Fazlur Rahman
ACCA has 4 exam windows/year (March/June/September/December) plus on-demand CBEs for Applied Knowledge/Skills. Strategic Professional papers are fixed-window. Pass rates: Applied Skills 35-65%, Strategic Professional 45-60%, Case Studies higher (ACCA, 2026).
Data last verified September 2026 from ACCA Global and the Exam Planner.
Eligibility
- Registration: ACCA student registration required (£89 one-time + annual subscription) (ACCA, 2026).
- Entry: No minimum entry requirements — start at Applied Knowledge.
2026 exam schedule
| Window | Strategic Professional / Case Studies | CBE (Applied Knowledge/Skills) |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | SBL, SBR, AFM, APM, ATX, AAA (Case Studies) | On-demand |
| June 2026 | — | On-demand |
| September 2026 | SBL, SBR, AFM, APM, ATX, AAA (Case Studies) | On-demand |
| December 2026 | SBL, SBR, AFM, APM, ATX, AAA (Case Studies) | On-demand |
Source: ACCA Exam Planner (2026).
Pass rates by paper
| Paper | Pass rate (typical) |
|---|---|
| BT (Business & Technology) | ~85% |
| MA (Management Accounting) | ~75% |
| FA (Financial Accounting) | ~70% |
| LW (Corporate & Business Law) | ~80% |
| PM (Performance Management) | ~50% |
| TX (Taxation) | ~55% |
| FR (Financial Reporting) | ~40% |
| AA (Audit & Assurance) | ~45% |
| FM (Financial Management) | ~50% |
| SBL (Strategic Business Leader) | ~55% |
| SBR (Strategic Business Reporting) | ~50% |
| AFM (Advanced Financial Management) | ~45% |
| Case Studies (SBL-CS, SBR-CS, etc.) | ~55-65% |
Source: ACCA pass rate statistics (2026).
Sample Q&A (10 questions)
Q1. What is the ACCA qualification?
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants — a UK-based global professional accountancy body (ACCA, 2026).
Q2. How many papers does the ACCA have?
13 papers total: 3 Applied Knowledge + 6 Applied Skills + 2 Strategic Professional Essentials + 2 of 4 Strategic Professional Options (ACCA, 2026).
Q3. What is the Ethics and Professional Skills module?
An online module required before sitting Strategic Professional exams (ACCA, 2026).
Q4. What is PER?
Practical Experience Requirement — 36 months of relevant practical experience in a recognised role (ACCA, 2026).
Q5. Can ACCA be completed fully online?
No — Strategic Professional papers and Case Studies are in-person at exam centres (ACCA, 2026).
Q6. What is the CBE format?
Computer-Based Exam — objective-test questions at an approved Pearson VUE or British Council centre (ACCA, 2026).
Q7. What is the SBL exam structure?
Strategic Business Leader — a case study-based exam testing integrated leadership skills (ACCA, 2026).
Q8. What is the difference between exam fees for UK and international students?
UK fees are typically lower; international fees depend on regional pricing — typically 1.5-2× UK (ACCA, 2026).
Q9. How are ACCA exam results released?
Approximately 6-8 weeks after the exam window closes (ACCA, 2026).
Q10. How long does the full ACCA qualification take?
3-5 years typical with consistent study (1-2 papers per sitting) (ACCA, 2026).
Pass-mark interpretation
ACCA uses 50% pass mark for most papers. Strategic Professional Case Studies use a banded scale (40-49% = marginal fail, 50-59% = pass, 60%+ = strong pass) (ACCA, 2026).
Where to book
Apply via ACCA Online. CBEs: book at Pearson VUE or British Council centers globally. Strategic Professional: book at one of ~400 exam centres globally (ACCA, 2026).
Resources
Use the TutorsBot entrance-exams hub for cross-cluster practice and the ACCA Exam Planner for the official schedule. Recommended: BPP/Kaplan/LexisNexis ACCA study texts + practice exams.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys).
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals; weeks 3-4 cover technical content; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions; weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios; weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks; ACCA members typically enter audit/tax/financial reporting tracks; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management roles.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys). NEBOSH holders command premium rates in health-and-safety management across construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. CeMAP is the required entry qualification for FCA-authorised mortgage advisors in the UK.
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals and the official study text; weeks 3-4 cover technical content with worked examples; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions (targeting 1,000+ questions per paper); weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios (especially for CIMA OT/MT/ST Case Studies); weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks with median UK salary of £70,000-£120,000; ACCA members enter audit/tax/financial reporting with similar progression; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory with OTE of £40,000-£80,000 plus commission; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management with median UK salary of £45,000-£70,000 (NEBOSH, 2026).
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys). NEBOSH holders command premium rates in health-and-safety management across construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. CeMAP is the required entry qualification for FCA-authorised mortgage advisors in the UK.
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals and the official study text; weeks 3-4 cover technical content with worked examples; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions (targeting 1,000+ questions per paper); weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios (especially for CIMA OT/MT/ST Case Studies); weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks with median UK salary of £70,000-£120,000; ACCA members enter audit/tax/financial reporting with similar progression; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory with OTE of £40,000-£80,000 plus commission; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management with median UK salary of £45,000-£70,000 (NEBOSH, 2026).
