ICAI CA Question Papers: Download CA Foundation, Inter and Final Question Papers & Sample Papers (PDF) Free

ICAI CA Foundation Exam 2026 ( CA Foundation )

DeskCalelnderRegistration - 16 Mar '26

Nupur Jain
Updated on Feb 20, 2026 10:35 IST

By Nupur Jain, Senior Executive - Editorial

CA Foundation Question Papers of previous years are of much importance to applicants. Students preparing for the CA Foundation May 2026 exam must practice past papers to understand the exam structure and difficulty level. CA Foundation May 2026 exam will be conducted between May 14 and May 20, 2026. With only three months left, students must complete their preparation and start practicing previous year papers. As Chartered Accountancy is a difficult course, it is not easy for a candidate to crack it in first attempt. It is not enough to cover only CA Foundation syllabus to clear the exam; a lot of preparation and practice is required. One also needs to practice a good number of CA level questions of various difficulty levels and types.

On this page you can get CA Foundation question papers along with revision test papers and sample papers. Those pursuing CA currently and preparing for CA May 2026 exam must practice previous years papers and official mock tests.

 

Table of contents
  • ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers
  • Benefits of Solving ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers
  • CA Foundation Question Papers: Marking Scheme
  • Difficulty Level of CA Foundation Questions
  • ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers FAQs

Download previous year CA Foundation question papers and sample papers. Use them for practice and improve your speed and accuracy. You can download CA Foundation previous year question papers and the preparation guides for free.

ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers

CA Foundation September 2024 Question Papers

CA Foundation Business Economics- question paper and answer key Sep 2024
CA Foundation Paper 3 Quantitative Aptitude question paper and answer key Sep 2024

Download ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers

Paper 1 Priciples and Practice of Accounting- Dec 2023
Paper 1 Priciples and Practice of Accounting- June 2023
Paper 1 Principles and Practice of Accounting -Dec 2022
Paper 1 Principles and Practice of Accounting -May 2022
Paper 2- Business Law and Business Correspondence and Reporting - Dec 2023
Paper 2- Business Law and Business Correspondence and Reporting - Jun 2023
Paper 2- Business Law and Business Correspondence and Reporting - Dec 2022
Paper 2- Business Law and Business Correspondence and Reporting - May 2022
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Benefits of Solving ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers

CA Foundation question paper practice helps a student in understanding the nature of questions, difficulty levels and his/her own capabilty. No matter how much you study, you will not know your preparation level until you test yourself. Practicing CA Foundation question papers of previous years are also a test for you. Here are a few reasons for why solving ICAI CA practice papers for Foundation course is important:

  • Practicing CA Foundation question papers helps in mastering the ability to solve questions of various difficulty levels. 
  • Practicing ICAI CA question papers of Foundation exams helps in understanding the types of questions asked and what is the topic wise weightage in the paper.
  • The more a student practices sample questions based on the ICAI CA Foundation syllabus, the better they get at the topics included. 
  • CA Foundation course is all about Maths, Taxation, calculations, law and rules. Thus, practice is very important.
  • Practicing CA Foundation question papers and sample papers also helps in developing speed in solving Mathematical problems.
  • Practicing previous question papers also helps students in time management. Most of the times students get stuck on one question, that they lose marks on the ones they knew well. 
  • The minimum passing marks in CA Foundation is 40 per cent in every paper and 50 per cent overall. To be able to solve as much questions to pass the exam, one needs to have speed and accuracy, which can be achieved only by practice.  
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the syllabus of ICAI CA Foundation course?
A: 

ICAI CA Foundation is the first level of the course. This level may be considered the easiest of all the courses. The syllabus of ICAI CA Foundation includes the following topics:

  • Principles and Practice of Accounting
  • Business Laws and Business
  • Correspondence and Reporting
  • Business Mathematics
  • Logical Reasoning and Statistics
  • Business Economics
  • Business and Commercial Knowledge

Candidates need to clear all the papers relate to these subjects in order to move to Intermediate level. The minimum score requirement id 40 per cent in every paper.

Q:   Does ICAI provide study material for CA Foundation?
A: 

Yes, ICAI provides comprehensive study material for CA Foundation preparation. The study material includes books, sample papers, practice test papers, mock tests, online classes and much more. Registered students can enroll at BoS to avail study material offered by the ICAI. Students must also refer to CA Foundation books and study material available in the market for preparation.

