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FA - FFA Syllabus and Study Guide

The Financial Accounting (FA/FFA) syllabus for September 2025 to August 2026 aims to develop knowledge and understanding of financial accounting principles, including double-entry bookkeeping and the preparation of financial statements. It covers essential topics such as the regulatory framework, accounting principles, and the preparation and interpretation of financial statements for various business entities. The syllabus is designed to guide candidates in their studies and assessments for the ACCA examinations.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
32 views17 pages

FA - FFA Syllabus and Study Guide

The Financial Accounting (FA/FFA) syllabus for September 2025 to August 2026 aims to develop knowledge and understanding of financial accounting principles, including double-entry bookkeeping and the preparation of financial statements. It covers essential topics such as the regulatory framework, accounting principles, and the preparation and interpretation of financial statements for various business entities. The syllabus is designed to guide candidates in their studies and assessments for the ACCA examinations.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (FA/FFA)

Syllabus and
study guide
SEPTEMBER 2025 TO AUGUST 2026
Designed to help with planning study and to
provide detailed information on what could be
assessed in any examination session

1 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

Contents
1. Overall aim of the syllabus ................................................................................................ 3
2. Introduction to the syllabus ............................................................................................... 3
3. Main capabilities ............................................................................................................... 4
4. Intellectual levels............................................................................................................... 4
5. The syllabus ...................................................................................................................... 5
6. Detailed study guide.......................................................................................................... 6
7. Summary of changes to Financial Accounting (FA/ FFA) ................................................ 14
8. Approach to examining the syllabus ................................................................................ 15
9. Relational diagram linking Financial Accounting (FA/FFA) with other exams................... 15
10. Guide to ACCA examination structure and delivery mode ............................................. 16
11. Guide to ACCA examination assessment ...................................................................... 16
12. Qualification structure ................................................................................................... 17
13. Learning hours and education recognition ..................................................................... 17

2 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

1. Overall aim of the syllabus

The overall aim of the syllabus is to develop knowledge and understanding of the underlying
principles and concepts relating to financial accounting and technical proficiency in the use
of double-entry bookkeeping, including the preparation of basic financial statements.

2. Introduction to the syllabus

The syllabus for Financial Accounting (FA/FFA) introduces the candidate to the
fundamentals of the regulatory framework relating to accounts preparation and to the
qualitative characteristics of useful financial information. The syllabus then covers the
principles of accounts preparation, including an in-depth look at recording, processing, and
reporting business transactions and events. The syllabus also covers reconciliations,
preparation of a trial balance, error correction and suspense accounts, all of which will lead
to the preparation of financial statements for incorporated and unincorporated entities. The
syllabus then moves in two directions, firstly requiring the preparation of basic consolidated
financial statements from the individual financial statements of entities within a group; and
secondly requiring candidates to be able to conduct a basic interpretation of financial
statements.

3 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

3. Main capabilities

On successful completion of this examination, candidates should be able to:

A Explain the context and purpose of financial reporting


B Define the accounting principles, concepts and qualitative characteristics of useful
financial information
C Demonstrate the use of double-entry bookkeeping and accounting systems
D Record transactions and events
E Perform reconciliations
F Prepare a trial balance
G Prepare financial statements
H Prepare basic consolidated financial statements
I Interpret financial statements

Relational diagram of main capabilities:

4. Intellectual levels

ACCA qualifications are designed to progressively broaden and deepen the knowledge and
skills demonstrated by the student at a range of levels on their way through each
qualification.

Throughout, the study guides assess both knowledge and skills. Therefore, a clear
distinction is drawn, within each subject area, between assessing knowledge and skills and
in assessing their application within an accounting or business context. The assessment of
knowledge is denoted by a superscript K and the assessment of skills is denoted by the
superscript S.

