Is it possible to cover CA Intermediate syllabus without coaching?

Yes, it is possible to cover CA Intermediate syllabus without coaching, but it is always better to take coaching. CA course is vast and all three course levels are of high difficulty. There is so much to study that without correct guidance one cannot crack the exam. At coaching institute, the candidate is guided in studying in a disciplined and focussed manner.

What is the marking scheme of CA Intermediate?

Total marks of CA Intermediate (both groups) is 600. Every paper carries 100 marks. There distribution of question is 30:70, where 30 % questions are objective type and 70% questions are subjective type. There is no negative marking in CA Inter exam. Candidates have to score 40% in every paper and 50% overall in CA Inter to clear the course level.

What is the difficulty level of ICAI CA Intermediate exams?

The difficulty level of CA Intermediate exams is high. It is considered to be one of the toughest exams to crack due to the vast syllabus and multiple subjects. The pass percentage of CA Intermediate exam is low and candidates have to make multiple attempts to clear it. CA is a course, one can complete without coaching and guidance. Even though study material, test practices and other support is provided by the ICAI, it is not really possible to study by self. The topics and chapters are vast. They require guidance and practice as well as discipline and productive study hours.

What is the format of questions in CA Intermediate?

CA Intermediate question papers include both objective and subjective type questions. Out of the total, 30% are MCQ based and 70% are subjective type. The subjective type questions require detailed answer.

What is the syllabus for CA Intermediate exam?

There are two groups in CA Intermediate exam. Candidates have to pass both groups to be eligible for next level of the course. Below are the topics included in CA Inter Group I and Group II: Advanced Accounting Corporate and Other Laws Taxation Income Tax Law Goods & Services Tax Cost and Management Accounting Auditing and Ethics Financial Management & Ethics Management Financial Management Ethics Management

How many papers are there in CA Intermediate?

CA Intermediate has 6 papers divided into 2 groups. Both groups have 3 papers each. CA Inter Group I · Paper 1: Advance Accounting · Paper 2: Corporate and Other Laws · Paper 3: Taxation (Income Tax Law and Goods & Services Tax) CA Inter Group II · Paper 4: Cost and Management Accounting · Paper 5: Auditing and Ethics · Paper 6: Financial Management and Ethics Management

What is the weightage of subjective type questions in CA Intermediate exam?

In the CA Intermediate exam, about 70 percent of the total questions are subjective type. The remaining 30 percent are objective type. All the papers of CA Inter have the same break up. The objective type questions are case study based. Every question carries 1 mark.

Is there sectional time limit in CA Intermediate exam?

There is no sectional time limit in CA Intermediate exam. Candidates have to time themselves well so that they are able to cover a good number of questions in the given time limit (3 hours or 2 hours). To manage the time well, candidates must first decide how many questions they have to solve (subjective -70 questions as well as objective- 30 questions). Then divide the time between the two.

Is there any late fee to submit CA Inter application form?

Yes, there is a late fee if a candidate submits CA Intermediate application form during late fee window. The late fee amounts is INR 600. ICAI opens the late fee window for CA Inter application process for three days. The actual registration fee for CA Inter is INR 1,500 for single group and INR 2,700 for both groups (domestic students).

Which are the best books for CA Intermediate preparation?

Books for CA Intermediate preparation are listed below: · First lessons in Accounting Standards by MP Vijay Kumar · Accountancy with Quick Revision (For CA-IPC, Group -I) by PC Tulsian · Taxmann's Students' Guide to Accounting Standards – Including Introduction of Ind AS by DS Rawat · A Handbook on Corporate and Other Laws for CA Inter by Munish Bhandari · First Lessons In Business Laws, Ethics AND Communication by MP Vijay Kumar · Cost Accounting for CA-IPC by PC Tulsian · Padhukas Students Handbook On Cost and Management Accounting by CA B. Saravana Prasath · Handbook On Taxation by G. Sekhar · Taxmann's Students' Guide to Income Tax Including GST by Dr. Vinod K Singhania · Students Handbook on Taxation (Includes Income- Tax Law and Goods and Services Tax Law) by T.N. Manoharan · Tulsian's Accountancy: For CA Intermediate Course (Group II) by P. C. Tulsian and Bharat Tulsian · First Lessons in Advanced Accountancy for CA. IPCC Group – II by M. P. Vijay Kumar · Padhuka's Students Handbook on Advanced Accounting by CA G. Sekar and CA B. Saravana Prasath · Auditing and Assurance for CA Inter by CA Surbhi Bansal · Taxmann's Auditing & Assurance by Pankaj Garg · A Students Handbook on Auditing & Assurance by CA G Sekar and CA B Saravana Prasth · Padhuka's Students' Guide For Enterprise Information Systems & Strategic Management by B. Saravana Prasath G. Sekar · Dinesh Madan's Information Technology (IT) by Dinesh Madan · Students Guide on Financial Management and Economics For Finance by B. Saravana Prasath and G. Sekar

What is the total marks per paper in CA Intermediate?

