Accounting A Level

Name: Accounting A Level
SKU: ODL94
Price: 487 GBP

This course helps you to understand the responsibilities of the Accountant and the impacts of their recommendations on the business and the wider environment.

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Level 3 / AQA A Level / ODL94

Buying options

Special offer

Online study

Paper study

Online study

Pay in full

Pay monthly

Pay in full

over 12 months and £ deposit

Course summary

Course support

24 months expert tutor support

24 hour access

Unlimited Submissions

Accreditation

Fully accredited course

Awarding body

AQA

Course introduction

Accounting is about recording, classifying and summarising data. A certain grade of judgement and good analysis and accounting techniques are very important.

The course is divided into eighteen units, which are of different length and difficulty. At the end of each unit there is a Tutor-Marked Assessment which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor.

Our Accounting A Level can essentially provide you with the perfect stepping stone to progressively furthering your training – while still in employment – whilst also preparing you for the depth and breadth of study expected at university.

During our course you will acquire

An understanding of the importance of effective accounting information systems (and their limitations)
An understanding of the purposes, principles, concepts and techniques involved in accounting
Transferable skills – within an accounting context - including numeracy, communication, ICT, application, presentation, interpretation, analysis and evaluation
An appreciation of the effects of economic, legal, ethical, social, environmental and technological influences on accounting decisions
A capacity for methodical and critical thought

This course allows learners to earn UCAS points depending on the grade gained:

A* – 56
A – 48
B – 40
C – 32
D – 24
E – 16

Next Examination Period:May / June exam period of every year.

AQA Specification Code: 7127

Required knowledge

Basic English reading and writing skills are required, as full tutor support is given.

Assessment

All examinations are held during the May / June exam period of every year.

A Level Accounting Paper 1

Sections 1–8, 14–18 of the subject content

Written exam: 3 hours
120 marks
50% of A-level
Questions
Three Compulsory Sections:

Section A has 10 multiple choice questions and several short answer questions. The section is worth 30 marks.
Section B has two structured questions each worth 20 marks. The section is worth 40 marks.
Section C has two extended answer questions each worth 25 marks. The section is worth 50 marks.

A Level Accounting Paper 2

Sections 1–3, 8–13, 17–18 of the subject content

Written exam: 3 hours
120 marks
50% of A-level
Questions

A-level exams and certification for this specification are available for the first time in May/June 2019 and then every May/June for the life of the specification.

Three Compulsory Sections:

Section A has 10 multiple choice questions and several short answer questions. The section is worth 30 marks.
Section B has two structured questions each worth 20 marks. The section is worth 40 marks.
Section C has two extended answer questions each worth 25 marks. The section is worth 50 marks.
Before the qualification can be awarded, students must undertake both the assessments.

Please note: Students are fully responsible for the arrangement and funding of any examinations required.

Next Examination Period:May / June exam period of every year.

Awarding organisation

Awarding Organisation

AQA (The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) has a leading reputation for promoting education for the public benefit and draws on long experience of setting and marking public exams such as GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications. AQA is the largest of the three English exam boards, awarding 49% of full course GCSEs and 42% of A-levels nationally. In total, students take over 3.5 million exams with them each year.

Course modules

Section 1: An Introduction to the Role of the Accountant in Business

- The responsibilities of the Accountant within Business.
- The difference between financial accounting and management accounting and the purpose of each.
- The role of the Accountant in developing and overseeing accounting information systems to provide reliable and relevant information for both financial and management purposes.

Section 2: Types of Business Organisation
- Types of business organisations including different business ownership models.
- The associated benefits and risks and the impact on business reporting.
- Sources of finance for different forms of business organisation and the risks related to those.

Section 3: The Double Entry Model
- The double entry system including the recording of transactions from source documents in books of prime entry and ledger accounts; transferring accounts to income statements, balancing accounts and the preparation of statements of financial position.
- The recording of adjustments in ledger accounts and financial statements.
- Prepare and understand accounting records based on source documents and use the main books of prime entry and ledger accounts.
- Apply the double entry model in the preparation of financial statements for a range of business organisations.
- Prepare income statements (trading and profit and loss accounts) and statements of financial position (balance sheets) working from trial balances and additional information.
- Prepare statements of financial position (balance sheets) with subheadings.
- Make entries for simple adjustments for expense prepayments and accruals in ledger accounts and in income statements and statements of financial position.
- Make entries for irrecoverable debts in the sales ledger and financial statements.
- Make entries for depreciation in the income statement and statement of financial position.

