Introduction to CA Exams
The Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams are one of the most prestigious professional examinations in the field of finance and accounting. Conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), these exams provide an opportunity for aspiring individuals to become qualified chartered accountants. If you are planning to appear for the CA exams in 2023, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the important dates, exam pattern, syllabus, and eligibility criteria.
Important Dates – Time Tables
Knowing the crucial dates is vital to ensure proper planning and preparation for the CA exams.
CA Foundation June 2023
| CA Foundation Papers | CA Foundation Exam Dates |
| Paper1 | June 24, 2023 |
| Paper2 | June 26, 2023 |
| Paper3 | June 28, 2023 |
| Paper4 | June 30, 2023 |
Duration for papers 1 & 2 is 3 hours, and for papers 3 & 4 is 2 hours
CA Intermediate May 2023
| Papers | CA Inter Exam Dates May 2023 |
| Paper 1: Accounting | May 3, 2023 |
| Paper 2: Corporate Laws and Other Laws | May 6, 2023 |
| Paper 3: Cost Accounting & Financial Management |
May 8, 2023 |
| Paper 4: Taxation | May 10, 2023 |
| Paper 5: Advanced Accounting | May 12, 2023 |
| Paper 6: Auditing & Assurance | May 14, 2023 |
| Paper 7: Information Technology and Strategic Management |
May 16, 2023 |
| Paper 8: Financial Management and Economics for Finance |
May 18, 2023 |
Duration for the papers is 3 hours.
CA Final May 2023
| Paper | CA Final Exam Dates 2023 |
| Paper 1: Financial Reporting | May 2, 2023 |
| Paper 2: Strategic Financial Management | May 4, 2023 |
| Paper 3: Advanced auditing & Professional ethics | May 7, 2023 |
| Paper 4: Corporate and Allied Laws | May 9, 2023 |
| Paper 5: Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation |
May 11, 2023 |
| Paper 6: Elective Papers (6A-6F) | May 13, 2023 |
| Paper 7: Direct Tax Laws | May 15, 2023 |
| Paper 8: Indirect Tax Laws | May 17, 2023 |
Duration 3 hours for all papers. Paper 6 is an elective subject, duration is 4 hours.
Exam Pattern
Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for better preparation. The CA exams consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), as well as subjective questions that test your knowledge, understanding, and application of concepts. Each level has a specific mix of objective and descriptive questions. It is important to know the weightage given to each subject within a level, allowing you to allocate your study time accordingly.
| CA Foundation Papers | Level 1- Comprehension and knowledge | Level 2- Application |
| Paper1- Principle and Practice of Accounting | 5-20% | 80-95% |
| Paper2A- Business Law | 50-65% | 35-50% |
| Paper2b- Business Correspondence & Reporting | 100% | – |
| Paper3- Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Stats | – | 100% |
| Paper4A- Business Economics | 40-50% | 50-60% |
| Paper4B- Business and Commercial Knowledge | 100% | – |
CA Foundation Marking Scheme:
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Right Answer | +1 |
| Wrong Answer | -0.25 |
| Pass mark | 40% of each subject |
CA Intermediate Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| CA Intermediate Papers | Level 1 – Comprehension & knowledge | Level2 : Application |
| Paper1- Accounting | 5-15% | 85-95% |
| Paper2A- Company Law | 40-55% | 45-60% |
| Paper2b- Other Laws | 35-55% | 45-65% |
| Paper3- Cost management and accounting | 20-30% | 70-80% |
| Paper4A- Income-tax laws | 5-20% | 80-95% |
| Paper4B- Indirect Taxes | 20-45% | 55-80% |
| Paper5- Advanced Accounting | 5-15% | 85-95% |
| Paper6-Auditing & Assurance | 30-55% | 45-70% |
| Paper7A- Enterprise Information Systems | 40-65% | 35-60% |
| Paper7B- Strategic Management | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Paper8A- Financial Management | 20-30% | 70-80% |
| Paper8B- Economics for Finance | 60-80% | 20-40% |
CA Inter Exams Marking Scheme:
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Marks per subject | 100 |
| Time | 3 hours |
| Question Type | Objective |
| Negative Marking | Nil |
| Time for each paper | 03 hours |
CA Final Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| CA Final Paper | Comprehension & Knowledge | Analysis & Application | Evaluation & Synthesis |
| Paper1- Financial Reporting | 5-15% | 55-85% | 15-25% |
| Paper2- Strategic Financial Management | 10-20% | 20-40% | 50-60% |
| Paper3 – Advanced Auditing & Professional Ethics | 15-25% | 40-70% | 20-30% |
| Paper 4-Part I- Corporate Law | 15-25% | 40-55% | 30-35% |
| Part II- Economics law | 30-50% | 50-70% | 30-35% |
| Paper5- Strategic Cost Management & Performance Evaluation | 10-15% | 45-55% | 35-40% |
| Paper7- Part I- Direct Tax Laws | 5-10% | 55-75% | 20-35% |
| Part II- International Laws | 40-50% | 50-60% | 20-35% |
| Paper8- Indirect Tax Laws- Part I- GST | 10-30% | 40-70% | 20-30% |
| Part II- Customs & FTP | 20-40% | 40-70% | 10-20% |
Exam Syllabus
The syllabus for the CA exams is comprehensive and covers a wide range of subjects related to accounting, auditing, taxation, finance, and business laws. The syllabus is periodically updated by the ICAI to ensure it aligns with the current industry practices and standards.
The following are the subjects and syllabi of all the levels of CA 2023 exams.
| CA Exam Level | Subjects | Marks |
| CA Foundation Syllabus | Principles and Practices of Accounting Business Law & Business Correspondence and Reporting Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics Business Economics & Business and Commercial Knowledge |
Total 400 Marks (100 Marks Each) |
| CA Intermediate Syllabus | Accounting Corporate and Other Laws Cost and Management Accounting Taxation Advanced Accounting Auditing and Assurance Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management Financial Management & Economics for Finance |
Total 800 Marks (100 Marks each) |
| CA Final Syllabus | Financial Reporting Strategic Financial Management Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics Corporate Laws and Economic Laws Strategic Cost Management and Performance Evaluation Electives Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation Indirect Tax Laws |
Total 800 Marks (100 Marks Each) |
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the CA exams, you must fulfill certain requirements set by the ICAI. The eligibility criteria may differ for each level of the exam.
CA Foundation Level: Students should have to pass class 12th or an equivalent exam from a recognized board. Commerce stream students must score a minimum 50% in class 12th. Other stream students should score at least 55%
CA Intermediate Level: CA intermediate level has 2 routes:
CA Foundation Route and Direct Entry Route.
- CA foundation route: Should pass the CA foundation exam with 50% aggregate marks and 40% marks in each subject.
- Direct Entry Route: Graduated Students from any stream can directly apply for CA intermediate level. 55% marks for commerce students and 60% marks for science students in their graduation are required
CA Final Level: Students should pass both groups of CA intermediate level. Should also complete at least 2.5 years of articleship training under a certified firm.
Preparing for the CA Exams 2023 requires careful planning and understanding of important aspects such as exam dates, patterns, syllabi, and eligibility criteria. By staying well-informed and organized, you can create a study plan that allows you to effectively prepare for the exams. Remember, consistency, dedication, and regular practice are key to succeeding in the CA exams and embarking on a rewarding career in chartered accountancy.