How long does ACCA take?

Typically three to four years alongside work, depending on exemptions and how many exams you sit per session.

Do I need a degree for ACCA?

Often not. ACCA has multiple entry routes and is commonly studied while working, with exemptions for prior qualifications.

What is the ACCA pass mark?

Most ACCA exams require 50% to pass. The qualification also requires the ethics module and practical experience.

Study guide

ACCA Qualification: Study Guide

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-05-29

A suggested study plan

Stage 1	Applied Knowledge: Business and Technology, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting
Stage 2	Applied Skills: corporate and business law, performance and financial management, taxation, financial reporting, audit
Stage 3	Strategic Professional: the two Essentials plus two chosen Options
Throughout	The Ethics and Professional Skills module and the Practical Experience Requirement

ACCA is a globally portable chartered-accountancy qualification studied as a progression of up to 13 exams across three levels, plus an ethics module and a practical experience requirement. It is accessible without a degree and designed to be studied while working. The keys are using your exemptions, pacing the levels, and building experience alongside the exams. This guide is study guidance only, with no real or simulated exam questions.

The three levels

Applied Knowledge

The foundations: Business and Technology, Management Accounting, and Financial Accounting. They introduce the language of accounting and business.

Applied Skills

The core technical level: corporate and business law, performance management, taxation, financial reporting, audit and assurance, and financial management.

Strategic Professional

The advanced level: two Essentials (Strategic Business Leader and Strategic Business Reporting) plus two Options chosen from advanced financial management, performance management, taxation or audit. This level is markedly harder.

Ethics and experience

Alongside the exams, you complete the Ethics and Professional Skills module and the Practical Experience Requirement (36 months of relevant supervised work) to qualify.

How to prepare

Check your exemptions first so you do not re-study material you have already covered. Pace the levels, take the ethics module seriously, and accumulate qualifying experience as you go. Authoritative material comes from ACCA’s study resources.

Key concepts to master

Three levels, up to 13 exams: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional (Essentials + Options).
Exemptions: Prior qualifications can exempt you from some early exams; check eligibility.
Ethics module: The Ethics and Professional Skills module is required alongside the exams.
Practical Experience Requirement (PER): 36 months of relevant supervised experience is needed to qualify.
Pass mark: Most ACCA exams require 50% to pass.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ignoring exemptions and re-sitting exams you could have skipped.
Treating it as exams only; the ethics module and PER are required to qualify.
Rushing the Strategic Professional level, which is markedly harder.
Not building real work experience alongside studying.

Free study resources

ACCA — Qualification overview ↗

FAQ

How long does ACCA take?: Typically three to four years alongside work, depending on exemptions and how many exams you sit per session.
Do I need a degree for ACCA?: Often not. ACCA has multiple entry routes and is commonly studied while working, with exemptions for prior qualifications.
What is the ACCA pass mark?: Most ACCA exams require 50% to pass. The qualification also requires the ethics module and practical experience.

Sources

ACCA — Qualification overview ↗