Syllabus guide

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Accounting: syllabus guide

Accounting topic folders and a revision notebook arranged for planning

The Pearson Edexcel specification has five topics. Paper 1 covers topics 1 to 3, and Paper 2 builds on them with topics 4 and 5.

Issue 1, October 2016; for first teaching September 2017 and first examination June 2019.
Five topics: Paper 1 draws only from Topics 1 to 3; Paper 2 builds on Topics 1 to 3 and adds Topics 4 and 5.
Topic 1 The accounting environment, Topic 2 Introduction to bookkeeping, Topic 3 Introduction to control processes.
Topic 4 The preparation of financial statements and Topic 5 Accounting for end of period adjustments, building on Topics 1 to 3.

Sources: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in Accounting (4AC1) specification (FT Sept 2017) (Issue 1, October 2016), pages 1, 6, 7, 10. See all sources.

Which version applies

The 4AC1 and 4XAC1 specifications describe the same five topics. Which one a student follows depends on whether the centre enters them for the linear qualification or the modular one, so ask the exam centre first.

The 5 topics

Paper 1

1. The accounting environment

Types of organisation, stakeholders, accounting concepts, technology and professional ethics.

2. Introduction to bookkeeping

Business documents, books of original entry, ledgers, depreciation, irrecoverable debts, and other receivables and payables.

3. Introduction to control processes

The trial balance, control accounts, correction of errors and bank reconciliation statements.

4. The preparation of financial statements

Sole trader and partnership statements, incomplete records, ratios and manufacturing accounts.

5. Accounting for end of period adjustments

Applying the concepts, depreciation, irrecoverable debts, and other receivables and payables at the period end.

Papers, grades and the board overview

Edexcel 4AC1 board overview: papers, weightings, entry routes
Paper 1 guide and Paper 2 guide
Grade guide
One-to-one Edexcel 4AC1 tuition

With this many topics, it helps to know which ones your child has really mastered. A teacher can check this in a trial class and plan the order of topics around your child's exam date. Book a trial class.

Edexcel 4AC1 syllabus questions

Which topics are in Paper 1?

Topics 1 to 3: the accounting environment, introduction to bookkeeping, and introduction to control processes.

Does Paper 2 also test Paper 1 content?

Yes. The specification describes Paper 2 as more holistic: it builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills in topics 1 to 3 as well as topics 4 and 5.

Are limited company accounts on the 4AC1 syllabus?

The content list for topic 4 names sole traders, partnerships, incomplete records, ratios and manufacturers. Limited company statements and clubs and societies are not listed.

Is the content different for the modular qualification?

No. Unit 1 covers topics 1 to 3 and Unit 2 covers topics 4 and 5, using the same five topics and the same assessment objective weightings.

Get the Edexcel 4AC1 syllabus taught step by step

The trial class works through Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Accounting questions with a teacher, so you see how the paper is approached. One-to-one and online, from RM75/hr.

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