ACCA Exam Pattern and Pass Mark
Every paper is out of 100 and passes at 50%. What changes by level is the format: on-demand, session-based, then case-study exams.
Every ACCA paper is marked out of 100 and passes at 50%. What changes as you progress is the exam format: Applied Knowledge papers are on-demand computer-based exams of two hours, Applied Skills papers are session computer-based exams of three hours with four sittings a year, and Strategic Professional papers are case-study computer-based exams of 3 hours 15 minutes.
The uniform pass mark simplifies strategy compared with qualifications that use group aggregates: each ACCA paper is its own contest, passed or failed on its own, with no group-level condition attached.
Format by Level
Applied Knowledge (3 papers)
Mode
On-demand computer-based
Duration
2 hours
Scheduling
Book any time through the year
Applied Skills (6 papers)
Mode
Session computer-based
Duration
3 hours
Scheduling
Four sessions: March, June, September, December
Strategic Professional (4 papers)
Mode
Case-study computer-based
Duration
3 hours 15 minutes
Scheduling
Four sessions: March, June, September, December
| Level | Mode | Duration | Scheduling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Knowledge (3 papers) | On-demand computer-based | 2 hours | Book any time through the year |
| Applied Skills (6 papers) | Session computer-based | 3 hours | Four sessions: March, June, September, December |
| Strategic Professional (4 papers) | Case-study computer-based | 3 hours 15 minutes | Four sessions: March, June, September, December |
The Exam Calendar
Session exams run four times a year, in March, June, September and December, with entry deadlines roughly 6 to 8 weeks before each session. Applied Knowledge exams are the exception: they run on demand throughout the year, so the early papers can be taken at whatever pace suits your study.
Accounting questions, scored instantly. No signup.
Terms Worth Knowing
- On-demand CBE
- A computer-based exam you can book year-round at your convenience. The three Applied Knowledge papers use this format.
- Session CBE
- A computer-based exam held only in the four annual sessions. Applied Skills and Strategic Professional papers use this format.
- Case-study exam
- The Strategic Professional format: extended scenarios testing analysis and judgment across a running case, not standalone questions.
- Pass mark
- 50% in every paper, at every level, with each paper marked out of 100.
The Format Jump at Strategic Professional
The step up from Applied Skills is not just harder content; it is a different exam. Case-study papers reward applying knowledge to a scenario under time pressure, and candidates who prepared by content revision alone routinely find the format itself is what fails them. Practise the format, not only the syllabus.
Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the ACCA pass mark?expand_more
50% in every paper across all three levels, with each paper marked out of 100.
How many times a year can I sit ACCA exams?expand_more
Session exams run four times a year, in March, June, September and December. Applied Knowledge papers are on-demand and can be booked throughout the year.
Are ACCA exams online or at a centre?expand_more
All papers are computer-based. Applied Knowledge exams are on-demand CBEs; Applied Skills and Strategic Professional papers are scheduled computer-based exams in the four annual sessions.
When do I need to enter for a session?expand_more
Entry deadlines fall roughly 6 to 8 weeks before each session, so plan the entry date, not just the exam date.
Next steps
- Syllabusarrow_forward
- Eligibility & Registrationarrow_forward
- Preparationarrow_forward
- ACCA Guidearrow_forward
Free study material and a free diagnostic test.