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ACCA PM Syllabus
ACCA PM Syllabus
to
June 2019
Performance
Management
(PM)
Syllabus and study guide
Performance Management (PM)
syllabus and study guide This shows the breakdown of the main
capabilities (sections) of the syllabus
into subject areas. This is the blueprint
Overall aim of the syllabus
for the detailed study guide.
This explains briefly the overall objective
Approach to examining the syllabus
of the syllabus and indicates in the
broadest sense the capabilities to be
This section briefly explains the
developed within the exam.
structure of the examination and how it
is assessed.
Relational diagram linking
Performance Management (PM) with
Study Guide
other ACCA exams
This is the main document that students,
This diagram shows direct and indirect
education and content providers should
links between this exam and other
use as the basis of their studies,
exams preceding or following it. It
instruction and materials. Examinations
indicates where you are expected to
will be based on the detail of the study
have underpinning knowledge and
guide which comprehensively identifies
where it would be useful to review
what could be assessed in any
previous learning before undertaking
examination session. The study guide is
study.
a precise reflection and breakdown of
the syllabus. It is divided into sections
Main capabilities
based on the main capabilities identified
in the syllabus. These sections are
The aim of the syllabus is broken down
divided into subject areas which relate to
into several main capabilities which
the sub-capabilities included in the
divide the syllabus and study guide into
detailed syllabus. Subject areas are
discrete sections.
broken down into sub-headings which
describe the detailed outcomes that
Relational diagram of the main
could be assessed in examinations.
capabilities
These outcomes are described using
verbs indicating what exams may
This diagram illustrates the flows and
require students to demonstrate, and the
links between the main capabilities
broad intellectual level at which these
(sections) of the syllabus and should be
may need to be demonstrated
used as an aid to planning teaching and
(*see intellectual levels below).
learning in a structured way.
Syllabus rationale
The structure of examinations varies The total exam time is therefore 3 hours
within and between levels. and 20 minutes. Prior to the start of the
exam candidates are given an extra 10
The Applied Knowledge examinations minutes to read the exam instructions.
contain 100% compulsory questions to
encourage candidates to study across Paper-based exams
the breadth of each syllabus. These are
assessed by a two-hour computer based For paper-based exams 15 minutes are
examination. added to the three hours to reflect the
manual effort required as compared to
computer-based exams. All paper-
The Corporate and Business Law exam based and computer-based questions
is a two-hour computer-based objective have been subject to the same quality
test examination for English and Global, assurance process. There will be time
and available as a paper based version awarded by the invigilator to read the
for all variants. exam instructions.
Guide to ACCA
Examination Assessment
ACCA reserves the right to examine
anything contained within the study
guide at any examination session. This
includes knowledge, techniques,
principles, theories, and concepts as
specified. For the financial accounting,
audit and assurance, law and tax exams
except where indicated otherwise,
ACCA will publish examinable
documents once a year to indicate
exactly what regulations and legislation
could potentially be assessed within
identified examination sessions.
This syllabus and study guide is designed to help with planning study and to provide
detailed information on what could be assessed in any examination session.
Aim
Main capabilities
On successful completion of this exam, candidates should be able to:
C Identify and apply appropriate budgeting techniques and methods for planning
and control and use standard costing systems to measure and control business
performance and to identify remedial action
This diagram illustrates the flows and links between the main capabilities (sections)
of the syllabus and should be used as an aid to planning teaching and learning in a
structured way.
Detailed syllabus
D Performance measurement and
control
A Specialist cost and management
accounting techniques
1. Performance management
information
1. Activity-based costing
systems
2. Target costing
2. Sources of management information
3. Life-cycle costing
3. Management reports
4. Throughput accounting
4. Performance analysis in private
sector organisations
5. Environmental accounting
5. Divisional performance and transfer
B Decision-making techniques
pricing
1. Relevant cost analysis
6. Performance analysis in not-for-
profit organisations and the public
2. Cost volume analysis
sector
3. Limiting factors
7. External considerations and
behavioural aspects
4. Pricing decisions
3. Standard costing
7. Performance analysis
All questions are compulsory. The exam will contain both computational and
discursive elements.
Computer-based exams
Paper-based exams
The two 20 mark questions will come from decision making techniques, budgeting
and control and/or performance measurement and control areas of the syllabus. The
section A questions and the questions in section B can cover any areas of the
syllabus.
c) Suggest how a target cost gap might b) Identify and calculate relevant costs
be closed.[2] for a specific decision situations from
given data.[2]
3. Life-cycle costing
c) Explain and apply the concept of
a) Identify the costs involved at opportunity costs.[2]
different stages of the life-cycle.[2]
2. Cost volume profit analysis
b) Derive a life cycle cost or profit in
manufacturing and service a) Explain the nature of CVP
industries.[2] analysis.[2]
c) Identify the benefits of life cycle b) Calculate and interpret the break-
costing.[2] even point and margin of safety.[2]
a) Explain the use of standard costs.[2] b) Identify and explain those factors
that could and could not be allowed
b) Outline the methods used to derive to revise an original budget.[2]
standard costs and discuss the
different types of cost possible.[2] c) Calculate, identify the cause of and
explain planning and operational
c) Explain and illustrate the importance variances for:
of flexing budgets in performance i) sales, including market size and
management.[2] market share;
ii) materials;
d) Explain and apply the principle of iii) labour, including the effect of the
controllability in the performance learning curve.[2]
management system.[2]
d) Explain and discuss the
4. Material mix and yield variances manipulation issues involved in
revising budgets.[2]
a) Calculate, identify the cause of, and
explain material mix and yield 7. Performance analysis
variances.[2]
a) Analyse and evaluate past
b) Explain the wider issues involved in performance using the results of
changing material mix e.g. cost, variance analysis.[2]
quality and performance
measurement issues.[2] b) Use variance analysis to assess how
future performance of an
c) Identify and explain the relationship organisation or business can be
of the material usage variance with improved.[2]
the material mix and yield
variances.[2] c) Identify the factors which influence
behaviour.[2]
d) Suggest and justify alternative
methods of controlling production
processes.[2]
The main areas of change to the syllabus are summarised in the table below.