International Baccalaureate (IB) Practice Exam

Which account record typically has the most current balance?

1. Your monthly bank statement

2. Account balance statement from the ATM

3. Your own account register

4. All records will have accurate balances

The correct answer is: Your own account register

The account record that typically has the most current balance is your own account register. This is because an account register is maintained by the account holder and reflects all transactions as they occur, including deposits, withdrawals, and any other activity affecting the balance. Since it is updated in real time with each transaction, the register provides the most accurate and current picture of the account's financial status. In contrast, the monthly bank statement is a summary of transactions for a specific period, which can lead to discrepancies if any transactions have not yet been posted. The account balance statement from an ATM provides a snapshot of the balance at that moment but may not include pending transactions. As for the option stating that "all records will have accurate balances," this is misleading because the accuracy of balances can vary depending on when they were last updated or reconciled, making it unlikely that they all reflect the same current balance simultaneously.