ACCA Past Papers: What ACCA Publishes
ACCA's past exams sit in its free Practice Platform, in the real exam format, with marking guides.
ACCA does publish its past exams, but not as a stack of PDFs. Recent Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams sit inside the ACCA Practice Platform, a free, on-demand tool that runs them in the same computer-based format as the real exam, with marking guides and sample answers so you can mark your own attempt.
Alongside the past exams, the platform holds a specimen exam and practice exams for each paper. Knowing which of the three you are attempting matters, because ACCA treats them very differently.
The Three Kinds of ACCA Paper
Specimen exam
What it is
Shows how the exam is assessed, its structure and the likely style and range of questions
How ACCA says to use it
Early in your studies, to learn the exam
Practice exams
What it is
Based on past exam content, updated for any syllabus, structure or format changes
How ACCA says to use it
In revision: complete two full practice exams under exam conditions
Past exams
What it is
Recent exams exactly as they were set
How ACCA says to use it
With caution: not updated for later changes to legislation, standards or the syllabus
| Type | What it is | How ACCA says to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Specimen exam | Shows how the exam is assessed, its structure and the likely style and range of questions | Early in your studies, to learn the exam |
| Practice exams | Based on past exam content, updated for any syllabus, structure or format changes | In revision: complete two full practice exams under exam conditions |
| Past exams | Recent exams exactly as they were set | With caution: not updated for later changes to legislation, standards or the syllabus |
Applied Knowledge Papers
Business and Technology, Management Accounting and Financial Accounting are on-demand computer-based exams, booked year-round. For these, ACCA recommends sitting the relevant CBE specimen exam, which shows the question types, syllabus coverage and how the exam software works.
How to Use ACCA Past Papers Well
- 1
Sit the specimen exam first
Do it near the start of a paper to see the structure before you study it in depth.
- 2
Practise in the CBE environment
Use the Practice Platform rather than paper copies. The platform matches the live exam layout and has a scratchpad for Applied Skills objective test questions.
- 3
Debrief against the marking guide
After each attempt, mark yourself with the marking guide, not just the sample answer. The guide shows where marks are given.
- 4
Keep two full practice exams for the end
Sit them timed, in one go, in the final weeks of revision, as ACCA advises.
- 5
Treat older past exams as style practice
Use them for question style and timing, then check any rule, rate or standard against the current syllabus.
General accounting principles questions, not ACCA papers. No signup.
Past Exams and the 2027 Change
ACCA's timeline says June 2027 is the final sitting of the Applied Skills and Strategic Professional exams, with the first Expertise and Strategic Professional session in September 2027. Specimen exams for the new levels are in ACCA's guidance packs, and ACCA plans to update the Practice Platform for all exams in March 2027. If you will sit after June 2027, old past exams are style practice only.
How the Exams Use This Material
Constructed response questions reward applying a point to the scenario, not stating it. The trap with past papers is reading the sample answer, agreeing with it, and moving on. A correct point that is not tied to the case earns little, and honest self-marking against the marking guide is how you find those gaps. ACCA also states its study resources are copyright and cannot be republished or sold without its permission, which is why the official route is the Practice Platform itself.
FAQs
Where can I get ACCA past papers?expand_more
From ACCA's free Practice Platform, which holds specimen exams, practice exams and recent past exams for Applied Skills and Strategic Professional, with marking guides and sample answers.
Are ACCA past papers free?expand_more
Yes. ACCA describes the Practice Platform as a free, on-demand resource for its students.
Are old ACCA past exams still relevant?expand_more
For style and timing, yes. ACCA warns that past exams appear exactly as set and are not updated for later changes to legislation, standards or the syllabus.
Are there past papers for ACCA Applied Knowledge exams?expand_more
Applied Knowledge exams are on-demand computer-based exams, and ACCA recommends sitting the relevant CBE specimen exam to prepare for them.
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