CA Foundation¶
CA Foundation is the entry level of the Chartered Accountancy course under ICAI's New Scheme of Education and Training. It is open to candidates who have appeared in or passed the Class 12 examination, and it is held three times a year (January, May, September).
At a glance¶
| Conducted by | Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
| Papers | 4 papers, 100 marks each (400 marks total) |
| Paper duration | Papers 1-2: 3 hours each; Papers 3-4: 2 hours each |
| To pass | Minimum 40 marks in each paper and 50% in aggregate (all 4 papers, in one sitting) |
| Frequency | Three sessions a year: January, May, September |
| Eligibility | Registered for the Foundation Course with the Board of Studies and appeared in or passed Class 12 |
Official sources¶
- Foundation Examination guidance notes, September 2026 (pattern, dates, eligibility, pass criteria, negative marking): https://resource.cdn.icai.org/92907exam-aps5675-fnd-guide-sep2026.pdf
- New Scheme prospectus / at a glance (100 marks per paper, entry routes): https://resource.cdn.icai.org/82379bos66434.pdf
- Foundation syllabus under the New Scheme (paper names and contents): https://www.icai.org/post/syllabus-nset-fnd
- Guidelines for answering MCQs, Foundation Papers 3 and 4 (OMR): https://resource.cdn.icai.org/93419exam-may2026-guide-fnd.pdf
- Examinations hub, September and November 2026 sessions: https://www.icai.org/post/exam-sep-nov-2026
- Free BoS study material hub (New Scheme): https://www.icai.org/post/study-material-nset
Exam pattern¶
Descriptive-cum-objective examination of 400 marks across four papers:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accounting | 100 | 3 hours | Descriptive (written) |
| 2 | Business Laws | 100 | 3 hours | Descriptive (written) |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude (business mathematics, logical reasoning, statistics) | 100 | 2 hours | Objective (OMR), negative marking |
| 4 | Business Economics | 100 | 2 hours | Objective (OMR), negative marking |
- Papers 1 and 2 get 15 minutes of advance reading time (1:45 PM to 2:00 PM); there is no advance reading time for Papers 3 and 4.
- In Papers 3 and 4, 1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer; darkening more than one circle for a question counts as a wrong answer.
- Pass: minimum 40 marks in each paper and 50% aggregate across all four papers in one sitting. There is no exemption in any paper at Foundation level.
- Candidates scoring 70% or above are declared "Pass with Distinction".
- Medium: English or Hindi (OMR answer sheets for Papers 3 and 4 are in English only).
Syllabus¶
As per the ICAI Foundation syllabus under the New Scheme of Education and Training:
- Accounting
- Business Laws
- Quantitative Aptitude (business mathematics, logical reasoning, statistics)
- Business Economics
ICAI's Foundation study material for each paper is free on the ICAI website (see Free resources).
How to prepare (free, in order)¶
- Study ICAI's own Board of Studies material for each paper first: it is free and sets the standard.
- Practise with ICAI revision test papers, suggested answers and past question papers for your session.
- For Papers 3 and 4, drill MCQs under timed conditions and skip questions you are unsure of, since each wrong answer costs 1/4 mark.
Free resources¶
- Shared modules for this exam: Accounting and business basics · Quantitative aptitude · Indian economy
- Every exam that shares these modules: overlap map
- ICAI Board of Studies study material, revision test papers and question papers (free): https://www.icai.org/post/study-material-nset