Total marks of every CA Intermediate paper is 100. This course level has six paper so the total marks is 600. CA Inter result is prepared on the basis of candidate's score in all 6 papers and the percentage is announced out of 600. Candidates have to pass in all the six papers to clear the CA Intermediate level.

Does ICAI provide study material to cover CA Intermediate syllabus?

Yes, the ICAI provides a range of study material to cover the CA Inter syllabus. The official study material includes test papers, modules, live classes, previous years' question papers, sample papers and notes. Registered candidates must avail the facility of study material provided by the organisation for best results.

What is the passing marks in CA Intermediate?

Passing marks in CA Intermediate exam is 40% per paper and 50% overall. there are six papers in CA Intermediate. Students who do not score 40% in any of the paper, will have to reappear in the exam.

What is the time duration of ICAI CA exams?

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.

What is the date of release of the CA Inter May 2026 application form?

The date of release of ICAI CA Intermediate application form for May session 2026 is March 03, 2026. Candidates who wish to appear for the entrance exam must apply before deadline. The last date to fill and submit CA Inter May application form 2026 is March 19, 2026.

What is the last date of CA Intermediate May registration 2026?

The last date to fill and submit CA Inter May registration form without late fee is March 16, 2026. After the ICAI will keep the registration window open with late fee till March 19, 2026.

How can I register for CA Intermediate exam?

To register for CA Intermediate exam, a candidate must have a valid login and course registration. If their validity has expired, they have to renew it at SSP portal. Check below to know how apply for CA Inter exam: Go to ICAI exam website Click on login and fill details as required (If not already registered, click on New User Register) Click on confirmation/declaration and 'Register' button Visit login page again Choose registration number in drop-down and authenticate Login using credentials to access exam form Enter details and upload documents Pay registration fee and submit

How many attempts are required to crack CA Intermediate?

There is no limit on the number of attempts and it is totally upto the individual as to how many attempts they will require. The CA Intermediate exam is tough and requires about 2-3 attempts on an average. The overall pass percentage of CA exam is usually low at 20-25%.

How many hours of study is required to prepare for CA Inter exams?

CA Intermediate level is of high difficulty so it requires long hours of study. Many students study for up to 6-8 hours every day to cover the syllabus and practice sample test series. As per a poll conducted by Shiksha on how many hours to study for CA Inter, it was also noted that most of the students studied more than 5 hours per day. About 49% respondents said that they study for more than 5 hours, while 11% said they study for 4 to 5 hours per day.

Is it easy to crack CA Intermediate exam in first attempt?

As per previous years' trends, the pass percentage of CA Inter exam is between 20 to 30 percent. This means that it is not easy to crack CA Inter exam in first attempt. Additionally, the syllabus for ICAI CA Intermediate exam is complex and requires deep understanding of the topics. But, if a candidate has strong determination, discipline, and a proper preparation plan, he/she can crack the exam with consistent practice.

CA Inter Exam Pattern 2026: Know Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

83 Students Q&A

Registration - 16 Mar '26

Updated on Feb 20, 2026 12:15 IST

By Nupur Jain, Senior Executive - Editorial

ICAI prescribes CA Intermediate exam pattern for exam. Students preparing for CA Inter May 2026 exam must understand the exam pattern before starting exam preparation. There are two groups in this course - CA Inter Group I and CA Inter Group II. During CA Inter application window, candidates can register for either Group I, Group II or both Groups. The minimum pass percentage for both papers is 50%. The ICAI CA Intermediate May exam pattern 2026 is the same as that of previous session.

CA Intermediate May exam 2026 will be conducted between May 03 and May 13, 2026 in CBT Mode. As per CA Inter exam pattern 2026, the question paper will include calculation-based and theory based questions. The total marks per paper is 100. Check below to understand the CA Intermediate exam pattern in detail.

Also Read: Difference between CA PCC-IPCC and CA Intermediate

Table of contents

CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026: Key Highlights
CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026
CA Intermediate Marking Scheme
ICAI CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026: Paper wise Time Duration
FAQs on ICAI CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026

CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026: Key Highlights

CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026

CA Intermediate Marking Scheme

ICAI CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026: Paper wise Time Duration

FAQs on ICAI CA Intermediate Exam Pattern 2026

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