When can I take exams?

Students can take session-based exams during our four exam sessions a year.  These take place over 5 days in March, June, September and December.  

What exams will be available at each session?

Most of our exams are available at each session, however selected variant or adapted exams may only be available during the June and December sessions. Our exam timetable page provides full information.

View the exam timetable

Can I take the ACCA Qualification exams in any order? 

For more information on the order you can take the ACCA exams, please visit our exam progression rules page

When are the entry deadlines?

For the exam entry deadlines, and other key dates for the upcoming sessions, please visit the important dates section

How many exams can I take at each exam session?

You can enter a maximum of four exams per exam session and a maximum of eight different exams each calendar year. For more information on these rules and how they impact CBE exam cycles, please visit the exam progression rules section

How long do I have to complete the exams?

For more information on rules relating to how long you have to complete the ACCA exams, please visit our time limit page

Where can I take my exams?

Depending on your location and if you can meet the necessary setup requirements, you may be able to take a remote exam.  Benefiting from the added comfort, convenience and flexibility of taking your exam at home.

Alternatively, you may have the option of taking an exam at one of our exam centres.

Find out what exam options you have in your location

How many exams can I take at each exam session under Foundations in Accountancy?

There is no restriction to the number of exams you may attempt, allowing you to choose to sit as many or as few papers as you like at each exam session. You are, however, recommended to attempt a maximum of four exams in a six-month period.

How can I enter for exams?

You book exams using our online Exam Planner via your myACCA. For further information on entering for exams, please visit our Plan and book exams section

Can I still sit my exams if I miss the standard exam entry closing date?

If you are a registered student and have missed the standard exam entry closing date, you can still use the late entry facility via myACCA.

The late exam entry facility is only available for students who have not already entered for the exam session. During the late exam entry period no exam entries can be amended (irrespective of when the entry was made).

How do I know if I my exam entry has been successful?

When entering for exams, please ensure that your email address on your myACCA account is the correct one and you have opted in to receive electronic communications so that you receive your confirmation email.  You should also check your spam in case the email has been delivered there.

If you do not receive your confirmation email, please check your myACCA account to see if your exam entry has been successful.  Retry if your exam entry does not show and funds have not been collected from your bank account.

How do I find out where to go on exam day if I have entered for a centre-based exam? 

The exam address will be printed on your Exam Docket. For more information please visit our Exam Dockets FAQ page

If I have entered for a centre-based exam, will I be able to sit my exam at the centre that I have requested?

In the vast majority of cases, you will be allocated to the centre of your choice. On very rare occasions, when demand exceeds capacity, ACCA may have to allocate you to the nearest alternative centre. You will be told about this on your exam attendance docket.

In some cities, where demand is very high, students may be allocated to one of a number of different halls which make up a centre. As these halls can be in different locations, it is important that you read the venue details on your attendance docket carefully.

The network of available venues changes on a session-by-session basis so never assume that the venue from your last sitting will be the same as the one for any future sessions.

I would like to change my exam entry, is this possible?

Yes, you can make the following changes to an existing exam entry up to the standard entry deadline via the exam planner by selecting to either:

• cancel
• change the time, location or variant
• switch to a remote based exam
• enter for more exams.

If you wish to change your exam date from one session to another, you can cancel your booking from exam planner by selecting the amend option up to the standard entry deadline.

Amending an exam which is already confirmed, up to the standard entry deadline does not incur additional fees or charges.

To view, change or cancel exams, visit the exam planner and log in using your myACCA username and password.

Please note that the exam planner offers the only way to change exams. Customer Services will be unable to help with requests to change exams as it must be done by you, using your own myACCA login details. 

I require special facilities at the exam centre, is this possible?

You should raise a request on the Additional Support Portal, or see more information on additional support.

Can I book two exams scheduled for the same day?

Yes you can. However, we would advise that you consider whether you'll have sufficient time to complete any personal reponsibilities or travel requirements between your exam's finishing and starting.

If you choose to book two exams on the same day and miss one because of these issues you would not be considered for an exam withdrawal or refund.

How do I change my tax and law variant entry option?

If you wish to change your tax and law variant exams please remember to do so before the standard entry closing date of the exam session you have entered for. You can change your variant exams through myACCA.

Please note that your choice of tax variant will determine the choice of accounting and auditing standards available to you.

If I want to achieve UK Registered Auditor status, do I have to take any particular exams?

If you would like to obtain UK or Irish Registered Auditor status then you will need to take the UK/Ireland variants of the Corporate and Business Law (LW), Taxation (TX), Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) and Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) exams.  If you are awarded exemptions from the Corporate and Business Law (LW) and/or Taxation (TX) exams but your degree/qualification does not cover UK or Irish tax and law you will need to pass the UK or Irish variants in order to be eligible for a practising certificate and audit qualification.

What happens at an exam centre on the exam day?

