CBSE Class 11 Accountancy Important Questions Chapter 8 - Financial Statements 1 - Free PDF Download
FAQs on Important Questions for CBSE Class 11 Accountancy Chapter 8 - Financial Statements 1
1. What are the most important topics to focus on from Chapter 8, Financial Statements 1, for the CBSE Class 11 Accountancy exam 2025-26?
For the CBSE 2025-26 exams, students should prioritise the following high-weightage topics from Financial Statements 1:
- The distinction between Capital and Revenue Expenditure, with examples.
- Preparation of a Trading Account to calculate Gross Profit or Gross Loss.
- Preparation of a Profit and Loss Account to determine Net Profit or Net Loss.
- Understanding the purpose, components, and format of a Balance Sheet.
- Correct classification of items into assets (Current/Non-Current) and liabilities (Current/Non-Current).
2. How are marks typically distributed for important questions from Financial Statements 1 in the Class 11 exams?
Based on recent CBSE paper patterns, the expected marks distribution is:
- 1-mark questions: Objective-type questions asking for definitions (e.g., 'What are current assets?') or a specific item's treatment.
- 3-4 mark questions: Short answer questions requiring differentiation (e.g., 'Distinguish between Carriage Inwards and Carriage Outwards') or explaining the purpose of a financial statement.
- 5-6 mark questions: Long answer questions that involve preparing a complete Trading and Profit & Loss Account or a Balance Sheet from a given trial balance.
3. What is the fundamental difference between Capital Expenditure and Revenue Expenditure, a frequently asked question?
This is a critical concept for exams. Capital Expenditure is an amount spent to acquire or upgrade a long-term asset (like machinery or buildings) that will provide benefits for more than one accounting period. It is shown on the asset side of the Balance Sheet. In contrast, Revenue Expenditure is a recurring expense for the day-to-day running of the business (like salaries or rent) whose benefit is consumed within the same accounting period. It is shown on the debit side of the Trading or Profit & Loss Account.
4. Why is a Trading Account prepared, and how is Gross Profit or Gross Loss treated?
A Trading Account is prepared as the first stage of the income statement to determine the profitability of a business's core trading activities, i.e., buying and selling goods. It matches the sales revenue against the cost of goods sold.
- Gross Profit arises when sales exceed the cost of goods sold and is transferred to the credit side of the Profit & Loss Account.
- Gross Loss occurs when the cost of goods sold is more than the sales revenue and is transferred to the debit side of the Profit & Loss Account.
5. How are 'Carriage Inwards' and 'Carriage Outwards' treated differently in financial statements?
This is a common point of confusion tested in exams. Carriage Inwards refers to the transportation costs incurred to bring goods to the factory or place of business. Since it is a direct expense related to purchases, it is debited to the Trading Account. On the other hand, Carriage Outwards refers to the costs incurred to deliver goods to customers. As a selling and distribution expense, it is considered an indirect expense and is debited to the Profit and Loss Account.
6. Why is a Balance Sheet considered a 'statement' and not an 'account'?
A Balance Sheet is called a statement because it does not have debit and credit columns like a ledger account. Instead, it presents a summary of a company's financial position at a specific point in time by listing Assets on one side and Liabilities and Capital on the other. Its purpose is to verify the fundamental accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Capital) and provide a snapshot of the company's solvency and financial health, which is a key objective as per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus.
7. What are some common errors students must avoid when solving questions on Financial Statements 1?
To score full marks, students should avoid these common pitfalls:
- Misclassification: Confusing revenue expenses (like 'repairs') with capital expenses (like 'purchase of machinery').
- Incorrect Placement: Placing a direct expense like 'Wages' in the Profit & Loss Account instead of the Trading Account.
- Omission of Closing Stock: Forgetting to record Closing Stock on the credit side of the Trading Account and the asset side of the Balance Sheet.
- Calculation Errors: Incorrectly calculating or carrying forward the Gross Profit/Loss or Net Profit/Loss.
8. How can a student identify and prepare for Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions from this chapter?
HOTS questions from Financial Statements 1 test the application of concepts rather than direct recall. For the 2025-26 exams, expect questions where you might need to:
- Analyse a pre-made, incorrect financial statement and identify and correct the errors.
- Explain the impact on net profit if a capital expenditure is incorrectly treated as a revenue expenditure.
- From a jumbled list of items, classify them into the correct financial statement and head.
- Justify the treatment of specific items like 'Outstanding Expenses' or 'Prepaid Insurance' based on accounting principles.
9. Why are 'Outstanding Expenses' shown as a liability on the Balance Sheet?
This is a frequently asked conceptual question. According to the accrual basis of accounting, expenses are recorded when they are incurred, not when they are paid. An outstanding expense represents a cost for a service or benefit that the business has already received during the accounting period, but for which payment has not yet been made. This creates a financial obligation to pay in the future, which is the definition of a liability. Therefore, it is shown on the liabilities side of the Balance Sheet.
10. What is the best strategy to master the preparation of financial statements for the Class 11 exam?
A systematic approach is key to scoring high marks. Students should:
- Thoroughly learn the specific formats for the Trading Account, P&L Account, and Balance Sheet as per the CBSE syllabus.
- Create a checklist of direct vs. indirect expenses to avoid placement errors.
- Practice numerous problems to improve both speed and accuracy in classifying items and performing calculations.
- Pay special attention to the treatment of Opening Stock and Closing Stock.
- Always ensure the Balance Sheet totals match, as this confirms the arithmetical accuracy of your work.











