Latest ACCA Pass Rates and Exam Insights

by Axel Hardy

ACCA Pass Rates: Understanding Trends and Maximizing Success

ACCA pass rates are a crucial indicator for students navigating the rigorous journey to becoming a Chartered Certified Accountant. With each exam session offering its challenges, understanding these pass rates can help candidates better prepare, allocate study time efficiently, and set realistic expectations. In this blog, we will dive into the latest ACCA exam pass rates, analyze trends, and provide insights into how students can improve their chances of success.

2023-2024 ACCA Pass Rates Overview

June 2024 Exam Sitting ACCA pass rates:

The June 2024 exam session saw a robust participation:

  • Candidates: 107,506 students entered the exams.
  • Exams Completed: A total of 124,727 exams were completed.
  • New Affiliates: 4,559 students completed all required exams, achieving affiliate status and joining over 250,000 ACCA members worldwide.

Positive Trends:

Students who utilized ACCA resources, especially those studying with Approved Learning Providers, showed improved pass rates. The emphasis on structured learning and resource utilization has proven to be a significant factor in these results.

Upcoming Changes:

Starting in September 2024, a new syllabus year will begin for all exams except Taxation and Advanced Taxation. Notably, the Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) exam will include the new IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (S1 and S2), reflecting the ACCA’s commitment to staying aligned with global financial reporting developments.

Students can plan their ACCA Exams for future sitting by looking at the ACCA Exam dates.

In the tables below we show the ACCA exam pass rate comparisons both by subject and exam periods.

ACCA Results March 2024

Overall Participation and Success:

  • 88,029 candidates entered for the March 2024 exams.
  • A total of 102,626 exams were completed.
  • 3,548 students successfully completed their final exams, becoming ACCA Affiliates.

Executive Comments from Alan Hatfield:

  • Positive reception to the strong results from the first exam session of the year.
  • Encouragement for students progressing towards ACCA membership.
  • Commitment to supporting students' career success through enhanced study resources.

Resources for Success:

  • Introduction of the ACCA Study Hub, providing exclusive access to study materials online and on mobile.
  • Emphasis on utilizing My Exam Performance, Practice Platform, and ACCA Study Hub to improve exam preparation and increase pass rates.
  • Notable improvement in pass rates with the use of these resources, especially beneficial when paired with an Approved Learning Provider.

    Specific Exam Performance:

    • Significant increase in AAA exam pass rates to 38%, the highest since June 2015.
    • Consistent struggle with APM, maintaining a low pass rate of 33%.
    • Pass rates for ATX and AFM stood at 49% and 46%, respectively.
    • Strategic essential papers like SBL and SBR reported pass rates around 50%, with SBL at 52% and SBR at 49%.
    • The AA paper recorded the lowest pass rate in Applied Skills at 44%.
    • PM pass rate increased to 45%, the highest since June 2010.
    • TX and FR maintained steady pass rates from the previous year at 53% and 52%, respectively.
    • FM pass rate remained relatively high at 48%.

      Call to Action for Students:

      • Special note on the new format changes to the Strategic Business Leader exam and updates to the Strategic Business Reporting questions.

      Applied Skills exam

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Dec 23 Mar 24 Jun 24 Sep 24
      PM 42% 45% 42%
      TX 54% 53% 55%
      FR 48% 52% 51%
      AA 41% 44% 44%
      FM 48% 48% 48%

       Strategic Professional exam

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Dec 23 Mar 24 Jun 24 Sep 24
      SBL 52% 52% 52%
      SBR 50% 49% 49%
      AFM 45% 46% 46%
      APM 34% 33% 37%
      ATX 49% 49% 47%
      AAA 34% 38% 37%

      2022-2023 pass rates

      Applied Skill exams

      Exams  Dec 22 Mar 23 Jun 23 Sep 23
      PM 43% 44% 40% 40%
      TX 52% 53% 56% 54%
      FR 49% 52% 49% 47%
      AA 40% 44% 45% 42%
      FM 51% 49% 52% 49%

      Strategic Professional exam

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Dec 22 Mar 23 Jun 23 Sep 23
      SBL 49% 50% 51% 50%
      SBR 47% 50% 51% 50%
      AFM 41% 45% 47% 45%
      APM 33% 35% 34% 34%
      ATX 39% 45% 43% 48%
      AAA 32% 34% 34% 34%

      ACCA exam pass rate statistics

       Students Dec 22 Mar 23 Jun 23 Sep 23
      Who appeared 107,142 87,305 105,016 89,719
      Completed exams 128,693 102.770 123,828 104,389
      Remotely invigitlated 15,848 13,397
      ACCA qualified 3,737 3,278 4,203 3,763

      We do write tips on exams that have low passing rates. Students can read our expert blogs on how to pass the exams.

      These are listed below.

      2021-2022 ACCA pass rates

      ACCA syllabus changes primarily have focused on data analytics, cloud computing  artificial intelligence, internet of things, and automation.

      The importance of sustainability to the ACCA Qualification is central to developing skills and knowledge about how it impacts businesses, including ESG factors on strategy formulation. In addition, they must address these issues when performing performance measurements and audits to comply with industry standards or guidelines.

      This exam year results are robust, and we're thrilled to see so many students continuing on their journey towards a career with the Association said Alan Hartfield. 

      Overall this year had close to 15,000 students complete their ACCA qualification. 

