ACCA Pass Rates 2026: All 15 Papers Ranked by Difficulty

ACCA Pass Rates 2026: Which Exams Are Hardest? (December 2025 Update)

By Vicky Sarin, CA – ACCA-qualified tutor and lead content expert at Eduyush. With over 15 years of experience supporting ACCA students across all levels.

Reading Time: 12 minutes | Last Updated: April 2026

Planning your ACCA exam strategy? Understanding ACCA pass rates helps you allocate study time wisely, choose the right paper combinations, and avoid costly re-sits. This guide covers all 15 ACCA papers with official data from ACCA Global.

Quick Answer: The hardest ACCA papers are AAA (38%) and PM (40%). The easiest are BT (87%) and LW (82%). The global average across all levels is 52% as of December 2025.

Table of Contents

1. Latest ACCA Pass Rates: December 2025
2. All 15 Papers Ranked by Pass Rate
3. Applied Knowledge Pass Rates (BT, MA, FA)
4. Applied Skills Pass Rates (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM)
5. Strategic Professional Pass Rates (SBL, SBR, Options)
6. 4-Year Trends: 2022–2025
7. 5 Hardest ACCA Papers
8. 5 Easiest ACCA Papers
9. Why Students Fail: 5 Key Reasons
10. 5 Proven Strategies to Improve Your Pass Rate
11. Strategic Paper Pairing Guide
12. FAQ

1. Latest ACCA Pass Rates: December 2025

The December 2025 session was the largest since December 2021, with 120,633 students completing 137,609 exams. The global average pass rate stood at 52%, a slight increase from 50% in December 2024.

Source: ACCA Global Official Pass Rates

Key takeaways from December 2025:

• AAA dropped to 38% – the lowest of any paper in 2025
• PM dropped to 40% – down from 43% in June and September
• ATX hit 50% – a strong result after 53% in September
• Applied Knowledge remained stable – BT 87%, FA 68%, MA 64%
• TX is the most consistent paper – 54–55% across all four 2025 sessions

All 15 ACCA Papers Ranked by Pass Rate (December 2025)

The table below ranks every ACCA paper from easiest to hardest based on the December 2025 session. Use this to plan your exam order strategically.

Key insight: Applied Knowledge papers (BT, MA, FA) have the highest pass rates because they are computer-based exams (CBEs) available on demand. Strategic Professional options (AAA, APM, ATX, AFM) have the lowest rates due to case-study complexity.

Applied Knowledge Pass Rates (BT, MA, FA)

The Applied Knowledge level covers the three foundation papers. These are on-demand CBEs with consistently high pass rates. If you are just starting your ACCA journey, check our complete guide to Applied Knowledge exams.

BT remains the easiest ACCA paper with an 87% pass rate. The key to passing Applied Knowledge exams is thorough practice with BPP study materials and using the ACCA practice platform for CBE mock exams.

Applied Skills Pass Rates (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM)

The Applied Skills level contains six papers covering technical accounting competencies. Pass rates vary widely – from 82% for LW down to just 40% for PM.

PM (Performance Management) is the hardest Applied Skills paper and one of the hardest in the entire ACCA qualification. Students struggle with variance analysis and decision-making questions. Read our guide on how to pass ACCA PM for proven strategies.

LW is the easiest Applied Skills paper at 82%. It is a CBE exam with objective test questions, making it highly passable with consistent revision. Get the latest BPP Applied Skills textbooks for your preparation.

Strategic Professional Pass Rates (SBL, SBR, Options)

The Strategic Professional level includes two compulsory papers (SBL, SBR) and two optional papers chosen from four options (AFM, APM, ATX, AAA). These are the most challenging ACCA papers.

AAA has the lowest pass rate of any ACCA paper at just 38%. The exam requires advanced critical thinking and professional scepticism that many candidates find difficult to demonstrate under exam conditions. For the best preparation resources, explore our Strategic Professional study materials.

4-Year ACCA Pass Rate Trends: 2022–2025

Tracking pass rates over multiple years reveals important patterns for exam planning. Here are the major trends across the ACCA qualification from 2022 to 2025:

• Applied Knowledge has remained consistently high (80–87% for BT), reflecting the on-demand CBE format
• PM has been declining steadily from 44% in 2022 to 40% in December 2025, making it increasingly difficult
• FR has shown improvement, rising from 47% in 2022 to 56% in December 2025
• AAA has remained the hardest paper, hovering between 34–40% across all sessions
• Global average has remained around 50–52% across all levels combined

The overall trend shows ACCA maintaining consistent standards while individual papers fluctuate based on syllabus changes and examiner focus areas.

