Back to Topic 3.6 — Efficiency ratios (HL only)
3.6.1BM HL17 flashcards

Efficiency ratios

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Card 1 of 173.6.1
3.6.1
Question

Two ways to improve stock turnover?

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All 17 Flashcards — Efficiency ratios

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Card 1concept

Question

Two ways to improve stock turnover?

Answer

JIT stock management, promotions to clear slow stock, better demand forecasting, reduce product range.

💡 Hint

JIT + promotions + forecasting

Card 2definition

Question

What do efficiency ratios measure?

Answer

How well a business manages its assets and liabilities — specifically stock, debtors and creditors.

💡 Hint

Asset/liability management

Card 3definition

Question

Debtor days formula?

Answer

(Trade receivables ÷ Sales revenue) × 365. Lower is better — faster cash collection.

💡 Hint

Receivables ÷ revenue × 365

Card 4definition

Question

Stock turnover (times) formula?

Answer

Cost of goods sold ÷ Average stock. Higher = stock sells faster.

💡 Hint

COGS ÷ avg stock

Card 5concept

Question

Stock turnover: higher = ___. Debtor days: lower = ___. Creditor days: higher = ___

Answer

Better (faster sales); better (faster collection); keeps cash longer (but respect suppliers).

💡 Hint

Better, better, longer

Card 6definition

Question

Creditor days formula?

Answer

(Trade payables ÷ COGS) × 365. Higher keeps cash longer — but don't upset suppliers.

💡 Hint

Payables ÷ COGS × 365

Card 7concept

Question

Efficiency ratios measure the ___ of money flowing through the business

Answer

Speed — faster is usually better.

💡 Hint

Speed

Card 8definition

Question

Stock turnover (days) formula?

Answer

(Average stock ÷ COGS) × 365. Lower days = stock doesn't sit around long.

💡 Hint

Avg stock ÷ COGS × 365

Card 9concept

Question

Two ways to reduce debtor days?

Answer

Early payment discounts, tighten credit terms, chase overdue invoices, use factoring.

💡 Hint

Discounts + chase + factoring

Card 10concept

Question

If debtor days are high and liquidity is low — the connection is ___

Answer

Cash is stuck with customers who haven't paid — directly causing the liquidity problem.

💡 Hint

Cash stuck with debtors

Card 11concept

Question

How to manage creditor days?

Answer

Negotiate longer terms with suppliers, but always pay within agreed terms to maintain relationships.

💡 Hint

Longer terms + keep relationships

Card 12example

Question

COGS $200k, avg stock $25k. Stock turnover?

Answer

$200k ÷ $25k = 8 times/year. Days: ($25k ÷ $200k) × 365 = 46 days.

💡 Hint

8 times, 46 days

Card 13concept

Question

Always compare ratios ___ and against ___

Answer

Over time (trends) and against industry norms (benchmarks).

💡 Hint

Time + industry

Card 14concept

Question

Three efficiency ratios to know?

Answer

Stock turnover, debtor days, creditor days.

💡 Hint

Stock, debtors, creditors

Card 15example

Question

Receivables $40k, revenue $400k. Debtor days?

Answer

($40k ÷ $400k) × 365 = 37 days.

💡 Hint

37 days

Card 16concept

Question

Ideal: creditor days ___ debtor days. Why?

Answer

Greater than — collect from customers BEFORE paying suppliers = free cash flow.

💡 Hint

Creditor > debtor

Card 17concept

Question

Supermarkets have ___ stock turnover; jewellers have ___

Answer

Very high (fast-selling perishables); low (expensive slow-moving items) — context matters!

💡 Hint

High vs low

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