Calculate ARR from project profit
Find average annual accounting profit from the stated project life, then apply ARR.
Exam scope and assessment notes
Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting 9706, 2026–2028 syllabus, Version 2. This topic covers future net cash flows, payback, ARR, NPV, IRR and supported investment decisions. Discounted payback and questions involving a residual value at the end of a project are excluded by Cambridge. Practice is self-checked, not an official Cambridge grade. Full timed Papers 1–4 and human subject-teacher review remain outstanding.
Before you begin
- Use AS Topics 1.5–1.6 for profit, depreciation and financial analysis, and Topic 2.1 for contribution. Keep accounting profit, project cash flow and the time value of money distinct.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
A 5-year project earns total accounting profit $50,000. What is average annual profit?
What you will learn
- Calculate average profit over the project life
- Apply the ARR formula
- Check percentage presentation
Average the stated accounting profit
If total accounting profit over the project life is supplied, average annual profit = total profit ÷ number of years when the question uses equal yearly averaging. Then ARR = (average profit ÷ average investment) × 100.
For different annual profits, total the stated amounts first. Do not replace profit with total cash inflows.
Interpret the assumptions
ARR compares typical accounting return with average investment. It does not show when cash is received, and an average can hide changes across years.
Compare with the stated target or alternatives. Use the supplied average-investment basis and do not introduce an excluded residual amount.
Pause and explain
Average profit is $10,000 and average investment $50,000. What is ARR?
Worked example
A 4-year project has total accounting profit $96,000 and average investment $80,000. Calculate average profit and ARR.
Show the worked solution
- Average profit = 96,000 ÷ 4 = $24,000.
- ARR = (24,000 ÷ 80,000) × 100.
- ARR = 30%.
Answer Average annual profit is $24,000 and ARR is 30%.
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Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Over 6 years, total profit is $90,000 and average investment is $75,000. Calculate ARR.
Give me a hint
Find average profit first.
Compare my reasoning
- Average profit = 90,000 ÷ 6 = $15,000.
- ARR = (15,000 ÷ 75,000) × 100.
- ARR = 20%.
ARR is 20%.
Look for these in your work
- Average profit correct
- Average investment used
- Percentage correct
Annual profits are $8,000, $14,000, $18,000 and $20,000 over 4 years. Average investment is $60,000. Find total profit, average profit and ARR.
Give me a hint
Add profits, divide by four, then apply the formula.
Compare my reasoning
- Total = $60,000.
- Average profit = 60,000 ÷ 4 = $15,000.
- ARR = (15,000 ÷ 60,000) × 100 = 25%.
Total profit is $60,000, average profit $15,000 and ARR 25%.
Look for these in your work
- Profits totalled
- Average calculated
- ARR correct
Two projects have equal average profit, but one needs twice the average investment. What does ARR show?
Give me a hint
Compare profit relative to capital invested.
Compare my reasoning
- Calculate each using average profit ÷ average investment × 100.
- With equal profit, the project needing twice as much investment has half the ARR.
- Consider NPV, risk and scale before the final choice.
ARR expresses profit relative to investment, so the larger investment has lower ARR when profit is equal.
Look for these in your work
- Relative return identified
- Formula applied
- Other evidence retained
Common mistakes
- Dividing by the wrong number of years
- Using cash inflows as profit
- Reporting 0.30 as 0.30%
What can you explain now?
Total profit is $72,000 over 3 years. What is average annual profit?
Compare with the explanation
$24,000
Average profit = 72,000 ÷ 3 = $24,000.
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Make it stick
How do you move from total project profit to ARR?
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.