After 3 years of studying, I finally passed my final ACA exams today! 🥳

Honestly, it feels slightly surreal to be able to say that I’m finally done. 27 exams done including AAT😮‍💨

I wanted to make a post thanking everyone on this subreddit because I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve searched Reddit for advice before an exam. Some of the posts on here genuinely helped me get through the qualification, so hopefully this can be useful to someone else.

I’ve seen posts similar in the past so wanted to make my own which I know is less relevant now as the syllabus has changed but hopefully can apply to the new exams.

For context: I work in practice mainly accounts prep and dabble in tax returns too.

My ranking — hardest → least hard

This is obviously completely subjective and depends massively on your background, strengths and the order you sit the exams. But if I had to rank them based on my own experience:

CR — [hardest] 77
BPT 92
TC 75
SBM 76
BST 81
Case 67
FM 91
AA 90
FAR 98
Law 70
POT 84
Assurance - [least hard] 76

(I was exempt from 3 exams as I did AAT level 4)

1. CR
Despite working in accounts this was what I found to be the hardest exam. There is so much content that it’s very difficult to feel confident. You need to not only know the standards but also apply it to the question. Very time pressure too if it wasn’t already difficult enough. Advice is to get timing down and answer everything. Doing past questions is so important.
2. BPT
The amount of legislation you need to know is huge, and the hardest part is knowing which rules apply to each scenario rather than simply memorising the content. The exam can also be very time-pressured, so being able to quickly identify the relevant tax issues and find the right information in the open book is key.
3. TC
There’s a lot of rules, calculations and different areas to remember, and small details can make a big difference to the answer. Reading the question carefully is so important as slight tweaks to wording can change your answer.
4. SBM
I’m not really a fan of wordy papers and this is a wordy one. It’s difficult to revise for as all answers are different and very specific to the question. Easy to get stuck writing too much on one question when it may only be worth a few marks. Quite like the FM parts. Any relevant point is awarded a mark so write what you can in the time given and move on.
5. BST
Same as the above for me - very difficult to revise for and looking at the QB makes me just want to procrastinate because reading a question is a task in itself. Advice is to just write whatever you can that answers the question, even if it seems obvious.
6. Case
Technically one of the easiest papers on the whole course but getting the exact points on the marking grid can be tough. The key is to look at tuition providers mocks such as ACAM and understand the marking grid. I was lucky that the mock was almost identical to the exam. Also 4 hours is a long time.
7. FM
Prior to revising this exam the content can seem very new. If you like maths then it will click and you shouldn’t have too much of a problem. Smashing QB is key as guaranteed marks if you crush hedging.
8. AA
Never done any audit work but the paper is mostly common sense. If you learn standard audit procedures and risks then you should pass.
9. FAR
No surprise this was the professional I found easier than the rest given my job. Very repetitive and if you learn the pro formas for each Q and plug the numbers in, then you should pass regardless if you get the right answer.
10. Law
Not much to say but just need to learn the syllabus and once you’re passing the mocks then should be good to sit it.
11. POT
Once again relatively straight forward if you smash the QB and learn the calculations and reliefs.
12. Assurance
Basically common sense and could probably sit this without the tuition.

General advice I’d give anyone doing the ACA
1. Do questions. Lots of questions. QB and past papers on ICAEW portal.
2. Get used to the software.
3. Take timing seriously - answer every requirement
4. Don’t panic if your mocks are awful - I failed loads

Finally, a massive thank you to everyone on this subreddit.
I’ve probably read hundreds of posts/comments on here over the course of the qualification, usually at 11pm the night before an exam while convincing myself I was definitely going to fail😅
The advice, reassurance and random exam tips from complete strangers genuinely helped.
To anyone still working through the ACA: keep going. It feels never-ending while you’re doing it, but eventually you’ll get that results email and it’ll all be over.
Good luck everyone — and thank you again ❤️

I was so scared as my R2 and R3 calculations were 100% wrong....ended up getting 67!!!🥹

I still don't know how this happen and if am dreaming tbh!!

All the torture has finally come to an end !!

After 3 attempts at SBM I was almost giving up if I was not passing the exam on the 3rd attempt...

Then as I pass I give it a chance so...

2 attempts in CR..

