The CA CPT Exam (Chartered Accountancy Common Proficiency Test) was the entry-level examination for aspiring chartered accountants in India. However, it’s worth noting that the CA CPT has been replaced by the CA Foundation course as per the revised curriculum by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), effective July 2017.Previously, CA CPT was a gateway for individuals aspiring to pursue a career in chartered accountancy. It consisted of four subjects: Accounting, Mercantile Laws, General Economics, and Quantitative Aptitude. The exam aimed to test candidates’ fundamental knowledge and understanding in these areas.
CA CPT was conducted twice a year, in June and December, and consisted of objective-type questions. To pass, candidates needed to secure a minimum of 30% marks in each subject and an overall aggregate of 50%.Upon successfully clearing the CA CPT, candidates could register for the Intermediate level of the Chartered Accountancy program, which included further specialized subjects and articleship training.While CA CPT is no longer applicable, the CA Foundation course now serves as the initial step for those aspiring to become chartered accountants, offering a broader and more comprehensive curriculum to prepare them for the complex world of accounting, finance, and auditing.
Highlights
| Highlights | Description |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CA CPT (Chartered Accountancy Common Proficiency Test) |
| Entry-Level Exam | The initial step for aspiring Chartered Accountants in India. |
| Subjects | Accounting, Mercantile Laws, General Economics, Quantitative Aptitude. |
| Examination Frequency | Biannually in June and December. |
| Passing Criteria | 30% minimum in each subject and a 50% overall aggregate. |
| Revised Curriculum | Replaced by CA Foundation course since July 2017. |
| Gateway to CA Journey | Successful candidates could proceed to the Intermediate level. |
| Objective-Type Questions | Exam format included multiple-choice questions. |
| Comprehensive Knowledge Test | Assessed fundamental knowledge in accounting and related areas. |
| ICAI Oversight | Administered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). |
Important Dates
| Main Events | Tentative Dates |
| Starting of online application form | 3rd week of April 2024 |
| Last date to submit the application form without a late fee | 1st week of May 2024 |
| Last date to apply with a late fees | 2nd week of May 2024 |
| Availability of an admit card | 1st week of June 2024 |
| Date of CA Foundation exam | Last week of June 2024 |
| Declaration of result | 2nd week of July 2024 |
Applictaion Form
Those interested candidates who want to apply for CA Foundation need to fill and submit the application form before the last date. The application form will release in online mode only. The complete process of application form submission is explained below.
- First and foremost, you will have to visit the official website of IC
- On the official website, you need to register as a new user by providing some of your basic details including your email address, and phone number.
- Then, you are required to log in by entering your credentials generated during registration.
- After logging in, the new application form will display on your screen.
- In the main application form, you will have to enter your complete educational, personal, and contact details.
- Make sure the details you enter in the application form are correct. Otherwise, the application form can get rejected.
- Along with the details, it is also necessary for candidates to upload scanned images of the following documents.
Documents Required
- Passport size photograph of the candidates (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm)
- Signature of the candidate
- Scanned copy of class 12th mark sheet
- Declaration (in the prescribed format) attested from your parents / Guardian and Head of Educational Institution / Member of ICAI / Gazetted Officer
- 10th Marksheet or Birth Certificate.
- Proof of Special Category (If any)
Application Fee
| Particular | For Indian Nationals | For Foreign Nationals |
| Cost of CA Foundation Prospectus | Rs. 200/- | $ 20 |
| CA Foundation Registration Fee | Rs. 9000/- | $ 700 |
| One year subscription of Student’ Journal (Optional) | Rs. 200/- | $ 20 |
| One year subscription of Member’s Journal (Optional) | Rs. 400/- | $ 40 |
| Total | Rs. 9800/- | $ 780 |
Admit Card
- Once the application form submission gets over, authorities will make CA Foundation Admit Card 2024 available online through the official website.
- In order to download an admit card, aspirants have to sign in by providing their login credentials generated during registration.
- An admit card will carry important information like the Name of the Examination Centre, Medium of Examination, Exam day instructions for candidates, Roll Number, etc.
- Don’t forget to take a printout of the admit card after downloading the same because you can download the same for a maximum of three times.
- No candidate will be allowed to take an examination without an admit card.
Eligibility Criteria
It is the duty of a candidate to make sure that he/ she is eligible before filling the application form. The eligibility criteria for CA Foundation 2024 are given below.
UG and PG Candidates – Those candidates who have completed graduation or post graduation degree course in commerce or its equivalent from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% marks are exempted from CA Foundation 2024.
| Eligibility Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No upper age limit for CA Foundation (CA CPT) test. |
| Registration | Aspirants must register with ICAI to be eligible for CA Foundation. |
| Educational Qualification | Candidates must have passed the 10+2 level with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized board of education. |
Exam Syllabus
| Subject/Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Principle and Practice of Accounting | Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organisations, Concept and Accounting of Depreciation, Bank Reconciliation Statement, Theoretical Framework, Accounting for Special Transactions, Partnership Accounts, Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors, Basic Accounting Ratios (profitability, solvency, liquidity and turnover), Introduction to Company Accounts, Inventories, Accounting Process, etc. |
| Business Laws & Business Correspondence and Reporting | Business Laws, The Indian Contract Act, 1872, The Sale of Goods Act, 1930, The Indian Partnership Act, 1932, The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008, The Companies Act, 2013, Business Correspondence and Reporting, Introduction to basic writing (Precis Writing, Article Writing, Report Writing, Writing Formal Letters, Writing Formal Emails, Resume Writing, Meetings) |
| Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning & Statistics | Business Mathematics, Ratio and proportion, Indices, Logarithms, Equations and Matrices, Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimizations, Time value of Money, Logical Reasoning, Number Series, Direction Tests, Setting Arrangements, Statistics, Statistical Description of Data, Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion, Probability, Theoretical Distributions. |
| Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge | Business Economics, Introduction to Business Economics, Theory of Demand and Supply, Theory of Production and Cost, Business and Commercial Knowledge, Business and Commercial Knowledge: An Introduction, Business Environment, Business |
Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Maximum Marks |
| Paper – 1 | Principles and Practice of Accounting | 100 marks |
| Paper – 2 | Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting | Part A: Business Laws – 60 Marks Part B: Business Correspondence and Reporting – 40 Marks |
| Paper – 3 | Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning and Statistics | Part A: Business Mathematics (40 Marks) Part B: Logical Reasoning (20 Marks) Part C: Statistics (40 Marks) |
| Paper – 4 | Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge | Part A: Business Economics (60 Marks) Part B: Business and Commercial Knowledge (40 Marks) |
Exam Result
- The result of CA Foundation will release online through the official website.
- To check the result, aspirants have to enter their registration number and password.
- ICAI will also a CA Foundation Merit List. This merit list consists of the top 50 qualified candidates for CA Foundation exam.
- Those who will clear the CA Foundation course will move on to the next stage of CA.
FAQs
Yes, a normal calculator is allowed during the CA Foundation Examination. But, scientific calculators with more than 6 functions, 12 digits, and/or having 2 memories are not permissible.
Frankly speaking, it is not an easy exam. As compared to CA CPT, the difficulty level is very easy. Only a few candidates qualify for this exam.
No, the application form will not be available offline.
It is expected that the examination will take place in the following cities – Agra, Ahmedabad, Ahmednagar, Ajmer, Akola, Alappuzha, Aligarh, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Alwar, Ambala,
