CA Foundation Exam Pattern Jan 2025, Topics wise weightage
Get the latest CA Foundation Exam Pattern for Jan 2025. Understand the exam structure, marking scheme, and syllabus to boost your preparation. Explore this article.
Table of Content
ICAI has released the CA Foundation Exam Pattern for January 2025 on icai.org. Review the exam structure, marking scheme, and syllabus updates to prepare strategically for the upcoming exam.
Note the significant update: the CA Foundation Jan 2025 exam will be conducted under the new syllabus introduced by ICAI, marking its first implementation since the new scheme was launched last year.
To succeed in the CA Foundation exam, it's important to understand the exam pattern. Conducted thrice annually (January, May/June, and September) by ICAI, this exam demands a well-planned approach. Explore this article for an in-depth exploration of the CA Foundation exam pattern 2025 and devise a winning strategy.
CA Foundation Exam Pattern for Jan 2025
Refer to the table below for a clear overview of the CA Foundation Exam Pattern, providing the necessary details to help you prepare for the Jan 2025 attempt:
| CA Foundation Exam Pattern Jan 2025 | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the exam | CA Foundation, earlier known as CA CPT (Common Proficiency Test). |
| Conducting Body | The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
| Mode of exam | Offline |
| Frequency | Three times in a year |
| Level of exam | National level |
| Level of difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Question paper (s) | The CA Foundation exam includes FOUR papers: Paper 1 – Accounting Paper 2 – Business Laws Paper 3 – Quantitative Aptitude: Part A: Business Mathematics Part B: Logical Reasoning Part C: Statistics Paper 4: Business Economics |
| Duration of the question papers | Papers 1 and 2 will be of 3 hours Papers 3 and 4 will be of 2 hours |
| Question Type | Paper 1 and 2: Subjective Papers 3 and 4: Objective |
| Marks | Each paper will be worth 100 marks. |
| Total marks | 400 |
| Marking scheme | For subjective (Paper 1 and 2): NO negative marking For objective papers (Paper 3 and 4): ¼ mark will be deducted for every wrong answer |
| Medium of exam | English/Hindi except for Paper 2 (section b which will be in English only) |
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CA Foundation Marking Scheme 2025
Understand how your performance will be evaluated. Papers 1 & 2 are subjective assessments, while Papers 3 & 4 comprise objective-type questions. Here's the mark distribution breakdown as per the CA Foundation exam pattern:
| Paper No. | Paper Name | Marks |
| 1. | Principles and Practice of Accounting | 100 marks |
| 2. | Business Laws & Business Correspondence and Reporting | Section A: Business Laws: 60 marks Section B: Business Correspondence and Reporting: 40 marks |
| 3. | Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning & Statistics | Part A: Business Mathematics: 40 marks Part B: Logical Reasoning: 20 marks Part C: Statistics: 40 marks |
| 4. | Business Economics & Business and Commercial Knowledge | Part A: Business Economics: 60 marks Part B: Business and Commercial Knowledge: 40 marks |
| CA Foundation Total Marks | 400 Marks |
CA Foundation Topic Wise Weightage
Explore the tables below to uncover the core topics and their relative importance in the revamped CA Foundation Syllabus, as per the new ICAI education and training scheme. These tables provide a transparent view of the weightage assigned to each topic across Papers 1-4, helping you navigate the curriculum with clarity.
Paper 1: Accounting (100 Marks)
| CA Foundation Accounting Topics Weightage | |
| Chapters | Marks Weightage |
| 1. Theoretical Framework | 5%-10% |
| 2. Accounting Process 3. Bank Reconciliation Statement 4. Inventories 5. Concept and Accounting of Depreciation |
25%-30% |
| 6. Accounting for Special Transactions | 15%-20% |
| 7. Final Accounts of Sole Proprietors 8. Partnership Accounts 9. Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Organizations |
30%-40% |
| 10. Introduction to Company Accounts | 10%-15% |
Paper 2: Business Law
| CA Foundation Business Laws Topics Weightage | ||
| Section | Chapters | Marks Weightage |
| Section A: Business Laws (60 Marks) | 1. The Indian Contract Act, 1872 | 25%-30% |
| 2. The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 | 20%-25% | |
| 3. The Indian Partnership Act, 1932 | 20%-25% | |
| 4. The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 | 5%-10% | |
| 5. The Companies Act, 2013 | 15%-20% | |
| Section B: Business Correspondence And Reporting (40 Marks) | Part I: Communication | |
| 1. Communication | 10%-15% | |
| Part II: Sentence Types and Word Power | ||
| 2. Sentence Types (Direct-Indirect, Active -Passive Speech) | 20%-30% | |
| 3. Vocabulary (Root Words, Synonyms, Antonyms, Prefixes, Suffixes), Phrasal verbs, Collocations, and Idioms. | 20%-30% | |
| Part III: Comprehension Passages and Note Making | ||
| 4. Comprehension Passages | 20%-30% | |
| 5. Note Making | 20%-30% | |
| Part IV: Developing Writing Skills | ||
