CA Inter Syllabus: Every Paper Under the New Scheme
ConferenzaCA Intermediate is the middle level of the Chartered Accountancy course with ICAI, sitting between Foundation and Final - six papers split evenly across two groups. Here is the full map, paper by paper, and a focused way to approach each.
1Group 1 - the three papers
Accounting depth, company and business law, and the combined tax paper.
Advanced Accounting
Company accounts in depth, the Accounting Standards, and specialised transactions such as amalgamation and branch accounts. Concept and presentation both carry marks - write full solutions, don't just read them.
Corporate & Other Laws
Company law together with the other business laws a CA relies on. Law is amended over time, so study the applicable version and answer in the precise language of the sections.
Taxation
A combined paper with two sections: Income-tax Law and Goods and Services Tax (GST). Both are frequently amended, so study the applicable version for your attempt - not old notes. Practise problems, not just the theory.
2Group 2 - the three papers
Costing, audit and ethics, and the combined finance-and-strategy paper.
Cost & Management Accounting
Costing methods, cost control, budgeting and the numbers behind managerial decisions. A practical paper - fluency with full working, done to time, is what scores.
Auditing & Ethics
The audit process, the Standards on Auditing, and the professional ethics that define the work. Answer in the language of the standards and keep current with updates.
Financial Management & Strategic Management
A combined paper with two sections: Financial Management - financing, capital budgeting and working capital - and Strategic Management, the theory of how businesses compete and grow. One numerical half, one conceptual half; both are scored.
3What to focus on - and what to avoid
Inter rewards system over cramming - concepts, full working, and steady coverage of every section.
Concepts, then full problems
Understand the why, then write complete solutions to time. On the practical papers, presentation earns marks the examiner can see.
Work the ICAI material
Study Material, RTPs, MTPs and past papers are the closest thing to the real exam. Solve them fully rather than only reading.
Ignoring amendments
Taxation and law change over time. Studying an old edition quietly costs marks - always use the applicable version for your attempt.
Neglecting half a combined paper
Taxation (Income-tax + GST) and FM & SM each have two sections. A weak half drags the whole paper - give both their time.
4How to prepare - a phased approach
A general rhythm many students follow. Adapt the length of each phase to your own timeline.
- 1
Build the concepts
- Get the base right across all six papers before chasing speed.
- Checkpoint: you can explain each paper's core ideas in your own words.
- 2
Practise the practical papers
- Work full problems daily in Advanced Accounting, Cost & Management, Taxation and Financial Management.
- Checkpoint: you complete a full question accurately, to time, without peeking.
- 3
Standards & theory
- Drill the worded papers - Corporate & Other Laws, Auditing & Ethics, Strategic Management - in the language of the source.
- Checkpoint: you can state a rule or standard precisely, not just its gist.
- 4
Revise & mock by group
- Revise in cycles and sit full-length mocks for each group.
- Checkpoint: your accuracy and timing stay steady across a full paper.
Tap to reveal.
Which two papers each combine two sections?Reveal
Taxation (Income-tax Law + Goods and Services Tax) and Financial Management & Strategic Management (FM + SM). Both sections of each paper carry marks.
Why must you study the "applicable version" of tax and law?Reveal
Income-tax, GST and corporate law are amended frequently, and the exam tests the version applicable to your attempt - so old editions lose marks. Confirm the applicability on the ICAI website.
How are the six papers split?Reveal
Into two groups of three papers each - Group 1 and Group 2 - six papers in all.
Written by the Conferenza Study Desk to help students - a friendly overview, not the official document. The CA Intermediate scheme, paper structure, marks, exemptions and attempt applicability are set and updated by ICAI; always confirm the current details on the official ICAI website (icai.org).
Practise the right way for CA Inter
Chapter-wise question banks, sample papers and workbooks for CA Inter — everything you need to turn understanding into marks.