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Quizzes > Business & Finance

Direct Costing Quiz: Direct vs Marginal Costing

Quick, free variable costing quiz to gauge your skills. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Prosper MaposaUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper-cut style costing quiz graphic on coral background, featuring direct vs marginal costing charts icons

This quiz helps you check your grasp of direct vs marginal costing and apply it to quick inventory problems, with instant feedback on each answer. For broader coverage across approaches, try the costing methods quiz. If you want practice on product-level tracking, take the job costing quiz, or strengthen operations context with an inventory management quiz.

What is the primary characteristic of marginal costing?
It uses historical full cost for pricing decisions
It treats all manufacturing costs as period expenses
Only variable manufacturing costs are included in product cost
Fixed manufacturing overhead is allocated to each unit
Marginal costing, also called variable costing, includes only variable manufacturing costs in the cost of a product. Fixed manufacturing overhead is treated as a period expense and is not inventoried. This method emphasizes the behavior of costs and aids in short-term decision-making.
Under direct costing, fixed manufacturing overhead is treated as:
Part of product cost
A period expense
A capital expenditure
An allocated cost per unit
Under direct costing, fixed manufacturing overhead is not capitalized into inventory but is expensed in full during the period it is incurred. This contrasts with absorption costing, where fixed overhead is allocated to units and included in inventory valuation. Direct costing simplifies inventory valuation and focuses on variable costs for decision-making.
Contribution margin is calculated as:
Sales revenue minus fixed costs
Sales revenue minus variable costs
Sales revenue minus cost of goods sold
Total revenue minus total costs
The contribution margin represents the amount remaining from sales revenue after variable expenses have been deducted. This margin contributes toward covering fixed costs and generating profit. It's fundamental in marginal costing for break-even and profit planning analysis.
At break-even point under marginal costing:
Total revenue equals variable costs
Variable costs equal fixed costs
Profit equals contribution
Contribution margin equals fixed costs
The break-even point is reached when the total contribution margin exactly equals total fixed costs, resulting in zero profit. Although total revenue equals total costs at break-even, the emphasis in marginal costing is on the coverage of fixed costs by contribution margin. This helps in determining the required sales volume for profitability.
Under marginal costing, the value of inventory includes:
Variable and fixed manufacturing costs
Only variable manufacturing costs
Fixed manufacturing costs only
Overhead costs only
Marginal costing values inventory using only variable manufacturing costs, excluding fixed manufacturing overhead. Fixed manufacturing costs are treated as period expenses and are not deferred in inventory. This approach simplifies costing and emphasizes the impact of variable costs on profit.
Which cost remains constant on a per-unit basis under marginal costing?
Total fixed costs
Fixed manufacturing cost per unit
Administrative cost per unit
Variable manufacturing cost
Under marginal costing, variable manufacturing cost per unit remains constant regardless of production volume. Total fixed costs remain constant in aggregate but vary on a per-unit basis as volume changes. Recognizing constant variable cost per unit aids in contribution and break-even analysis.
Marginal costing is particularly useful for:
Short-term pricing decisions by focusing on variable costs
Financial statement compliance
Long-term capital investment appraisal
Auditing fixed overhead allocation
Marginal costing emphasizes variable costs and contribution margin, making it highly useful for short-term pricing and acceptance decisions. It simplifies the analysis by excluding fixed costs from product valuation. However, it is not suitable for long-term decisions that require full cost recovery.
The primary cause of profit differences between absorption costing and marginal costing is:
Direct labor rate changes
Sales commission treatment
Allocation of variable overhead
Treatment of fixed manufacturing overhead in inventory
Absorption costing allocates fixed manufacturing overhead to units produced, deferring some costs in inventory when production exceeds sales. Marginal costing treats all fixed manufacturing overhead as a period expense, charging it immediately. This difference in fixed overhead treatment leads to divergent profit figures.
If production exceeds sales under absorption costing, profit compared to marginal costing will be:
Lower under absorption costing
Higher under absorption costing
Equal under both methods
Unrelated to costing method
When production exceeds sales, some fixed overhead costs remain in ending inventory under absorption costing, boosting reported profits. Marginal costing expenses all fixed overhead in the period, resulting in lower profits. Therefore, absorption costing will show higher profit in this scenario.
A company has fixed costs of $50,000, variable cost per unit of $10, and a selling price of $30. What is the contribution margin per unit?
$40
$30
$20
$10
Contribution margin per unit equals selling price minus variable cost per unit. Here, $30 selling price minus $10 variable cost equals $20. This metric is central to marginal costing for break-even and profit analysis.
