Which 12-month period starts on any month of the year and ends twelve months after the starting period?

• A. Financial Year
• B. Fiscal Year
• C. Calendar Year
• D. Academic Year

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is identifying a 12-month period used for financial reporting that can start in any month. This is a fiscal year. A fiscal year is any consecutive 12-month period chosen for accounting and tax purposes, so it doesn’t have to begin in January. It ends exactly 12 months after it starts.

In contrast, a calendar year runs January 1 to December 31, fixed to the calendar, which doesn’t allow starting in an arbitrary month. An academic year is tied to school terms and schedules rather than a standardized financial reporting window, so it doesn’t fit the description of a universal 12-month accounting period.

Because the question specifies starting in any month and ending twelve months later, the fiscal year is the best fit.