ACCA Exam Timetable 2026: Dates, Deadlines & Fee Tiers

ACCA Exam Timetable 2026: The Dates You Cannot Afford to Get Wrong

You checked the ACCA exam timetable, booked your study leave, and felt organised. Then you realised the entry deadline closed two weeks ago.

This happens every single session. Students confuse the exam window with the booking deadline. They assume "June exam" means they can enter in June. They plan around the wrong dates and either pay triple in late fees or lose the entire quarter.

The ACCA exam timetable is not complicated, but it punishes anyone who reads it casually. This guide gives you every 2026 date you need: exam windows, entry deadlines, fee tiers, results dates, and the paper availability rules that catch people out.

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Why the ACCA Exam Timetable Trips Students Up

The timetable looks simple on the surface: four sessions, one week each. But the complexity sits underneath:

• Entry deadlines are 6-8 weeks before the exam, not days before
• Late entry exists but costs 2.5 to 3 times the standard fee
• Results arrive weeks after the exam, affecting when you can enter for the next session
• On-demand papers follow a completely different schedule to session-based papers

If you are working full-time and juggling study around shifts, client deadlines, or family, one misread date can cost you a full quarter of progress. That is 3 months you cannot get back.

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Complete 2026 ACCA Exam Timetable

March 2026 Session

June 2026 Session

September 2026 Session

December 2026 Session

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Paper Availability: On-Demand vs Session-Based

On-Demand Papers (Any Time, Any Day)

These three Applied Knowledge papers are not tied to the quarterly timetable. You book them when you are ready at any Pearson VUE test centre. Do not waste a quarterly session slot on these.

Session-Based Papers (Quarterly Windows Only)

All Applied Skills papers (LW, PM, TX, FR, AA, FM) and all Strategic Professional papers (SBL, SBR, AFM, APM, ATX, AAA) run in all four 2026 sessions.

Important: Older ACCA advice sometimes states that certain Strategic Professional papers only run in specific quarters. This is outdated. For 2026, every session-based paper is available in all four windows.

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Fee Structure by Entry Tier

The financial reality: If you sit two Strategic Professional papers on late entry instead of early, you pay roughly £416 more than necessary. That is an entire month of study materials wasted on poor timing.

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How Results Timing Affects Your Next Session

This is the hidden constraint most students miss. You need your results before deciding whether to enter for the next paper or resit.

The gap between results release and the next early entry deadline is often just days. This means:

• You may need to enter for the next session before receiving results
• If you fail and already entered, you are committed (or lose the entry fee)
• Planning two sessions ahead reduces this pressure

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Building Your Personal Timetable

For 1 paper per session (most working students)

Pick your session. Count back 10-12 weeks for study start. Set three calendar alerts:

1. Study start date
2. Early entry deadline
3. Exam week

For 2 papers per session

Same structure, but ensure both papers do not overlap in heavy syllabus areas. Pairing a calculation-heavy paper (FM, TX) with a written paper (AA, SBL) tends to work better than two papers of the same type.

For resit students

If you failed last session, enter early for the next available window. Do not skip a session to "prepare more" unless you have a specific, structured plan for what you will do differently. Most students who skip a session after failing lose momentum and perform worse, not better.

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If You Are Working Full-Time

• Set calendar alerts now for all four early entry deadlines, even if you only plan to sit two sessions. Plans change.
• Align your exam session with your work calendar. If January to March is busy season, the March sitting is risky. June or September may suit better.
• Use the 6-week post-exam gap (between exam and results) to decompress, not to start a new paper. Burnout from consecutive study blocks is a real cause of failure.
• Tell your employer early. Many firms offer study leave if you request it in advance. Last-minute requests are usually denied.

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Common Timetable Mistakes

1. Confusing the exam date with the entry deadline. The exam is in March; the entry deadline is in January. These are different dates.
2. Paying late entry fees because you forgot to book. Set an alert for the early entry deadline the moment ACCA announces it.
3. Entering for two sessions in a row without a recovery gap. March then June with full-time work is brutal. Most students benefit from alternating sessions.
4. Not checking on-demand availability for Applied Knowledge. BT, MA, and FA do not need a quarterly slot. Sit them between sessions.
5. Assuming results arrive immediately after the exam. The 6-week wait is fixed. Factor it into your planning.
6. Booking before checking exemption status. Verify your exemptions on myACCA before paying any entry fee.

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Exam Day Logistics

• Centre-based exams are held at approved venues. Book your preferred centre early because popular locations fill up.
• Remote exams are available for some papers. Check ACCA's remote exam page for system requirements and eligibility.
• Arrive 30 minutes early. Late arrivals may be turned away with no refund.
• Bring valid photo ID. Expired ID is not accepted.

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How Examiners Use the Timetable

Examiners prepare papers months in advance, but they are aware of the quarterly cycle:

• TX (Taxation) questions reflect the most recent Finance Act. Earlier sessions in the year may test newer provisions more heavily.
• FR and SBR rotate IFRS standards across sessions. Reviewing the last two examiner reports shows which standards are overdue for testing.
• SBL scenarios change each session but follow recurring themes: digital transformation, ethical dilemmas, stakeholder conflict. The format, not the content, is what you need to master.

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FAQ

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Calm summary

The ACCA exam timetable for 2026 has four sessions with predictable deadlines. The pattern is the same each quarter: early entry opens roughly 10 weeks before the exam, closes 6-8 weeks before, and results arrive 6 weeks after.

Your next steps:

1. Open myACCA and confirm which papers you have remaining
2. Choose your next 1-2 target sessions
3. Set calendar alerts for early entry deadlines immediately
4. Start revision 10-12 weeks before your chosen exam window

The timetable rewards planning and punishes procrastination. Book early, study to the deadline, and do not overload.

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Related Guides

• ACCA exam schedule 2026
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• How many ACCA papers per sitting
• ACCA exam topics: what to study
• Managing ACCA studies with a full-time job