Using the same data, how many units must be sold to break even?
3,000 units
1,666 units
2,000 units
2,500 units
Break-even units are calculated by dividing total fixed costs by contribution margin per unit. Here, $50,000 fixed costs divided by $20 contribution per unit equals 2,500 units. This shows the sales volume needed to cover all costs.
In marginal costing decision-making, which costs are considered relevant?
Sunk costs
Allocated overheads
Future variable costs
Historical fixed costs
Marginal costing focuses on costs that change with decisions, primarily future variable costs and incremental costs. Sunk costs and historical fixed costs cannot be altered and are thus irrelevant. Allocated overheads are also excluded if not incremental.
Under direct costing, which cost component is excluded from inventory unit cost?
Direct materials
Fixed manufacturing overhead
Variable manufacturing overhead
Direct labor
Direct costing, also known as variable costing, excludes fixed manufacturing overhead from the product cost. Inventory is valued based only on direct materials, direct labor, and variable manufacturing overhead. Fixed manufacturing overhead is treated as a period expense.
What does the margin of safety indicate in marginal costing?
Difference between actual sales and break-even sales
Maximum loss before profits begin
Ratio of fixed costs to sales
Contribution margin per unit
Margin of safety measures how much actual or projected sales can fall before reaching the break-even point. It's calculated as actual sales minus break-even sales. A higher margin indicates greater risk protection.
A company produced 10,000 units and incurred $20,000 of fixed manufacturing overhead. What is the fixed overhead cost per unit under absorption costing?
$2.22
$2
$3
$1.80
Under absorption costing, fixed manufacturing overhead per unit is calculated by dividing total fixed overhead by total units produced. Here, $20,000 divided by 10,000 units equals $2 per unit. This cost is included in inventory valuation.
If the same company sells 9,000 units, what is the difference in reported profit between absorption cost and marginal cost methods?
There is no difference
Absorption costing profit is $4,000 higher
Marginal costing profit is $2,000 higher
Absorption costing profit is $2,000 higher
When 9,000 units are sold, 1,000 units remain in inventory. Under absorption costing, fixed overhead of $2 per unit on the 1,000 units is deferred ($2,000). Marginal costing expenses all $20,000 fixed overhead, so absorption profit exceeds marginal by $2,000.
In a multi-product scenario, marginal costing profit analysis can be distorted by:
Changes in sales mix
Constant variable cost per unit
Total fixed cost changes
Break-even analysis
Marginal costing assumes a constant contribution margin ratio, but when a company sells multiple products, changes in sales mix alter the overall margin. This can distort profit comparisons and break-even analysis. Fixed costs remain constant in aggregate and variable costs remain per unit, but sales mix impact must be monitored.
Which costs should be considered for pricing a special order under marginal costing?
Variable costs and opportunity costs
Standard allocated costs
Fixed manufacturing overhead
Sunk costs
Marginal costing considers only costs that change due to the special order: variable costs and any opportunity costs. Fixed manufacturing overhead and sunk costs are not relevant since they do not change with a one-time order. Using relevant costs aids in accurate pricing decisions.
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of marginal costing?
It ignores fixed costs completely
Aids short-term decision making
Highlights contribution margin
Simplifies inventory valuation
Marginal costing highlights contribution margin and simplifies inventory by excluding fixed costs, aiding short-term decisions. However, it does not literally ignore fixed costs; it treats them as period expenses. Saying it ignores fixed costs completely misrepresents the method's treatment of costs.
Why can absorption costing encourage overproduction?
Spreads fixed costs over more units, inflating profits
Treats variable costs as period expenses
Allocates fixed costs to the period
Requires full cost absorption each period
Under absorption costing, producing more spreads fixed manufacturing overhead over more units, reducing per-unit cost and boosting reported profit. This can incentivize managers to overproduce to improve short-term income, tying up cash in inventory. Marginal costing avoids this by expensing fixed overhead immediately.
What is the key limitation of marginal costing in long-term decision making?
It treats fixed costs as irrelevant for long-term decisions
It allocates fixed overhead inaccurately
It matches costs with revenues precisely
It overstates variable cost per unit
Marginal costing expends fixed costs immediately and considers them irrelevant for decision-making. This can be misleading in long-term decisions where fixed costs and capacity commitments are significant. Full costing methods better capture long-term cost recovery and investment appraisal.
In break-even analysis under marginal costing, which assumption can be distorted by step-fixed costs?
Contribution margin ratio is constant
Selling price per unit is constant
Variable cost per unit is constant
Total fixed costs remain constant over output range
Break-even analysis assumes total fixed costs remain constant within the relevant range. When fixed costs are step-fixed, they jump at certain output levels, invalidating linear break-even assumptions. This leads to inaccurate break-even points if step-fixed behavior isn't considered.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Costing Terminology -

