As per the new notification released by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the CA Final exam will now be conducted three times a year from the year 2025 instead of two times a year.

Key changes in CA Final exams

In order to stay in sync with international best practices and provide students with additional chances, the 26^th Council of ICAI has taken a historic decision to hold the CA Final examination thrice a year in January, May, and September.

Last year, ICAI had decided to hold the CA Foundation and CA Intermediate exams thrice a year instead of twice and now CA Final exams will follow the same pattern.

Now, all three levels of the CA course, namely, CA Foundation, CA Intermediate, and CA Final, will have an equal number of attempts each year, which not only provides students more flexibility in attempts but also provides more opportunities for students to appear in the examination.

New Changes in Post Qualification Course in Information Systems Audit (ISA)

ICAI announced changes in the Post Qualification Course in Information Systems Audit, which was earlier conducted twice a year in June and December.

Will now conducted thrice a year in February, June, and October, further increasing access and convenience for members.

Official Announcement

ICAI President CA. Charanjot Singh Nanda commented on this significant reform, stating:

“These epoch-making decisions will significantly benefit both students and members, offering them enhanced opportunities for success. This move marks a new era in the way we support and guide our future Chartered Accountants. ICAI is working 24/7 for the growth of its members and students. This historic decision will ensure that both students and professionals have abundant opportunities to excel in their careers.”

Benefits of Conducting CA Final Exam Three Times a Year

Increased opportunities for students: Now students have more opportunities to appear for the CA Final exam, which reduces the waiting time for re-attempts and makes sure that those who may not pass in one attempt have a chance to try again within the same year.

Reduce pressure and stress: Now, students don’t have to wait for an entire year after failing a CA Final session, which helps to reduce the mental burden of long delays between CA Final attempts.

Flexibility: With CA Final exams conducted three times a year, students can choose the timings that align best with their preparation and other commitments. Also, candidates can now strategically plan and increase their chances of success without being constrained by strict exam timetables.

Disadvantages of Conducting CA Final exam three times a year

Limited time for preparation: with CA Final exams being held frequently, the time availability for deep revision between cycles can be limited. If a student fails in a particular attempt, then he/she may not have enough time to fully improve their preparation for the next cycle, which leads to repeated failures.

Limited time for syllabus updates: with CA Final exams conducted thrice a year lead to less time to implement and communicate changes to the syllabus, exam pattern, which leads to a situation where students may not have enough time to adequately understand and absorb the updated content.

Increased competition: The increase of CA Final exams also increases the competition among students as more students are likely to appear in each attempt.

Conclusion

The decision to hold the CA Final exam three times a year from 2025 represents a major shift in how the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India supports its students. Aspiring CAs, get ready for the new era of CA Final exams, as your path to success just got smoother. 

FAQs

Q1. Will the CA Final exam be conducted three times a year?

Ans. Yes, as of now, the CA Final exam will be conducted three times a year.

Q2. How many times is the CA Final exam conducted annually?

Ans. The CA Final exam will now be conducted three times a year.

Q3. In which months will the CA Final exam be conducted?

Ans. The CA final exam will be conducted in January, May, and September.

Q4. What are the benefits of conducting the CA Final exam three times a year?

Ans. There are many benefits of conducting the CA Final exam including, increased opportunity for students, flexibility, and reduced stress and pressure among students.

Q5. When will the CA Final May 25 exam start?

Ans. The CA Final May25 exam starts on 2^nd May, 2025.

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