So I recently asked a colleague name Rahul Tyagi: Is ACCA hard? His answer was Yes it is hard for me. but when I asked a student who was a fresher, the answer was the opposite. How could that be? So in this article I shall give you the first hand answer on this question.
ACCA difficulty Ranking
Below is a comprehensive difficulty ranking of various finance and accounting qualifications globally. Where ACCA ranks 4th in the professional qualification difficulty Index.
Global Finance Qualification Difficulty Comparison
| Qualification | Average Pass Rate (%) | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) | 40% (Level 1), 45% (Level 2), 50% (Level 3) | Extremely High |
| US CPA (Certified Public Accountant) | 45% – 55% | High |
| CA (Chartered Accountant – India) | 10% – 15% | Extremely High |
| ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) | ~50% | Medium to High |
| CMA (Certified Management Accountant – US) | 50% (Part 1), 55% (Part 2) | Medium |
| CFP (Certified Financial Planner) | ~55% | Medium |
| FRM (Financial Risk Manager) | 40% – 50% | High |
| CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) | 42% (Part 1), 45% (Part 2) | Medium |
| CPA Australia | 50% | Medium |
| CA(SA) (Chartered Accountant – South Africa) | 35% – 40% | High |
Is ACCA Hard? From Rashesh Rank Holder
Interview: Understanding the Challenges of ACCA with Rashesh
Allen: So nice of you to join us today, Rashesh! To start with, may I ask why students often study ACCA and how hard is ACCA for an average student?
Rashesh: Of course! It’s a big decision, and many students wonder how difficult it is to actually obtain the ACCA qualification. This was a question I had myself as an ACCA student. The difficulty depends on various factors, such as your previous knowledge, educational background, and the amount of time you’re able to dedicate to studying and revision.
Allen: In your experience, does prior knowledge change the difficulty level?
Rashesh: Yes, definitely. Prior experience plays a significant role. If you’re someone entering accounting as a complete novice, then yes, the course might feel quite difficult initially. But if someone has studied or worked in accounting before, they already have a base, which makes things easier. Even if you’re fresh out of college after your 12th grade, it’s okay. It’s natural to find it challenging at first, but once the basics are covered, the rest of ACCA, especially the early papers, become relatively easier.
Allen: According to your estimation, how difficult is it for a student just beginning ACCA?
Rashesh: The early stage of ACCA is called the Knowledge Level, and it’s the first stage of the course. The pass rate at this stage is quite encouraging—about 60%.. What this means is that once students overcome the initial learning curve, these early exams are quite manageable for most of them.
Allen: Is it accurate to say that ACCA’s Skill Level is more difficult than the Knowledge Level?
Rashesh: Yes, the Skill Level is where things start to get interesting. It doesn’t matter if you’ve studied accounting before or not, because this stage introduces concepts that are mostly new to everyone. It’s a level playing field. The global average pass rate for Skill Level exams ranges between 40% and 45%
Allen: That’s very reassuring. What about the Professional Level? There’s a saying that it’s the hardest phase of the ACCA qualification.
Rashesh: The Professional Level does have a reputation for being tough, and the pass rates, which are usually around 30% to 35%, reflect that. However, once you’ve successfully cleared the first nine papers, you’ve built a solid. Subjects like audit and assurance aaa are difficult for everyone.While some students may need more than one attempt, the process isn’t as intimidating as it seems. Most students finish ACCA in about 3 to 3.5 years, even though the course allows up to 10 years for completion. With commitment, it’s definitely achievable.
Allen: How much time commitment would you say is necessary to perform well in ACCA?
Rashesh: On average, I would say each paper requires about 150 to 170 hours of study time. Some papers may need more, and others less, but that’s a good benchmark. The key is to spread those hours over the quarter and stay focused. Regular practice and mock exams are essential for success. I always encourage my students to practice the right way, especially by using mock exams to simulate the real exam experience.
Allen: That’s great advice. Thanks so much for sharing your insights on ACCA, Rashesh!
Rashesh: You’re welcome, Allen! It was a pleasure to share my thoughts and I hope it helps students in their ACCA journey.
To answer whether ACCA is tough or easy, we must consider several factors:
3 Factors Affecting How Difficult is ACCA
So it’s interesting when every ACCA qualified affiliate or member has a different opinion on this topic. However I could categorise these conversations into three broader factors;
Your Previous Qualification
]The members who found ACCA’s difficulty manageable are mostly who are already professional accountants . For example many claimed to have some foundation with AAT, CIMA or even ICAI from India.
Exemptions
Another related factor is where you start and how many exams you write. When you are already holding some reputed accounting qualifications, then you get some serious exemptions. For example; A chartered accountant in India gets almost 5 paper exemptions. Overall the exam has 13 exam papers.
Overall Experience in Accounting
Many experienced candidates who are now acca member, with some form of accounting experience found it easier compared to freshers. On digging deeper I realised that that these candidates found certain subjects easier to follow, because their daily work had given them some exposure. But at the same time subjects like performance management which very few have any first hand exposure, find these subjects difficult.
Different Meanings of Hard
Another interesting observation was that when people say hard there could be two meanings
- That ACCA course content itself is difficult to understand
- The content is understandable but some hard work and time commitment.
For example One of the candidates I spoke had to say this
Seetha ACCA Professional- Requires Hard
“ACCA is hard but not impossible to pass the acca exam With hard work and dedication, it’s absolutely doable. While I struggled at times, particularly due to an undisciplined schedule, I was still able to score well in most papers. ACCA’s versatility allows for self-study or part-time study while juggling a full-time job, making it more flexible and affordable compared to a bachelor’s degree in accounting.”
SANESH ACCA Professional-Time commitment
“ACCA syllabus is not that tough if you provide enough time and stick to a consistent schedule. Your routine and consistency make it easier, especially with the right guidance and support. In my personal experience, the institute plays a crucial role in your ACCA journey.
Final Thoughts: Is ACCA Easy?
Ultimately, the question of whether ACCA is hard?. And the answer is No. But is it Easy and the answer is still No.
• ACCA is tough because of the breadth of its syllabus, challenging exams, and the need to balance study with practical experience.
• However, ACCA requires 170 hrs of preparation per paper with effective time management planning, the right resources, and a strategic approach to the exams.
So, if you’re wondering, “How difficult is ACCA?” The answer is “Its Hard work”
Is ACCA more difficult than CA?
As per the statistics, it has been seen that both qualification intake students who are prepared to face a variety of difficulties, but the intensity of their struggle relies on a couple of aspects including their learning approach and their career expectations. In some jurisdictions, the term CA (Chartered Accountancy) is used which is more challenging owing to their lower pass percentage as well as the complexity included within the syllabus as it is most commonly the case for India. However, because students can take fewer exams at the same time, many find the ACCA to be much more flexible and therefore much easier to cope with. Both qualifications are reputable in the world of finance industry.
Can I finish ACCA in 1 year?
It would be very tough to complete ACCA in its entirety in a year as the structure has been developed with the intention of being able to be completed in a couple or few of years. More or less, a decent range of time for this type of course can be between 2.5 to 3 years, sometimes depending on whether a candidate has any Exemptions or not, as well as how many papers for the relevant session are taken. There are 13 units of which one would have to pass the exams and although they may be able to take many exams simultaneously, it is difficult to see most students attempt this within 12 months. The key is to go slow so that you may embed the concepts and topics well in axis as well as increase your performance in exams.
