Exam Overview
Paper 1: Principles and Practice of Accounting
- 100 Marks
- 3 Hours Duration
- Subjective/Objective Questions
- No Negative Marking
Paper 2: Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting
- 100 Marks (60+40)
- 3 Hours Duration
- Objective Questions
- Negative Marking (0.25 per wrong answer)
Paper 3: Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics
- 100 Marks (40+60)
- 2 Hours Duration
- Objective Questions
- Negative Marking (0.25 per wrong answer)
Paper 4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge
- 100 Marks (60+40)
- 2 Hours Duration
- Objective Questions
- Negative Marking (0.25 per wrong answer)
Exam Cycle
- Conducted twice a year (May/June and November/December)
- Registration Deadline: ~3 months before exam
- Admit Card: 2-3 weeks before exam
- Result Declaration: Within 8 weeks of exam
Eligibility
- 10+2 passed or appearing
- No minimum percentage required
- Registered with ICAI for Foundation Course
- No age limit
Passing Criteria
- Minimum 40% marks in each paper
- Aggregate of 50% across all papers
- No exemption in any paper
- Must pass all papers in single attempt
Performance Analysis
Paper-wise Weightage
Accounting Fundamentals
Company Law
Logical Reasoning
Microeconomics
Preparation Roadmap
3-Month Plan
- Month 1: Conceptual understanding of all subjects
- Month 2: Practice and problem-solving
- Month 3: Revision and mock tests
- Daily study: 4-5 hours
Study Approach
- Focus on understanding concepts
- Regular practice of numericals
- Make concise notes for revision
- Solve previous 5 years' papers
Exam Strategy
- Attempt easy questions first
- Manage time effectively
- Be careful with negative marking
- Revise answers if time permits
Recommended Resources
Paper 1: Accounting
- ICAI Study Material
- Accounting for CA Foundation - PC Tulsian
- Practice Manual by ICAI
- Scanner - Past Exam Questions
Paper 2: Business Laws
- ICAI Study Material
- Business Laws - Munish Bhandari
- Business Correspondence - RK Gupta
- Previous Year Question Banks
Paper 3: Business Maths & Stats
- ICAI Study Material
- Quantitative Aptitude - RS Aggarwal
- Logical Reasoning - Arun Sharma
- Statistics for CA Foundation - Sanjay Gupta
Paper 4: Business Economics
- ICAI Study Material
- Business Economics - TR Jain
- Business & Commercial Knowledge - ICSI
- Economic Times for current business updates
Preparation Tips
Study Material
Start with ICAI study material as it's most aligned with exam pattern. Supplement with reference books for difficult topics.
Practice Papers
Solve at least 5 years of previous papers to understand question patterns and difficulty level.
Time Management
Allocate time based on weightage and your comfort with each subject. Regular study is better than last-minute cramming.
Mock Tests
Take full-length mock tests under exam conditions to improve speed and accuracy.
Presentation
For Paper 1, practice neat presentation of accounting solutions with proper formats.
Concept Clarity
Focus on understanding concepts rather than rote learning, especially for accounting and law.