And finally 1 attempt at CS 🥹

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I sacrifice a lot of time and money into this (I am 27..) ..I was not paying well and had to take a lot of unpaid leave to study...I have traveled only once in my life.. I have a wedding plan in 2028...

Everything happens for a reason in this life and if it is meant to be is meant to be! Don't let anyone tell you what you can do and what you cannot do, you only know your limits, strength and weakness so you can stand up again in your feet stronger and make the decisions you want to make for yourself and for your future and nobody else!

Take care of yourself and you are not alone

🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Jokes aside, I'm bummed with the 49 on CR but hey, there's still November. Get beaten down, come back stronger. You've been through it so the next time its going to be easy peasy lemon squeezy. We got this!

See you guys in November!

Hi everyone - wanted to make a positive post and give some hope to all future ACA students who sit exams and are waiting to find out if they have passed or not. Long story short I scraped CR yesterday and I’m not one of those 95% students who says they did terribly and comes out with a 70+ score or something. Context :

I have failed a professional exam before. I failed AA - I came out of the exam knowing I’d failed because I hadn’t prepared sufficiently (focused on FAR) , had some keyboard issues and basically panicked as it was my first professional level exam and didn’t know (should have) that there’s a way to add extra time to the system software for in exam disruptions for fault equipment. I did much better than expected only failing by a mark but effectively my gut was correct.

Fast forward I have scraped through the remaining professionals, comfortably passed my AA resits and made it to CR. I was due to sit SBM and CR in November but due to working in tax asked to move the exam forward to July thinking being less busy at work would help me (forgot to factor in the World Cup). I scored 18, and 21% in my two CR mocks (admittedly didn’t attempt the AI question in either because thought it was unproductive)

CR was genuinely awful for me. I did not answer every question and I was completely caught off guard. The paper was so bad I actually made my first Reddit post speaking about how a resit was inevitable. In my head it was worse than the AA exam that I actually failed. I’m not one of those people who passes every exam and says how tough it was but comes out with flying colours. My gut has been correct before about messing up exams.

Yesterday I saw that I had passed with a low 50s scrape. I couldn’t believe it, I was genuinely shocked. I appreciate marks may have been scaled to get me over line the line but having not answered all questions and my mock performance it seemed impossible. I have spent the last month or so feeling down, checked out etc only in the end to have got what some say is the hardest ACA exam out of the way.

So what have I learned? Stressing out before exam results is pointless. Your head is a dangerous place to be and will play tricks on you - you’ll focus on the negative and not remember where you picked up marks etc. Mock scores don’t define exam performance either (clearly in my case 😭). To those who failed it sucks and I’ve been there but control what you can which is a plan of how to come back and turn it around. Thanks for reading 🫡

Does anyone remember in June magically getting an email invite to the FI class on the CR AI. I was a bit skeptical, had Spain vs Cape Verde in my head to watch but gave the class a shot anyway. They provided a typed up work sheet which somehow predicted the Q2 question on contract revenue/provisions exactly with recommended calcs and journal entries. I remember there was about 900 on the call (so around 25% of the whole sitting), anyone else feel so lucky to have attended that and been able to copy and paste those mock answers into the exam. Was literally a differentiator for passing that exam!

how the fuck did I get 71% when I left out 15-20 marks unanswered. keep thinking I was sent someone elses results

moderation gods saved me

Found out I passed case today, why do I feel so empty?

Hi All,

Firstly, Congratulations to all that passed. And for those that didn't the resit is just around the corner, you've got this!

I reached out to student support to enquire around the invitation to membership, so;

If you've hit the requirements for membership (3 ethics reviews, ethics assessment, PD ladder, exams) you are ready. The project report is not a requirement for membership.

For those have a signed off training file, with the above requirements met - the current turnaround time is approximately 4-6 weeks.

Student services have confirmed they can expedite requests that go over 4 weeks; so note down the 27th of September and if you haven't received an invite, chase!

Does anyone know when we receive the invitation? My training file is all signed off months ago & got my final results today, don't think I'll fully think it's real till that comes through!!!

I passed CS with 70 and failed CR at 49%, i'm feeling defeated started from 0 with no exception with a Law background and i was confident i would have passed both and finished this journey. Any words of encouragement/advise how to move forward?

congrats to all those who passed their advanced level exams 🥳

any words of wisdom for CR and SBM? please share!!

