Looking for a successful career in accountancy across different industries? Gaining accreditation from the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) opens up lucrative career opportunities in senior roles, substantially increasing earning potential.
ACCA is a coveted qualification for global management, banking and consultancy professionals. With ACCA, you can earn the prestigious status of a Registered Auditor, significantly boosting your accountancy career.
If you aspire to pursue ACCA, follow this blog for all the necessary details about ACCA syllabus 2023, ACCA exemptions, ACCA exam pattern and other related information.
ACCA Syllabus 2023
ACCA is the oldest CA programme in the world and is accredited in more than 180 countries. ACCA syllabus is updated from time to time to keep it relevant to the current industry standards.
There are different levels in the ACCA syllabus. They are:
- Foundation Level
- Knowledge Level
- Skill Level
- Strategic Professional Level
There are specific papers under each level; candidates must clear these papers to become Chartered Certified Accountants. Each paper covers subjects and topics related to the paper.
The following table details the ACCA papers list for each level:
| ACCA Levels | ACCA Papers |
| Foundation | Certified Accounting Technician (CAT
ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 3) ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) |
| Knowledge Level | F1 Paper – Business and Technology (BT)
F2 Paper – Management Accounting (MA) F3 Paper – Financial Accounting (FA) |
| Skill Level | F4 Paper – Corporate and Business Law (LW)
F5 Paper – Performance Management (PM) F6 Paper – Taxation (TX) F7 Paper – Financial Reporting (FR) F8 Paper – Assurance and Audit (AA) F9 Paper – Financial Management (FM) |
| Strategic Professional Level (Compulsory Papers) | P1 and P3 Papers – Strategic Business Leader (SBL)
P2 Paper – Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) |
| Strategic Professional Level
(Elective Subjects – Any 2 from the 4 papers) |
P4 Paper – Advanced Financial Management (AFM)
P5 Paper – Advanced Performance Management (APM) P6 Paper – Advanced Taxation (ATX) P7 Paper – Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) |
ACCA Exemptions 2023
A general candidate has to clear all 13 papers of ACCA to become a Chartered Certified Accountant. Interestingly, there are some ACCA exemptions. Candidates have to apply for exemptions from the various papers of ACCA exams. Candidates can determine their eligibility for exemptions through the ACCA online exemptions calculator.
Listed below are some common ACCA exemptions for which candidates can apply:
- There are no exemptions for candidates who have just cleared their 10+2 examinations. They must appear for all 13 ACCA papers and clear all the levels to achieve successful certification.
- There are exemptions for candidates who have cleared their B.Com or M.Com examinations. Out of the 13 ACCA papers, these candidates have to appear for 9 papers only. This implies they have exemptions from 4 papers. They do not have to appear for the 3 papers at the ‘Knowledge’ level, namely, F1 Paper – Business and Technology (BT), F2 Paper – Management Accounting (MA) and F3 Paper – Financial Accounting (FA) along with 1 paper at the ‘Skill’ level namely F4 Paper – Corporate and Business Law (LW).
- Candidates who have cleared CA Inter examinations will enjoy ACCA exam exemptions. They will have to appear for only 8 ACCA papers. The papers which are exempted for these candidates include ‘Knowledge’ Level papers – F1 Paper – Business and Technology (BT), F2 Paper – Management Accounting (MA), F3 Paper – Financial Accounting (FA) and 2 papers from ‘Skill’ Level, namely F6 Paper – Taxation (TX) and F8 Paper – Assurance and Audit (AA).
- Candidates who have cleared their CA examinations have the maximum ACCA exemptions 2023. These candidates are exempted from 9 ACCA exam papers. This means they will have to appear for only 4 ACCA exam papers. These candidates do not need to appear for any of the ‘Knowledge’ level and ‘Skill’ level papers, from F1 to F9. There is a total exemption from these papers. They must appear only for the 4 ‘Strategic Professional’ level papers – 2 mandatory and 2 electives.
Understanding the ACCA Exam Pattern
A clear understanding of the ACCA paper pattern will help you prepare for the examination accordingly.
ACCA exams for F1 Paper – Business and Technology (BT), F2 Paper – Management Accounting (MA), F3 Paper – Financial Accounting (FA) and F4 Paper – Corporate and Business Law (LW) are in demand. Candidates can book these exams at an approved ACCA centre at any time of the year.
The other 9 exams out of the total 13 are conducted four times annually in March, June, September and December. The ACCA exam pattern has two parts: paper-based and computer-based. Both parts have scenario-based and MCQ-based questions.
Let us take a look at the paper-wise exam pattern of the ACCA exam 2023:
-
Papers F1 to F4
There are around 50 MCQ-based questions in these papers. Each question carries 2 marks.
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Papers F5 to F9
This section comprises 60% MCQ-based questions and 40% long answer questions.
Section A has 15 questions of 2 marks each.
Section B has 3 scenario-based questions of 15 marks each. After each scenario, there are 5 MCQ-based questions.
Long answer type questions: A scenario is provided, and 3-4 questions are asked based on the given scenario.
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Papers P1 to P6
For these exam papers, there are scenario-based questions only.
Section A comprises a case study of 50 marks. Candidates must understand the case study and answer the 4-5 questions based on the study. This section includes 4-6 professional marks also.
Section B comprises 3 cases, of which candidates must attempt any 2. Each case carries 25 marks, so the total section is 50 marks.
This breakup of the ACCA paper pattern lets candidates know the marks distribution and the type of questions asked in the papers.
Conclusion
Those interested in enrolling in an ACCA course must thoroughly review the ACCA syllabus 2023 and check the ACCA papers list. This will give them an idea of the papers and topics they must study. It is also recommended to gather proper information about the ACCA exemptions. Candidates can seek specialised coaching for an ACCA course.
ACCA aspirants can enrol for the ACCA Coaching Classes offered by The WallStreet School India. On joining the classes, candidates will receive detailed presentations and notes for each subject and each topic.
Students get 1000+ hours of training during the programme, including interview and examination preparations. Instructors imparting the classes have over 20 years of corporate experience. Most importantly, candidates receive skill-based training and 100% placement assistance.
FAQs
- What are the different levels in the ACCA syllabus?
There are 4 levels in the ACCA syllabus 2023: Foundation Level, Knowledge Level, Skill Level and Professional Level. Each level has different ACCA papers.
- Are the ACCA exam patterns different for different papers?
Yes, ACCA paper patterns are different for different papers. While some papers have MCQ-based questions, some have a combination of MCQ-based and long questions. Again, there are papers which have scenario-based and case-study questions. The marks vary depending on the question type.
- What is the last date for 2023 ACCA registration?
The last date for completing the registration process for the 2023 ACCA is July 31, 2023. The 2023 ACCA examination for the September session will be held from September 4 to 8, 2023.
