WAEC Past Questions

WAEC Accounting 2018
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2018 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The primary qualitative characteristics of useful financial information are

A. Relevance and faithful representation
B. Profitability
C. Debt management
D. Efficiency
Explanation

According to IFRS Conceptual Framework, relevance and faithful representation are the fundamental qualitative characteristics that make financial information useful for decision-making.

2
Question 2 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Which of the following items is found on the debit side of a trial balance?

A. Provision for doubtful debts
B. Discount allowed
C. Purchase of a new engine
D. Purchase of fuel for vehicle
Explanation

Purchase of a new engine is debited to the asset account (debit side in trial balance), while provision for doubtful debts and discounts are credits; fuel is expense debit but engine is capital.

3
Question 3 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Which of the following is a capital expenditure?

A. Purchase of a plant
B. Purchase of fuel for vehicle
C. Construction of office wall
D. Maintenance of machinery
Explanation

Capital expenditure increases the value of fixed assets and is capitalized, like purchasing plant; fuel and maintenance are revenue expenditures expensed immediately.

4
Question 4 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Credit notes received are entered in

A. Returns Inwards Journal
B. Return Outwards Journal
C. Purchase Journal
D. Sales Journal
Explanation

Credit notes received from suppliers for returns outwards are recorded in the returns outwards journal, reducing purchases.

5
Question 5 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

A document forwarded to a supplier showing amount due for unsatisfactory goods is

A. Debit Note
B. Credit Note
C. Invoice
D. Receipt
Explanation

A debit note is sent to suppliers to claim a reduction for faulty goods, requesting a credit adjustment.

6
Question 6 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The claim of a creditor against a business is

A. Liability
B. Capital
C. Drawings
D. Funds
Explanation

Creditors' claims are liabilities, representing amounts owed by the business for goods or services received on credit.

7
Question 7 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The apportionment of cost of a fixed asset to the profit and loss account is termed

A. Expense
B. Capital
C. Drawings
D. Depreciation
Explanation

Depreciation systematically allocates the cost of a fixed asset over its useful life as an expense in the profit and loss account.

8
Question 8 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Entries in the purchases journal are transferred to the

A. Receivable ledger
B. Payable ledger
C. General ledger
D. Private ledger
Explanation

Purchases journal records credit purchases, posted to individual supplier accounts in the payables (creditors) ledger.

9
Question 9 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

A reduction in price to encourage prompt payment is

A. Trade discount
B. Quantity discount
C. Cash discount
D. Seasonal discount
Explanation

Cash discount is offered to customers for early payment within a specified period, improving cash flow.

10
Question 10 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Tei Ltd offered 1560 units of a magazine at GH¢60.00 each. Trade discount is 10% and cash discount is 10% within 30 days. The amount payable if payment is made on the 40th day is

A. GH¢88,920
B. GH¢84,240
C. GH¢60,028
D. GH¢72,025
Explanation

Gross amount = 1560 × 60 = GH¢93,600. Trade discount 10% = GH¢9,360. Net payable (no cash discount on 40th day) = GH¢84,240.

11
Question 11 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Tei Ltd offered 1560 units of a magazine at GH¢60.00 each. Trade discount is 10% and cash discount is 10% within 30 days. The cash discount allowed on the 30th day is

A. GH¢9,360
B. GH¢8,424
C. GH¢4,680
D. GH¢4,212
Explanation

After trade discount, net = GH¢84,240. Cash discount 10% = GH¢8,424, allowed for payment within 30 days.

12
Question 12 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

An amount of Le200 received from a customer, Kofi, has been credited to another customer, Kofi's account. This is an error of

A. Principle
B. Commission
C. Original entry
D. Complete reversal
Explanation

Error of commission occurs when the correct amount is posted to the wrong account, here crediting the wrong customer's account.

13
Question 13 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Current assets less current liabilities is

A. Working capital
B. Capital employed
C. Fluctuating capital
D. Fixed capital
Explanation

Working capital measures short-term liquidity as current assets minus current liabilities, indicating ability to meet short-term obligations.

14
Question 14 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

A debit balance of GH¢420 on the Purchases Ledger Control Account means that as at that date

A. Trade creditors have been overpaid by GH¢420
B. Trade purchases ledger owed GH¢420
C. Goods returned to trade creditors amount to GH¢420
D. Total supplies from trade creditors amount to GH¢420
Explanation

Debit balance in creditors control indicates payments or returns exceed purchases, meaning overpayment to creditors by GH¢420.

15
Question 15 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Sales and Purchases ledgers are used in a business to keep records of

A. The owner's capital and cash transactions
B. Accounts of individual customers and suppliers
C. Current assets and fixed assets
D. Current liabilities and long-term liabilities
Explanation

Sales ledger tracks individual debtors (customers), purchases ledger tracks individual creditors (suppliers) for detailed subsidiary records.

