ACCA Exam Preparation and Syllabus Guide 2025

ACCA Exam Preparation and Syllabus Guide 2025

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is an international body that accredits accountants as Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA). Achieving the ACCA qualification requires thorough preparation using past papers and study materials. Effective exam technique involves understanding the syllabus, revision, and practicing past papers to enhance performance. On the ACCA website, you can access useful resources, and study material to help with your exam preparation and time management. Kaplan provides comprehensive study guides for the Strategic Professional level and the Applied Knowledge exams. As an ACCA member, you should be familiar with the requirements of the Ethics and Professional Skills module and the Strategic Business Leader exam. Improving your time management skills can significantly impact your ability to tackle the four exam papers effectively during your study schedule. The Strategic Professional exams include modules like Strategic Business Reporting and Strategic Business Leadership, requiring focused study and preparation. The Skills module at the Applied Knowledge level is crucial for building the foundational knowledge necessary for the ACCA qualification. Tailor your study with a realistic study schedule including any relevant range of resources needed to succeed. Using past exam papers from Kaplan and other resources can provide insights into the questions you might encounter on the exams.

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Key Takeaways

  • ACCA Syllabus Details

  • Syllabus and Study Guide

  • ACCA Exam Success Formula

ACCA Papers Syllabus and Study Guide

The ACCA syllabus consists of 13 pages divided into 3 categories:

1. Fundamental Level (F1 - F3)

2. Skill Level (F4 to F9) and

3. Professional level (P Level).

In addition, 13 papers in the ACCA syllabus are divided into the following four levels:

1. Information (including 3 papers F1 - F3)

2. Skills (including 6 papers F4 - F9)

3. Mandatory (including 2 pages P1 / P3 and P2)

4. Options (including 4 pages P4 - P7 from any 2)

Fundamental level

This section is your starting point in your quest to become a qualified ACCA accountant and therefore provides you with basic business accounting information.

F1 - Accountant in Business (AB)

This paper on ACCA teaches you how to manage a business effectively by understanding the current business environment and its impact on the organization's activities. It also emphasizes your role as an accountant and the contribution you are expected to make to organizational development effectively and efficiently. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Organizational structure, 
  • Governance, and 
  • Management
  • Influences and barriers to environmental priorities in business and accounting
  • The role of storytellers in the business
  • Individual and team management


F2 - Management Accounting (MA)

This paper on ACCA syllabus provides information on how to prepare and process basic value information, which can then be used to support decision-making processes at the management level. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Environment and purpose for management and accounting costs
  • Cost-sharing and learning about ethics and its purpose
  • Computer spreadsheets and business statistics
  • General costs and budget
  • Ways of calculating costs
  • Various ways to make decisions

F3 - Financial Accounting (FA)

 This paper in ACCA teaches you the basic concepts and core principles that govern accounting activities. It will also help you to develop the technology of double-entry accounting, which is the basis for preparing and interpreting all the basic financial statements. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Background and purpose of financial reporting
  • Interpretation of high-quality financial information
  • The basics of accounting
  • Double use of accounting
  • Recording of accounting transactions and events
  • Adjustment of trial balance
  • Preparation of basic financial statements

Skills level

This module of the ACCA syllabus ensures that students develop expertise in some key areas, including tax, law, auditing and financial management, performance management, and financial reporting. Skills Level builds on the previous one; Fundamentals level.

F4 - Business and Business (LW) Law

This paper on the ACCA curriculum is designed to help you understand the broad legal framework by introducing you to specific business-related matters. It also teaches you to identify those situations where you should seek the advice of a professional legal adviser. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Fundamentals of the business legal system
  • Employment law
  • Constitution of a business organization
  • Company management, administration, and control
  • The legal implications of a troubled company
  • Moral and business governance issues

F5 - Performance Management (PM)

 This paper of the ACCA syllabus helps you to develop your skills, and learn different management techniques for calculation. The purpose is to teach you how to apply the available value information and quality in the planning, decision-making, and performance appraisal process. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Ways of calculating costs
  • Budget and forecast
  • Performance measurement strategies
  • General cost and variance analysis

F6 - Taxation (TX)

The purpose of this paper in ACCA is to provide you with detailed information on the business tax plan and to help you understand how it affects individuals and companies. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Grants and profits from the real estate business
  • Lease income, investment income and trading profits
  • Personal tax, business tax, high-interest rate and value-added tax
  • National insurance

F7 - Financial Reporting (FR)

The purpose of this paper under the ACCA curriculum is to develop your Knowledge and skills to understand the basic principles of accounting standards and financial reporting. It also emphasizes the principles on which the financial statements are based, which will ultimately help you to better analyze and interpret Financial statements. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Regulatory framework and concept of financial reporting
  • Preparation of financial statements
  • Analysis and interpretation of financial statements

F8 - Audit and Assurance (AA)

This paper under ACCA will give you the information you need to make sure you are involved and ensure that you understand all aspects of the same professional management. 

The following articles have been featured in this paper:

  • Audit control framework
  • Risk planning and assessment
  • Internal control information
  • Recording evidence for audit
  • Review and report on audit results

F9 - Financial Management (FM)

This paper of ACCA teaches you how financial managers use their knowledge and experience in investing, financing and accounting, and various other decisions.

Timeline for each paper: Preparing for the ACCA Exam 2025

The time required to prepare each paper of ACCA depends on the level of ability of the individual. However, it can be said that each paper from the basic level takes about 2 to 3 months, while each expert-level paper takes about 4.5 months.

