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*Note: The article has been updated to include pass rates for the March 2023 ACCA exam sitting*

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) is a globally recognised accounting qualification in over 150 countries. The ACCA pass rates for each of their subjects are interesting to note, as they can give an indication of how difficult the exams are likely to be and what areas ACCA students tend to struggle with the most.

In this post, VIVA guides you through the most recent ACCA qualification pass rates and what it means for students getting ready to take their exams.

1. Applied Knowledge Exam Pass Rates

The first step towards becoming a fully qualified ACCA accountant is to pass the Applied Knowledge exams. This ACCA qualification rigorously tests your knowledge of accounting principles and financial management. Here are the pass rates for the most recent Applied Knowledge examinations: 

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Management Accounting (MA)

• June 2021 - 68%
• December 2021 - 65%
• June 2022 - 64%
• December 2022 - 61%
• June 2023 - 63%

Financial Accounting (FA)

• June 2021 - 74%
• December 2021 - 71%
• June 2022 - 69%
• December 2022 - 68%
• June 2023 - 72%

Business and Technology (BT)

• June 2021 - 88%
• December 2021 - 84%
• June 2022 - 85%
• December 2022 - 79%
• June 2023 - 83%

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2. Applied Skills Exam Pass Rates

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After passing the Applied Knowledge exams, the next step towards becoming a fully qualified future accountant is to pass the Applied Skills exams.

These exams assess your practical knowledge and technical mastery of accounting and management, by testing your ability to apply that knowledge in workplace-like scenarios. Here are the pass rates for the most recent Applied Skills examinations:

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Corporate and Business Law Global (LW)

• June 2021 - 86%
• December 2021 - 83%
• June 2022 - 82%
• December 2022 - 82%
• June 2023 - 80%

Performance Management (PM)

• March 2022 - 40%
• June 2022 - 41%
• September 2022 - 40%
• December 2022 - 43%
• June 2023 - 40%

Taxation (TX)

• March 2022 - 51%
• June 2022 - 52%
• September 2022 - 52%
• December 2022 - 52%
• June 2023 - 56%

Audit and Assurance (AA)

• March 2022 - 44%
• June 2022 - 39%
• September 2022 - 44%
• December 2022 - 40%
• June 2023 - 45%

Financial Reporting (FR)

• March 2022 - 50%
• June 2022 - 51%
• September 2022 - 50%
• December 2022 - 49%
• June 2023 - 49%

Financial Management (FM)

• March 2022 - 50%
• June 2022 - 52%
• September 2022 - 51%
• December 2022 - 51%
• June 2023 - 52%

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3. Strategic Professional Exam Pass Rates

The Strategic Professional exams help ACCA students to achieve a firm grounding in leadership skills, ethics, and professional skills in order to become well-rounded, ethical finance professionals. The exams are available to students who have completed the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills exams.

Note that the SBR and SBL exams are mandatory. Any two of the remaining four Strategic Professional exams can be chosen. For more guidance on choosing which ACCA exams to sit, and the best order in which to sit them, check out our other free guide here:

Strategic Professional- Essentials

Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)

• March 2022 - 46%
• June 2022 - 49%
• September 2022 - 51%
• December 2022 - 47%
• June 2023 - 51%

Strategic Business Leader (SBL)

• March 2022 - 50%
• June 2022 - 50%
• September 2022 - 49%
• December 2022 - 49%
• June 2023 - 51%

Strategic Professional - Options

Advanced Financial Management (AFM)

• March 2022 - 43%
• June 2022 - 41%
• September 2022 - 42%
• December 2022 - 41%
• June 2023 - 47%

Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)

• March 2022 - 33%
• June 2022 - 31%
• September 2022 - 34%
• December 2022 - 32%
• June 2023 - 34%

Advanced Taxation (ATX)

• March 2022 - 38%
• June 2022 - 42%
• September 2022 - 43%
• December 2022 - 39%
• June 2023 - 43%

Advanced Performance Management (APM)

• March 2022 - 34%
• June 2022 - 33%
• September 2022 - 34%
• December 2022 - 33%
• June 2023 - 34%

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4. Foundation Level Exam Pass Rates

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The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Foundation Exams are a group of exams that confer a foundation diploma upon completion. The exam assesses whether candidates have the basic knowledge and skills required to pursue an accounting career. Here are the pass rates:

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (Level 2 RQF)

Recording Financial Transactions (FA1)

• June 2021 - 78%
• December 2021 - 80%
• June 2022 - 74%
• December 2022 - 82%
• June 2023 - 78%

Management Information (MA1)

• June 2021 - 77%
• December 2021 - 83%
• June 2022 - 71%
• December 2022 - 82%
• June 2023 - 78%

ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (Level 3 RQF)

Maintaining Financial Records (FA2)

• June 2021 - 74%
• December 2021 - 77%
• June 2022 - 73%
• December 2022 - 69%
• June 2023 - 69%

Managing Costs and Finance (MA2)

• June 2021 - 70%
• December 2021 - 70%
• June 2022 - 72%
• December 2022 - 66%
• June 2023 - 69%

ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business (Level 4 RQF)

Business and Technology (FBT)

• June 2021 - 75%
• December 2021 - 77%
• June 2022 - 77%
• December 2022 - 74%
• June 2023 - 75%

Management Accounting (FMA)

• June 2021 - 72%
• December 2021 - 71%
• June 2022 - 72%
• December 2022 - 67%
• June 2023 - 71%

Financial Accounting (FFA)

• June 2021 - 69%
• December 2021 - 69%
• June 2022 - 73%
• December 2022 - 70%
• June 2023 - 71%

Foundation Specialist Certificates (RQF Level 4)

Foundations in Audit (FAU)

• June 2021 - 44%
• December 2021 - 39%
• June 2022 - 31%
• December 2022 - 35%
• June 2023 - 40%

Foundations in Taxation (FTX)

• June 2021 - 37%
• December 2021 - 52%
• June 2022 - 49%
• December 2022 - 56%
• June 2023 - 38%

Foundations in Financial Management (FFM)

• June 2021 - 54%
• December 2021 - 42%
• June 2022 - 40%
• December 2022 - 46%
• June 2023 - 39%

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Further Reading: Check out the 2022/2023 ACCA Exam Dates

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5. Ways To Improve Your ACCA Success Rate

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Now that you are familiar with the pass rates, you can start planning your study approach for each exam.

In the coming months, award-winning tuition provider VIVA will be launching premium online ACCA courses for every professional level subject, for a fraction of the cost of traditional providers. In the meantime, take advantage of VIVA's FREE 64-page ACCA Subject by Subject Pass Guide by registering here.

All our materials are prepared by subject experts. Our team will guide you every step of the way, from exam preparation and psychological tips and tricks, to technical mastery and comprehensive syllabus coverage.

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