      Applied Skills exam 

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Sep 21 Dec 21 Mar 22 Jun 22
      PM 37 43 40 41
      TX 52 49 51 52
      FR 48 50 50 51
      AA 39 38 44 39
      FM 52 50 50

      52

      Strategic Professional exam

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Sep 21 Dec 21 Mar 22 Jun 22
      SBL 51 51 50 50
      SBR 48 48 46 49
      AFM 38 41 43 41
      APM 30 32 34 33
      ATX 36 37 38 42
      AAA 34 34 33 31

       ACCA exam pass rate statistics

       Students Sep 21 Dec 21 Mar 22 Jun 22
      Who appeared 93,635 119,688 88,564 101,866
      Completed exams 117,693 145,692 105,155 122,756
      Remotely invigitlated 9,809 9,173 15,474
      ACCA qualified 3,222 4,288 3,090 3,877

      2020-2021 ACCA pass rates

      The exams were held during the pandemic, with the remotely invigilated exams being tried for the first time. Almost 99.5% of exams were CBE.

      "The students have shown amazing resilience and commitment in the face of adversity this year," said Alan Hatfield, Executive Director - of content, quality and innovation. 'Whilst Covid-19 continues to be a significant challenge for us all, students did come with excellent results.

      Overall we had close to 16,000 students becoming ACCA affiliates in this exam cycle.

      Applied Skills exam

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21 Jun 21
      PM 39 40 44 41
      TX 49 51 46 50
      FR 40 48 47 51
      AA 41 39 43 39
      FM 52 45 46 53

      Strategic Professional exam 

      ACCA exam pass rate by subject

      Exams  Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21 Jun 21
      SBL 51 49 47 52
      SBR 49 47 52 44
      AFM 37 42 39 39
      APM 33 32 36 32
      ATX 38 40 44 41
      AAA 33 35 32 32

      ACCA exam pass rate statistics

       Students Sep 20 Dec 20 Mar 21 Jun 21
      Who appeared 103,000 119,688 92,000 100,000
      Completed exams 132,000 145,692 112,000 128,000
      Remotely invigitlated 14,000 9,809 21,402 21,000
      ACCA qualified 4,219 4,288 3,440 3,838

       ACCA releases individual Exam pass rates quarterly after each testing window, and Eduyush reports these pass rates here. The ACCA Exam is a rigorous test that we continue to analyze and compare pass rates throughout the years.

      Critical Takeaways for ACCA Candidates

      Utilize ACCA Resources:

      The data consistently shows that students who engage with ACCA resources, particularly those from Approved Learning Providers, have higher pass rates. To enhance your exam preparation, utilize tools like the ACCA Study Hub, My Exam Performance, and the Practice Platform.

      Plan Your Study Schedule:

      Align your study plan with the ACCA exam dates to ensure you are fully prepared for each exam session. Starting early and following a structured study plan can significantly improve your performance.

      Stay Informed on Syllabus Changes:

      Keep up-to-date with any changes in the ACCA syllabus, especially with the upcoming IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards introduction in the SBR exam.

      Consider the Impact of Exam Trends:

      Understanding the trends in pass rates helps you identify which exams require more focused preparation. Papers like APM and AAA have historically lower pass rates so that extra attention may be needed for these subjects.

      Conclusion

      The ACCA pass rates provide valuable insights into the exam’s difficulty and the effectiveness of study strategies. You can enhance your chances of success by leveraging ACCA resources and staying informed about exam trends and syllabus changes. The journey to becoming a Chartered Certified Accountant is demanding, but you can achieve your goals with the right preparation.

      The BPP training at Eduyush helps you pass the ACCA exams. Our team is committed to your success and offers exclusive resources and support unavailable elsewhere. Take our training to increase your chances of passing the ACCA exams on your first try. Contact us today to learn more about our program and start your journey to becoming a certified chartered accountant.


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      ACCA Exam dates. Questions? Answers.

      The ACCA exam time in India is typically around 1:30 PM local time for centre based exams. In some cities, exams can also be offered at 9:30 AM

      For remote exams, there are multiple slots during the day at 15 minute intervals.

      There are four exam sessions per year for the ACCA qualification: September, December, March, and June.

      Candidates have the opportunity to sit exams in any of these sessions.

      Students must go to their myACCA login and book the exams directly.

      As all exams are Computer based, students will be redirected to the Pearson exam booking window, where they will need to select their centre or remote times.

      Exam dockets are sent via email and also available for download on your MyACCA login three weeks prior to the exam dates.

      The ACCA exams are typically multiple choice or objective test questions, although some exams may also include written case study questions. The exams are usually held in a computer-based format, although paper-based exams may be available in some locations.

      Yes, you can change the exam session or location after you have registered, but no changes can be done after the exam booking deadline date

      If you miss an exam, you will need to re-register and pay the exam fees again. ACCA marks you as absent.

      You will also need to wait until the next exam session to sit for the exam.

      Yes, you can request a refund if you decide not to take the exam and have cancelled the exam booking prior to the exam deadline.

      The refund will be credited to your ACCA account which you can use for your next exams.

      If you need a refund back to your credit card, you will have to contact ACCA team.

      The syllabus of ACCA does not materially change every year.

      All amendments are done basis the September to June exam cycle.

      As an example, in order to keep up with the latest changes in the accounting industry and business world, the syllabus is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. So although there may not be any major changes each year, there will likely be some minor amendments made.

      It is best to review the latest syllabus on ACCA site prior to starting your studies.