A Level Accounting

Overview of the course

The greatest part of the first semester of the AS course is devoted to very basic accounting principles and procedures. Both financial accounting and management accounting is covered in the A-level course.

AS Level topics include: the double entry system, books of prime entry, classification of accounts, international accounting concepts, financial statements for sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies, accounting for non-profit making organizations, departmental accounts, manufacturing accounts, stock evaluation, analysis and interpretation of company financial statements and different costing methods. The majority of this course is therefore aimed at financial accounting.

At A2 level, we cover more in-depth study of financial accounting as well as the interpretation of financial statements. More complicated costing methods, budgeting and cash flow statements are also taught in the A2 course.

How is the teaching adapted to suit the needs of Chinese students?

As the Chinese students have very limited background of the international approach to accounting and accounting systems but have excellent numeric skills, focus is placed on the procedures much rather than the arithmetic of accounting. Much effort is put into developing notes and handouts to lead them step by step to be able to follow the sequence of procedures to record business transactions in an internationally acceptable way.

In western countries, more emphasis is normally placed on teaching students the calculations rather than the procedures. Western students start studying Accounting at a much younger age and therefore have a broader understanding of Accounting procedures and principles when they start A-levels.

Resources

A vast range of text books are available and past papers from different exam boards are also provided. Teachers need only research these resources and compile their own PPTs and notes.

Other information

Chinese students can struggle to get to grips with accounting procedures and principles at first, but they do very well once they have grasped these. Efforts should be directed towards making the subject as practical as possible. Use is made of published accounts of companies, news articles of investments and company take-overs to guide students to understand the importance of accounting in practice.

Students have very good logical thinking skills, particularly from their strengths in maths and science. Therefore, the teaching of the subject is very much about directing these skills to be applied to accounting practice.