UNIT 1
Paper 03/1: The Project – 20 per cent
Marks earned will be pro-rated over the three Modules.
The aims of the project are to:
1. allow students to ask their own questions and find appropriate answers;
2. allow teachers the opportunity to participate in the assessment of their students;
3. promote investigative skills;
4. ensure that assessment takes place in a more authentic environment;
5. explore more fully some areas of the Unit which cannot be assessed adequately under
examination conditions;
6. enable students to experience the environment within which accounting and reporting
activities occur in the Caribbean.
1. Guidelines for selecting task for School-Based Assessment
Candidates’ performance will be reported by Unit and Module.
The syllabus lends itself to a range of accounting issues that are suitable for investigation.
The topic selected for investigation should reflect legal, social, ethical and technological
issues and their impact on accounting in business entities in the Caribbean. The following
table provides a list of such topics, however, candidates may select a topic that is not
included in the list provided that they can report on the impact of such on accounting.
(a) Social and ethical issues in accounting
(b) Liquidation and receivership
(c) Internal controls
(d) Accounting standards
(e) Technology and accounting
(f) Incomplete records
(g) Performance analysis
(h) Financial reporting and disclosure practices
(i) Accounting and reporting practices in the various forms of business entities
Auditing
Candidates should study the specific objectives provided in the syllabus and select one or
more than one objective that fit within their area of investigation. The specific objectives
provide the context within which the selected topic will be investigated.
In presenting the results of your investigation whether you select one or more than one
objective from one or more than one Module, your report should present a coherent
investigation, rather than a disjointed piece of work. Students doing more than one subject
in the Business cognate group may submit one SBA under a theme which covers this group.
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2. Management of the Project
(a) An early start to planning project work is highly recommended. Each candidate
should know the requirements of the project and its assessment procedures as part
of the orientation to the unit.
(b) Teachers should guide the candidate in choosing an appropriate topic that relates to
the candidate’s interest and the specific objectives identified.
(c) A schedule of the dates for submitting project work (agreed by teachers and
candidates) should be firmly established.
(d) The teacher should offer guidance in the data collection process and the preparation
of the report.
(e) The following primary sources of data can be used by candidates in their research
activities: newspapers published financial statements, magazines (such as News
Week, Business Week, Times), trade and professional journals, accounting
professionals, local legislation, accounting standards and the Internet.
3. Project Reports
Candidates are required to select a topic for investigation and write a project report
between 2000 and 2500 words, preferably type written and double-spaced. This report
should contain the following:
(a) Title;
(b) Table of contents;
(c) Acknowledgements;
(d) Introduction;
(e) Report;
(i) Aims and objectives of your Project – (issues being explored);
(ii) Literature Review;
(iii) Data Collection;
(iv) Data Presentation and Analysis;
(v) Evaluation;
(vi) Recommendations;
(vii) Conclusion;
(f) Appendices (such as questionnaires, diagrams, charts, statistical data);
(g) Bibliography.
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4. Description of terms used in the Project:
Aim and Objectives
(a) The aim of the Project refers to what the Project hopes to achieve.
(b) An Objective of the Project refers to the specific research question you are seeking to
answer.
Literature Review
A literature review is an account of what has been published on a topic by researchers.
Data Collection
The method or methods used to collect the data/information for the project (including
questionnaires, interviews and other methods).
Data Presentation and Analysis
Presentation of the results of the investigation using analysis tools.
Evaluation
An evaluation of research findings. Relating the findings of your investigation to the
literature.
The following pages outline how the Project Report will be assessed.
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MARK SCHEME FOR SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT
MARKS
1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (6)
• Aim(s) and at least two objectives of the study clearly stated and relevant
to the topic chosen. 6
• Aim(s) and one objective of the study clearly stated and relevant to the
topic. 5
• Aim(s) and at least two objectives of the study bearing relevance to the
topic stated but not clearly stated. 4
• Aim(s) and one objective of the study bearing relevance to the topic but
not clearly stated. 3
• Aim(s) and two objectives of the study stated. 2
• Aim(s) and one objective of the study stated. 1
2. DATA COLLECTION (8)
• The method(s) of investigation clearly stated. 1-2
• Justification for the method(s) adequate. 1-3
• A statement or explanation of limitations stated. 1-3
3. LITERATURE REVIEW (6)
• Thorough treatment of literature related to topic. 5-6
• Fairly thorough treatment of literature related to topic. 3-4
• Partial treatment of literature related to the topic. 1-2
4. DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS (11)
• Candidate correctly applies most principles, concepts and skills to
problems/situations and uses analysis tools to analyse the most relevant
issues in a very competent way.
9-11
• Candidate applies principles, concepts and skills to problems/situations
and analyses issues in a fairly competent way.
6-8
• Candidate applies limited skills and principles and analyses few issues in a
limited way.
3-5
• Candidate shows little or no skill in the application of principles/concepts
and in analysing issues.
1-2
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5. EVALUATION (12)
• Candidate uses well-defined criteria, that is, accuracy, consistency, logical
order to evaluate/make inferences from data collected in a very
competent way, including reasons for judgement/decision.
9-12
• Candidate uses well defined criteria that is, to evaluate/make inferences
from data collected in a fairly competent way.
6-8
• Candidate uses one or two criteria to evaluate data collected in a limited
way.
3-5
• Candidate shows little or no skill in evaluating data collected. 1-2
6. RECOMMENDATIONS (4)
• Candidate makes recommendations, logically deduced from data
collected.
3-4
• Candidate makes recommendations that have limited relationship to data
collected.
1-2
7. CONCLUSION (3)
• Conclusion based on findings and related to the purposes of the project.
• Conclusion related to the purpose of the project but not based on
findings.
2-3
8. PRESENTATION OF PROJECT (10)
• Table of contents presented in an acceptable format. 1
• Candidate communicates information using correct grammar. 1-2
• Candidates use media other than text to present information (graph,
tables, charts, diagrams).
1-2
• Bibliography presented in an acceptable manner. 1-2
• Candidate organises project report presenting the information logically
and coherently.
1-3
Total Marks (60)
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