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9706 · Cambridge International A Level

9706/132

Multiple Choice

Accounting · June 2024 · Variant 2

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 4.0/5

Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

4.0 / 5

Total marks

245

Duration

315 min

Most tested topic

Preparation of Financial Statements & Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

245

Duration

315 min

Session difficulty

4.0 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers.

2

With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous scenario-based structured tasks that demanded a deep conceptual understanding alongside pristine technical execution.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

No data available in official reports

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

Financial Statements8
Costing & Quantitative6
Quantitative Accounting Standards5
Strategic Evaluation2

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Financial StatementsFinancialStatementsCosting & QuantitativeCosting &QuantitativeQuantitative Accounting StandardsQuantitativeAccountingStrategic EvaluationStrategicEvaluation
SkillWeightShare
  • Financial Statements

    Weight: 8100%
  • Costing & Quantitative

    Weight: 675%
  • Quantitative Accounting Standards

    Weight: 563%
  • Strategic Evaluation

    Weight: 225%

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

Report type

Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards

Level A*

Approx. 75% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 64% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 53% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 44% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 35% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 27% of maximum mark

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

CalculateFrequency: 18

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

PrepareFrequency: 12

Match the expected response style for “Prepare” questions.

ExplainFrequency: 8

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

AdviseFrequency: 6

Match the expected response style for “Advise” questions.

DiscussFrequency: 4

Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Paper 2 Structured …90m / 75 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

Paper 3 Financial A…60m / 50 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

Paper 1 Multiple Ch…5m / 901 marks

Min per mark: 0

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Traditional costing methods - Marginal costing

34 marks this session

Preparation of financial statements - Sole traders

33 marks this session

Preparation of financial statements - Limited companies (A Level)

27 marks this session

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Traditional costing methods - Marginal costing

34
34

Preparation of financial statements - Partnerships

34
34

Preparation of financial statements - Limited companies (Financial accounting (A Level))

33
33

Analysis and communication of accounting information

28
28

Preparation of financial statements - Adjustments to draft financial statements (Financial accounting (AS Level))

25
25

Preparation of financial statements - Clubs and societies (Financial accounting (A Level))

25
25

Budgeting and budgetary control

25
25

Investment appraisal

25
25

Difficulty trend

How session difficulty has shifted across recent years

202320242025
2023 June 2023 · 3.8/52024 June 2024 · 3.8/52025 June 2025 · 3.4/5

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 1 Multiple Choice:

30 marks60 min

Paper 2 Fundamentals of Accounting:

90 marks105 min

Paper 3 Financial Accounting:

75 marks90 min

Paper 4 Cost and Management Accounting:

50 marks60 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers.

  • 2Message

    With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous scenario-based structured tasks that demanded a deep conceptual understanding alongside pristine technical execution.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Accounting

The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers. With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous sc

  • The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers.

  • With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous scenario-based structured tasks that demanded a deep conceptual understanding alongside pristine technical execution.

Total marks
245
Duration
315 min
Session difficulty
4.0 / 5

Session analysis

The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers. With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous scenario-based structured tasks that demanded a deep conceptual understanding alongside pristine technical execution.

Updated Jun 12, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 1 Multiple Choice:

30 marks60 min

Paper 2 Fundamentals of Accounting:

90 marks105 min

Paper 3 Financial Accounting:

75 marks90 min

Paper 4 Cost and Management Accounting:

50 marks60 min

Top chapters

Traditional costing methods - Marginal costing34 marks
Preparation of financial statements - Sole traders33 marks
Preparation of financial statements - Limited companies (A Level)27 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Preparation of financial statem27 marks
Preparation of financial statem17 marks
Preparation of financial statem27 marks
Preparation of financial statem33 marks
Business acquisition and merger27 marks
Analysis and communication of a18 marks
Activity based costing (ABC) (C27 marks
Budgeting and budgetary control27 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

71% within easy or medium reach

65
110
70
Easy: 65 marksMedium: 110 marksHard: 70 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Calculate18 times
Prepare12 times
Explain8 times
Advise6 times
Discuss4 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

245Marks
  • Structured Calculation

    145·18·59%

  • Written Explanation/Analysis

    38·10·16%

  • Evaluation & Advice

    32·4·13%

  • Multiple Choice

    30·30·12%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Incomplete sole tr…Activity based cos…Partnership merger…Clubs and societie…

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Paper 1 Multiple Ch…

180.20 m/min
901
5

Paper 2 Structured …

0.83 m/min
75
90

Paper 3 Financial A…

0.83 m/min
50
60

Total marks

1026

Total time

155 min

Avg pace

6.62

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Standard Costing and Variance Analysis

90%

90%

Investment Appraisal (NPV, IRR & Payback Period)

85%

85%

Manufacturing Businesses & Provision for Unrealised Profit

75%

75%

Paper analysis

The May/June 2024 exam series for Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting (9706) presented a robust challenge, testing both foundational concepts and complex application techniques across all four papers. With a difficulty index of 4 out of 5, candidates faced rigorous scenario-based structured tasks that demanded a deep conceptual understanding alongside pristine technical execution.

Exam tips

Paper format

Duration
1h
Total marks
30
Question types
Multiple Choice

June 2024

View full examiner insights for this session

View full examiner insights for this session

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

9706/132 — Cambridge International A Level Accounting (June 2024) | Revui