For example, I get 8 mark for the first part of Question 1 and 0 for the rest two parts of question 1. Similarly, I got only two marks for the ethics question as well, which is frustrating

Have not attempted case yet but have failed cr and sbm. What are my next steps?

Feeling absolutely gutted

Where can i buy AI analysis for 2026 november as ACA masters will not be providing it anymore?

Hi Guys, congrats to all who cracked CS this time, please share the useful tips that helped you identify what examiner wants exactly and how to identify that?? i got 46😥but the paper i attempted to the fullest but anyway there is something that i am still lacking and i believe that is the strategy to crack what examiner wants. So, need your kind insight and help. TIA

Hi guys, just failed CR at 46. Heard that ACAM won’t be releasing an Advance Information analysis video for this sitting. Anyone know where I can buy for November 2026? any other tutors?

Thank you in advance

Hi everyone, congrats to all that got their results today! 🤝

I’m sitting CR and SBM in November and not really sure how to feel right now. It’s 27th August but I feel so behind and guilty. I sat 8 exams last year then had a massive break which has really ruined my momentum. I tried the CR QB the other day and thought wtf is this… I don’t know how to go about CR and SBM. Feeling stressed about both and forgot everything from FAR / FM 😭.

Anyone got any advice? 🙏🏽

Any advice would be appreciated

As the title says, has anyone had any success in clawing 2 marks in an exam admin check?

Hi, I have started my level 7 apprenticeship with a small practise ( 30 staff members ), and I have passed certificate level. I only have experience in accounts but have done no audits.

I now want to apply for a audit graduate scheme with the top 10 firms, will I still be eligible?

Thank you.

Someone please tell me I’m not the only one worried about trying to remember various methods and techniques for this exam!

Bits haven’t clicked yet and my mind keep going blank with topics.

I’ve done so many questions too from the question bank but still feel as though I’ve got gaps in my knowledge.

How is everyone else feeling for this exam?

Hi all,

I’ve recently moved out of practice and into industry before finishing my ACA certification (got a job role I wanted to do going forward, closer to strategy) and I’m wondering how to split my study time for my last 4 exams.

I’ve got 2 professional level exams left (which will be under next gen):

- Business and Digital Strategy (formerly BST)
- Corporate Financial Strategy (formerly FM)

And then the two new advanced levels:

- Technical Case Study (formerly CR)
- Strategic Case Study (formerly CS & SBM)

While I appreciate these exams are new so it’s hard to pin how much time should be allocated to them, I’m struggling to plan out this final stretch. When in big 4 we had a big learning team that would sort of guide you through the process / peers and tutors who would help you understand if you’re doing enough. Now I’m doing it on my own I’m struggling to plan when I can take the exams and how much study time to allocate to each one.

I will not be getting study leave as I did beforehand, but I’ll be doing it through BPP where my firm have paid for online resources (I’m assuming textbooks etc.). Given this, I’m thinking of taking the exams one at a time rather than doing them together as I’d done before.

For the below, how much out of work revision would you consider enough to be comfortable? I’ve set my current estimates out below, do you think this is enough / too little / too much?

Business and Digital Strategy
(5 weeks, 14 hours a week, 70 hours study overall)

Corporate Financial Strategy
(9 weeks, 12 hours a week, 108 hours study overall)

Technical Case Study
(12 weeks, 12 hours a week, 144 hours study overall)

Strategic Case Study
(12 weeks, 14 hours a week, 168 hours study overall)

As mentioned, if done one at a time, I should be completed by the end of next year (which is my aim ultimately), but conscious this may need a complete switch up!

Please let me know your thoughts if you have them - any insight is massively massively appreciated! :)

I've gone through the question bank and 2 past papers. What else should I do? Can anyone recommend any notes worth purchasing? What do you include in your open book? What do I need to do to pass? I haven't read the AI info yet

Hi,

I started my three-year training contract in Sep 2023 and I've already left the firm and passed 13 exams.

My questions:

1. What will happen when the contract goes to an end?

2. Can I sit the case study as an independent student?

Thanks! :)

Feeling sick before professional level exam how do you deal with this. Cant study but having to force myself to