5 Hardest ACCA Papers (Lowest Pass Rates)

Based on December 2025 data, these are the five most difficult ACCA papers:

1. AAA – Advanced Audit & Assurance (38%) – Requires critical evaluation of complex audit scenarios and professional judgement. The open-ended questions demand structured thinking under time pressure.
2. PM – Performance Management (40%) – Surprisingly one of the hardest despite being an Applied Skills paper. Complex variance analysis and multi-step calculations trip up candidates.
3. APM – Advanced Performance Mgmt (41%) – Requires linking strategic models to real-world scenarios. Many candidates struggle with the depth of analysis expected.
4. AFM – Advanced Financial Mgmt (45%) – Heavy numerical content with complex calculations in derivatives, hedging, and business valuations.
5. SBL – Strategic Business Leader (47%) – A 4-hour case study exam that tests professional skills alongside technical knowledge. Time management is critical.

If you are preparing for any of these papers, start early and use our ACCA exam guides for paper-specific strategies.

5 Easiest ACCA Papers (Highest Pass Rates)

These papers have the highest pass rates and are ideal starting points for your ACCA journey:

1. BT – Business & Technology (87%) – Broad syllabus with objective questions. Consistent study of the BPP BT textbook is usually sufficient.
2. LW – Corporate & Business Law (82%) – Straightforward legal concepts tested through MCQs. Memory-based exam suits systematic revision.
3. FA – Financial Accounting (68%) – Core double-entry and financial statement preparation. Practice with the BPP FA study text builds confidence.
4. MA – Management Accounting (64%) – Costing, budgeting and variance topics. Regular practice of calculations is key.
5. FR – Financial Reporting (56%) – Improved significantly from previous years. Our FR exam guide covers the best approach.

Why Students Fail ACCA Exams: 5 Key Reasons

Understanding why candidates fail helps you avoid common pitfalls. Based on examiner reports and pass rate analysis, here are the top reasons:

1. Inadequate practice – Many candidates read textbooks but do not practice enough past exam questions under timed conditions
2. Poor time management – Especially in SBL (4 hours) and written papers where candidates spend too long on early questions
3. Not reading the question requirement – Examiners consistently report that candidates answer what they want rather than what is asked
4. Weak technical knowledge – Skipping topics or not understanding fundamental concepts leads to poor scores across multiple questions
5. Attempting papers too early – Rushing through the qualification without adequate preparation time per paper

For each paper, ACCA publishes detailed examiner reports highlighting common mistakes. Review these alongside your study materials for the best results.

5 Proven Strategies to Improve Your ACCA Pass Rate

1. Use approved study materials – BPP and Kaplan textbooks are structured to cover the full syllabus systematically
2. Practice past papers under exam conditions – Time yourself and review model answers critically
3. Follow the ACCA CBE practice platform – Essential for Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills CBE preparation
4. Plan your exam order strategically – Start with high-pass-rate papers to build confidence and momentum
5. Join a structured coaching programme – Consider Eduyush ACCA coaching for guided preparation with expert tutors

Strategic Paper Pairing Guide

Smart paper combinations can improve your pass rates by leveraging overlapping content. Here are recommended pairings based on syllabus overlap and pass rate data:

For detailed exam planning advice, read our ACCA exam structure guide and ACCA exam fees breakdown to budget your qualification journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall ACCA pass rate?

The global average ACCA pass rate across all 15 papers is approximately 52% as of December 2025. Applied Knowledge papers average 73%, Applied Skills average 58%, and Strategic Professional averages 43%.

What is the hardest ACCA paper?

AAA (Advanced Audit & Assurance) is the hardest ACCA paper with a pass rate of just 38% in December 2025. PM (Performance Management) at 40% is the hardest Applied Skills paper.

What is the easiest ACCA paper?

BT (Business & Technology) is the easiest ACCA paper with an 87% pass rate. It is a computer-based exam available on demand throughout the year.

How many times can you sit an ACCA exam?

There is no limit on the number of attempts for any ACCA paper. However, you must pass all exams within the time limits set by ACCA. Applied Knowledge CBEs can be taken at any time, while session-based exams are offered four times per year (March, June, September, December).

Are ACCA pass rates going down?

Overall pass rates have remained stable around 50–52%. However, specific papers like PM have seen a decline (from 44% to 40%), while others like FR have improved (47% to 56%). ACCA aims to maintain consistent standards across sessions.

What pass mark do you need for ACCA exams?

All ACCA exams require a 50% pass mark. There is no negative marking in any ACCA paper.

Written by Vicky Sarin, CA – ACCA-qualified tutor and lead content expert at Eduyush. With over 15 years of experience supporting ACCA students across all levels. Connect with us for personalised ACCA coaching and study materials.