9706 · Cambridge International AS Level
9706/11
Multiple Choice
Accounting · June 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.6 / 5
120
165 min
Preparation of financial statements for sole traders including year-end adjustments
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
120
Duration
165 min
Session difficulty
3.6 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
In the financial accounting section, the sole trader Statement of Profit or Loss (Question 1) and the Sales Ledger Control Account (Question 2) carried substantial weighting.
In Question 1, a significant block of marks was allocated to multi-layered adjustments, including the depreciation of newly acquired equipment, accruals, prepayments, and bad debt allowances.
In the costing section, the allocation and reapportionment of overheads (Question 4) provided highly accessible marks, but the subsequent multi-product marginal costing analysis proved to be a major differentiator.
Candidates frequently failed to calculate the impact of production capacity constraints and the opportunity costs associated with reducing the output of existing products.
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
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Computational
Weight: 7100%Financial Statements
Weight: 686%Critical Evaluation
Weight: 457%Analytical and
Weight: 229%Reconciliation & Correction
Weight: 114%
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. 72% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 48% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 38% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 28% 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
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Prepare” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
Match the expected response style for “Advise” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Complete” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Preparation of financial statements - Sole traders
32 marks this session
Reconciliation and verification
19 marks this session
Traditional costing methods - Marginal costing
17 marks this session
Preparation of financial statements - Limited companies
16 marks this session
Traditional costing methods - Absorption costing
16 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
Traditional costing methods - Marginal costing
Reconciliation and verification
Preparation of financial statements - Limited companies
Preparation of financial statements - Sole traders
Preparation of financial statements - Partnerships
Preparation of financial statements - Adjustments to draft financial statements (Financial accounting)
Analysis and communication of accounting information (Financial accounting)
Traditional costing methods - Absorption costing
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 11 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 21 (Fundamentals of Accounting):
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
Preparation of financial statements - Sole traders
32 marks this session
Practise in RevuiReconciliation and verification
19 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTraditional costing methods - Marginal costing
17 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPreparation of financial statements - Limited companies
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTraditional costing methods - Absorption costing
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
In the financial accounting section, the sole trader Statement of Profit or Loss (Question 1) and the Sales Ledger Control Account (Question 2) carried substantial weighting.
- 2Message
In Question 1, a significant block of marks was allocated to multi-layered adjustments, including the depreciation of newly acquired equipment, accruals, prepayments, and bad debt allowances.
- 3Message
In the costing section, the allocation and reapportionment of overheads (Question 4) provided highly accessible marks, but the subsequent multi-product marginal costing analysis proved to be a major differentiator.
- 4Message
Candidates frequently failed to calculate the impact of production capacity constraints and the opportunity costs associated with reducing the output of existing products.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2023 2023
Accounting
In the financial accounting section, the sole trader Statement of Profit or Loss (Question 1) and the Sales Ledger Control Account (Question 2) carried substantial weighting. In Question 1, a significant block of marks was allocated to multi-layered adjustments, including the dep
In the financial accounting section, the sole trader Statement of Profit or Loss (Question 1) and the Sales Ledger Control Account (Question 2) carried substantial weighting.
In Question 1, a significant block of marks was allocated to multi-layered adjustments, including the depreciation of newly acquired equipment, accruals, prepayments, and bad debt allowances.
In the costing section, the allocation and reapportionment of overheads (Question 4) provided highly accessible marks, but the subsequent multi-product marginal costing analysis proved to be a major differentiator.
- Total marks
- 120
- Duration
- 165 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.6 / 5
Session analysis
In the financial accounting section, the sole trader Statement of Profit or Loss (Question 1) and the Sales Ledger Control Account (Question 2) carried substantial weighting. In Question 1, a significant block of marks was allocated to multi-layered adjustments, including the depreciation of newly acquired equipment, accruals, prepayments, and bad debt allowances. In the costing section, the allocation and reapportionment of overheads (Question 4) provided highly accessible marks, but the subsequent multi-product marginal costing analysis proved to be a major differentiator. Candidates frequently failed to calculate the impact of production capacity constraints and the opportunity costs associated with reducing the output of existing products.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 11 (Multiple Choice):
Paper 21 (Fundamentals of Accounting):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
79% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Structured Financial Accounting Question
60·3·50%
Multiple Choice Question
(MCQ)
30·30·25%
Structured Cost and Management Accounting Question
30·1·25%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 11 (All Quest…
0.86 m/minPaper 21 Question 1…
0.88 m/minPaper 21 Question 2…
0.83 m/minPaper 21 Question 3…
0.86 m/minTotal marks
90
Total time
105 min
Avg pace
0.86
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Partnership Accounts (Admission/Retirement/Dissolution)
85%85%
Preparation of financial statements - Manufacturing businesses
80%80%
Preparation of financial statements - Clubs and societies
75%75%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Imprecise Terminology and Labels: Examiners highlighted that many students lost easy marks by using non-standard abbreviations (like "COS" for Cost of Sales) or outdated terms (such as "net profit" instead of "Profit for the year"). In ledger accounts, writing "Receipts" instead of "Bank" is a common error that violates double-entry principles.
- Superficial Written Responses: For evaluative tasks, such as advising Mima on inventory turnover options or the directors on product planning, candidates often merely restated the data provided in the question. High-scoring scripts must explain why a financial or non-financial factor is significant, evaluating both options before making a clear, supported recommendation.
- Incorrect Base Units: In overhead absorption calculations, simply writing a number without "per machine hour" or "per labour hour" is an automatic mark loss.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h
- Total marks
- 30
- Weighting
- 25%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.