EXAMINER’S GENERAL COMMENTS The May 2017 Examination questions fall within the approved syllabus of the Institute as well as the marks distribution. The candidates were examined in such areas as break-even analysis, transfer pricing, budgeting and preparation of functional budgets, costing methods, relevant costs, relevant costing, standard costing and variance analysis.

STANDARD OF THE PAPER In all, calculation questions accounted for 60% of the total marks whilst written questions accounted for 40%.There were no errors identified in the questions and no ambiguities were noted. However, the contents of the questions were found to be involving per the suggested solutions which will be very difficult to complete within 3 hours. PERFORMANCE OF CANDIDATES Performance of the candidates is not satisfactory looking at the requirements of the questions. Moderating of the scripts suggests the following as some of the factors accounting for the poor performance:  Lack of preparation by the candidates - At this level, candidates could not even state and explain some of the most basic principles and concepts in Management Accounting such as cost centres, zero based budgeting, target costing etc. Not even one sub-question could be answered by most of the candidates.  Poor understanding and expression of the English language - Candidates could not construct one complete and meaningful sentence. Some of the candidates have the idea but cannot put it across in a simple English to be understood.  Poor presentation of materials or suggested solutions - Most of the candidates could not present the suggested solutions in a structured manner even though there is no one formula in presenting solutions to Management Accounting questions. Most of the candidates could not present statements such as functional budgets and operating statements (Marginal and Absorption) in a structured format.  Not stating of decisions after arriving at the quantitative analysis of the requirements – Management Accounting questions normally require an advice to management but most of the candidates ignore this requirement in their suggested solutions.