16
Question 16 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Which of the following activities will increase profits?

A. Depreciation charges
B. Reduction in provision for doubtful debts
C. Undervalued closing stock
D. Returns inwards
Explanation

Reducing provision for doubtful debts decreases bad debt expense, increasing net profit; depreciation, undervalued closing (increases COGS), returns inwards decrease profit.

17
Question 17 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The concept that implies that a business will operate for an indefinite long period of time is

A. Accrual concept
B. Going concern concept
C. Consistency concept
D. Prudence concept
Explanation

Going concern assumes the business continues indefinitely, justifying capitalization of assets and accrual accounting over liquidation basis.

18
Question 18 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The consistency concept aims at

A. Ensuring that all expenses are matched against revenue
B. Reducing cost
C. Comparability of accounting records
D. Suppressing profits to be declared
Explanation

Consistency ensures uniform accounting methods over periods, allowing comparability of financial statements for informed decisions.

19
Question 19 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The concept which states that revenue is recognized when goods are sold is

A. Realisation concept
B. Matching concept
C. Cost concept
D. Going concern concept
Explanation

Realisation (or revenue recognition) principle records revenue when earned (goods delivered/services rendered), not when cash received.

20
Question 20 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Cost of goods sold is

A. Opening stock + purchases - closing stock
B. Opening stock + purchases + closing stock
C. Opening stock + purchases
D. Opening stock + sales - closing stock
Explanation

COGS calculates the cost of inventory sold during the period: beginning inventory + purchases - ending inventory.

21
Question 21 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The wages of an office cleaner is classified as

A. Direct labour cost
B. Direct expenses
C. Factory overheads
D. Administrative overhead
Explanation

Office cleaner's wages are indirect costs related to administration, charged to administrative overheads in the profit and loss account.

22
Question 22 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Sales Le120,000; Purchases Le100,000; Opening stock Le10,000; Closing stock Le20,000. The cost of goods sold is

A. Le120,000
B. Le110,000
C. Le90,000
D. Le30,000
Explanation

COGS = Opening stock + Purchases - Closing stock = Le10,000 + Le100,000 - Le20,000 = Le90,000.

23
Question 23 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Sales Le120,000; Purchases Le100,000; Opening stock Le10,000; Closing stock Le20,000. The gross profit or loss is

A. Le30,000 gross profit
B. Le20,000 gross profit
C. Le10,000 profit or loss
D. Le30,000 gross loss
Explanation

Gross profit = Sales - COGS = Le120,000 - Le90,000 = Le30,000.

24
Question 24 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The amount set aside out of profits to strengthen the financial position of the business is

A. Provision
B. Reserve
C. Depreciation
D. Surplus
Explanation

Reserves are portions of profit transferred to a reserve account to bolster financial stability, e.g., general or specific reserves.

25
Question 25 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

A fall in value of a fixed asset due to technological changes is described as

A. Superfluity
B. Wear and tear
C. Obsolescence
D. Depletion
Explanation

Obsolescence is the loss in asset value due to new technology rendering it outdated, even if physically functional.

26
Question 26 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

A credit entry is made in the Plant and Machinery Account for

A. Purchase of an additional plant and machinery
B. Sale of plant and machinery
C. Maintenance of plant and machinery
D. Appreciation of the plant and machinery
Explanation

Sale of plant is credited to reduce the asset account balance, with proceeds debited to cash/bank.

27
Question 27 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

In a manufacturing account, royalties paid is

A. Debited to the trading account
B. Credited to the profit and loss account
C. Credited to the manufacturing account
D. Debited to the manufacturing account
Explanation

Royalties, as direct production costs for rights to manufacture, are debited to the manufacturing account as part of prime cost.

28
Question 28 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

One of the components of manufacturing account is

A. Carriage inwards
B. Manufacturing wages
C. Factory overheads on plant and raw materials consumed
D. Depreciation on plant and machinery
Explanation

Depreciation on plant and machinery is a factory overhead debited to the manufacturing account, allocating fixed asset cost to production.

29
Question 29 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Direct materials used GH¢64,000; Direct labour used GH¢30,000; Production overheads GH¢22,000; Work in progress at beginning GH¢9,000; Work in progress at close GH¢14,000. Total cost of production is

A. GH¢94,000
B. GH¢106,000
C. GH¢111,000
D. GH¢116,000
Explanation

Factory cost = direct mat + direct lab + overhead = GH¢64,000 + GH¢30,000 + GH¢22,000 = GH¢116,000. Cost of production = factory cost + beg WIP - end WIP = GH¢116,000 + GH¢9,000 - GH¢14,000 = GH¢111,000.