4 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

5. The syllabus 7. Accruals expenses (accruals), prepaid


expenses (prepayments), accrued
income, and deferred income
A The context and purpose of financial
reporting 8. Receivables and payables

1. The scope and purpose of financial 9. Provisions and contingencies


statements for external reporting
10. Capital structure and finance costs
2. Stakeholders’ needs
E Reconciliations
3. The main elements of financial reports
1. Bank reconciliations
4. The regulatory framework
2. Payables account reconciliations
5. Duties and responsibilities of those
charged with governance F Preparing a trial balance

B Accounting principles, concepts and 1. Trial balance


qualitative characteristics
2. Correction of errors
1. The qualitative characteristics of
financial information 3. Suspense accounts

2. Qualitative characteristics of useful G Preparing financial statements


financial information
1. Statement of financial position
C The use of double-entry bookkeeping
and accounting systems 2. Statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income
1. Double-entry bookkeeping principles
including the maintenance of accounting 3. Disclosure notes
records
4. Events after the reporting period
2. General ledger accounts and journal
entries 5. Statement of cash flows (excluding
partnerships)
D Recording transactions and events
6. Incomplete records
1. Sales and purchases
H Preparing basic consolidated
2. Cash financial statements

3. Inventories 1. Subsidiaries

4. Tangible non-current assets 2. Associates

5. Depreciation I Interpretation of financial statements

6. Intangible non-current assets and 1. Importance and purpose of analysis of


amortisation financial statements

2. Ratios

3. Analysis of financial statements

5 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

6. Detailed study guide 4. The regulatory framework

a) Explain the purpose and objectives of


A The context and purpose of the regulatory system, including the
financial reporting roles of the:[K]
i) IFRS Foundation®
1. The context and purpose of financial ii) International Accounting Standards
statements for external reporting Board (IASB®)
iii) IFRS® Advisory Council
a) Define financial reporting: recording, iv) IFRS Interpretations Committee
analysing and summarising financial (IFRIC®)
data.[K] v) International Sustainability
Standards Board (ISSB™)
b) Identify and define types of business
entity: sole trader, partnership, limited b) Explain the role of IFRS® Accounting
liability company.[K] Standards in preparing financial
statements.[K]
c) Explain the legal differences between a
sole trader, partnership and a limited 5. Duties and responsibilities of those
liability company.[K] charged with governance

d) Identify the advantages and a) Explain what is meant by governance,


disadvantages of operating as a sole specifically in the context of the
trader, partnership or limited liability preparation of financial statements.[K]
company.[K]
b) Describe the duties and responsibilities
e) Define the nature, principles and scope of directors in the preparation of the
of financial reporting.[K] financial statements.[K]

2. Stakeholders’ needs B Accounting principles,


concepts and qualitative
a) Identify the users of financial statements characteristics
and state and differentiate between their
information needs.[K] 1. Key principles and concepts of
accounting
3. The main elements of financial
statements a) Define and apply key principles and
concepts of accounting:[K]
a) Describe the purpose of each of the i) Going concern
financial statements:[K] ii) Accrual accounting
i) Statement of financial position iii) Materiality
ii) Statement of profit or loss and other iv) Offsetting
comprehensive income v) Consistency
iii) Statement of changes in equity vi) Prudence
iv) Statement of cash flows vii) Duality
viii) Business entity
b) Identify and define assets, liabilities, ix) Historical cost and current value
equity, income and expenses.[K] x) Substance over form

6 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

2. Qualitative characteristics of useful e) Describe how an accounting system


financial information contributes to providing useful
accounting information and complies
a) Define and apply the qualitative with organisational policies and
characteristics of useful financial deadlines.[K]
information:[K]
i) Relevance f) Identify the main types of business
ii) Faithful representation transactions, for example, sales,
iii) Comparability purchases, payments, receipts.[K]
iv) Verifiability
v) Timeliness 2. General ledger accounts and journal
vi) Understandability entries

C The use of double-entry a) Describe the main types of general


bookkeeping and accounting ledger accounts, including their nature
systems and function.[K]

