Blog Structure :
- Introduction
- What are the 13 subjects in ACCA?
- ACCA Professional Level Syllabus: A Quick Go-Through
- Which ACCA Optional Papers should I Take?
- ACCA Professional Level Duration
- ACCA Professional Level Exam Details
- ACCA Professional Level Exam Pattern
- ACCA Professional Level Papers fees in India
- ACCA Professional Level Pass Rates
- Frequently Asked Questions
ACCA is one of the most well-known certifications for accounting or finance aspirants. It is globally recognized and acknowledged for providing access to a wide range of career opportunities. You might be aware of these facts and these are the driving factors that pushed you to pursue an ACCA course. This blog is crafted for a different for a different purpose. It provides a detailed overview of the ACCA professional-level paper to help you better prepare for your ACCA journey.
ACCA is a set of multiple papers containing detailed overviews and syllabus. The goal of the ACCA certificate is to provide you with the skills, know-how, and morals required to be successful in the accounting and financial industries. The three primary levels of the ACCA course are strategic professionalism, applied knowledge, and applied skills. Every level adds depth and complexity by building upon the one before it. Make sure to review the complete ACCA course structure before to make sure you are well-versed in what the ACCA course is all about.
Every ACCA exam level, from fundamental ideas to strategic competence, is designed to offer a thorough educational experience. The ACCA Professional Level is the last level of the ACCA qualification that empowers the development of advanced technical abilities, professional judgment, and decision-making. It prepares aspirants for the global level of finances. Before we move to discuss the ACCA professional-level papers, let’s quickly check through the 13 papers of ACCA.
Here we go!
What are the 13 Subjects in ACCA?
Passing the ACCA examinations is like going through a demanding training program that shapes you into a financial expert. Check below the list of 13 ACCA papers:
Exams in Applied Knowledge Level:
- Business and Technology (BT)
- Management Accounting (MA),
- Financial Accounting (FA)
Exams in Applied Skills Level:
- Corporate and Business Law (LW),
- Performance Management (PM),
- Taxation (TX),
- Financial Reporting (FR),
- Audit and Assurance (AA),
- Financial Management (FM)
Exams in Strategic Professional Level:
- Strategic Business Leader (SBL),
- Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)
And two of the four optional papers:
- Advanced Financial Management (AFM),
- Advanced Performance Management (APM),
- Advanced Taxation (ATX),
- Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)
To become an ACCA graduate, you must pass these 13 papers. However, depending on your prior qualifications, you might be eligible for waivers. The number of exemptions you receive depends on your qualifications, the field, and the institutions you attend. Get a better overview of ACCA exemptions with the All In One Guide to ACCA Exemptions.
ACCA Professional Level Syllabus: A Quick Go-Through
An ACCA graduate must acquire strategic and leadership skills to succeed in future leadership roles, even though the foundation courses provide the necessary information and abilities. Students are prepared for leadership roles in the future by taking the Professional Level or Strategic Professional examinations. Students develop their professional, ethical, and technical abilities as well as their ability to approach issues from several angles.
Two of the six papers that make up the Strategic Professional Level are required. Each student is required to select two specializations from the four optional courses. Students can focus on fields that best fit their desired careers.
ACCA Professional Level Subjects
- P1: Strategic Business Leader (SBL): Governance’s role and function in an organization’s management, An accountant’s function in risk assessment Framework of ethics for professional judgment and values
- P2: Strategic Business Reporting (SBR): An accountant’s ethical and professional obligations, structure for financial reporting, financial statement preparation for group companies, Examine potential problems with financial reporting, consequences of modifications to accounting regulations, Assessment of recent advancements
Optional courses or electives
(Out of the four courses, students must select two.)
- P4: Advanced Financial Management (AFM): Corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, advanced investment assessment, stakeholder management, sophisticated methods for risk management, New developments in the financial industry
- P5: Advanced Performance Management (APM): Performance systems and design, external factor evaluation, strategic development and performance assessment, Current events throughout the world
- P6: Advanced Taxation (ATX): Communication, Tax Planning Techniques, and Tax System
- P7: Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA): The framework for auditing that is conceptual and regulatory Getting ready for financial statements, analysis, and techniques.
ACCA Professional Level: Which ACCA Optional Papers Should I Take?
Consider your professional golds and strong points to decide which optional papers are best for you.
- AFM: Good for people who want to work in risk management, investment banking, or corporate finance.
- APM: Suitable for students who want to study strategy, performance management, and consulting.
- ATX: Excellent for people who want to work as tax advisors.
