loss unless a specific exception applies.
- Historical-cost non-monetary item. Inventory bought for €10,000 remains unsold. *Question:* Retranslate its historical cost at closing rate? Solution: No. Historical-cost non-monetary items retain the transaction-date translation; other measurement requirements, such as NRV, are assessed separately.
- Fair-value non-monetary item. A non-monetary asset's fair value is measured in foreign currency on 31 December. *Question:* Which exchange rate translates that fair value? Solution: The rate at the date fair value was measured; the resulting difference follows the accounting treatment of the underlying gain or loss.
Sources for this block: ACCA IFRS 18 technical article, IFRS Foundation summaries of IAS 7, IFRS 5, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16, plus the detailed study guide.
C–D. Analysis and preparation in Section B
B-C1–C3 — Analysis and limitations (C1–C3)
- Ratio calculation. Revenue 500,000 and gross profit 150,000. *Question:* Gross margin? Solution: 30% (150,000/500,000); calculate on comparable figures before explaining the movement.
- Trend interpretation. Revenue rises 20% while operating profit falls 10%, and the entity opened new stores. *Question:* What is a supported conclusion? Solution: Sales growth has not translated into operating profit; start-up or operating costs of new stores may explain the decline, but verify with expense and segment data rather than asserting cause as fact.
- Cash versus profit. Profit improves, but operating cash inflow falls while receivables increase sharply. *Question:* What does this suggest? Solution: Cash collection/credit quality warrants investigation; profits include accruals. Examine receivable days, ageing and other cash-flow items before concluding customers cannot pay.
- Comparability. One entity revalued its PPE; the comparator uses historical cost. *Question:* Is return on capital employed directly comparable? Solution: No. A higher revalued asset denominator can depress the ratio without poorer operations; adjust or explain the policy/value difference.
- Year-end snapshot. A retailer has low inventory on its year-end date after peak holiday trading. *Question:* Can closing inventory alone represent average stock? Solution: Not reliably; seasonality can distort efficiency and liquidity measures. Use average balances if suitable data exist and explain the limitation.
- EPS limitation. Profit rises due to one-off disposal gain while EPS rises. *Question:* Does EPS prove sustainable improvement? Solution: No. Explain the one-off item, changes in share count and the limits of EPS before assessing underlying performance.
B-C4 — Not-for-profit/public sector interpretation (C4)
- Objective. A charity reports a surplus but fewer clients served. *Question:* Has performance necessarily improved? Solution: No. Assess service outcomes, reach, quality and resources against its mission; a surplus is not the sole goal.
- Stakeholder measure. A public clinic's cost per patient rises as it treats more complex cases. *Question:* Is the rise automatically inefficiency? Solution: No. Case mix and quality affect cost; compare service outcomes and complexity before drawing a conclusion.
B-D1 — Single-entity preparation (D1)
- Adjustment routing. Trial balance includes unrecorded depreciation 10,000. *Question:* What statements change? Solution: Depreciation expense lowers profit/retained earnings by 10,000 and accumulated depreciation lowers PPE carrying amount by 10,000.
- Equity reconciliation. Opening retained earnings 100,000, profit 30,000 and dividends paid 8,000. *Question:* Closing retained earnings? Solution: 122,000 (100,000 + 30,000 − 8,000), ignoring other adjustments.
- Statement of changes in equity. A 20,000 revaluation surplus arises and no transfer is made. *Question:* Where is it shown? Solution: OCI and the revaluation-surplus column in the statement of changes in equity, subject to related tax and previous revaluation losses.
- Cash-flow extract. Operating profit 100,000 includes depreciation 15,000; receivables increase 8,000, inventories decrease 3,000, payables increase 4,000. *Question:* Cash from operating activities before income taxes, ignoring other items? Solution: 114,000 = 100,000 + 15,000 − 8,000 + 3,000 + 4,000. Start with operating profit under IFRS 18.
- Presentation. Draft profit or loss puts all interest, tax and discontinued-operation results into operating profit. *Question:* Is that acceptable? Solution: No. Apply IFRS 18 category and subtotal requirements to each item using the facts; reconcile profit or loss and OCI with equity.
B-D2 — Simple group preparation (D2)
- Goodwill, proportionate NCI. P buys 80% of S for 120,000; acquisition-date identifiable net assets at fair value are 100,000; NCI is measured as proportionate net assets. *Question:* Goodwill? Solution: 40,000 = consideration 120,000 + NCI 20,000 − net assets 100,000.
- Goodwill, fair-value NCI. Same facts, but NCI fair value is 27,000. *Question:* Goodwill? Solution: 47,000 = 120,000 + 27,000 − 100,000. The chosen NCI basis changes goodwill.
