ACCA Exam Timetable 2026: Key Dates & Plan

The ACCA exam timetable 2026 is the official schedule released by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, detailing the specific dates and times for each paper in the March, June, September, and December exam sittings. It is the definitive guide for booking exams and planning your study year.

Why this actually matters

For a full-time professional, the timetable isn't just a list of dates. It is the framework for your entire year, determining your study pace and preventing burnout by making your limited time predictable and manageable.

Structured breakdown

While the definitive ACCA 2026 timetable is released closer to the date, we can project the schedule with high accuracy based on historical patterns. ACCA exams consistently follow a predictable quarterly cycle. Use these projected dates to plan your year with confidence.

Note: These are projected dates. Always confirm with the official ACCA Global website before booking.

March 2026 Sitting:
- Exam Week: Monday 2nd March, Friday 6th March 2026.
Standard Booking Deadline: 3rd February 2026.
Late Booking Deadline: 10th February 2026.
Projected Paper Dates: SBL (Tues 3rd), SBR (Weds 4th), AFM/APM/ATX/AAA (Thurs 5th/Fri 6th).
Results Release: Monday 13th April 2026.
June 2026 Sitting:
- Exam Week: Monday 1st June, Friday 5th June 2026.
Standard Booking Deadline: 5th May 2026.
Late Booking Deadline: 12th May 2026.
Projected Paper Dates: SBL (Tues 2nd), SBR (Weds 3rd), AFM/APM/ATX/AAA (Thurs 4th/Fri 5th).
Results Release: Monday 13th July 2026.
September 2026 Sitting:
- Exam Week: Monday 7th September, Friday 11th September 2026.
Standard Booking Deadline: 4th August 2026.
Late Booking Deadline: 11th August 2026.
Projected Paper Dates: SBL (Tues 8th), SBR (Weds 9th), AFM/APM/ATX/AAA (Thurs 10th/Fri 11th).
Results Release: Monday 19th October 2026.
December 2026 Sitting:
- Exam Week: Monday 7th December, Friday 11th December 2026.
Standard Booking Deadline: 3rd November 2026.
Late Booking Deadline: 10th November 2026.
Projected Paper Dates: SBL (Tues 8th), SBR (Weds 9th), AFM/APM/ATX/AAA (Thurs 10th/Fri 11th).
Results Release: Monday 18th January 2027.

If you're working full-time

Juggling a demanding job and ACCA requires a strategic approach, not just more hours. The timetable is your primary planning tool.

Plan backwards, not forwards. Select your exam date, then count back 12-14 weeks. Block this entire period out in your personal calendar. This is your non-negotiable study window.
Commit early. Book your exam the moment the booking window opens for your chosen sitting. This creates a hard deadline, focuses the mind, and secures your place at your preferred exam centre.
Align with your work rhythm. Do not sit for Advanced Financial Management (AFM) during your company's year-end reporting crunch. Don't plan for Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) during peak audit season. Use the timetable to pick a sitting that avoids your busiest work periods.
Book time off strategically. The week before your exam is the most critical. Book this off work if you can. If you cannot take a full week, secure at least the two days immediately preceding your exam day for final, focused revision.
Stick to one paper per sitting. The risk of burnout and failure increases significantly when sitting two papers alongside a full-time role. Consistency is key. Passing one paper every three months is a sustainable, successful strategy.

Common mistakes

Being aware of common planning errors helps you avoid them. Many candidates lose marks not in the exam hall, but in the months leading up to it.

Late Booking: Waiting until the deadline risks your preferred exam centre or session time being fully booked, forcing you into a less convenient option and adding unnecessary stress.
Ignoring Time Zones: The timetable on the ACCA website is based on UK time. Always verify the specific local start time for your exam centre to avoid a catastrophic timing mistake.
Forgetting Booking Deadlines: Missing the standard deadline means paying a higher late entry fee, an avoidable waste of money.
Over-ambitious Planning: The most common error is attempting two or more papers in a single sitting while working full-time. This often leads to splitting focus, surface-level learning, and failing both papers.
Not Planning for Results: You will not get your results for one sitting before the standard booking deadline for the next. Do not wait for results to plan your next move. Assume you have passed and book your next paper to maintain momentum.
Failing to Sync with Work/Life: Not cross-referencing the 12-week study block against work deadlines, holidays, or major personal commitments is a recipe for a derailed plan.
Assuming Dates are Fixed: While rare, ACCA can make changes. Always check the official timetable on the ACCA portal before you book and again a week before your exam.

How examiners think

Examiners are not involved in creating the timetable, but they design exams with a clear expectation of how candidates have used the time allotted between sittings.

They expect depth, not cramming. The 12-week cycle is designed to allow for deep learning, application, and revision. Examiners can spot answers based on last-minute, superficial knowledge. These answers lack the application and critical evaluation needed to pass.
Preparation reflects in structure. A candidate who has used the timetable to plan a 12-week schedule of technical study, question practice, and mock exams will produce a well-structured, coherent, and time-managed script. A chaotic study plan leads to a chaotic answer.
They assume you have practiced pacing. The timetable provides a fixed end-point. Examiners expect you have used this to schedule multiple timed mock exams. Your ability to manage the 3 hours and 15 minutes is a skill they expect you to have mastered during your preparation window.
Professional skills take time to build. For Strategic Professional papers, marks for professional skills are crucial. These skills (e.g., scepticism, commercial acumen) are not learned in a week. They are developed over the entire study period. A rushed preparation plan, caused by poor use of the timetable, is the biggest barrier to scoring these marks.

FAQ

Calm summary

Your ACCA plan for 2026 does not need to be a source of stress. You can create certainty and a sense of control this week with three concrete actions.

Choose Your Next Sitting: Look at the projected exam weeks for March, June, September, and December. Compare them against your known work and life commitments. Select the one that is most realistic for you.
Block Your Study Window: Once you have a target exam week, count back 14 weeks from that date. Open your calendar right now and block out this entire period. This is your study zone.
Set a Booking Reminder: Go to the standard booking deadline for your chosen sitting. Set a calendar reminder for one week before that date to book your exam. This prevents last-minute stress and ensures you commit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will the official ACCA 2026 timetable be released?

ACCA typically publishes the official timetable for the upcoming year in the second half of the preceding year, often around August or September.

Can I sit two papers in one session while working full-time?

While it is technically possible, it is highly discouraged as it significantly increases the risk of burnout and failure for both papers due to the limited study time available.

What if my chosen exam centre is full?

If your preferred centre is full, you will need to choose an alternative location, which may involve more travel, or consider a remote invigilation exam if available for your paper.

How many hours a week should I study for one paper?

A sustainable target for a full-time worker is 10-15 hours per week, ideally spread across a few shorter weekday sessions and one longer weekend session for 12-14 weeks.

What happens if I book an exam and then realise I'm not ready?

You can withdraw from the exam before the standard entry deadline and receive a credit for the fee, but if you withdraw after the deadline, you will forfeit the exam fee.

Are the exam dates the same for every country?

The exam week is global, but the specific date and local start time can vary, so you must check the details for your specific country and time zone on the ACCA portal.

How do I choose which sitting is best for me?

Choose a sitting that avoids your peak busy season at work, allowing you to dedicate the final 4-6 weeks to intensive, uninterrupted revision.

Where do I find the most up-to-date timetable information?

The single source of truth is the official ACCA Global website; never rely on third-party sites or forums for final confirmation of dates and times.

ACCA Exam Timetable 2026: Key Dates & Plan