    Recognize that direct costing or marginal costing are other terms for variable costing and explain their equivalence in cost accounting.

  2. Differentiate Direct Costing vs Marginal Costing -

    Compare and contrast direct costing vs marginal costing approaches to highlight their similarities and differences in cost treatment.

  3. Calculate Key Cost Metrics -

    Solve marginal cost calculation questions, including contribution margin and unit variable cost, using scenarios from the marginal costing quiz.

  4. Apply Break-Even Analysis -

    Perform break-even analysis to determine the sales volume needed to cover costs under variable costing methods.

  5. Interpret Quiz Feedback -

    Use instant feedback from the marginal costing quiz to identify misconceptions and reinforce your understanding of cost behavior.

  6. Evaluate Decision-Making Implications -

    Assess how insights from variable costing influence short-term pricing, budgeting, and operational decisions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Variable Costing Definition -

    Direct costing or marginal costing are other terms for variable costing, focusing solely on costs that vary with production volume (Horngren's Cost Accounting). Remember "Variable V" to recall that only variable costs are included in product cost. This approach excludes fixed overheads from inventory valuation, making profit analysis clearer (CIMA, 2021).

  2. Cost Behavior Classification -

    In direct costing vs marginal costing, costs split into variable and fixed categories help predict how total expenses change as sales fluctuate (Investopedia). Classifying costs correctly allows you to forecast budgets and spot inefficiencies quickly. Try categorizing your last month's expenses to practice distinguishing cost behaviors.

  3. Contribution Margin Formula -

    The contribution margin equals Sales − Variable Costs and measures the amount available to cover fixed costs and profit (Drury's Management and Cost Accounting). For example, if a product sells for $100 with $60 variable cost, the contribution margin is $40. Use the mnemonic "Sell Minus Variable = Surplus" to remember this key formula.

  4. Break-Even Analysis -

    Break-even point (units) = Fixed Costs ÷ (Sales Price per Unit − Variable Cost per Unit), a cornerstone formula from university curriculum (MIT OpenCourseWare). This tells you how many units you must sell to cover all costs before earning profit. Visualize the break-even graph to boost retention and confidence in applying it.

  5. Marginal Cost Calculation Practice -

    Use marginal cost calculation questions to sharpen your decision-making - marginal cost is the additional cost of producing one more unit (Journal of Cost Management). For instance, if producing the next widget costs $5 in materials and labor, that's your marginal cost. Regularly tackling such questions in a marginal costing quiz format builds speed and accuracy.

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