- Post-acquisition reserves. S retained earnings rise from 40,000 at acquisition to 70,000 at reporting date; P owns 80%. *Question:* P's share of post-acquisition increase before other adjustments? Solution: 24,000 = 80% × 30,000; account separately for fair-value depreciation, intra-group profit and impairment where present.
- Unrealised inventory profit. P sells goods to S for 125,000 at cost 100,000; 40% remain unsold externally. *Question:* Unrealised profit? Solution: 10,000 = 25,000 profit × 40%; remove it from group inventory and group profit. If the seller is S, allocation between parent and NCI differs.
- Intragroup balance. P records 20,000 receivable from S; S records matching payable. *Question:* Group presentation? Solution: Eliminate both balances, subject to reconciling any cash in transit or mismatch.
- Associate. Group buys 30% of A for 50,000; A earns 20,000 after acquisition and pays no dividend. *Question:* Investment carrying amount before other adjustments? Solution: 56,000 = 50,000 + 30% × 20,000, subject to impairment and relevant equity-method adjustments.
- Midyear acquisition. P controls S from 1 July; both have 31 December year-ends. *Question:* Include a full year of S's profit in consolidated profit or loss? Solution: No; include S's results from acquisition date only, with pre-acquisition profit used in acquisition-date net assets.
- Full disposal. P sells all of S during the year. *Question:* Continue consolidating S to year-end? Solution: No; consolidate S only until control is lost, then account for disposal and consider whether it qualifies as a discontinued operation. FR scope restricts this disposal outcome to the parent's entire investment.
Sources for this block: ACCA detailed FR study guide, examiner approach, FR FAQ and IFRS 18 technical article.
Additional decision variants across the same families
These extend the question-type coverage where the detailed study guide calls for a different decision from the primary examples. They can be combined with the cases above.
A1–A4 extensions
- A1 enhancing qualities. Two reports are equally relevant and faithfully represented, but one is published much later. *Question:* Which enhancing characteristic is weaker? Solution: Timeliness; delayed information may be less useful for decisions. Comparability, verifiability and understandability are other enhancing qualities.
- A2 value in use. An asset's expected future cash flows are discounted from continued use and ultimate disposal. *Question:* Which measurement basis is being estimated? Solution: Value in use, an entity-specific current-value measure; it is not necessarily fair value, which reflects market-participant assumptions.
- A2 fulfilment value. A liability is measured using the present value of resources the entity expects to transfer to fulfil it. *Question:* Which measure? Solution: Fulfilment value, an entity-specific current-value measure for a liability.
- A4 reporting exemption. A parent wishes to omit consolidation because it has only one subsidiary. *Question:* Is that reason sufficient? Solution: No. Apply the specific IFRS 10 exemption conditions; the number of subsidiaries by itself does not remove the consolidation requirement.
B1–B4 extensions
- B1 revaluation decrease. PPE carrying amount 100,000 falls to 92,000 and has no existing revaluation surplus for that asset. *Question:* Where is the 8,000 decrease? Solution: Profit or loss. A decrease can be recognised in OCI only to the extent of an existing surplus for that asset.
- B1 subsequent expenditure. A machine receives routine annual servicing of 6,000. *Question:* Add to PPE? Solution: Expense routine maintenance; capitalise only qualifying replacement or enhancement costs, derecognising replaced components where identifiable.
- B1 investment-property transfer. Owner-occupied property starts being leased to an external tenant. *Question:* Is management's intention alone enough to reclassify? Solution: Classification changes when actual use changes; identify the transfer date and apply IAS 40 and IAS 16 measurement rules for the chosen models.
- B2 goodwill versus separable intangible. A business combination includes a customer relationship that can be separately identified and reliably measured. *Question:* Leave it all within goodwill? Solution: No. Recognise an identifiable intangible separately where IFRS 3/IAS 38 criteria are met; goodwill is residual.
- B3 impairment indicator. A major adverse technological change makes equipment obsolete. *Question:* What action? Solution: Assess recoverable amount because an external impairment indicator exists, then recognise a loss if carrying amount exceeds recoverable amount.
- B3 goodwill test. A cash-generating unit contains goodwill but has no visible impairment indicator. *Question:* Can annual testing be skipped? Solution: No. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and when indicators arise.
- B4 inventory cost. An entity chooses the highest purchase price for identical interchangeable units simply to reduce profit. *Question:* Is arbitrary item selection acceptable? Solution: No. Use an IAS 2 permitted cost formula such as FIFO or weighted average consistently for interchangeable items; specific identification is for non-interchangeable items.
B5–B9 extensions
- B5 factoring without recourse. All substantive credit risk and rewards are transferred and no control is retained. *Question:* Continue reporting receivables? Solution: Generally derecognise them if IFRS 9 derecognition tests are satisfied; assess any retained interest or servicing separately.