An Examination Attendance Docket will be available from myACCA. This includes a timetable of all the exams that you are entered for and the address of your exam centre. If you are not completely sure of the location of the centre, how to get there or how long it may take you, make sure you rehearse your route before the day of the exam. Please remember that exams may start at peak times so you should allow for rush-hour traffic and possible hold-ups.

The docket will be collected by the supervisor during the exam to record your attendance. If you have any other exams during the session, the docket will be returned to you. If it is your last exam of the session, the docket will be retained for our records.

The Examination Attendance Docket also details important exam regulations and guidelines. You should read these carefully to familiarise yourself with the exam procedure and what equipment you are allowed to take with you into the exams. These regulations are reproduced regularly in the notice board section of Student Accountant.

Please take some form of official government issued photographic ID, such as a valid passport, driving licence, national identity card or biometric residence permit. This will be checked during the exam together with your exam docket to confirm your identity. If we can't confirm your identity, unfortunately you will not be able to take your exam. ID’s must be original and valid – photocopies, digital versions and/or documents that have expired will not be accepted.

You should try to arrive at the exam centre about 30 minutes before the start of the exam. This will give you time to relax and prepare yourself. 

What happens on exam day for a remote session exam?

For full information on what to expect on a remote session exam day visit our 'on exam day' information within our remote session webpages.

Visit our 'on exam day' page for remote session exams

Where can I find the rules and regulations in relation to sitting an examination?

Full details of the rules and regulations are available online.

Access our exam rules and regulations web section

These will also be published on the reverse of your examination attendance docket. Please familiarise yourself with these prior to your exam.

What happens if I forget my photographic ID on the day of my exam?

You are required to show official government issued photographic ID such as your

• passport
• driving licence
• national ID card or 
• biometric residence permit. 

Your ID must be the original document/card and still valid. Photocopies, digital versions and/or expired ID will not be accepted. If you do not have appropriate ID, you will not be able to take your exam. 

What happens if I am late for my exam?

If you are taking a remote exam you should check-in for your exam 30 minutes before your start time. If you attempt to check-in more than 15 minutes after your exam start time you will not be able to do so and you will be marked absent from your exam.

If you are taking a centre based exam you will be permitted to enter the exam room upto 1 hour after the start time.  However, the exam supervisor will not provide any additional time to those arriving late to complete their exam.

Can I change my exam entry on the day of the exam, such as changing the variant for example?

No. Students are not allowed to make any amendments to their exam entry following the standard exam deadline.

If I'm unhappy about something that has happened during my exam can I make a complaint?

For information on what you can if you feel are unhappy about anything to do with your exam taking experience, please visit our complaints section.

Access our how to make a complaint webpage

What happens if I have attended my examinations but it has been affected by illness or other factors?

If you have experienced difficult circumstances that you feel have affected your exam performance, you can let us know by following the mitigating circumstances process.

What are my options if I have made a request for mitigating circumstances, but don't believe my circumstances have been fully considered when I receive my result?

If you believe that we have not applied our procedures properly when you receive your exam result, you can follow the mitigating circumstances appeals process.

What happens if I enter an exam and then can no longer take it?

You can amend or even cancel your exam entry up until the standard exam entry closing date for that exam session. We can then either arrange to refund the exam fee to you or hold the money on your account for payment for the next exams you take. After the standard entry closing date, your examination entry fees are not refundable nor transferable.

If you cannot sit an exam that you have booked to sit, this will not affect the marks of other exams you may have entered to sit and you can sit the exam you missed at the next available examination session.

It is not possible for you to cancel or transfer an exam entry after the standard entry closing date.

We do, however, understand that occasionally difficult circumstances arise after the standard entry closing date, such as serious illness or bereavement of immediate family. In such cases, you can apply to cancel or transfer an exam entry supported by documentary evidence after the standard entry closing date.

Cancellation or transfer requests will only be considered in the cases of critical illness, locally imposed restrictions, or bereavement. and where supported by documentary evidence. Minor illnesses requiring GP, doctor or medical treatment, workload issues, bed rest for example, cannot be considered.

If you have requested a centre-based exam cancellation in any of the last 4 session, you will not be eligible for another.

If you have requested or cancelled a remote-based exam in any of the last 4 session, you will not be granted another.

Eligibility for an exam cancellation and refund or transfer will be assessed on your individual circumstances and there is no guarantee that it will be approved. We will advise you of the outcome, and ACCA’s decision on the matter is final.

Exam fees are not refundable or transferrable after the standard entry deadline. 

Our approach aims to support our students by allowing us to plan for exam sittings but supporting those with the most difficult circumstances.

If you still wish to request a cancellation, please have the appropriate documents available for submission to support your request:

• Bereavement of immediate family only, with a copy of the death certificate, officially stamped and where required translated to English and stamped by official translator.
• Critical illness of yourself or immediate family with documentation to support, stamped and signed by your local hospital only and where required translated to English, stamped by official translator.
• Locally imposed restrictions when accompanied by official documentation which will be checked against your local or national government website.

