Is ACCA Difficult? A Complete Guide to Exam Difficulty & Pass Rates

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is one of the most sought-after credentials for aspiring finance and accounting professionals worldwide. It opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities globally. Therefore, it is important for students aspiring to become an ACCA to know the course structure, what the course demands, its difficulty level, and the pass rates so as to ease in their preparation for their professional journey.

WHAT IS ACCA AND WHY DO PEOPLE THINK IT’S DIFFICULT?

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a globally recognized professional body for accountants specializing in financial reporting, management, audit, and international taxation. The course consists of 13 exams spread across 3 levels. Candidates must also complete 36 months of relevant work experience and an Ethics and Professional Skills module to become an ACCA Member.

The difficulty arises since the exams demand both practical and technical expertise, real-world scenario analysis, and strong time management. Also, since it is an international course, it is very expensive and is not affordable to everyone.

HOW HARD IS ACCA COMPARED TO OTHER ACCOUNTING QUALIFICATIONS?

ACCA, often compared with other accounting qualifications like CA, is easier and flexible because :

·       For the introductory Knowledge level papers, students can schedule and take them at any time throughout the year at an approved exam centre.

·       It offers paper exemptions for graduates (If they have a degree, they can be exempted from the initial 4 exams. The exemptions may vary according to the university from which one holds a degree)

·       The failed papers can be taken again individually, while in the case of CA, the student has to repeat the whole group, even if they had passed the papers individually in the previous attempt.

·       After the 10^th standard, students can join ACCA through the FIA route, but they must complete the Knowledge level papers before progressing to the Skill level. While in the case of CA, students can provisionally register for the course after the 10^th standard, but they can attend the exams only after clearing Class XII board exams. Therefore, ACCA saves a lot of professional time for a student.

WHAT MAKES THE ACCA EXAMS CHALLENGING?

The main challenges include :

·       Complex exam questions that combine theory with case studies and real-world analysis.

·       Time constraints with many questions to solve

· In-depth understanding and application of accounting, financial reporting, taxation, and auditing.

·       Frequent updates in accounting standards and regulations demand continuous learning.

WHICH ACCA PAPERS ARE THE HARDEST (AND EASIEST)?

·       The hardest and easiest papers of ACCA are relative since they depend on an individual’s strength and knowledge level.

·       But generally, the Knowledge and Skill level papers are less challenging.

·       The hardest papers, according to pass rates, are as follows :

1.      Strategic Business Leader (SBL) : Tests analytical and problem-solving skills in business scenarios.

2.      Advanced Auditing and Assurance (AAA) : Requires a thorough understanding of auditing processes and detailed analysis.

3.      Performance Management (PM) : Involves the application of cost and management accounting techniques.

4.      Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) and Advanced Financial Management (AFM) are also regarded as tough.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE ACCA QUALIFICATION?

It generally takes around 2-3 years to complete the course. The duration depends upon the route one chooses (FIA or after graduation), exemptions availed, and the pace of clearing papers.

ACCA PASS RATES: WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY ABOUT ITS DIFFICULTY?

The ACCA holds exams four times a year for the Skill and Professional Levels in March, June, September, and December. The Knowledge level exams can be taken on demand on any day of the year at a computer-based exam centre.

The pass rates of March, June, and September 2025 attempts are as follows :

The 2025 ACCA pass rates show that Skill Level papers have moderate success rates, mostly between 40 and 55%. The Taxation (TX) remains the easiest with around 55%, while Audit and Assurance (AA) and Financial Reporting (FR) stay below 50% showing higher difficulty. At the Professional level, pass rates are generally lower, reflecting higher analytical and judgemental requirements. Advanced papers like AAA, AFM and APM remain hardest around 39-45% while ATX performs the best at over 50%. Overall, all data suggest that as a candidate moves to higher levels, exams become significantly more challenging.