ACCA Exam Dates and Strategic Preparation Tips for 2025

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 Examination Sessions for 2025

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

Registration Deadlines

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.

Strategic Paper Selection

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.

Optimal Preparation Timeline

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

Technical Preparation Tips

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.

Mental and Physical Preparation

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

Examination Day Strategy

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.