Commerce & Professional

CA Foundation (ICAI Chartered Accountancy)

Chartered Accountancy Foundation Examination — The mandatory national entry-level examination for embarking on the prestigious Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification path in India. Tests accounting principles, corporate business laws, quantitative mathematics, and business economics.

Conducting Body
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
Frequency
Conducted Thrice a Year (January, June, September)
Mode & Duration
Pen & Paper (Subjective + OMR Objective) (4 Papers across 4 Days (2 to 3 Hours per Paper))
Exam Month
January, June, September
CA Foundation (ICAI Chartered Accountancy) (Chartered Accountancy Foundation Examination) Examination Guide
Commerce & Professional

Official Guide & Assessment Pattern for CA Foundation (ICAI Chartered Accountancy)

Exam Significance & Admission Purpose

The mandatory national entry-level examination for embarking on the prestigious Chartered Accountancy (CA) qualification path in India. Tests accounting principles, corporate business laws, quantitative mathematics, and business economics.

Detailed Eligibility Criteria

Class 12 pass from any board (Students can register with ICAI after Class 10 and write exam after 12th boards)

Exam Pattern & Test Structure

SectionQuestionsMarksDuration
Paper 1: AccountingSubjective Descriptive Accounting Problems & Formats100 Marks3 Hours
Paper 2: Business LawsSubjective Legal Provisions & Contract Case Studies100 Marks3 Hours
Paper 3: Quantitative AptitudeObjective MCQs (Business Math, Logical Reasoning, Statistics)100 Marks2 Hours
Paper 4: Business EconomicsObjective MCQs (Microeconomics & Macroeconomic Framework)100 Marks2 Hours
Marking Scheme:Papers 1 & 2: Subjective (No negative marks). Papers 3 & 4: MCQs (+1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong). Passing criteria: Min 40% in each paper AND Min 50% aggregate across all 4 papers.

Recommended Preparation Timeline & Strategy

Master accounting ledger formats, journal entries, and balance sheet reconciliation in Paper 1.
Practice writing legal provisions and citing landmark judgments for Business Laws case studies.
Practice high-speed calculator shortcuts for compound interest and statistics in Paper 3.

Cutoff Trends & Score Analysis

The passing percentage for CA Foundation generally ranges between 15% and 25% nationwide.

Premier Colleges & Universities Accepting Scores

ICAI (Enables direct progression to CA Intermediate Level & Articleship)
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