Read all about the CA Foundation course details, the eligibility criteria, exemption, registration, fees, subjects and syllabus, exam details, and results.
CA Foundation is the entry-level or the very first level in your Chartered Accountancy course. It consists of four papers that students have to complete. Only after clearing the CA Foundation course can a student become eligible for the CA Intermediate and the CA Final which are the next level in your CA course. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is the official statuary body for regulating the profession of CA in India.
Let’s read all about the CA Foundation course details i.e. the eligibility criteria, exemption, registration process, and fees, subjects and syllabus, exam details, and results.
CA Foundation Course Details – An Overview
CA Foundation is the first level of examination in your chartered accountant’s course followed by the CA Intermediate and the CA Final. CA Foundation exams are held twice a year, once in May and once in November.
This level consists of four papers that students will study and give examinations for. To become eligible to register for intermediate, students must clear all documents of the foundation.
To register and give exams for the Foundation course, there is an eligibility criterion to be followed. You can find the eligibility criteria for the CA Foundation given below.
CA Foundation Eligibility Criteria
A student wanting to register for CA Foundation must meet the following eligibility criteria.
| Candidates must have passed the class 10th examination conducted by an examination body recognized by the central government. |
| Candidates must have passed the class 12th examination conducted by an examination body recognized by the central government. |
| Candidates must complete a four-month study period from the date of registration to be eligible to appear in the CA Foundation. |
Exemption in CA Foundation
A student can get an exemption from the CA Foundation i.e., he will not have to sit for the foundation examination if he meets the following conditions. He can apply for direct entry into the Intermediate level.
| Candidates who have completed graduation or post-graduation in the commerce stream have secured a minimum of 55% marks. |
| Candidates who have completed graduation from any stream and have secured a minimum of 60% marks. |
| Candidates who have qualified CS Executive level from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICAI). |
| Candidates who have qualified CMA Intermediate level from the Institute of Cost and Management of India (ICMAI). |
Registration
To register for the CA Foundation, students can visit the official website of ICAI and fill out the application form. They will also be required to pay the registration fee to successfully register.
Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to register.
| Step 1: Visit the official website of ICAI |
| Step 2: Drag your mouse over to “E-SERVICES” and click on “Students Services”. |
| Step 3: Scroll down and click on “Entry Level Forms”. |
| Step 4: Fill out the details. A registration number and password will be sent to you. |
| Step 5: Login using those credentials. |
| Step 6: Fill out the rest of the details asked. |
| Step 7: Now, you will be asked to upload scanned copies of some documents. |
| Step 8: The last step would be to pay the fee. |
Registration Fees
Registration fees for the CA Foundation are as follows:
| CA Course Fees | Indian Students | International Students |
| Registration fees | Rs.9000 | $700 |
| Examination fees | Rs.1500 | $325 |
| Journal membership fees | Rs.200 | $20 |
| prospectus | Rs.200 | $20 |
Total fees for the CA course foundation level are Rs.10,900
Exam Form
Students who wish to appear in the CA Foundation exam must fill out the exam/application form within the timeline provided by ICAI. Along with this, an exam fee will also be charged. If a student fails to do so, they will get a week’s extension but after that, they will not be allowed to sit in the examination.
Admit Card
A candidate must carry their admit card to the exam, without it, they won’t be allowed to give the examination. Admit card is not sent to students via email or phone number. It has to be downloaded from ICAI’s website portal. ICAI releases admit cards 14 days before the exam date.
Step to download your Admit Card.
| Step 1: Visit the official website of ICAI |
| Step 2: Click on Self Services Portal and log in with your User ID and password. |
| Step 3: Click on the view option for admit card for CA Foundation. |
| Step 4: Your admit card will be displayed on your screen. |
| Step 4: Cross-check all your details and download! |
CA Foundation Exam
CA Foundation exams are held by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, twice a year. Once in May and once in November. Students must clear the examination according to the passing criteria given by ICAI to become eligible to register for the CA Intermediate.
Let’s look at the CA Inter exam pattern for more details.
| Mode of Exam | Online Center-Based |
| Type of Questions | Subjective and Objective |
| Duration of Exam | Paper 1 and 2 will be of 3 hours
Paper 3 and 4 will be of 2 hours |
| No of Papers | 4 Papers |
| No of Groups | 2, Group 1 & Group 2 |
| Total Marks | 100 in each paper, Total marks = 400 |
| Language | Hindi or English |
| Marking Scheme | For subjective (Paper 1 and 2) – NO negative marking
For objective papers (Paper 3 and 4) – ¼ mark will be deducted for every wrong answer |
| Passing Criteria | Minimum of 40% in each subject and a minimum of 50% in aggregate |
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CA Foundation Syllabus
The syllabus for CA Foundation Course has been divided into four Papers.
CA Foundation is a partially subjective and partially objective test consisting of 400 marks.
- Paper 1: Principles and Practice of Accounting
- Paper 2: Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting
- Paper 3: Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics
- Paper 4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge
CA Foundation Results
After giving the Foundation exam, candidates can check the results once ICAI has announced them on their official website. A candidate must obtain 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in aggregate to successfully pass this level and move to CA Inter. If you fail to meet the passing criteria you may give the exam again in the next term.
CA Foundation preparation and classes
CA exams are not that easy to clear and will require a lot of dedication, planning, strategy, and professional coaching to pass. Here are some tips to help you prepare better.
- Before you plan things out, know what works best for you. Depending on your personality, you should decide how you will be more productive; while studying early morning or late at night? while taking online or offline coaching classes? with a strict schedule or a relaxed one? write down the answers and plan accordingly.
- Give yourself sufficient time for preparation. Don’t start at the last minute. Start early and slowly make quality progress
- Enroll in an affordable coaching institute as they will become a guide to you and provide you with all the necessary information, updates, announcements, study material, etc. on top of teaching you the syllabus thoroughly.
- Keep practicing mock test papers as well as solving previous year’s papers regularly. Sharpen your question-solving skills
- Don’t buy or download too much study material. Focus on getting the right quality material from your institute and practice on that. Quality is always more important than quantity.
- One of the most important and most ignored tips, don’t make studying your life! Go outside, play sports, meditate, meet friends or do anything else that you love. If your mind isn’t happy and in peace, your preparation will be affected.
- Eat healthy food daily and keep physically active
Students can study for CA Foundation exams through self-study or coaching classes. It is most preferable to enroll in coaching classes to leave no stone unturned. Coaching institutes will provide you with the right strategies and planning to pass your exams in a single attempt successfully.
You can check out TopLad’s CA online/offline coaching classes. We have helped thousands of students achieve their dream of becoming Chartered Accountants.
Check out our website for more information –TopLad.
You can also mail us [email protected] or call us on our toll-free number 18003091245 and talk to our experts for free.
