Qualifications Update: Higher Accounting Crowne Plaza Glasgow 10 December 2013 Qualifications Update: Higher Accounting Crowne Plaza Glasgow 10 December 2013

Developing qualifications - drivers Progression More open and flexible requirements Assessment which supports learning Refreshed and relevant contexts for learning Personalisation and choice Robust and credible

Key points Higher Accounting Provides learners with a deep understanding of the dynamic world of business by developing skills in communicating essential financial information. The development of skills explicit to the Course will enable learners to successfully produce, interpret and analyse financial information. Encourages working with others Allows for further progression and depth of study at a later date Added Value is assessed by an assignment with the focus on: Breadth, Challenge and Application. Offers opportunities for personalisation and choice

Purpose and aims of the Course Purpose To enable learners to understand, and make use of, financial information so that they can prepare accounting statements and analyse, interpret and report on an organisations financial performance Aims Understand the significant function that accounting performs in industry and society Develop accuracy in the preparation, presentation, interpretation and analysis of relatively complex accounting information. Apply relatively complex accounting concepts and techniques in the preparation of financial information Develop an understanding of a range of sources of finance Apply the use of information technology in accounting tasks

Unit Structure National 5Higher Preparing Financial Accounting Information Preparing Management Accounting Information Analysing Accounting Information

Conditions of the Award Unit Assessment Assessed on a pass/fail basis within Centres Verified by SQA to ensure that assessment judgements are consistent and meet national standards Course Assessment Assignment - 50 marks Question Paper marks

Assessment Support Schedule 2013/14 Sept 13 CfE Update Letter Oct 13 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1) Feb 14 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2) Mar 14 Coursework General Assessment Information Apr 14 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3) May 14 Update Mandatory Documents Jun 14 Update Unit Assessment Support

Accounting Unit Assessment at Higher Adam Stephenson Qualification Development Consultant Accounting Unit Assessment at Higher Adam Stephenson Qualification Development Consultant

Unit assessment - recap Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence Requirements in Units Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment encouraged Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome or Unit – combined assessments More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

Unit Assessment Support purpose As at National 5, Assessment Support will be provided which you can use to: Assess your candidates Adapt for your own assessment programmes Help you develop your own assessments

Unit Assessment Support at Higher – key features Valid from August 2014 Complements and supports learning and teaching Designed to encourage professional judgement Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence

Outcome 2 Evaluate business performance, based on accounting analysis, to make business recommendations 2.1 Using analytical techniques to perform calculations on accounting information and to evaluate the results Candidates are required to use two analytical techniques to perform calculations, from the following range:  ratio analysis (investment ratios)  marginal costing (limiting factor)  marginal costing (special order)  investment appraisal 2.2 Making appropriate recommendations based on the results of accounting information Candidates are required to accurately evaluate and make recommendations based on the results of their analysis.

Unit assessment support packages at Higher - approaches Package 1 Unit by Unit approach Package 2 Portfolio approach Package 3 Combined approach

Assessment Support Package Example Preparing Financial Accounting Information Role of financial accounting Partnership PLC Manufacturing concerns Period-end financial statements Preparing Management Accounting Information Role of management accounting Costing Budgeting Overhead analysis Analysing Accounting Information Business analysis Decision making

Accounting Higher Course Assessment Adam Stephenson Qualification Development Consultant Accounting Higher Course Assessment Adam Stephenson Qualification Development Consultant

Course Assessment at Higher Course Assessment at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher assesses Added Value Courses at Higher are normally assessed by one or two Components Courses at Higher are graded A – D, as at present Controlled Assessment of setting, conducting and marking For Accounting there are 2 Components – Question Paper and Assignment

Higher – Question Paper Set and marked by SQA. All questions to be completed by candidate Section 1 (40 marks) – one question Section 2 (60 marks) three 20 mark questions

Higher – Assignment Set and marked by SQA. 50 marks. 3 hours to complete. Candidates will make use of spreadsheet and word processing software to complete some of the tasks.