1. Double-entry bookkeeping principles b) Describe how financial data is initially


including the maintenance of recorded in the accounting system.[K]
accounting records
c) Explain the use of journal entries and
a) Identify and explain the function of the how journal entries are processed to
main data sources in an accounting general ledger accounts.[S]
system.[K]
d) Identify correct journal entries from
b) Summarise the contents and purpose of given narrative.[S]
different types of business
documentation, including: [K] e) Illustrate how to balance and close the
i) Quotation general ledger accounts at the year
ii) Sales order end.[S]
iii) Purchase order
iv) Goods received note D Recording transactions and
v) Goods despatched note events
vi) Customer (sales) invoice
vii) Supplier (purchase) invoice 1. Sales and purchases
viii) Supplier statement
ix) Credit note a) Record sale and purchase transactions
x) Debit note in the general ledger accounts.[S]
xi) Remittance advice
xii) Receipt b) Record sales returns and purchase
returns in the general ledger accounts.[S]
c) Explain and apply the accounting
equation.[S] c) Describe the principles of the operation
of a sales tax.[K]
d) Describe the key features of a
computerised accounting system, d) Calculate sales tax on transactions and
including the use of external servers to record it in the sales tax general ledger
store data (the cloud).[K] account.[S]

e) Account for discounts received.[S]

7 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

f) Account for the following discounts d) Classify expenditure as asset


allowed to customers in accordance with expenditure or expenses charged to
IFRS Accounting Standards:[S] profit or loss.[S]
i) trade discounts
ii) settlement discounts. e) Record the acquisition and disposal of
tangible non-current assets in the
2. Cash general ledger accounts in accordance
with IFRS Accounting Standards.[S]
a) Record cash transactions in the bank
general ledger account.[S] f) Calculate and record gains or losses on
disposal of tangible non-current assets
b) Describe the need for a record of petty in the statement of profit or loss,
cash transactions.[K] including part exchange transactions.[S]

3. Inventories g) Record the revaluation of a tangible


non-current asset in the general ledger
a) Describe the need for adjustments to accounts and illustrate how it is
inventories in preparing financial presented in the statement of profit or
statements.[K] loss and other comprehensive income
and in the statement of financial
b) Record cost of sales and closing position.[S]
inventories.[S]
h) Calculate the gain or loss on disposal of
c) Apply the requirements of IFRS a revalued tangible non-current asset.[S]
Accounting Standards for valuing
inventories.[S] i) Illustrate how tangible non-current asset
balances and movements are disclosed
d) Identify which costs should be included in financial statements.[S]
in valuing inventories.[S]
j) Explain the purpose and function of a
e) Explain the use of continuous and non-current asset register.[K]
period-end inventories records.[K]
5. Depreciation
f) Calculate the value of closing
inventories using ‘FIFO’ (first in, first out) a) Explain the purpose of depreciation.[K]
and ‘AVCO’ (average cost) – both
periodic weighted average and b) Calculate the charge for depreciation
continuous weighted average.[S] using straight-line and diminishing-
balance (reducing-balance) methods.[S]
g) Identify the impact of inventory valuation
methods on profit and on assets.[S] c) Identify the circumstances where
different methods of depreciation would
4. Tangible non-current assets be appropriate.[K]

a) Define non-current assets.[K] d) Illustrate how the depreciation charge


and accumulated depreciation are
b) Compare the difference between current recorded in the general ledger
and non-current assets.[K] accounts.[S]

c) Explain the difference between asset


(capitalised) and expense items.[K]