Section 4: Verification of Accounting Records
- Verification of the double entry records.
- How to correct errors in double entry records.
- The effect of errors on profit calculations and statements of financial position.
- The benefits and limitations of verification techniques.

Section 5: Accounting Concepts used in the Preparation of Accounting Records
- General accounting concepts.
- The use of accounting concepts in a variety of situations.

Section 6: Preparation of Financial Statements of Sole Traders
-The use of concepts in the preparation of financial statements.
- How to prepare financial statements of sole traders from ledger accounts including adjustments from the application of accounting concepts.
- How to prepare income statements and statements of financial position from a trial balance including adjustments from the application of accounting concepts.

Section 7: Limited Company Accounts
-How to prepare the internal financial statements of limited liability companies.

Section 8: Analysis and Evaluation of Financial Information
- Calculation and interpretation of financial measures and ratios.
- Appraising business performance by using financial statements and ratios.
- The difference between cash and profits and the effect of transactions on profitability and liquidity.
- The limitations of financial statements and ratio analysis when assessing business performance.

Section 9: Budgeting
- The need for budgeting in business organisations.
- The benefits and limitations of budgeting and budgetary control.
- The use of accounting techniques in the preparation and analysis of budgets.
- How budgets are used in planning and control and the calculation and interpretation of variances.

Section 10: Marginal Costing
- Categorisation of costs by behaviour and understanding of terms.
- Calculation and interpretation of break-even point, interpreting break-even charts and the uses and limitations of break-even analysis methods.
- The use of marginal costing in decision making situations.

Section 11: Standard Costing and Variance Analysis
- The purpose, advantages and disadvantages of a standard costing system.
- Calculation and interpretation of variances.
- The interrelationship between variances.
- How to prepare statements and the use of accounting techniques to reconcile budgeted and actual figures.

Section 12: Absorption and Activity Based Costing
- The use of absorption costing to calculate the total cost of a product.
- The use of activity based costing (ABC) to calculate the total cost of a product.
- Use of absorption and ABC to calculate the selling price of a product.
- The benefits and limitations of absorption, ABC and marginal costing.

Section 13: Capital Investment Appraisal
- The calculation and use of cash flows in capital investment appraisal.
- Payback and net present value (discounted cash flow) of a capital project.
- The benefits and limitations of the payback and net present value methods of capital investment appraisal.
- The use of capital appraisal measures in the evaluation of projects.

Section 14: Accounting for Organisations with Incomplete Records
- The calculation of profit of an organisation where there are insufficient records to prepare income statements.
- How accounting techniques are applied in the preparation and analysis of financial statements for a business with incomplete records.
- The benefits and limitations of maintaining accounting records using different systems including single and double entry records.

Section 15: Partnership Accounts
- Prepare and comment on the financial statements of partnerships.
- Prepare capital and current accounts of partners.
- Account for changes in partnership.

Section 16: Accounting for Limited Companies
- The use of accounting techniques and principles when drafting financial statements for limited companies (based on IAS1).
- Accounting for the revaluation of non-current assets.
- The difference between the issue of shares, a rights issue and a bonus issue, and recording the effect of such transactions in financial statements.
- The requirement to publish accounts and how these are used by a variety of stakeholders.
- The purpose and importance of the international accounting standards framework.

Section 17: Interpretation, Analysis and Communication of Accounting Information
- How accounting techniques, measures and ratios are used to analyse and interpret accounting information (both financial and management) and the limitations of using financial statement and ratio analysis when assessing business performance.
- How performance is evaluated both internally and across accounting periods and externally in comparison to competitors.
- The difference between cash and profits and the effect of transactions on profitability and liquidity.
- The interests of stakeholders and importance of effective communication to both internal and external stakeholders.
- The impact, advantages and disadvantages of systems of recording data.
- The critical assessment of recommendations and their impact on stakeholders, the local and national economy and the environment.

