Quick answer: ICAI conducts CA exams in three windows each year: January, May, and September. CA Foundation, Intermediate, and Final are all held in all three windows. Registration for each window closes 6–8 weeks before the exam date. Exact dates for each session are published at icai.org approximately 3–4 months in advance.
Why Three Exam Windows?
Until 2022, ICAI conducted CA exams only twice a year (May and November). From 2023 onwards, under the revised scheme, ICAI introduced a third exam window in January, making the schedule January, May, and September.
This change benefits students significantly. Three exam windows per year means:
- Shorter waiting periods between attempts if you need to re-appear
- More flexibility in planning your coaching timeline
- A September window specifically useful for students who finish school in May and want to start Foundation coaching immediately
Approximate Exam Window Dates
ICAI does not publish exact dates more than 3–4 months in advance. However, the approximate pattern is consistent:
| Window | Approximate exam dates | Registration closes (approx.) | Results (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | First 2 weeks of January | Mid-November (previous year) | March |
| May | First 2 weeks of May | Mid-March | July |
| September | Second or third week of September | Late June / early July | November |
Always verify exact dates at icai.org. The official notification for each session is the authoritative source.
How to Register for a CA Exam Session
Exam registration (also called the Examination Form or Exam Application) is separate from ICAI student registration. Once you are a registered student, you must submit the exam application form for each session you wish to appear in.
- Log in to the ICAI Self-Service Portal at eservices.icai.org
- Navigate to "Examination" → "Examination Form"
- Select the exam level (Foundation / Intermediate / Final) and the session
- Confirm your exam centre preference
- Pay the examination fee online
- Download and save your acknowledgement
Late submission with a late fee is possible for a short period after the normal deadline, but do not rely on this. Submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues or centre unavailability.
Admit Card Release
ICAI releases admit cards (hall tickets) approximately 2–3 weeks before the exam start date. Admit cards are available for download from the ICAI Self-Service Portal. You will not receive a physical admit card by post. Download and print it yourself.
The admit card contains your exam roll number, exam centre address, and the schedule of papers. Check it carefully as soon as it is released and raise any discrepancies with ICAI immediately.
What Happens If You Miss the Registration Deadline?
If you miss the normal registration deadline, ICAI typically opens a late registration window for a short period (1–2 weeks) with an additional late fee. However, late registrants may not get their preferred exam centre.
If you miss even the late registration window, you cannot appear in that session and must wait for the next exam window. For CA Foundation, this means a 4-month wait for the next session. This is a significant setback. Tracking registration dates in advance is not optional.
Planning Your Coaching Around Exam Windows
At Superrad Academy, we plan our batch schedules specifically around ICAI exam windows:
- September exam batch: Coaching starts approximately April, with syllabus completion by August and revision in August–September.
- January exam batch: Coaching starts approximately July, with revision in November–December.
- May exam batch: Coaching starts approximately October–November, with revision in March–April.
Each batch is paced to give students 4–6 full weeks of revision after syllabus completion. This revision period is built into our schedule, not an afterthought.
If you are planning to start CA Foundation coaching in Bengaluru and want to know which batch fits your timeline, contact us and we will map out the right exam window for you.