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O/L Business & Accounting Studies Guide 2026 | PaperMaster.lk | PaperMaster LK
Home Study Guides O/L Business & Accounting Studies Study Guide 2026 – Complete Revision Guide O/L Study Guides PaperMaster Team 2 Nov 2026A complete O/L Business & Accounting Studies guide for Sri Lankan students covering business concepts, entrepreneurship, accounting principles, transactions, financial statements, banking, trade, past paper practice and exam preparation for the 2026 examination.
O/L Business & Accounting Studies Study Guide 2026 This O/L Business & Accounting Studies Study Guide is designed to help Sri Lankan students revise the important business and accounting concepts required for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination.
The subject becomes much easier when students understand how businesses operate and how financial transactions are recorded instead of simply memorizing definitions and formats.
What You Will Learn Basic business concepts Needs and wants Entrepreneurship Forms of business organizations Business resources Trade and commerce Banking and financial services Basic accounting principles Business transactions Accounting equation Books of original entry Ledger accounts Financial statements Past paper preparation Exam time management1. Understanding Business A business is an organization or activity that provides goods or services to satisfy human needs and wants.
Students should understand:
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Goods and services
Production
Consumption
Exchange
Business objectives
Profit and non-profit activities
Important Tip Try to connect business concepts with real businesses you see in everyday life.
This makes definitions easier to understand and remember.
2. Entrepreneurship An entrepreneur identifies opportunities and organizes resources to create and operate a business.
Important qualities of an entrepreneur may include:
Creativity Confidence Leadership Decision-making Risk-taking Innovation Responsibility Ability to solve problems
Revision Tip When studying entrepreneurship, think about how each quality can help a person successfully operate a business.
3. Business Organizations Businesses can operate under different forms of ownership.
Students should understand the basic characteristics of:
Sole proprietorships Partnerships Companies Cooperative organizations Public sector organizationsImportant areas to compare include:
Ownership Capital Control Liability Profit sharing ContinuityCreating a comparison table can make this section easier to revise.
4. Business Resources Businesses require different resources to carry out their activities.
Human resources Financial resources Physical resources Natural resources Information TechnologyStudents should understand why each resource is important to a business.
5. Trade and Commerce Trade involves buying and selling goods and services.
Students should understand:
Internal trade External trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Imports Exports Distribution Supporting services
Important Tip Learn the difference between wholesale and retail trade using real-world examples.
6. Banking and Financial Services Banks play an important role in business and everyday financial activities.
Students should understand services such as:
Savings accounts Current accounts Deposits Loans Cheques ATM services Online banking Electronic payments Money transfersStudents should also understand the importance of using financial services responsibly.
7. Introduction to Accounting Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, summarizing and interpreting financial transactions.
Accounting helps a business understand its financial position and performance.
Important concepts include:
Assets Liabilities Capital Income Expenses Drawings
Important Tip Understand what each accounting term means before trying to solve accounting questions.
8. The Accounting Equation The basic accounting equation is:
Assets = Capital + Liabilities
Students should understand how business transactions affect this equation.
Starting a business with capital Purchasing assets Taking a loan Paying expenses Earning incomePractice several transactions until you can identify which elements increase or decrease.
9. Business Transactions A business transaction is an event that has a financial effect on a business.
Cash purchases Credit purchases Cash sales Credit sales Payment of expenses Receiving income Purchasing assets Paying suppliersStudents should carefully identify the accounts affected by each transaction.
10. Source Documents Business transactions are supported by documents.
Students should be familiar with documents such as:
Invoices Receipts Cheques Debit notes Credit notes Bank statements
Revision Tip Understand the purpose of each document and when it is used.
11. Books of Original Entry Transactions are first recorded in appropriate books before being transferred to ledger accounts.
Students should revise the purpose and use of relevant books of original entry.
When practicing, pay attention to:
Transaction date Relevant accounts Amount Correct entry Supporting documentAccuracy is very important in accounting questions.
12. Ledger Accounts Ledger accounts are used to classify transactions under separate accounts.
Students should understand:
Debit side Credit side Balancing accounts Recording transactions correctly Transferring entries from other records
Accounting Tip Always determine which account is being debited and which account is being credited before recording the transaction.
13. Income and Expenses A business earns income and incurs expenses during its operations.
Examples of income may include:
Sales revenue Commission received Rent receivedExamples of expenses may include:
Rent Electricity Salaries Transport AdvertisingStudents should be able to distinguish between income and expenses correctly.
14. Financial Statements Financial statements help determine the performance and financial position of a business.
Students should understand the basic purpose of statements used to identify:
Revenue Cost Expenses Profit or loss Assets Liabilities Capital
Important Tip Learn the correct structure of each statement and practice preparing them using different questions.
15. Profit and Loss Profit occurs when income is greater than expenses.
A loss occurs when expenses are greater than income.
Students should understand how business decisions can affect profit.
Sales Costs Expenses Pricing Wastage ProductivityUnderstanding these relationships is useful for both theory and calculation questions.
16. Business Communication Effective communication is important for every organization.
Students should understand different communication methods, including:
Written communication Verbal communication Telephone Email Meetings Digital communicationA suitable communication method depends on the purpose, urgency and audience.
17. Consumers and Business Responsibility Businesses have responsibilities toward customers, employees and society.
Students should understand topics such as:
Consumer rights Product quality Fair pricing Ethical business practices Environmental responsibility Employee welfareResponsible business practices can help create long-term trust.
18. Past Paper Practice Past paper practice is one of the best ways to prepare for the O/L Business & Accounting Studies examination.
Complete past papers regularly Practice accounting calculations Practice business theory questions Review incorrect answers Practice accounting formats Identify weak topics Complete questions within the available timePast papers help students become familiar with examination question patterns.
Common Mistakes to Avoid Memorizing business definitions without understanding them Confusing assets and liabilities Mixing up income and expenses Entering transactions on the wrong side of an account Making calculation errors Ignoring accounting formats Not showing working clearly Spending too much time on one question
Exam Preparation Tips Create a weekly revision plan Study business theory and accounting separately Keep a notebook for important definitions Practice accounting questions regularly Memorize important formats through practice Review calculation mistakes Complete past papers Practice within a time limit Revise weak topics several times
Final Advice Business & Accounting Studies becomes easier when theory is combined with regular accounting practice.
Do not only read accounting examples. Write out the entries and calculations yourself.
Understand how real businesses operate and connect those examples with the concepts you learn in the syllabus.
Regular revision, calculation practice and past paper preparation will help improve both your accuracy and confidence.
Use PaperMaster.lk to access past papers, model papers, study guides and educational resources for your O/L examination preparation.
Good luck with your studies and your 2026 O/L examination!