8 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

e) Calculate and update the general ledger b) Calculate the adjustments needed for
accounts to record the depreciation on a accruals, prepayments, accrued income
revalued tangible non-current asset, and deferred income when preparing
including the transfer of excess financial statements.[S]
depreciation between the revaluation
surplus and retained earnings.[S] c) Illustrate the process of adjusting for
accruals, prepayments, accrued income
f) Calculate the adjustments to and deferred income when preparing
depreciation necessary if changes are financial statements.[S]
made in the estimated useful life and/ or
residual value of a tangible non-current d) Prepare manual journal entries and
asset.[S] update the general ledger accounts for
the creation and reversal of accruals,
g) Record depreciation in the statement of prepayments, accrued income and
profit or loss and statement of financial deferred income.[S]
position.[S]
e) Identify the impact of accruals,
6. Intangible non-current assets and prepayments, accrued income and
amortisation deferred income on profit and net
assets.[S]
a) Compare the difference between
tangible and intangible non-current f) Report accruals, prepayments, accrued
assets.[K] income and deferred income in the
financial statements.[S]
b) Identify types of intangible assets.[K]
8. Receivables and payables
c) Identify the definition and treatment of
“research” and “development” in a) Identify and explain examples of
accordance with IFRS Accounting receivables and payables.[K]
Standards.[K]
b) Identify the benefits and costs of offering
d) Calculate and account for amounts to be credit facilities to customers.[K]
capitalised as development expenditure
or to be recognised as an expense from c) Describe the purpose of an aged
given information.[S] receivables analysis.[K]

e) Explain the purpose of amortisation.[K] d) Describe the purpose of customer credit


limits.[K]
f) Calculate and account for
amortisation.[S] e) Prepare manual journal entries to write
off an irrecoverable debt.[S]
7. Accrued expenses (accruals),
prepaid expenses (prepayments), f) Prepare manual journal entries to
accrued income, and deferred recognise an irrecoverable debt that is
income subsequently recovered .[S]

a) Apply accrual accounting to accruals, g) Demonstrate the impact of irrecoverable


prepayments, accrued income and debts on the statement of profit or loss
deferred income.[S] and on the statement of financial
position.[S]

9 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

h) Prepare manual journal entries to create c) Identify and record the other
and adjust an allowance for components of equity which may appear
irrecoverable debts.[S] in the statement of financial position.[S]

i) Illustrate how to include movements in d) Record movements in the share capital


the allowance for irrecoverable debts in and share premium accounts.[S]
the statement of profit or loss and how
the closing balance of the allowance e) Define an issue of bonus shares and its
should appear in the statement of advantages and disadvantages.[K]
financial position.[S]
f) Define a rights issue and its advantages
j) Account for contras between and disadvantages.[K]
receivables and payables.[S]
g) Calculate and record an issue of bonus
k) Prepare, reconcile and explain the shares in the statement of financial
purpose of supplier statements.[S] position.[S]

9. Provisions and contingencies h) Calculate and record a rights issue in


the statement of financial position.[S]
a) Define a provision, contingent liability
and contingent asset in accordance with i) Calculate and record dividends in the
IFRS Accounting Standards.[K] general ledger accounts and the
financial statements.[S]
b) Distinguish between and classify items
as provisions, contingent liabilities or j) Calculate and record interest expenses
contingent assets.[S] in the general ledger accounts and the
financial statements.[S]
c) Illustrate the different methods of
accounting for provisions, contingent k) Identify the components of the
liabilities and contingent assets.[K] statement of changes in equity.[K]

d) Calculate provisions and changes in E Reconciliations


provisions.[S]
1. Bank reconciliations
e) Prepare manual journal entries for the
movement in provisions.[S] a) Explain the purpose of bank
reconciliations.[K]
f) Report provisions in the financial
statements.[S] b) Identify the main reasons for differences
between the bank general ledger
10. Capital structure and finance costs account and the bank statement/
internet banking records.[K]
a) Describe the capital structure of a
limited liability company including:[K] c) Identify and correct errors and/ or
i) Ordinary (equity) shares omissions in the bank general ledger
ii) Preference shares (redeemable account.[S]
and irredeemable)
iii) Borrowings d) Prepare the reconciliation of the bank
general ledger account to the bank
b) Describe the nature of equity, including statement/ internet banking records.[S]
retained earnings and other components
of equity.[K]