The weightage level of each paper in the ACCA  

The difficulty level of each paper in ACCA can vary from person to person as it is a matter that depends very much on your level of ability, area of interest and perspective. However, one of the most effective ways of determining the level of difficulty is the historical pass rate. The historical pass rate indicates how many people can pass the test and the low pass rate indicates that the paper is very difficult. The average global pass rate of ACCA is 40-50%.

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Guide to Approach ACCA Exam

The ACCA exams are one of the most flexible tests in the accounting world and provide ample opportunity for students to choose how they would like to write their exams. In addition to the flexibility offered to ACCA students, the pass rate for ACCA students ranges from 40% to 60% from one subject to another. You may have passed the ACCA exam by having the right strategy to prepare for the test; our guide will enable students to familiarize themselves with future ACCA exams.

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Study Planning for ACCA Exam Success

Enrolling in NorthStar Academy's ACCA Program

To ensure success in ACCA exams, students should enroll in NorthStar Academy (NSA), the best institute for ACCA in India. The live classes provided by NSA help students understand examinable material and practice questions effectively. Making short notes is highly recommended; if unable to do so, students should thoroughly read the brief notes given by NSA mentors.

Understanding Technical Articles & General Reading

Technical Articles, published on ACCA Global, provide insights into latest trends and examinable topics. These articles should be included in the study plan to stay updated on possible assessment areas. Additionally, daily reading for at least 2 hours is essential for consistency and knowledge retention.

Importance of Sound Sleep & Health Maintenance

A student must have 8 hours of quality sleep to maintain focus and grasp concepts efficiently. Health is equally crucial; drinking clean and fresh water and maintaining a proper diet cycle will ensure students remain physically and mentally prepared for the exam.

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Effective Learning Program & Exam Preparation

Structuring a Learning Program

Having an efficient learning program is key to achieving good results. Without a structured action plan, students may struggle to track progress and complete all sections before the test day. Planning according to the exam schedule and adjusting study days accordingly will lead to better preparation.

Pros & Cons of Group Study

While group study can be beneficial, it has its drawbacks. Some members may benefit more than others. Since the exam is an individual effort, excessive dependence on group discussions may not be ideal. However, doubt-solving and discussions within a study group can be useful for concept clarity.

Solving Previous Exams & Mock Papers

To gain confidence and identify weaknesses, students should resolve the last 5 exam papers before attempting the actual exam. These past papers, available on ACCA Global, help in understanding question patterns. However, multiple-choice questions and activities may not be included, requiring students to use additional sources for practice. The key is to solve questions, not just read them, to prevent mistakes in the exam hall.

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ACCA Exam Success Formula

The Success Formula for Test is 2 + 2 = Success. This means that students need to read the textbook 2 times and review it 2 times before writing the exams. This type of activity will equip the student to complete the test and will enable the student to score well. Lastly, students should write at least 2 full mock exams before writing the final exams. This will let the student know the areas to focus on in the exam hall.

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ACCA Exam: Syllabus in table format

FUNDAMENTALS LEVEL

Knowledge exams

F1 Accountant in Business

F2 Management Accounting

F3 Financial Accounting


SKILL LEVEL

F4 Corporate and Business Law

F5 Performance Management

F6 Taxation

F7 Financial Reporting

F8 Audit and Assurance

F9 Financial Management


PROFESSIONAL LEVEL

P1 Governance, Risk and Ethic

P2 Corporate Reporting

Two of the following options

P4 Advanced Financial Management

P5 Advanced Performance Management

P6 Advanced Taxation

P7 Advanced Audit and Assurance

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Conclusion

From the above, it seems that writing the ACCA exam is just a matter of having a proper and systematic approach to assessment that will help the student achieve the required success in his or her tests. The ACCA exam pattern is designed to help with planning, offering a clear exam structure that prepares you for the real-world scenarios you'll encounter in the professional world. You must always remember that achieving success in ACCA requires 50% hard work and 50% smart work.

Understanding the exam format and exam structure of the ACCA exams is crucial for success. The syllabus for each exam is aligned with business and technology or accounting and finance topics, and you should focus on familiarizing yourself with examinable documents such as the official ACCA syllabus changes and study guide.

You can check whether you are ready by practicing with computer-based exams that simulate the real exam conditions, helping you understand the ACCA exam format. The exam schedule offers exam sessions four times a year, so it’s essential to plan your study well and make use of the study guide 2025 to 2026. Keep in mind that the ACCA journey can be demanding, and pass rates vary, but with the right preparation, you'll be able to simulate the actual exam conditions and improve your exam performance significantly. Join NorthStar Academy today to pass the ACCA exam in one go!

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long does it take to prepare for an ACCA exam?
      • ACCA's exams are not designed to be easy but to test your skills and knowledge at the highest level, naturally, you'll need time to study. It generally requires 2 to 3 months to prepare for one paper.

  • Which ACCA paper is considered as tough?
      • ACCA has 13 papers in total, divided into three levels. The hardest paper of ACCA to pass is F8 (Audit and Assurance) and P7 (Advanced Audit and Assurance). It's because its a theory-based nature.

  • Which ACCA paper is termed to be the easiest?
    • Studying ACCA is a long-term commitment. The easiest paper to pass is F4 (Corporate and Business Law). It has the highest pass rate of all the ACCA papers.