CAIE IGCSE Business Studies 5.5 analysis of accounts
Use this accounts-analysis page to interpret ratios, compare financial performance and explain how users rely on accounts.
- Syllabus
- 2027–2029
- Course
- Business 0264
Use this accounts-analysis page to interpret ratios, compare financial performance and explain how users rely on accounts.
GTB is a business which operates in the tertiary sector.It owns 5 cafés selling food and drinks. The business uses social media as its method of promotion.The Finance Manager,Moeen,is analysing GTB's financial statements.An extract is shown in Table 2.1.He is considering ways to improve GTB's profit margin.Moeen knows there are other users that are interested in the accounts of a business.

Table 2.1
(c)Outline two ways GTB could improve its profit margin.
Way 1:
Way 2:
Award 1 mark for each relevant way (max 2).
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2).
Points might include:
- Increase price [k] of the food [app]
- Lower/control fixed costs (or examples such as lower rent) [k] of its cafes [app]
- Lower/control variable costs (or examples) [k] which could help increase the profit margin of 25\% [app]
Other appropriate responses should be credited.
To use words from the stem as application, the reference must be appropriate (i.e. make sense) in relation to the point being made.
The following words are likely to be appropriate for this question:
- Café
- Selling food/drinks or examples such as coffee
- 5 (cafes)
- 25% (profit margin)
- $ 600000 (revenue)
- $ 150000 (profit)
- $ 750000 (capital employed)
- Social media for promotion
Other appropriate examples can be credited.
Do you think banks are the main external users of the accounts of a business? Justify your answer.
Award up to 2 marks for identification of relevant points. Award up to 2 marks for relevant development of points. Award up to 2 marks for a justified decision as to whether banks are the main external users of the accounts of a business.
Points might include:
Banks:
- Whether to give a bank loan [k] to see if a business can repay [an]
- Whether a business can repay loans/overdraft [k] as this will influence the terms/interest rate/period of the loan [an]
- To help decide the interest rate to set [k] to reflect the level of risk [an]
- To decide the amount to lend [k]
- Check interest payments can/are being made [k]
Other users might include:
Government [k]:
- Want to check the profit [an] / to know the correct amount of tax has been paid/will be paid [an]
Suppliers/Trade payables [k]:
- Assess/shows liquidity position [an] to know whether the business is likely to be able to repay them [an]
- See level of debt [an]
Other appropriate responses should be credited.
This is a general question so there are no marks for application.
Some points can be [k] or [an] but do not award the same point twice.
[K] can be awarded for identifying what information the user is looking for, or how they would use the accounts.
Some points can be awarded for different external users but only award once.
Justification might include:
Banks will use the accounts to check whether a business can repay loans [k] as this is likely to influence the interest rate offered [an]. Suppliers [k] will want to know the liquidity position of a business [an]. Banks are likely to be the main external users of accounts because banks often lend large sums of money [eval], whereas suppliers may be less interested in the accounts if orders are small [eval].
AHG is an established business as it has been operating for a long time. It sells garden products including plants and flowers. AHG uses competitive pricing. The business has 4 managers and 30 other employees. All AHG's managers use delegation. The Finance Manager is analysing AHG's statement of financial position as she is interested in its liquidity. An extract is shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1
Outline two possible reasons why liquidity is important to AHG.
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Award 1 mark for each relevant reason (max 2).
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2).
Points might include:
- To make sure the business has access to enough cash/money to pay day-to-
day expenses / (short term) liabilities / avoid interest charges / keep its
suppliers [k] as shown by the current ratio of 1.1 [app]
- To help arrange/apply for finance [k] for this established business [app]
- Ensure business survival / allow it to continue trading [k] to sell flowers [app]
- To provide for (unforeseen) emergencies [k]
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
To use words from the stem as application, the reference must be appropriate (i.e. make sense) in relation to the point being made.
The following words are likely to be appropriate for this question:
- Plants / flowers / gardening products or other examples such as seeds
- 660000 to 600000
- Established (business) / operating for a long time
- 4 managers
- 30 or 34 employees
- Competitive pricing
Other appropriate examples in context can still be credited.