10 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

e) Derive bank statement and bank c) Prepare manual journal entries to


general ledger account balances from correct errors.[S]
given information.[S]
d) Calculate the impact of errors on the
f) Identify the bank balance to be reported statement of profit or loss and other
in the financial statements.[S] comprehensive income and the
statement of financial position.[S]
2. Payables account reconciliations
3. Suspense accounts
a) Explain the purpose of the payables
general ledger account and how it a) Explain the purpose of a suspense
relates to double-entry bookkeeping.[K] account.[K]

b) Explain the purpose of reconciling the b) Identify errors leading to the creation of
payables general ledger account to a suspense account.[K]
external documents.[K]
c) Record entries in a suspense account.[S]
c) Prepare a reconciliation of the payables
general ledger account to supplier d) Prepare journal entries to clear a
statements.[S] suspense account.[S]

d) Identify and correct errors which would G Preparing financial


be highlighted by performing a statements
reconciliation of the payables general
ledger account.[K] 1. Statement of financial position

e) Identify the payables balance to be a) Explain how the accounting equation,


reported in the financial statements.[S] IFRS Accounting Standards and the
business entity concept underlie the
F Preparing a trial balance statement of financial position.[K]

1. Trial balance b) Prepare a statement of financial position


or extracts as applicable.[S]
a) Describe the purpose of a trial
balance.[K] 2. Statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income
b) Extract general ledger balances into a
trial balance.[S] a) Calculate revenue, cost of sales, gross
profit, operating profit, profit before
c) Prepare extracts of an opening trial financing and income taxes, profit
balance.[S] before income taxes, profit (for the year)
and total comprehensive income (for the
d) Explain the limitations of a trial year) from given information.[S]
balance.[K]
b) Prepare a statement of profit or loss and
2. Correction of errors other comprehensive income or extracts
as applicable.[S]
a) Identify the types of error which may
occur in accounting systems.[K]

b) Identify errors which would be


highlighted by the extraction of a trial
balance and those which would not.[K]

11 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

c) Record the income tax expense in the d) Classify the effect of transactions on
statement of profit or loss, including the cash flows.[S]
under-/ over-provision of tax in the prior
year.[S] e) Calculate the figures needed for the
statement of cash flows in accordance
d) Identify items requiring separate with IFRS Accounting Standards,
disclosure on the face of the statement including:[S]
of profit or loss.[K] i) Cash flows from operating activities
(direct and indirect methods for
e) Explain the interrelationship between calculating cash from operating
the statement of financial position and activities before income taxes)
the statement of profit or loss and other ii) Cash flows from investing activities
comprehensive income.[K] iii) Cash flows from financing activities

3. Disclosure notes f) Prepare a statement of cash flows or


extracts as applicable.[S]
a) Explain the purpose of notes to the
financial statements (disclosure g) Identify the treatment of given
notes).[K] transactions in a statement of cash
flows.[K]
b) Draft the following disclosure notes:[S]
i) Non-current assets, including 6. Incomplete records
tangible and intangible assets
ii) Provisions a) Apply techniques used in incomplete
iii) Events after the reporting period record situations:[S]
iv) Inventories i) Use of accounting equation
ii) Use of general ledger accounts to
4. Events after the reporting period calculate missing figures
iii) Use of cash and/ or bank
a) Define an event after the reporting summaries
period in accordance with IFRS iv) Use of profit percentages to
Accounting Standards.[K] calculate missing figures.