Section 18: The Impact of Ethical Considerations
-The fundamental principles of ethical behaviour.
- How the principles of ethical behaviour impact the behaviour of accounting professionals and organisations.
- The legal and regulatory frameworks which relate to the accounting sector, the importance of working within regulatory guidelines and the consequences of failing to do so.
- The role of professional bodies in establishing and enforcing codes of conduct.
- How to act ethically when working with clients, suppliers, colleagues and stakeholders and the importance of adhering to organisational and professional value, codes of practice and regulations.
- Appropriate courses of action to take if there is a suspicion that an unethical or illegal act has been, or may be, committed by an employer, colleague or client.

Learner support

Your course is delivered online
After enrolling, you will receive a username and password to access the On Campus area
The course materials and support will be provided by Oxford Learning College
You will receive feedback on your assignments from an experienced tutor
Our A Levels come with tutor support for 12 months.

FAQs

What does NCC stand for?

NCC originally stood for the National Consortium of FE (Further Education) Colleges. This brought together the FE Colleges to achieve the best provision. Regular national meetings were attended by both Colleges and Government agencies who funded them. This was very helpful to them both to best deliver training to their students.

For more than 25 years NCC has supplied FE Colleges with learning materials as well as student marketing.

NCC now specialise in online training of a very high quality to students both self-funded, paid for by schools, employers and training providers.

What is distance learning?

Distance learning is the most flexible and convenient approach to studying. There is no need for you to attend college and you can study anytime, anyplace, anywhere that fits in with your lifestyle. Distance learning programmes are ideal for people who may have a job, family commitments, or any other commitment that won’t allow them time off to study.

What is the difference between the online and paper versions of courses?

Both our online and paper courses are completed via an online learning portal (LMS) which you can access after you receive your login details by email. Please ensure that you check your junk email if you do not receive your login details within 48 hours.

All learners will submit their assignments, receive feedback and correspond with their tutor directly through the LMS. If you require help from our support team, then simply email [email protected].

If you opt for the online course, you will not receive any course materials through the post. Everything is available via the LMS.

If you opt for the paper version, you are simply paying for a study book to be printed and posted to your home, or place of work. You will use this book as a reference guide, but you will still be required to upload your assignments and correspond with your tutor via the LMS.

If you are unable to access our online LMS, we do have alternative options available, so please email [email protected] in order to request further support.

What do I need to do to get started?

We recommend that you choose a course that will interest you and help you to achieve your ambitions. If you would like some advice, or further information, contact us here or dial 0333 3445 690.

To purchase a course, simply click on the ‘Buy now’ button against your chosen course and follow the on screen instructions. Alternatively if you would prefer to purchase the course over the phone, call 0333 3445 690 and speak to one of our expert course advisors.

How much will it cost?

The price largely depends on the size and duration of the course. The course cost is determined by the expenses associated with its provision, taking into consideration the course's size and complexity, development costs, study materials, and the level of tutor support required. Some courses also necessitate additional in-person assessments by assessors, which incur additional expenses and consequently affect the course's cost.

The cost for each course is always listed clearly on the course description page before you make a purchase.

Additionally, extra fees may apply for courses that require externally monitored assessments (such as A Levels or ICB qualifications). For more details, it's best to consult with one of our course advisors.

How do I enrol?

Once you've chosen your course, you have two options for enrolment:

You can purchase the course online by clicking the "Buy now" button, which will enrol you automatically.
Alternatively, you can call our helpline at 0333 3445 690, and our expert course advisors will assist you in signing up for the course and arrange for the delivery of any requested additional learning materials to your address.

All courses are available to purchase in full or via affordable monthly payments over 12 months. A £29 non-refundable deposit is required for monthly payments, and you will be required to set up a monthly direct debit.

We do not require you to complete a credit check to sign up for monthly payments.

How quickly will I receive my course materials?

We ensure that you will receive your ordered course materials within 5 working days of registration, though for many courses, delivery may take as little as 48 hours.

Your course materials will be sent through a tracked courier service to guarantee delivery of your study book within the specified timeframe.

Do I need any additional books or equipment to do my course?

All the relevant information required to complete your course is available via the LMS. Additional research via the internet is encouraged, depending on the level you are working at, to bolster knowledge of the subject area.

There is no requirement to purchase any additional materials.

What support will I receive?

You will have access to a dedicated personal tutor whom you can contact through the Learning Management System (LMS) for assistance and guidance on any course-related matters. Your tutor will only initiate contact in response to your messages. If you encounter any difficulties reaching your tutor, please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected].

