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Marginal and absorption costing

Unit: Management accounting

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April 2025

1 Questions
Question 3b
​​Explain TWO causes of differences in profits reported by marginal costing and absorption costing methods


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December 2024

1 Questions
Question 2b
​ ​​The following information relates to the unit manufacturing costs of product “TM” made by Timua Ltd.:

Sh.
Sh.
Selling price 
200
Less:
Variable production costs
120
Variable selling cost
10
130
Contribution
70

Additional information:
1
The budgeted fixed production cost is Sh.4,200,000 per annum for a normal production of 140,000 units
2
Budgeted fixed selling and administrative overheads are Sh.2,800,000 per annum.
3
The budgeted fixed costs are incurred evenly during the year.
4
There are two periods in a year, each of 6 months.
5
During the latest financial year, the following results were achieved:
Period 1
Period 2
5
Production (units)
75,000
65,000
Sales (units)
60,000
70,000
6
There was no opening inventory at the beginning of the year.
7
Fixed production costs and selling and administrative costs incurred during the year were equal to the budget.

Required: 
Prepare profit or loss statements for each of the two periods using each of the following presentation methods: 

(i) Marginal Costing. 

(ii) Absorption Costing.


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August 2024

1 Questions
Question 4a
​​Highlight FOUR arguments for the use of marginal costing.


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April 2024

1 Questions
Question 1c
​ ​​Assuming the budget of OJ Ltd. for the month of May 2024 had been prepared using marginal costing principle, calculate: 

(i) The net profit.

(ii) The break-even point (BEP) in sales value.


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December 2023

1 Questions
Question 4a
​ ​​Melta Ltd. has just completed its first year in operation. The unit costs and selling price based on absorption costing basis are as follows:

Standard cost and selling price: 
Sh.
Direct material
(2 kilograms at 350 per kilogram)
700
Direct labour
(0.5 hours at Sh.1,600 per hour)
800
Production overhead:
Variable overheads
(0.5 hours at Sh.600 per hour)
300
(0.5 hours at Sh.600 per hour)
(0.5 hours at Sh.900 per hour)
450
Standard production cost
2,250
Standard profit margin
2,750
Standard selling price
5,000

Additional information:
1
Other budgeted costs during the period in relation to selling and distribution and administration were as follows:
1
Variable costs
Fixed costs (Sh.)
Selling and distribution
10% of sales
  9,000,000
Administration
12,300,000
2
During the year, the company had the following activity levels:
  • Actual production was 24,000 units.
  • Units sold were 21,300 units
3
Actual fixed production overheads was Sh.300,000 less than absorbed fixed production overheads.
4
Budgeted fixed selling and distribution overheads were Sh.50,000 less than the actual fixed overheads.
5
Melta Ltd. used an expected activity level of 24,000 direct labour hours to compute the predetermined overhead rates.

Required: 
Prepare the following operating statements: 

(i) Absorption costing profit or loss statement. 

(ii) Marginal costing profit or loss statement. 

(iii) A reconciliation statement for absorption and marginal profits.


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August 2023

1 Questions
Question 2b
​ ​ ​ ​​Tazam Ltd. is developing a cost accounting system. Initially it has been decided to create four centres: Accommodation deals with guests, Kitchen prepares meals while Tours and Entertainment are internal service recreation centres. 

The following overheads details have been estimated for the month of August 2023:

Type of overhead 
Sh.“000”
Rent and taxes
75,000
General lighting
30,000
Indirect wages
150,000
Petrol and engine oil
88,500
Depreciation on tour buses
500,000
843,500

The following information is also available:

Total
Accommodation
Kitchen
Tours
Entertainment
Direct wages (Sh.“000”)
500,000
150,000
100,000
150,000
100,000
Floor area (​\(m^2\)​)
100,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
25,000
Value of tour buses (Sh.“000”)
1,250,000
350,000
650,000
150,000
100,000
Lighting points
60
20
15
10
15
Number of petrol fillings
150
40
50
60
-

Additional information:
1
In August 2023, it is estimated that there will be 20 guest-nights in Accommodation and 480 meals will be served in the Kitchen. 
2
Secondary allocation of overheads is as follows:
2
Cost centre
Tours
Entertainment
Accommodation
60%
50%
Kitchen
30%
30%
Tours
-
20%
Entertainment
10%
-

Required:
(i) Prepare an overhead analysis statement (OAS) showing primary allocation to each centre. 

(ii) Secondary allocation of the internal service recreation centre costs to production departments using simultaneous method. 

(iii) Calculate the appropriate overhead absorption rates for Accommodation and Kitchen. 


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April 2023

2 Questions
Question 4a
​​Discuss FOUR limitations that a firm might encounter when operating a marginal costing system. (


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Question 4b
​ ​ ​​Grate Ltd. manufactures and sells a single product branded “GL”. The cost data for the product is as follows:

Variable cost per unit:
Sh.
Direct materials 
60
Direct labour
120
Variable production overhead
40
Fixed production overhead
80
Variable selling overhead 
30
330
Fixed cost per month:
Sh.
Fixed production overhead
2,400,000
Fixed selling overhead
1,800,000
4,200,000

Additional information:
1
The product is sold for Sh.400 per unit.
2
Grate Ltd. budgeted to produce and sell 30,000 units per month.
3
Actual production and sales units for the months of January 2023 and February 2023 are as follows:
3


January
February
Production
(units)

30,000
30,000
Sales
(units)

26,000
34,000
4
There was no opening inventory or work-in-progress as at the start of January 2023.

