CSS 2019 – Accountancy & Auditing: Examiner’s Feedback and Student Guide

Introduction

Accountancy & Auditing is
considered one of the most technical but scoring optionals in CSS. It is
usually chosen by candidates with a background in commerce, business, or
finance. However, the examiner’s report for CE-2019 showed that while
some candidates demonstrated solid preparation, the majority struggled due to
weak concepts, poor practice in numerical problems, and lack of balance between
theory and application. Let’s unpack the examiner’s insights, the mistakes
aspirants made, and strategies to prepare effectively.

Examiner
Feedback (2019)

The examiner observed:

• Overall performance was unsatisfactory.
• Candidates performed slightly better in numerical
  questions, but most failed in theoretical/analytical questions.
• Many answers lacked conceptual clarity and
  contained irrelevant material.
• Auditing and Accounting Standards questions were either
  avoided or attempted very poorly.
• A significant number of candidates could not manage
  time properly and left questions unanswered.
• The few high scorers were those who combined conceptual
  clarity, practical application, and neat presentation【Examiner-Reports-CE-2019.pdf†L81-L88】.

Common
Mistakes by Candidates

1. Weak theoretical knowledge
   • Many could not explain basic concepts of auditing,
     IFRS, or accounting principles.
2. Over-reliance on numericals
   • Candidates focused only on problem-solving but failed
     in theoretical parts.
3. Selective preparation
   • Ignoring cost accounting, management accounting, or
     auditing portions.
4. Time mismanagement
   • Spending too much time on one numerical question and
     leaving others incomplete.
5. Weak presentation
   • Lack of structured formats, headings, and neat
     workings.

Practical
Preparation Strategies

1. Build strong conceptual foundations
   • Revise accounting standards (IFRS), auditing
     principles, cost and management accounting basics.
2. Balance numericals and theory
   • Allocate equal time to practicing both problem-solving
     and conceptual topics.
3. Practice past papers extensively
   • Solve numericals under timed conditions. Present
     solutions step by step for partial credit.
4. Master auditing
   • Focus on internal controls, types of audits, responsibilities
     of auditors, and practical examples from Pakistan.
5. Improve presentation
   • Use proper formats for journal entries, ledgers,
     balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
6. Stay updated
   • Keep track of changes in international accounting
     standards and auditing practices.
7. Time management practice
   • Attempt mock exams to build speed and accuracy.

Encouraging
Closing Note

The CSS 2019 examiner’s report shows
that Accountancy & Auditing is not for half-hearted preparation.
Those who treated it selectively failed, while those who prepared holistically
— combining theory, numericals, and auditing — scored well.

Remember: This is a subject of clarity and practice. Every balance
sheet you solve, every auditing concept you master, every numerical you
practice makes you examiner-ready. With discipline and smart preparation,
Accountancy can become one of your most scoring optionals.

Stay consistent: precision,
neatness, and balance between theory and practice are the keys to success here.