Documents should be signed by the relevant personnel, stamped and on official headed paper, translated to English by official translator where applicable. Any cancellation or transfer request found to be based on the submission of false documents or incorrect information shall be referred to ACCA’s Professional Conduct Department for further investigation.

The quickest and easiest way to request a cancellation is the 'Exam cancellation' option on our contact form, where you can use our webchat function.

In any event if you do contact us and we reject your request, this decision will not be altered unless your circumstances have changed, they meet the criteria mentioned above and are supported with the required documentation.

The deadline for exam cancellation requests is provided by session in our important dates section. Please note if you have already contacted us about an exam cancellation then you don't need to contact us to check the status of your request.

If you are granted a cancellation, you should not attend the examination under any circumstances; in the event that you do so, you will be liable to pay additional fees.

Can ACCA re-assess my Exam Cancellation request?

ACCA reserves the right to re-assess Exam Cancellation requests and supporting documentation at any time.

If ACCA have reason to believe that the supporting documentation or circumstances may not be genuine, ACCA reserves the right to over-turn any decisions made on the Exam Cancellation request. You are advised to refer to the Exam entry terms and conditions

If the decision has been made to over-turn a successful Exam Cancellation request, the Exam Entry invoice will be reinstated for payment, in full via your myACCA.  Payment is required within 30 days of the invoice reinstatement.

If you have used this credit to rebook an exam in another session or towards other fees with ACCA, you will still be required to pay this.

We will let you know what you need to do if you wish to appeal this decision which will be subject to you providing additional documentation which was not used in your initial request.

You should only use the option given to appeal your decision which will be via our contact us page.

Your appeal will be reviewed independent of the initial assessment of the documentation you provided.

We will email you to let you know the outcome and after this stage the decision will not change.

Can I leave an exam if I finish early?

For exam security purposes, you are not permitted to leave an exam centre or remote exam environment until the full duration of your exam time has been completed.

Can I re-sit an exam that I have already passed?

Students are not permitted to re-sit examinations which they have already passed with ACCA.

However, once you have achieved Affiliate/Member status, you can apply to re-sit examinations. Please visit the Members FAQs for further information

Can I enter additional exams?

Students are permitted to complete a maximum of 13 examinations (including exemptions) with ACCA.

However, once you have achieved Affiliate/Member status, you can apply to complete additional examinations. Please visit the Members FAQs for further information

When are results issued?

For further information on when exam results will be available and how you can receive them, please visit the Exam results section

Can I receive my results by text message?

You need to opt in to receive results by text. You can opt in using myACCA:

• select 'account administration'
• select 'receiving communications from ACCA'
• under the 'mobile phone number' section, you will be provided with the option to receive your results by text. You must enter a valid mobile number for this option to appear
• tick 'I would like to receive notification of my exam results by text message'.

You must opt in to this service at least seven days before results are released. You only need to opt in once, all future results will then be sent by text.

What can I do if I think that my results are incorrect?

ACCA has a range of procedures in place to ensure that the exam results issued are correct. However if you feel that your result does not reflect your performance, you may request an administrative review in the following circumstances:

you believe ACCA's procedures have not been properly applied in arriving at your mark

• you were present at the exam but have been issued an absent result
• you were absent at the exam but have been issued a result.
• A review may not be requested on the grounds of disagreement with the marker's academic judgement.

If you would like to request an administrative review you can submit your request via your myACCA account. Please read the Administrative Review information prior to submitting a request. Please note that this is not a re-marking service. ACCA does not offer any re-marking service.

Who is eligible for a prize?

ACCA issues a Certificate of Achievement in recognition of their success to students who achieve 85% or above for papers in the Applied Knowledge exams. 

Cash prizes sponsored by major employers and educational institutions will be awarded to candidates attaining the highest mark worldwide for individual Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams.

Medals will be awarded to candidates who have attained the highest aggregate marks worldwide for the Strategic Professional exams - upon achieving affiliate status.

How are prize winners contacted?

All prize winners will either be contacted by the exams department or their national office.

If you scored a high mark and believe you may have won a prize, you should contact your national office. The global prize-winners will be published in Student Accountant magazine. National offices may also publish information on regional prize-winners.

If your exam response is found to contain elements which undermine the validity and credibility of your exam result you may receive a nullified result.

In accordance with Exam Regulation 20, if ACCA suspects, or has cause to believe, that there has been irregular conduct and/or identifies anomalous testing results in connection with your examination (identified during the examination itself or identified by ACCA after the examination), it reserves the right to nullify your exam result, not refund your exam fee, and/or withhold your examination results, and/or suspend your ability to sit further ACCA examinations.

If you receive 2 or more nullified results from December 2024 you will no longer be permitted to enter for remotely invigilated exams.