30
Question 30 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Direct materials used GH¢64,000; Direct labour used GH¢30,000; Production overheads GH¢22,000; Work in progress at beginning GH¢9,000; Work in progress at close GH¢14,000. Prime cost of production is

A. GH¢64,000
B. GH¢94,000
C. GH¢111,000
D. GH¢116,000
Explanation

Prime cost = direct materials + direct labour = GH¢64,000 + GH¢30,000 = GH¢94,000.

31
Question 31 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The balance on the sales ledger control account at the end of the year represents total

A. Trade debtors at the end of the year
B. Cash sales for the year
C. Credit sales for the year
D. Amount transferred from the sales journal
Explanation

The sales ledger control account balance equals the total of individual debtors' balances, representing net trade debtors.

32
Question 32 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Trade debtors 01/01/2016 GH¢80,000 and 31/12/2016 GH¢100,000; Trade creditors GH¢30,000 and GH¢40,000; Stock GH¢70,000 and GH¢90,000; Cheques received from trade debtors in 2016 GH¢350,000; Payments made to trade creditors in 2016 GH¢220,000. Credit sales for 2016 is

A. GH¢530,000
B. GH¢370,000
C. GH¢350,000
D. GH¢330,000
Explanation

Credit sales = Closing debtors + Cash received from debtors - Opening debtors = GH¢100,000 + GH¢350,000 - GH¢80,000 = GH¢370,000.

33
Question 33 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Trade debtors 01/01/2016 GH¢80,000 and 31/12/2016 GH¢100,000; Trade creditors GH¢30,000 and GH¢40,000; Stock GH¢70,000 and GH¢90,000; Cheques received from trade debtors in 2016 GH¢350,000; Payments made to trade creditors in 2016 GH¢220,000. Credit purchases for 2016 is

A. GH¢290,000
B. GH¢230,000
C. GH¢220,000
D. GH¢210,000
Explanation

Credit purchases = Closing creditors + Payments to creditors - Opening creditors = GH¢40,000 + GH¢220,000 - GH¢30,000 = GH¢230,000.

34
Question 34 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The excess of assets over liabilities is

A. Surplus
B. Deficit
C. Working capital
D. Accumulated fund
Explanation

In balance sheet equation, Assets - Liabilities = Owner's equity (capital or surplus in non-profits).

35
Question 35 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The excess of income over expenditure in a non-profit making organization is called

A. Surplus
B. Deficit
C. Profit
D. Loss
Explanation

Non-profits use 'surplus' for excess income over expenditure, transferred to accumulated fund, unlike 'profit' in businesses.

36
Question 36 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The document prepared by a non-profit making organization to show the financial position at the end of the accounting period is

A. Income and expenditure account
B. Receipts and payments account
C. Balance sheet
D. Trading account
Explanation

The balance sheet shows assets, liabilities, and accumulated fund, reflecting the financial position like in businesses.

37
Question 37 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

The parties who are paid last in the event of winding-up are

A. Preference shareholders
B. Debenture holders
C. Ordinary shareholders
D. Trade creditors
Explanation

In liquidation, ordinary shareholders (equity holders) are residual claimants, paid after secured (debentures), preferential creditors, and preference shareholders.

38
Question 38 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

An event that will not require a change in the profit-sharing ratio of partners in a firm is when

A. A partner dies
B. A partner retires
C. A new partner is admitted
D. Partners assets value appreciates
Explanation

Asset appreciation affects total capital but not the ratio unless specified; death, retirement, admission typically require ratio adjustment or dissolution.

39
Question 39 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Net profit GH¢17,460; Capital Account: Taiwo GH¢50,000, Obi GH¢40,000; Drawings Account: Taiwo GH¢12,000, Obi GH¢10,000; Salary-Obi GH¢1,500; Interest on capital 5%; Interest on drawings 4%; Profit sharing ratio 3:2 for Taiwo and Obi respectively. Taiwo's share of profit is

A. GH¢8,960
B. GH¢7,404
C. GH¢4,936
D. GH¢3,296
Explanation

Interest on capital: Taiwo GH¢2,500, Obi GH¢2,000 = GH¢4,500. Interest on drawings: Taiwo GH¢480, Obi GH¢400 = GH¢880 (added back). Profit to share = 17,460 - 1,500 - 4,500 + 880 = GH¢12,340. Taiwo 3/5 × 12,340 = GH¢7,404.

40
Question 40 of 40
WAEC · Accounting · 2018

Use the following information: Net profit GH¢17,460; Capital Account: Taiwo GH¢50,000, Obi GH¢40,000; Drawings Account: Taiwo GH¢12,000, Obi GH¢10,000; Salary-Obi GH¢1,500; Interest on capital 5%; Interest on drawings 4%; Profit sharing ratio 3:2 for Taiwo and Obi respectively. Obi's share of profit is

A. GH¢8,960
B. GH¢7,404
C. GH¢4,936
D. GH¢3,296
Explanation

Profit to share GH¢12,340. Obi 2/5 × 12,340 = GH¢4,936.

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