The Chartered Accountancy (CA) course is a prestigious professional certification program in accounting, finance, and taxation, regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It has three levels: Foundation, Intermediate, and Final.

The CA Foundation is the entry-level exam for the Chartered Accountancy course. It's designed to build a strong base in the fundamentals of accounting, law, economics, and quantitative aptitude.

If you have a keen interest in finance, accounting, taxation, and business law, and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, a career as a CA is an excellent choice for you.

It acts as a screening test to ensure that students entering the CA profession have the necessary aptitude and fundamental knowledge to handle the advanced curriculum of the Intermediate and Final levels.

The New Scheme, effective from 2024, has introduced several student-friendly changes. The key highlights are: exams are now held three times a year, the syllabus is more streamlined, and the registration validity has been extended to four years.

Any student who has passed their Class 10 examinations from a recognized board can register provisionally for the CA Foundation course .

Provisional registration allows you to enroll with the ICAI's Board of Studies (BoS) right after your Class 10 exams. This gives you a head start, as you can receive study materials early. Your registration gets confirmed once you pass your Class 12 exams .

You can appear for the CA Foundation exam only after you have appeared for your Class 12 examinations and have completed the mandatory four-month study period after registration .

No, there is no minimum percentage required in Class 12 to be eligible for the CA Foundation exam. You just need to have passed the examination .

No. Graduates and post-graduates from Commerce streams (with a minimum of 55% marks) or other streams (with a minimum of 60% marks) are eligible for the Direct Entry Route. They can start directly from the CA Intermediate level, bypassing the Foundation exam .

The registration process is completely online through the ICAI's Self-Service Portal (SSP). You need to fill out the form, upload the required documents (like photos and mark sheets), and pay the fee online  .

You'll typically need a scanned copy of your recent passport-sized photograph, signature, and the attested mark sheet of your Class 10 exam (and Class 12, if you've passed) .

Your registration for the CA Foundation course is valid for four years from the date of registration .

It is extremely difficult to change core details like name and date of birth after submission. It's crucial to fill in all details correctly as per your official documents .

Once your payment is successful, the study materials are usually dispatched by the ICAI's Centralized Dispatch System and should reach you within a few weeks .

The total fee payable to ICAI is approximately ₹10,900 for Indian students. This includes the registration fee (₹9,000), prospectus cost (₹200), optional journal subscription (₹200), and the examination fee (₹1,500).

No. The fee is paid in two parts:
Registration Fee: Around ₹9,200 (or ₹9,400 with journal) at the time of enrolling with the Board of Studies.
Examination Fee: ₹1,500 paid each time you apply to appear for the exam .

The ICAI may offer concessions or scholarships based on specific criteria. Students should check the official ICAI website for any such announcements .

For foreign students, the total fee is approximately $1,065, which includes the registration fee ($700 + prospectus/journal costs) and the examination fee ($325).

No, the fees mentioned above are payable directly to the ICAI. Fees for coaching at institutions like Mercury Edutech Academy are separate and cover expert tuition, mock tests, and personalized mentorship.

There are four papers in the CA Foundation syllabus:

• Paper 1: Accounting
• Paper 2: Business Laws
• Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude
• Paper 4: Business Economics.

This paper covers the theoretical framework of accounting, the accounting process, bank reconciliation, financial statements of sole proprietors and partnerships, and an introduction to company accounts.

It primarily covers key commercial laws like The Indian Contract Act, The Sale of Goods Act, The Indian Partnership Act, The LLP Act, and The Companies Act .

This paper is divided into three sections:

• Business Mathematics (40 Marks)
• Logical Reasoning (20 Marks)
• Statistics (40 Marks).
  

This paper focuses on micro and macroeconomics, including the theory of demand and supply, production costs, market structures, and business cycles.

While commerce students have an initial advantage in Accounting, the syllabus is designed to teach everything from the basics. With dedicated effort and proper guidance from experts at Mercury Edutech Academy, students from any stream can excel .

The official syllabus and study materials are provided by the ICAI. They can be accessed via the Board of Studies portal after registration .

Yes, the new syllabus is more focused. Topics like Business Correspondence & Reporting and Business & Commercial Knowledge have been removed, and the core subjects have been streamlined.

The exam consists of four papers, each for 100 marks.

• Papers 1 & 2 (Accounting & Law) are subjective (written answers).
• Papers 3 & 4 (Quantitative Aptitude & Economics) are objective (Multiple-Choice Questions - MCQs).

Each paper is 3 hours long .

Yes, there is negative marking, but only for the objective papers (Paper 3 and 4). For every wrong MCQ answer, 0.25 marks (or 1/4th of the marks) will be deducted. There is no negative marking for the subjective papers (Paper 1 and 2).

To pass, a candidate must meet both of the following conditions:

• Score a minimum of 40% marks in each individual paper.
• Score a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate (i.e., a total of 200 out of 400).
  

Unfortunately, you will be declared failed. You must clear both the individual and aggregate criteria to pass .

Yes, you can choose to write your exams in either English or Hindi .

You will be given an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet to mark your answers for the MCQ-based papers .

The CA Foundation exams are conducted in offline mode (pen and paper) at designated exam centers .

Under the New Scheme, the exams are held three times a year, in May/June, September, and January.

You must register with the Board of Studies at least four months before the first day of the exam month.

• For the May/June session, the deadline is January 1.
• For the September session, the deadline is May 1.
• For the January session, the deadline is September 1 of the previous year.

The exam forms are usually released by ICAI about 2-3 months before the exam date .

The registration form is a one-time process to enroll in the course. The exam form must be filled out for every attempt you wish to make.

The admit card is typically released on the ICAI website about 14 days before the first exam .

The mandatory study period is four months, but we at Mercury Edutech Academy recommend a dedicated preparation of 5-6 months to cover the syllabus thoroughly and have ample time for revision and mock tests .

While some students can clear with self-study, joining a reputed coaching institute like ours provides structured guidance, expert doubt-solving, regular mock tests, and a competitive environment, which significantly increases your chances of success.

Extremely important! Mock tests help you manage time effectively, understand the exam pattern, identify your weak areas, and build confidence before the actual exam .

The ICAI material is the core curriculum and should be your primary resource. However, supplementary notes, question banks, and revision guides provided by your coaching center can simplify concepts and offer more practice .

Yes, a non-programmable calculator with up to 12 digits and 2 memory functions is allowed. .

Create a realistic study schedule, take regular breaks, stay healthy, and practice revision consistently. Joining a coaching program also provides a support system of teachers and peers to keep you motivated.

The results are generally announced by the ICAI about two months after the last exam .

Congratulations! After passing, you must register for the CA Intermediate course, which is the second level of your Chartered Accountancy journey .

Don't be disheartened! Many successful CAs have cleared in their subsequent attempts. Analyze your performance, identify your mistakes, and reappear in the next session with better preparation. Your four-year registration allows for multiple attempts. Mercury Edutech Academy offers special guidance for repeaters to help them succeed.