Hard1 markMultiple Choice
Area I: Business AnalysisCost AccountingVariance Analysis

CPA · Question 02 · Area I: Business Analysis

Vanguard Corp. uses a standard costing system. For the month of June, the following data is available regarding direct labor:<br/><br/>- Standard Direct Labor Rate: $24 per hour<br/>- Actual Direct Labor Rate: $26 per hour<br/>- Standard Hours Allowed for Actual Production: 5,000 hours<br/>- Actual Hours Worked: 4,800 hours<br/><br/>What is the Direct Labor Rate Variance and the Direct Labor Efficiency Variance for June?

Answer options:

A.

Rate Variance: $10,000 Unfavorable; Efficiency Variance: $4,800 Favorable

B.

Rate Variance: $9,600 Favorable; Efficiency Variance: $5,200 Unfavorable

C.

Rate Variance: $9,600 Unfavorable; Efficiency Variance: $4,800 Favorable

D.

Rate Variance: $10,000 Favorable; Efficiency Variance: $4,800 Unfavorable

How to approach this question

Use the formulas: Rate Variance = (AR - SR) × AH; Efficiency Variance = (AH - SH) × SR. Positive result usually means Unfavorable (costs higher than standard), negative means Favorable.

Full Answer

C.Rate Variance: $9,600 Unfavorable; Efficiency Variance: $4,800 Favorable✓ Correct
Direct Labor Rate Variance = (Actual Rate - Standard Rate) × Actual Hours = ($26 - $24) × 4,800 = $2 × 4,800 = $9,600 Unfavorable (paid more per hour).<br/>Direct Labor Efficiency Variance = (Actual Hours - Standard Hours Allowed) × Standard Rate = (4,800 - 5,000) × $24 = -200 × $24 = $4,800 Favorable (used fewer hours than allowed).

Common mistakes

Multiplying rate difference by standard hours; multiplying hours difference by actual rate.

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