Accountancy exams cost money every time you sit them, so planning pays off. These tips are general. Each body publishes its own syllabus, exam format and guidance, and that always overrules anything here.
Before you book
- Read the syllabus and exam guidance first. The body's own pages tell you what is examined, how long it is and how it is marked.
- Book at standard entry. For example, on ACCA's fees page the March 2027 Applied Skills exam was £173 at standard entry and £439 at late entry. ACCA also says that after the standard entry deadline, exam fees are not refundable or transferable.
- Know the sessions. ACCA runs sessions in March, June, September and December. Work back from the date you pick.
- Budget for resits. You pay the exam entry fee again each time you sit an exam, so a resit costs money. AAT publishes its resit fees in its fee guide. Planning for one is cheaper than panicking about one.
- Ask your employer about study leave and who pays; see training contracts.
Revision that works
- Plan backwards. Write the exam date, then divide the syllabus by the weeks you have. Leave the last weeks for practice papers.
- Little and often. Short regular sessions beat one big weekend, especially around a job.
- Practise questions, not just notes. Do past or specimen questions the body or your provider supplies. Mark them honestly and note why you lost marks.
- Practise under time. Time is usually tight. Do some questions against the clock so you learn how long each type takes.
- Learn the method, not the answer. In calculations, show your workings clearly so you can earn marks even if a number is wrong.
- Use mocks. If your training provider offers mock exams, sit them in exam conditions.
- Look after yourself. Sleep, breaks and food help you remember more than the extra hour of late-night reading.
On the day
- Check the venue or the technical set-up the day before, and read the body's exam rules.
- Read each question twice. Answer the one that is asked.
- If you are stuck, move on and come back. Do not lose marks on easier questions.
If it does not go to plan
If you need to resit, look at your result feedback, fix the weakest areas, and rebook in a sensible session. Tell your employer early if you need extra support.
General information only, not professional or financial advice. This guide does not recommend any course, employer or product, and does not give tax, accounting or financial advice.
Sources
Every fee, pay or exam figure on this page comes from the pages below. We read each one on 13 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the body's own page before you pay or decide.
- ACCA: fees and charges (UK), checked 13 November 2026.
- ACCA: book an exam, checked 13 November 2026.
- AAT: 2026/27 training provider, student and qualification fees (PDF, fees from 1 September 2026), checked 13 November 2026.