| 6. Introduction to Basic Writing | 35%-40% | |
| 7. Précis Writing | 35%-40% | |
| 8. Article Writing | 35%-40% | |
| 9. Report Writing | 35%-40% | |
| 10. Writing Formal Letters | 35%-40% | |
| 11. Writing Formal Mails | 35%-40% | |
| 12. Resume Writing | 35%-40% | |
| 13. Meetings | 35%-40% | |
Paper 3: Quantitative Aptitude
| CA Foundation Quantitative Aptitude Topics Weightage | ||
| Part | Chapters | Marks Weightage |
| Part A: Business Mathematics (40 Marks) | 1. Ratio and Proportion, Indices and Logarithms | 20%-30% |
| 2. Equations and Matrices | 20%-30% | |
| 3. Linear Inequalities with Objective Functions and Optimization | 20%-30% | |
| 4. Time value of Money | 30%-40% | |
| 5. Permutations and Combinations | 30%-40% | |
| 6. Sequence and Series | 30%-40% | |
| 7. Sets, Relations, and Functions | 30%-50% | |
| 8. Basic applications of Differential and Integral calculus | 30%-50% | |
| Part B: Logical Reasoning (20 Marks) | 1. Number series, Coding, and decoding, and odd man out | 60%-70% |
| 2. Direction Tests | 60%-70% | |
| 3. Seating Arrangements | 60%-70% | |
| 4. Blood Relations | 30%-40% | |
| 5. Syllogism | 30%-40% | |
| Part C: Statistics (40 Marks) | 1. Statistical Description of Data | 45%-50% |
| 2. Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion | 45%-50% | |
| 3. Probability | 25%-30% | |
| 4. Theoretical Distributions | 25%-30% | |
| 5. Correlation and Regression | 10%-15% | |
| 6. Index Numbers and Time Series | 10%-15% | |
Paper 4: Business Economic
| CA Foundation Business Economics Topics Weightage | ||
| Part | Chapters | Marks Weightage |
| Part I: Business Economics (60 Marks) | 1. Introduction to Business Economics | 15%-20% |
| 2. Theory of Demand and Supply | ||
| 3. Theory of Production and Cost | 35%-40% | |
| 4. Price Determination in Different Markets | ||
| 5. Business Cycles | 15%-20% | |
| Part II: Business And Commercial Knowledge (40 Marks) | 1. Introduction to Business | 15%-18% |
| 2. Business Environment | ||
| 3. Business Organizations | 15%-20% | |
| 4. Government Policies for Business Growth | 15%-18% | |
| 5. Organizations Facilitating Business | ||
| 6. Common Business Terminologies | 15%-18% | |
Summary of the Content
After reading the CA Foundation exam pattern for Jan 2025 and the chapter-wise weightage for all papers, you're poised to craft a winning study strategy, aware of important aspects like negative marking and mark weightage. To optimize your preparation, create a structured study plan and avoid time and energy wastage, staying focused on your path to achieving success in the CA Foundation exams.
FAQs
What is the CA Foundation exam pattern?
The CA Foundation Exam Pattern Jan 2025 includes 4 papers: Principles and Practice of Accounting, Business Laws and Business Correspondence, Business Mathematics and Logical Reasoning, and Business Economics and Business Commercial Knowledge, with a total of 400 marks and a pass percentage of 50%.
How many papers are there in the CA Foundation exam?
There are four papers:
- Paper 1: Principles and Practice of Accounting
- Paper 2: Business Laws and Business Correspondence and Reporting
- Paper 3: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and Statistics
- Paper 4: Business Economics and Business and Commercial Knowledge.
What is the mode of the CA Foundation exam?
The CA Foundation exam is conducted in offline mode (pen and paper-based). Candidates are required to write subjective answers for Papers 1 and 2, while Papers 3 and 4 require filling in OMR sheets.
What is the marking scheme for the CA Foundation exam?
Papers 1 and 2 are subjective and have no negative marking. Papers 3 and 4 are objective, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
What is the duration of the CA Foundation exam?
Each paper of the CA Foundation exam is conducted over 3 hours. There is no sectional timing, so candidates can allocate time to questions as per their strategy within the 3-hour limit.
What are the qualifying marks for the CA Foundation exam?
To pass, a candidate must secure at least 40% marks in each paper and an aggregate of 50% across all four papers combined. Both conditions must be met to qualify.
What is the syllabus for the CA Foundation exam?
The syllabus covers fundamentals of accounting, business laws, mathematics, logical reasoning, statistics, business economics, and commercial knowledge. The detailed syllabus is prescribed by the ICAI.
What is the difficulty level of the CA Foundation exam?
The exam is considered moderately difficult. While the syllabus focuses on basic concepts, it requires a thorough understanding and consistent practice to score well.
Can I attempt the CA Foundation exam in Hindi?
Yes, the CA Foundation exam can be attempted in either English or Hindi, except for the English section of Paper 2. Candidates need to choose their preferred language during registration.
How often is the CA Foundation exam conducted?
The exam is conducted twice a year, typically in May and November. Exact dates are announced by the ICAI well in advance on their official website.
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