What is examined
Broad syllabus content:
The key topic area headings are as follows:
- International sources of authority
- Elements of financial statements
- Presentation and additional disclosures
- Preparation of external financial reports for single entities
- Preparation of external financial reports for combined entities and joint ventures.
1. International sources of authority
- The structure of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
- The standard setting process
- The role of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee
- Progress towards international harmonisation
- The IASB 'Framework for the preparation and presentation of financial statements'
- The first time application of International Financial Reporting Standards.
2. Elements of financial statements
- Property, plant and equipment
- Intangible assets
- Goodwill
- Current assets including inventories
- Construction contracts
- Liabilities
- Financial instruments
- Provisions and contingencies
- Employment and post-employment benefits
- Accounting for tax
- Accounting for agriculture
- Share based payment
- IFRS 6: Exploration for and evaluation of mineral resources.
3. Presentation and additional disclosures
- Events after the balance sheet date
- Earnings per share
- Related party disclosures
- Interim financial reporting
- Effects of changes in foreign exchange rates
- Segment reporting.
4. Preparation of external financial reports for single entities
- Income statements and discontinuing operations
- Cash flow statements
- Statement of changes in equity.
5. Preparation of external financial reports for combined entities and joint ventures
- Definitions of subsidiaries, investments in associates and joint ventures
- Exclusions from consolidations
- Preparation of consolidated balance sheets and income statements
- Equity accounting
- Proportionate consolidation and joint ventures.
Excluded topics
The following topics are specifically excluded from the syllabus:- Partnership and branch financial statements
- Complex group structures, including sub-subsidiaries or mixed groups and foreign subsidiaries
- Piece-meal acquisitions, disposal of subsidiaries and group re-constructions
- Financial statements of banks and similar financial institutions
- Group cash flow statements
- Schemes of reorganisation and reconstruction
- Company/share valuation
- Accounting for insurance entities
- International financial reporting exposure drafts and discussion drafts
- The international public sector perspective
- Multi-employer benefit schemes
- Share-based payment transactions with cash alternatives.