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CA Foundation Question Papers: Marking Scheme

ICAI prescribes the marking scheme used to evaluate a candidate's response sheet. Check below marking scheme of CA Foundation exam 2026:

  • CA Foundation question paper is of 100 marks
  • There are 100 questions per paper
  • Total marks is 400
  • Every question carries 4 marks
  • Minimum score requirement to pass CA Foundation is 40% per paper and 50% overall

Also Read:

CA Foundation Exam Pattern

CA Intermediate Exam Pattern

CA Final Exam Pattern

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How much time is required to prepare for CA Foundation exam?
A: 

CA Foundation may be the easiest of all CA level but it's difficulty level is high on its own. So, one should at least spend 6-8 months in preparing for the exam. Coverage of CA Foundation syllabus needs a lot of time post which students need to practice a lot of sample questions and mock tests. Students must dedicate minimum 8 hours daily to study for CA Foundation.

Q:   How many attempts are allowed in CA course?
A: 

In the CA course, candidates can make any number of attempts until they clear a particular level. They will be eligible to register for the next level only after clearing the previous level. For example, a candidate needs to clear the CA Foundation level to be able to register for CA Intermediate. For appearing in CA Final exams, a candidate needs to clear both Foundation and Intermediate levels.
Since, the level of difficulty of this course is very high, a maximum percentage of students make multiple attempts. Candidates who decide to pursue CA course, need to make sure that they are well prepared to a marathon of studies, preparation and exams.

Hope this helps!!!

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Difficulty Level of CA Foundation Questions

CA is a high difficulty level course programme which requires a lot of focus and hard work. Candidates take several years to clear all three levels. In the following table we have mentioned course wise difficulty level of CA Foundation question papers:

CA Question Papers Difficulty Level
CA Foundation question papers Tough
CA Intermediate question papers Tough
CA Final question papers Tough

After CA Foundation, candidates have to clear CA Intermediate and CA Final exams as well, which are of a much higher difficulty level than CA Foundation. The student pursuing CA course must continue to take reference from and practice previous years' CA question papers in order to perform well.

Also Read:

CA Foundation Exam Dates May 2026

CA Foundation May 2026 application 

CAT Foundation admit card 2026

CA Foundation test centres and cities 2026

CA Foundation exam result 2026

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the passing mark in CA courses?
A: 

Candidates need to score 40 per cent in each paper of every group/course level and 50 per cent in aggregate in all the papers of a group/course level. This minimum mark criterion is applicable to all three courses - CA Foundation, CA Intermediate and CA Final. Candidates cannot move to the next level of the Chartered Accountancy course until they clear the previous level. A very few percentage of candidates get a high score as the scores of All India toppers are usually below 75%. Candidates can take any number of attempts to clear a course level. The process includes practical training as well.

Q:   Can I pursue CA Foundation after Class 10?
A: 

One can register for CA Foundation after Class 10 but can pursue the course only after completing Class 12. Until then, ICAI registration will remain provisional, as the minimum eligibility criteria for CA Foundation is Class 12 pass. The advantage of registering for the course after class 10 though is that you can start preparing for it along with your studies. If you choose commerce stream in class 11 and 12, it will be even easier for you to prepare for CA Foundation.

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ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers FAQs

Check here Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the timings of CA exams?
A: 

The time duration of CA exams varies for each paper. Some CA exam papers are of two hours duration whereas some are of three hours duration. The ICAI CA exams are conducted from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The exam timings of every paper will be mentioned in the date sheet and the CA admit card of each candidate. Given below is the table indicating CA Foundation, Intermediate and Final exam timings:

CA Exam

Paper (s)

Exam Timings

CA Foundation

Paper 1 & 2

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

CA Foundation

Paper 3 & 4

2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

CA Intermediate (IPC) (Old Scheme)

All papers

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

CA Intermediate (New Scheme)

All Papers

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

CA Final (Old Scheme)

All Papers

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

CA Final (New Scheme)

Paper 1 to 5 & Paper 7 & 8

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Paper 6 (Elective)

2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

IRM and (INTT
– AT)

All

2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Q:   What is Professional Competence Course or PCC in CA?
A: 

PCC or IPC is the first stage of the Chartered Accountancy course curriculum wherein only working knowledge of core and allied subjects is covered.

