Test Your Financial Accounting Knowledge with top 25 MCQ's: Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

 Mastering Financial Accounting: Resources for Practicing Multiple Choice Questions


  1. Which of the following financial statements shows the financial position of a company at a particular point in time? a) Income statement b) Balance sheet c) Statement of cash flows d) Statement of retained earnings

Answer: b) Balance sheet

  1. Which accounting method records transactions when they are incurred, not when the cash is received or paid? a) Cash basis accounting b) Accrual basis accounting c) Modified cash basis accounting d) Hybrid accounting

Answer: b) Accrual basis accounting

  1. What is the purpose of a trial balance? a) To show the financial performance of a company b) To identify errors in the accounting records c) To summarize the cash transactions of a company d) To provide information on the assets and liabilities of a company

Answer: b) To identify errors in the accounting records

  1. Which financial statement reports a company's revenues and expenses over a period of time? a) Balance sheet b) Income statement c) Statement of cash flows d) Statement of retained earnings

Answer: b) Income statement

  1. Which of the following represents an increase in assets or a decrease in liabilities? a) Debit b) Credit c) Equity d) Expense

Answer: a) Debit

  1. What is the accounting equation? a) Assets = Liabilities + Equity b) Revenues - Expenses = Net income c) Current assets + Fixed assets = Total assets d) Cash inflows - Cash outflows = Cash balance

Answer: a) Assets = Liabilities + Equity

  1. What is the purpose of a cash flow statement? a) To report a company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a particular point in time b) To report a company's revenues and expenses over a period of time c) To show how a company's cash balance changed over a period of time d) To provide information on a company's retained earnings

Answer: c) To show how a company's cash balance changed over a period of time

  1. What is the purpose of adjusting entries? a) To record transactions that were missed or recorded incorrectly b) To close out revenue and expense accounts at the end of an accounting period c) To transfer balances from one account to another d) To reconcile bank statements with accounting records

Answer: a) To record transactions that were missed or recorded incorrectly

  1. Which of the following accounts is a contra account to accounts receivable? a) Bad debt expense b) Allowance for doubtful accounts c) Prepaid expense d) Accrued expenses

Answer: b) Allowance for doubtful accounts

  1. What is the purpose of the closing process in accounting? a) To record adjusting entries b) To reconcile bank statements with accounting records c) To transfer balances from temporary accounts to the retained earnings account d) To prepare financial statements

Answer: c) To transfer balances from temporary accounts to the retained earnings account

  1. What is the accounting equation? A. Assets = Liabilities + Equity B. Assets + Liabilities = Equity C. Assets - Liabilities = Equity D. Assets x Liabilities = Equity

Answer: A. Assets = Liabilities + Equity

  1. What is the double-entry accounting system? A. A system that records every financial transaction in two accounts B. A system that records only revenue and expenses C. A system that records only assets and liabilities D. A system that records only assets and revenue

Answer: A. A system that records every financial transaction in two accounts

  1. What is the purpose of the trial balance? A. To ensure that all financial transactions have been recorded accurately in the ledger B. To prepare the financial statements C. To identify errors and make adjusting entries D. To calculate the net income or loss of the company

Answer: A. To ensure that all financial transactions have been recorded accurately in the ledger

  1. Which financial statement shows the financial position of a company at a specific point in time? A. Income statement B. Balance sheet C. Cash flow statement D. Statement of changes in equity

Answer: B. Balance sheet

  1. Which of the following is an example of a current asset? A. Property, plant, and equipment B. Goodwill C. Accounts receivable D. Patents

Answer: C. Accounts receivable

  1. What is the purpose of the statement of cash flows? A. To show the revenue and expenses of a company for a specific period of time B. To show the changes in equity of a company for a specific period of time C. To show the inflows and outflows of cash for a specific period of time D. To show the assets and liabilities of a company at a specific point in time

Answer: C. To show the inflows and outflows of cash for a specific period of time

  1. What is the purpose of the adjusting entries? A. To ensure that all financial transactions have been recorded accurately in the ledger B. To record the depreciation of fixed assets C. To record the accruals and deferrals of revenue and expenses D. To calculate the net income or loss of the company

Answer: C. To record the accruals and deferrals of revenue and expenses

  1. What is the purpose of the closing entries? A. To ensure that all financial transactions have been recorded accurately in the ledger B. To record the depreciation of fixed assets C. To record the accruals and deferrals of revenue and expenses D. To transfer the balances of revenue, expenses, and dividends to the retained earnings account

Answer: D. To transfer the balances of revenue, expenses, and dividends to the retained earnings account

  1. Which of the following is an example of a long-term liability? A. Accounts payable B. Short-term notes payable C. Long-term notes payable D. Accrued expenses

Answer: C. Long-term notes payable

  1. What is the purpose of the general ledger? A. To record all financial transactions of the company B. To prepare the financial statements C. To record the adjusting entries D. To record the closing entries

Answer: A. To record all financial transactions of the company


  1. Which of the following is a non-current asset? a) Inventory b) Accounts receivable c) Property, plant, and equipment d) Prepaid expenses Answer: c) Property, plant, and equipment

  2. What is the accounting equation? a) Assets + Liabilities = Owner's Equity b) Revenue - Expenses = Net Income c) Assets - Liabilities = Owner's Equity d) Revenue + Expenses = Net Income Answer: c) Assets - Liabilities = Owner's Equity

  3. Which financial statement shows a company's revenues, expenses, and net income or loss for a period of time? a) Balance sheet b) Income statement c) Statement of cash flows d) Statement of changes in equity Answer: b) Income statement

  4. Which of the following is an example of an adjusting entry? a) Recording a customer payment for a sale made on credit b) Recording the purchase of inventory on credit c) Recording the accrual of unpaid salaries at the end of a period d) Recording a cash payment for rent expense Answer: c) Recording the accrual of unpaid salaries at the end of a period

  5. Which inventory costing method assumes that the cost of goods sold is based on the cost of the most recently purchased inventory items? a) LIFO b) FIFO c) Weighted average d) Specific identification Answer: a) LIFO

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