Many courses require you to submit work to your tutor during the period of study, and your tutor will assess your work and provide feedback to you within 10 working days. Your tutor is available to you as much as you need them.

Please note that the course includes tutor support for a duration of 12 months. If you require additional time, please inform us, and we will make every effort to provide you with an option for a paid extension, if feasible, to assist you in completing your course.

Please be aware that our tutors are actively assisting multiple learners, and to ensure they are not inundated with excessive workloads, we have implemented a policy limiting learners to submitting a maximum of three units of work for evaluation at any given time. We recommend that you upload your completed units as you finish them. This way, you can benefit from your tutor's feedback to enhance your future assignment submissions.

How long will it take for my work to be marked by my tutor?

Your work will be marked and feedback returned to you within 10 working days after submission. This is because our tutors are required to provide detailed, considered feedback to our learners that may take a while to formulate. We find that by working this way, our learners actually complete their course in less time, as they rarely need to submit an assignment more than twice.

Whilst it is possible to submit multiple assignments at the same time, we advise that our learners submit only one at a time. We want our learners to develop as they progress through their course, and find this is best achieved when a student embarks on a new module having taken into account tutor feedback from the previous submission.

Kindly note that our tutors are currently supporting multiple learners simultaneously. In order to maintain a balanced workload for them, we have established a policy that restricts learners to submitting a maximum of three units of work for evaluation at any given time.

How long should it take to complete a course?

The time needed to complete your course depends on the specific course you've chosen and the time you're able to dedicate. Generally, it can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months. You'll usually have up to 12 months from the date of purchase to complete your course if you wish to receive your certificate, this is your end of support date.

One of the biggest advantages of distance learning is the flexibility it offers. You can study at your own pace, fitting your coursework around your personal schedule and commitments. There's no pressure—no one will be chasing you to submit work or asking why you haven't turned in an assignment.

That said, we recommend considering your availability before enrolling to ensure you can devote enough time to stay motivated and complete the course within a reasonable timeframe.

Will I have to sit an examination?

All of our courses are fully accredited, and to successfully complete them, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding. Depending on the course you choose, this could involve an examination, but the assessment methods can vary.

For some courses, you'll be continuously assessed throughout your studies, while others may require a final exam or an assignment, which can be done from home and submitted to your tutor.

For specific qualifications like A-levels and GCSEs, you will need to sit invigilated exams at a registered test centre. You'll be responsible for arranging and covering the cost of these exams, but full guidance will be provided by the centre delivering the qualification.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to email us at [email protected]. We can help or connect you with the course provider for more details.

Will I receive a qualification when I complete the course?

All of our courses are accredited and you will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

For more information about this please see the section of the website that details how awarding bodies work and what the different types of qualifications are: https://www.ncchomelearning.co.uk/awarding-organisations

Can I take more than one course at a time?

Yes, you can take as many courses as your time allows, but we would recommend that you clearly evaluate how much time you can commit to your courses of study.

The good news is that if your circumstances change you can always take a limited break and come back to your studies to save your paid for support.

If you decide to enrol on more than one course at the same time, speak to our enquiries team for any bundle deals or offers.

Can I enrol and study outside the UK?

Absolutely! In most cases, our courses are accessible regardless of where you're located. However, some courses may have geographical restrictions set by the Awarding Organisation, and any such limitations will be clearly outlined in the course details.

Keep in mind that all of our tutors are UK-based, and while most work can be submitted via email, there may be rare instances where submissions need to be sent by post.

For courses that require a monitored exam, there are many test centres available internationally. If you're planning to study from abroad, we recommend reaching out to us before purchasing the course to ensure everything is in place for your studies.

What if I’ve chosen the wrong course?

If, after receiving the course, you decide it isn’t the right course for you, you may return the materials within 14 days, provided you have not yet submitted any coursework for evaluation. Please note that you will be responsible for covering the return shipping costs. We will refund your payment, minus a non-refundable deposit of £29. Additionally, you have the option to select an alternative course that better matches your goals and aspirations.

For any help on cancelling your course please email [email protected], we will only deal with cancellation enquiries via email.

What is a Totum Card?

Totum is the new brand for UK student cards and replaces the old NUS student card. NCC students are eligible to sign-up for the Totum card where applicable, giving access to a multitude of retail, food and travel special discounts. For more information, you can visit their website: https://www.totum.com/