The objective of the PCC course is to lay a strong foundation for Chartered Accountants in the preparation and presentation of financial statements. In PCC, candidates also learn the computerized accounting system. The course curriculum includes the following subjects:

  • Advanced Accounting (100 Marks)
  • Auditing and Assurance (100 Marks)
  • Law, Ethics, and Communication (100 Marks) 
  • Cost Accounting and Financial Management (100 Marks)
  • Taxation (100 Marks)
  • Information Technology and Strategic Management (100 Marks)
Q:   What is the time duration of ICAI CA exams?
A: 

The time duration of ICAI CA exams varies for each paper. For some papers, the duration is three hours whereas for some papers it is two hours. The time limit of CA Foundation paper 3 and 4 is two hours and for rest of the papers across levels is three hours. There is no sectional time limit in CA exams. 

Q:   How many times is ICAI CA exam held in a year?
A: 

CA exams for all the three levels are being held thrice in a year from 2025. The first phase exams are held in May and June and the second phase exams are held in September. The third phase exam is held in January. Registrations for the May-June exams is held in February-March and registrations for September exam is done in July and registration for January exam is done in October-November. Candidates can register and appear for the exam as per their preparation and articleship completion. For any phase of exam, they need to fill the form and pay exam fee through registered login ID.

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CA Foundation Exam

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 days ago

Check below to find CA Foundation May 2026 exam timings for centres at different locations:

PaperDomestic
Centres (IST)
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and
Muscat (UAE Local
Time)
Doha (Qatar Local
Time) Bahrain, Kuwait
& Riyadh
Kathmandu (Nepal
Local Time)
Thimpu (Bhutan
Local Time)
Paper 12.00 PM to 5.00 PM12.30 PM to 3.30 PM11.30 AM to 2.30 PM2.15 PM to 5.15 PM2.30 PM to 5.30 PM
Paper 22.00 PM to 5.00 PM12.30 PM to 3.30 PM11.30 AM to 2.30 PM2.15 PM to 5.15 PM2.30 PM to 5.30 PM
Paper 32.00 PM to 4.00 PM12.30 PM to 2.30 PM11.30 AM to 1.30 PM2.15 PM to 4.15 PM2.30 PM to 4.30 PM
Paper 42.00 PM to 4.00 PM12.30 PM to 2.30 PM11.30 AM to 1.30 PM2.15 PM to 4.15 PM2.30 PM to 4.30 PM

N

Nupur Jain

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, candidates will get up to 15 minutes of late entry to CA Foundation Paper 1, 2, 3, and 4. However, students are advised to reach the exam centre early to avoid getting late.

R

Rachit Katariya

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

No, ICAI will not send physical admit card to any candidate for CA Foundation exam. Eligible candidates will have to download and take a print out of their admit card on their own.

V

Vikrant Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

Candidates applying to appear for CA Foundation exam at Indian centres will have to pay INR 1500 as registration fee. The late fee to be paid for Indian centres is INR 600.

N

Nishtha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

There are four papers in CA Foundation exam. According to exam pattern, Paper 1 & 2 have subjective type questions, and Paper 3 & 4 have objective type questions. ICAI will only give 15 minutes advance reading time for Paper 1 and Paper 2. 

The question paper seal for Paper 3 and 4 will be opened at

...Read more

N

Nishtha Rai

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will conduct upcoming session of CA Foundation exam in May 2026. The exam dates have been released. The ICAI CA Foundation May 2026 exam will be conducted on 14th, 16th, 18th & 20th May 2026.

S

Sumridhi Bisht

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

ICAI released CA Foundation Jan 2026 pass percentage on March 08, 2026. Check below for pass percentage:

CA Foundation Group

Candidates appeared

Candidates passed

Pass percentage

Number of Exam Centres

Male572381152320.13%566
Female52456957618.26%
Total1096942109919.23%

S

Shiksha Vimal

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

Check below to know exam duration for all papers of CA Foundation exam:

  • Paper 1 & 2 - 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
  • Paper 3 & 4 - 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

A

Atul Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

There are two types of questions asked in CA Foundation exam. Paper 1 and Paper 2 have subjective type questions. Paper 3 and Paper 4 have objective type questions.

There is negative marking of 0.25 for every incorrect answer in Paper 3 and Paper 4 only.

Y

Yatendra Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 3 days ago

To clear CA Foundation exam, a candidate must score at least 40% in each of the four papers and overall 50% in aggregate in all papers. If a candidate fails to do so, he/she will have to retake the exam.

Y

Yatendra Choudhury

Contributor-Level 6

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