Required: 
Prepare profit or loss statements based on: 

(i) Marginal costing technique. 

(ii) Absorption costing technique.


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December 2022

1 Questions
Question 4a
​​Explain FOUR arguments in favour of marginal costing system.


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August 2022

1 Questions
Question 2b
​ ​ ​ ​​Betacare Enterprise produces several products which pass through two production departments in its factory. These two departments are concerned with filling and sealing operations. There are two service departments; canteen and boiler house in the factory. 

Additional information:
1
Predetermined overheard absorptions rate, based on direct labour hours are established for the two production departments.
2
The budgeted expenditure for these two departments for the period just ended, including the appointments of service department overheads was as follows:
  • Filling centre Sh.110,040
  • Sealing centre Sh.53,300
3
Budgeted direct labour hours were 13,100 hours for filling cost centre and 10,250 hours for sealing cost centre.
4
Service department overheads are apportioned as follows:
4
Canteen
%
Boiler house
%
Production department:
Filling centre
40
50
Sealing centre
50
30
Canteen
Boiler house
%
%
Service department:
Canteen
-
20
Boiler house
10
-
Total
100
100
5
During the period just ended, actual overhead costs and activity were as follows:
5
Sh.
Direct labour hours
Filling centre
74,260
12,820
Sealing centre
38,115 
10,075
Canteen
25,050
Boiler House
24,375
 
Required: 
Reapportion and calculate the overheads absorption rates in each production cost centre using: 

(i) Stepwise technique. 

(ii) Simultaneous technique. 

(iii) Compute over or under absorption of overheads under (b) (ii) above for filling and sealing production departments.


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April 2022

1 Questions
Question 4a
​​Distinguish between "marginal costing" and "absorption costing" techniques.


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December 2021

1 Questions
Question 3a
​ ​ ​​The Cost Accountant of ABC Ltd. has provided the following information relating to production of a single product branded "Zed":

Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Production (Kgs)
30,000
38,000
27.000
Sales (Kgs)
30,000
27,000
38,000
Opening stock (Kgs)
-
-
11,000
Closing stock (Kgs)
-
11,000
-

Additional information:
1
The financial details for one unit of product "Zed", based on a normal activity level of 30,000 Kgs is as follows: 
1
Cost per Kg (Sh.)
Direct material
1.50
Direct labour
1.00
Production overheads (300% of labour)
3.00
Total cost
5.50
2
The selling price of product "Zed" is Sh.9 per kg
3
Administrative overheads are fixed at Sh.25,000 per period whereas one third of production overheads are fixed. 

Required: 
Prepare operating statement using: 

(i) Variable costing. 

(ii) Absorption costing.


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May 2018

1 Questions
Question 5b
​​Highlight two advantages of marginal costing.


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May 2017

1 Questions
Question 2
​ ​ ​​The following financial data relate to Chestar Manufacturing Ltd. for the year ended 31 March 2017:

Sh.
Opening Stock:
 - Finished goods (875 units)
74,375
 - Work-in-progress
32,000
Direct labour
450,000
Raw materials consumed
780,000
Factory overheads
300,000
Goodwilu
100,000
Closing stock:
 - Finished goods (375 units)
41,250
 - Work-in-progress
38,667
Sales (14,500 units)
2,080,000
Rent received from godowns
18,000
Interest received (net)
45,000
Selling and distribution overheads
61,000
Bad debts
12,000
Dividends paid
85,000
Administration overheads
295,000

Additional information:
  1. Factory overheads are absorbed at 60% of direct wages. 
  2. Administration overheads are recovered at 20% of factory cost. 
  3. Selling and distribution overheads are charged at Sh.4 per unit sold. 
  4. Opening stock of finished goods is valued at Sh.104 per unit. 
  5. The company values work-in-progress at factory cost for both financial and cost profit reporting.

Required:

(a).  Statements of income for the year ended 31 March 2017 showing profit as per financial records and as per costing records. 

(b).  A statement reconciling the profit as per costing records with the profit as per financial records. 


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November 2015

1 Questions
Question 1c
​ ​ ​​The net profit of Pine Ltd.. a manufacturing concern for the year ended 30 September 2015 as shown by the financia! accounts amounted to Sh.257,510. The cost accounts for the same period disclosed a net profit of Sh.344,800. 

On examination of both sets of accounts, the following facts were discovered:


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

 Production overheads under-recovered in cost accounts 
Administrative overheads over-recovered in cost accounts
Depreciation charged in financial accounts
Depreciation recovered in cost accounts 
Interest on investments not included in cost accounts
 Obsolescence loss charged in financial accounts
Income tax provided for in financial accounts 
 Bank interest and dividends received in financial accounts
Loss.due.to.depreciation.in.stock.value.charged.in.financial.accounts
Sh.
6,240
3,400
22,400
25,000
16,000
11,400
80,600
2,450
13,500

Required:
 A reconciliation statement between the net profit as per cost accounts and as per financial accounts.


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