b) Classify events as adjusting or non- H Preparing basic consolidated


adjusting.[S] financial statements
c) Distinguish between how adjusting and 1. Subsidiaries
non-adjusting events are reported in the
financial statements.[K] a) Define and describe the following terms
in the context of group accounting:[K]
5 Statement of cash flows (excluding i) Parent
partnerships) ii) Subsidiary
iii) Control
a) Differentiate between profit and cash iv) Consolidated (group) financial
flow.[K] statements
v) Non-controlling interests
b) Describe the need for management to vi) Trade (simple) investment
control cash flow.[K]
b) Identify subsidiaries within a group
c) Explain the benefits and drawbacks to structure.[K]
users of the financial statements of a
statement of cash flows.[K]

12 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

c) Describe the components of and b) Describe the key features of a parent-


prepare a consolidated statement of associate relationship and be able to
financial position or extracts thereof, identify an associate within a group
including:[S] structure.[K]
i) Fair value adjustments at
acquisition on property, plant and c) Describe the principle of the equity
equipment (excluding depreciation method of accounting for associate
adjustments) entities.[K]
ii) Fair value of consideration
transferred from cash and shares I Interpretation of financial
(excluding deferred and contingent statements
consideration)
iii) Elimination of intra-group trading 1. Importance and purpose of analysis
balances (excluding assets in of financial statements
transit)
iv) Removal of unrealised profit arising a) Describe how the interpretation and
on intra-group trading analysis of financial statements is used
v) Acquisition of subsidiaries part way in a business environment.[K]
through the financial year
b) Explain the purpose of interpretation of
d) Calculate goodwill (excluding ratios.[K]
impairment of goodwill) where non-
controlling interest is valued at its fair 2. Ratios
value at the acquisition date as
follows:[S] a) Calculate key accounting ratios related
to:[S]
Fair value of consideration X i) Profitability
Fair value of non-controlling interests X ii) Liquidity
Less fair value of net assets at iii) Efficiency
acquisition (X) iv) Position
Goodwill at acquisition X
b) Explain the interrelationships between
e) Describe the components of and ratios.[K]
prepare a consolidated statement of
profit or loss or extracts thereof 3. Analysis of financial statements
including:[S]
i) Elimination of intra group trading a) Calculate and interpret the relationship
balances (excluding assets in between the elements of the financial
transit) statements regarding profitability,
ii) Removal of unrealised profit arising liquidity, efficient use of resources and
on intra-group trading financial position.[S]
iii) Acquisition of subsidiaries part way
through the financial year b) Draw valid conclusions from the
information contained within the
2. Associates financial statements and present these
to the appropriate user of the financial
a) Define and identify an associate and statements.[S]
significant influence and identify the
situations where significant influence
exists.[K]

13 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

7. Summary of changes to Financial Accounting (FA/ FFA)

ACCA periodically reviews its qualification syllabuses so that they fully meet the needs of
stakeholders such as employers, students, regulatory and advisory bodies and learning
providers.

There have been minor changes to the study guide for September 2025 to June 2026 which
are shown below:

 IFRS 18
IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements was issued on 9 April
2024 and supersedes IAS® 1 Presentation of Financial Statements as well as impacting
(but not superseding) IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows.

The formats for all financial statements (including the statement of cash flows) under
IFRS 18 are now examinable. IAS 1 is no longer examinable.

Management-defined Performance Measures (MPM) will not be examined at this level.

 Other
There have been minor wording changes made to some syllabus learning outcomes
(SLO) but these do not change the context of any SLO.

Minor wording changes:

SLO Change(s)
C1 b) “Sales (customer) invoice” changed to “Customer (sales) invoice”
D3 c) “IAS 2 Inventories” changed to “IFRS Accounting Standards”
D8 j) “trade receivables” changed to “receivables” and “trade payables” to
“payables”
D9 a) “Define” changed to “Define a”
D10 a) “Ordinary shares” to “Ordinary (equity) shares”
D10 e) “a bonus (capitalisation) issue” changed to “an issue of bonus shares”
D10 g) “a bonus (capitalisation) issue” changed to “an issue of bonus shares”
D10 j) “finance costs” changed to “interest expenses”
E2 “Trade payables” changed to “Payables”
E2 a) “trade payables” changed to “payables”
E2 b) “trade payables” changed to “payables”
E2 c) “trade payables” changed to “payables”
E2 d) “trade payables” changed to “payables”
E2 e) “trade payables” changed to “payables”
G2 a) Added “profit before financing and income taxes”
“profit before tax” changed to “profit before income taxes”
“profit for the year” changed to “profit (for the year)”
“total comprehensive income for the year” changed to “total comprehensive
income (for the year)”
G5 e) “cash generated from operations” changed to “calculating cash from
operating activities before income taxes”

14 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

8. Approach to examining the syllabus

The syllabus is assessed by a two-hour computer-based examination. Questions will assess


all parts of the syllabus and will test knowledge and some comprehension or application of
this knowledge. The examination will consist of two sections:

 Section A will contain 35 two-mark objective test questions.


 Section B will contain two 15-mark multi-task questions. These will test consolidations
and accounts preparation.

The consolidation question could include a small amount of interpretation and the accounts
preparation question could be set in the context of a sole trader or a limited company.

9. Relational diagram linking Financial Accounting


(FA/FFA) with other exams

The Foundations in Accountancy (FIA) suite of qualifications is designed so that a student


can progress through three discrete levels: RQF Level 2, 3, and 4. Students are
recommended to enter FIA at the level which is most appropriate to their needs and to take
examinations in order but this is not a mandatory requirement.

15 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.


Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

10. Guide to ACCA examination structure and delivery


mode

The structure of examinations varies.

The FIA examinations contain 100% compulsory questions to encourage candidates to study
across the breadth of each syllabus.

All FIA examinations are assessed by two-hour computer-based examinations.

The pass mark for all FIA examinations is 50%.

11. Guide to ACCA examination assessment

ACCA reserves the right to examine anything contained within the study guide at any
examination session. This includes knowledge, techniques, principles, theories, and
concepts as specified. For specified financial accounting, audit and tax examinations, except
where indicated otherwise, ACCA will publish examinable documents once a year to indicate
exactly what regulations and legislation could potentially be assessed within identified
examination sessions.

For this examination, regulation issued or legislation passed on or before 31 August


annually, will be assessed from 1 September of the following year to 31 August of the year
after. Please refer to the examinable documents for the exam (where relevant) for further
information.

Regulation issued or legislation passed in accordance with the above dates may be
examinable even if the effective date is in the future. The terms ‘issued’ or ‘passed’ relate to
when regulation or legislation has been formally approved.

The term ‘effective’ relates to when regulation or legislation must be applied to entity
transactions and business practices.

The study guide offers more detailed guidance on the depth and level at which the
examinable documents will be examined. The study guide should therefore be read in
conjunction with the examinable documents list.

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Financial Accounting (FA/FFA)

12. Qualification structure

The qualification structure requires candidates who wish to be awarded the ACCA Diploma
in Accounting and Business (RQF Level 4) to pass the Business and Technology (BT)/FBT,
Management Accounting (MA)/FMA and the Financial Accounting (FA)/FFA examinations
and successfully complete the Foundations in Professionalism (FiP) module.

13. Learning hours and education recognition

As a member of the International Federation of Accountants, ACCA seeks to enhance the


education recognition of its qualification on both national and international education
frameworks, and with educational authorities and partners globally. In doing so, ACCA aims
to ensure that its qualifications are recognised and valued by governments and regulatory
authorities and employers across all sectors. To this end, ACCA qualifications are currently
recognised on the educational frameworks in several countries. Please refer to your national
education framework regulator for further information about recognition.

ACCA’s content partners are BPP Learning Media and Kaplan Publishing. They create their
own learning materials. For more information about the types of materials offered, please
visit their websites and contact them directly.

17 © ACCA 2025-2026 All rights reserved.

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