- AAA: Ideal for people who want to work in assurance services or auditing.
You can modify your degree to match your intended professional path by choosing the appropriate mix of elective papers.
ACCA Professional Level Duration
The ACCA professional-level subjects take two to four years to complete. Whether you study full-time or part-time, the number of tests you attempt each session, and exemptions are some of the factors that affect how long it takes.
ACCA exams vary in difficulty depending on the level and subject. Papers at the professional and skill levels are thought to be harder to pass than those at the knowledge level.
Overview of the ACCA Professional Level Exam
The ACCA Strategic Professional Level Exam consists of a combination of theoretical questions, case studies, and practical assignments that call for in-depth analysis and strategic thinking.
- The average length of an exam is three hours and fifteen minutes.
- Exams are administered in March, June, September, and December of each year.
- It includes the Professional Skills and Ethics Module (EPSM)
You must finish the Ethics and Professional Skills Module (EPSM) in addition to the three levels required by ACCA. The goal of this course is to improve your professional abilities and ethical judgment, two things that are crucial in the accounting field.
Now, we will explore the complete professional-level exam structure in the next section.
ACCA Professional Level Exam Pattern
The purpose of the ACCA course exam pattern is to impart professional skills, information, and abilities. As seen in the table below, question types range from multiple-choice questions to longer responses.
| Exam | Compulsory/Optional | Duration | Format | Question Structure |
| Strategic Business Leader (SBL) | Compulsory | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | 80 questions + 20 marks for professional skills |
| Strategic Business Reporting (SBR) | Compulsory | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | Two 25-mark questions + One 50-mark question |
| Advanced Financial Management (AFM) | Optional | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | Two 25-mark questions + One 50-mark question |
| Advanced Performance Management (APM) | Optional | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | Two 25-mark questions + One 50-mark question |
| Advanced Taxation (ATX) | Optional | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | Two 25-mark questions + One 50-mark question |
| Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) | Optional | 3 Hrs (CBE) | Subjective | 80 questions + 20 marks for professional skills |
The next section talks about the ACCA professional papers fees. To get complete knowledge, check the ACCA Fee Structure.
ACCA Professional Level Papers Fees in India
Here is the overview of ACCA Professional Level exam fees and study materials cost:
- Exam Fees: Depending on when you schedule the exam, the Professional Level exam fee can be around £180 and £255.
- Study Materials: The price of study materials, such as textbooks and revision aids, can range from £100 to £200 per paper.
Exam Fees (Per Paper) in India:
- Knowledge Level: ₹10,500
- Skill Level: ₹13,500
- Professional Level: ₹15,000 – ₹20,000
After the ACCA fee, now we will check through the passing rates of the ACCA professional-level exam.
ACCA Professional-level Pass Rates
The percentage of applicants that passed the exam is known as the pass rate. Despite appearing to be only statistics, these numbers provide insightful information: Below is the list of ACCA professional-level pass rates:
Strategic Professional Level
- Strategic Business Leader (SBL): 50%
- Strategic Business Reporting (SBR): 50%
Strategic Professional: Optionals
- Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA): 34%
- Advanced Financial Management (AFM): 45%
- Advanced Performance Management (APM): 34%
- Advanced Taxation (ATX): 48%
Get the latest insights on the ACCA passing rates and results: ACCA Top Scorers for December 2024!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is ACCA’s professional level?
Ans: A master’s degree is the equivalent of the professional level. You can use the ‘ACCA’ initials after your name and start working as a professional accountant after you have successfully finished your exams, ethics module, and work experience and applied for ACCA membership.
Q: What is the pattern of the ACCA professional-level paper?
Ans: There are two portions to this study. There are fifteen objective questions in Section A, each worth two marks. Two 20-marks and one 30-marks structured response workplace questions make up Section B. Two 25-marks questions and one 50-marks question make up the single part of this subjective paper.
Q: Is ACCA professional level difficult?
Ans: ACCA exams vary in difficulty depending on the level and subject. According to pass rates, skill- and professional-level papers are thought to be more difficult to pass than knowledge-level papers.
Q: Which ACCA professional paper is the hardest?
Ans: Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) is the ACCA exam that students find most difficult.
Q: What is the pass mark for the ACCA professional level?
Ans: The ACCA professional level passing score is 50% on all exams. You will pass any paper if your score falls within this range. There is no correlation between ACCA exam pass percentages and ACCA pass scores.
Hopefully, you have enjoyed exploring this entire blog and it will add value to your life. If you wish to know more about the ACCA course, contact us now!