- B5 FVOCI equity disposal. A qualifying elected equity investment is sold. *Question:* Recycle accumulated FVOCI gain through profit or loss? Solution: No. The accumulated amount may be transferred within equity, but not recycled to profit or loss.
- B6 low-value lease. An individual low-value laptop is leased for three years. *Question:* Is the short-term exemption needed? Solution: No; the separate low-value asset exemption may be elected if its conditions are met, even though the lease exceeds 12 months.
- B7 contingent liability. A present obligation has a possible rather than probable outflow. *Question:* Provision? Solution: No provision on those facts; disclose a contingent liability unless the possibility of outflow is remote.
- B7 material discounting. A restoration payment of 121,000 is due in two years; discount rate 10%. *Question:* Initial provision? Solution: 100,000 = 121,000/1.1², if the present-obligation recognition conditions are met. Unwind discount subsequently.
- B8 unused tax loss. A company has tax losses but no credible taxable-profit forecast. *Question:* Automatically recognise a deferred tax asset? Solution: No. Recognition requires probable future taxable profit against which the loss can be used.
- B9 material expense. A large restructuring charge is buried in a generic expense line. *Question:* What presentation issue arises? Solution: Material items may require separate disclosure of nature and amount so users understand performance; do not label it an extraordinary item.
- B9 full-market share issue. Ordinary shares are issued for full market value partway through the year. *Question:* Restate prior shares like a bonus issue? Solution: No bonus element; include the new shares in weighted average from the issue date, without bonus restatement.
B10–B12, C and D extensions
- B10 progress measure. A construction obligation qualifies for over-time recognition and costs incurred faithfully depict progress. *Question:* How calculate progress? Solution: A suitable input method can use qualifying costs incurred divided by expected total qualifying costs; exclude costs that do not depict performance and revisit estimates.
- B10 point-in-time transfer. Goods are shipped but the seller still controls them under the contract. *Question:* Recognise revenue merely on dispatch? Solution: No. Recognise when the customer obtains control; delivery terms, acceptance and other indicators matter.
- B11 grant repayment. A grant becomes repayable after a condition is breached. *Question:* Ignore it because income was recognised earlier? Solution: No. Apply IAS 20 repayment treatment to deferred income or asset carrying amount and recognise any excess appropriately.
- B12 functional versus presentation currency. Entity's primary economic environment uses euros but reports to shareholders in dollars. *Question:* Which is functional? Solution: The euro if the primary economic environment indicators support it; dollar may be presentation currency. FR's transaction translation outcome should not be confused with full foreign-subsidiary translation.
- C1–C3 stakeholder lens. A lender and an ordinary shareholder analyse the same gearing increase. *Question:* Must conclusions be identical? Solution: No. A lender focuses on debt service and downside protection; shareholders may weigh growth returns against risk. Both must use the same facts and acknowledge limitations.
- D1 statement of changes in equity. A company issues shares at a premium and pays dividends. *Question:* Where are these shown? Solution: Show share capital and premium movements separately and deduct distributions from retained earnings within the statement of changes in equity; dividends are not profit-or-loss expenses.
- D2 fair-value liability. A subsidiary has an identifiable contingent liability meeting IFRS 3 acquisition recognition requirements but absent from its own books. *Question:* Ignore it in acquisition net assets? Solution: No. Include its acquisition-date fair value where recognition criteria are met; this reduces net assets and affects goodwill and later group results.
- D2 intra-group PPE transfer. Parent sells PPE to subsidiary at a gain while the group still uses it. *Question:* Group adjustment? Solution: Remove the intra-group gain, restore the asset to the group's pre-transfer carrying basis and correct subsequent depreciation; allocation depends on which entity sold the asset.
- D2 intra-group dividend. S pays P a dividend recorded as income by P. *Question:* Group profit? Solution: Eliminate P's intra-group dividend income on consolidation and adjust NCI for its share of S's distribution; a group's receipt from itself is not external income.
- D2 bargain purchase. Consideration plus NCI is 90,000 but acquisition-date net identifiable assets are 100,000. *Question:* Immediate goodwill of negative 10,000? Solution: Reassess all measurements first. If a genuine bargain remains, recognise the 10,000 gain in profit or loss, not negative goodwill as an asset.
- D2 two subsidiaries. Parent controls two subsidiaries and has one associate. *Question:* Must all three be added line by line? Solution: Consolidate each subsidiary line by line for periods of control; equity-account the associate as a single investment and share of result, within the simple-group syllabus limit.
These extensions target decisions otherwise easily hidden inside a broad family. The complete set remains an outcome-led study atlas rather than a claim that ACCA can ask only these formulations.