How to Teach Trial Balance

This is the question which has been asked by a teacher from Philippines. Teaching Trial balance to students is very easy. Following steps can be taken for teaching trial balance.

1st Step : Make the Planning What to Teach in Trial Balance

There are many topics which we can cover under Trial Balance like meaning, procedure of its making, importance, making it from balance and use of excel. Also you can explain the format and difference between it and balance sheet. Many advance software also show the budgeted variance of each actual item of trial balance and standard budget items. So, dear teacher, make the list of all topics which you have to teach under trial balance because teacher has to cover syllabus under limited time but you can encourage your students to do many advance things of trial balance by themselves.

 2nd Step : Collect Teaching Aids

Collect teaching aids for teaching trial balance to your students. For step by step teaching either you can make PowerPoint presentation for trial balance in which you can show how to transfer balance from ledger to trial balance or can software convert your voucher entries into balances in trial balance or use some Accounting Presentations from some of best Online Sites.

You can also open any site where is enough source relating to trial balance but before teaching, you have to learn all the topics of that site.

3rd Step : Check the level of Students

Some of your students may be slow learner. So, moderate your speed of teaching after checking the level of understanding by students.

4th Step : Example is Better than Theory in Accounting

Try to write some problem of different transactions and step by step procedure make the trial balance. This example will good teaching than just reading books theory of trial balance.

5th Step :  How will I Teach Trial Balance?

If you want to follow me, I can tell you how will I teach trial balance to students. I will say

" Dear, when we solve any numerical question, we want to check whether we solve it correctly or not. We try to add or multiply again, so that we satisfy ourselves that our solution of numerical question is correct. Like this, in Financial Accounting, we also check whether we pass the correct journal entry or post it correctly in ledger's account, we make a list in which we show the balance of every ledger accounts. Some accounts' balance will be debit and other credit due to double entry system. So, our this list will agree with debit and credit balance. So, its name is  Trial Balance which is written by accounting expert. It is very good because we have not do any more steps for completing accounting cycle if we see that both sides of trial balance are not same. It means we have done any mathematical mistake because we are human being. In our daily life, I speak lie several times, I see bad things or think bad or do spelling mistakes. All these things are my personal mistakes and when I go to my bed in my room. I always think that I did mistake by speaking lie or see bad things or writing wrong spellings and after realizing, I take decision for not doing mistake in my life any more. Like my personal mistake, accountant of company is also human being, he can forget to post one side of account or any other things and when he see trial balance, he realizes that he would do any mistake. After investigation, he corrects that mistake. So, I also love to make trial balance and also teach trial balance. I think you also follow my idea to teach trial balance well."