Planning your ACCA examination journey requires careful attention to exam dates and strategic preparation. With four examination sessions annually, understanding the timing and effectively planning your studies can significantly impact your success.
ACCA conducts examinations in four sessions throughout the year:
March 2025 Examination Window
Applied Knowledge & Applied Skills: 4-8 March
Strategic Professional: 11-15 March
June 2025 Examination Window
Applied Knowledge & Applied Skills: 3-7 June
Strategic Professional: 10-14 June
September 2025 Examination Window
Applied Knowledge & Applied Skills: 2-6 September
Strategic Professional: 9-13 September
December 2025 Examination Window
Applied Knowledge & Applied Skills: 2-6 December
Strategic Professional: 9-13 December
For each examination session, ACCA operates with two registration deadlines:
Standard Entry Deadline: Typically 8 weeks before the examination date.
Late Entry Deadline: Usually 3 weeks before the examination, with additional fees
Planning your registrations around the standard entry deadlines helps avoid unnecessary expenses and ensures your place in the examination.
Choosing which papers to attempt in each session requires careful consideration:
Complementary Papers Strategy: Pair papers with overlapping content areas to create synergy in your studies. For example, Financial Reporting and Audit & Assurance share conceptual connections.
Balanced Difficulty Approach: Combine more challenging papers with relatively easier ones to manage your study workload effectively.
Progressive Building Blocks: Sequence your papers to build a solid knowledge foundation before attempting more advanced topics.
For effective examination preparation, consider this strategic timeline:
12-14 Weeks Before Exam
Complete comprehensive reading of the entire syllabus
Understand core concepts and frameworks
Create summary notes for key topics
8-10 Weeks Before Exam
Begin focused question practice on individual topics
Identify knowledge gaps through self-assessment
Review examiner reports for insight into common mistakes
4-6 Weeks Before Exam
Start integrating topics through comprehensive questions
Take timed section tests to build examination technique
Refine your understanding of challenging areas
2-3 Weeks Before Exam
Complete full mock examinations under timed conditions
Perfect your answer formatting and presentation
Focus on exam strategy and time management
Final Week
Review mock examination feedback
Concentrate on memory aids for key formulas and frameworks
Fine-tune your examination day logistics
Computer-Based Examination Familiarisation ACCA examinations are delivered through computer-based testing. Practice with the specimen exams on the ACCA website to become comfortable with the interface.
Reference Material Strategy For open-book Strategic Professional papers, prepare well-organised reference materials with clear indexing for efficient access during examinations.
Formula Sheet Preparation Create comprehensive yet concise formula sheets for calculation-heavy papers, ensuring you can apply them accurately under time pressure.
Successful ACCA candidates recognise that examination success depends on both knowledge and well-being:
Maintain regular sleep patterns in the weeks before examinations
Incorporate short breaks during study sessions to enhance retention
Practice relaxation techniques to manage examination anxiety
Ensure proper nutrition to support cognitive function
Develop a systematic approach to tackling each examination:
Allocate time proportionally to mark values
Begin with questions where you can gain marks confidently
Leave adequate time for reviewing your answers
Use the 15-minute reading time effectively for planning
By aligning your preparation with the ACCA exam dates and adopting these strategic approaches, you can optimise your performance and progress efficiently through the ACCA qualification journey.