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Accounting

A Level Accounting

What is it about at sixth-form level?

Accountancy is often described as “the language of business”. It is an ancient art whose history is intertwined with the development of numeracy and writing. Records of trade and debts stretch back many thousands of years, as accountants were needed even in the earliest civilisations to maintain the well-being of the people.

A level Accounting helps you to develop knowledge and understanding of the purposes of accounting and to apply this to a variety of accounting problems. It is an introduction to the principles of accounting that are applied worldwide, teaching you to understand the fundamentals, the breakdown of financial statements and the interpretation of changes to them.

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Why study it and what skills does it develop?

An A level in Accounting is an excellent foundation for further study of accountancy at pre- professional and professional level. This subject will enable you to develop a capacity for methodical and critical thought. This serves as an end in itself, as well as a basis for further study of accounting and other subjects.

Accounting fits in very well with a variety of business-related fields – management, Finance, Business Studies itself and Economics. This subject brings an appreciation of the effects of economic, legal, ethical, social, environmental and technological influences on accounting decisions. A level Accounting develops transferable skills of numeracy, communication, interpretation and presentation in an accounting context.

What prior knowledge and skills are required?

For the study of A-Level Accounting, you should have at least a grade 5 in GCSE English Language, and at least a grade 5 in GCSE Maths, but a grade 6 is more desirable; especially if you wish to pursue this subject at degree level. Therefore, you should be confident in your addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills and generally enjoy working with numbers. You will not need to write essays but will be required to write about your interpretation of calculations, often in a report or memorandum. Approximately 40 per cent of the exams marks are for written content.

How is the course assessed?

A level

The A level is examined in two separate papers.

Paper 1 is 3 hours in length and worth 120 marks in total which are distributed as follows: Section A is worth 30 marks; Section B carries 40 marks; and Section C is worth 50 marks.
Paper 2 is structured in exactly the same manner, being 3 hours in length and worth 120 marks in total, distributed over Sections A, B and C identically to Paper 1. However, Paper 2 focuses on the more advanced topics and accounting practices covered in the second half of the A level course. Papers 1 and 2 are equally weighted at 50% of the A level.

Reading

To be confirmed at the start of the course

AS Accounting for AQA: AS and A level Year 1
By D. Cox
Published by Osborne Books, ISBN 978-1905777143

AS Accounting for AQA: A level Year 2
By D. Cox
Published by Osborne Books, ISBN 978-1911198253

Accounting for AQA: AS and A level Question Bank
By D. Cox
Published by Osborne Books, ISBN 978-1905777174

Exam Board and Specification Codes

A level: AQA 7127

"I have really enjoyed my time MPW and would recommend this college to anyone. I learnt how to work more efficiently and revise more effectively thanks to the tutorials and weekly Timed Assignments, which also allowed me to prepare myself mentally for the exams from the first day. My history teacher was phenomenal. He managed to get me to reengage with the subject, as well as giving me all the support and help I asked for and more, giving me the knowledge and exams technique needed to achieve an A*."

Samuel

Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: Exeter University (International Relations)

"The small class sizes proved invaluable for a number of reasons, some of which I did not anticipate. Aside from the obvious individual attention, the size of the class allowed for a lot of students’ questions to turn into a fruitful academic discussion. I have found the atmosphere at the college far more friendly and supportive than I expected. The support I had from my Personal Tutor was very helpful during the application process for university. I could tell that he really did care about my future and wanted to do everything he could in order to help me secure my place at my chosen university. Overall, I am pleased to say that my high expectations of MPW were fully met."

Mark

Grades achieved at MPW: AAB Progressed to: Southampton University (Business Innovation)

"I have definitely made the right decision to come to MPW - my grades have gone from averaging Es to straight As. Teaching at MPW is much more personal and I felt like talking to teachers. They are very good and give you lots of support if you do not understand something. My Personal Tutor took me through the UCAS process step by step. We went through my Personal Statement many times to make sure it was completely perfect. I am very excited about my firm choice."

Matthew

Grades achieved at MPW: AAA Progressed to: Warwick University (Chemistry)

"As a dyslexic student who initially got CCEE for my AS, I was convinced that I could not achieve any higher. My time at MPW proved me wrong. Initially I was reluctant to move from my local school in York to a college so far away from home, my parents, and friends. At the end of my first year I was overjoyed to find that many hours of hard work and renewed revision techniques had resulted in me achieving three A's in my subjects. I wanted to continue at A2 as I knew it would greatly improve my university prospects and encourage me to work even harder. After two fantastic years at MPW I can emphatically say that going to MPW was the best decision I ever made."

Gabriel

Grades achieved at MPW: AAA Progressed to: Nottingham University (Philosophy)

"Having a Personal Tutor to discuss ANYTHING with, from my UCAS application to organising my life in general, really did make life at the college more streamlined and in general less stressful."

Andrew

Grades achieved at MPW: A*AA Progressed to: University of York (Law)

"Honestly, I could not imagine when I joined MPW that, due to language and adaptation barriers, I would achieve top grades in my first A-level exam sittings. This view changed completely after only a few weeks in the college’s supportive and motivational environment; with teachers who aimed at finding a personal touch with each student and with my Personal Tutor who made my adjustment to the UK education system not only an easy step in my life but, more importantly, an enjoyable one."

Anastasia

Grades achieved at MPW: A*A*A* Progressed to: University College London (Economics)

"International students have many aspects to think about, such as accommodation and guardians, but MPW surprised me by having a highly organised and supportive administration. Also, because most MPW Cambridge students are local, as an ‘international’ student, I found this very useful in both improving my English and in giving me a taste of a genuinely ‘English’ college."

Akmaral

Grades achieved at MPW: A*A*A* Progressed to: University College London (Mathematics and Statistics)

"The teachers really helped me overcome any difficulties I came across; they always seemed willing to offer support be it inside or outside of the classroom. I could safely say my teachers inspired me to work hard and aim for the best, sometimes simply by being passionate about what they do."

Julia

Grades achieved at MPW: A*AABB Progressed to: King's College London (International Relations)

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