Reading ICAI announcements: what is examinable and what is not
The announcements are short, plainly written and routinely unread. They answer most of the questions students ask each other instead.
- Reading time
- Minutes
- Answers
- Most scope questions
- Source
- icai.org
Overview
A large share of the uncertainty CA students carry is answered directly in ICAI's own announcements, which take a few minutes to read and are published for exactly this purpose. This guide covers what those announcements contain, how to find the ones relevant to you, and how to convert them into a scope you can revise against.
What the announcements actually cover
For each examination ICAI publishes the applicable assessment year for taxation, the cut-off date for amendments in law papers, the study material edition applicable, any chapters or topics excluded from the syllabus for that attempt, and the treatment of any newly notified standards or provisions. Between them these answer nearly every scope question students otherwise resolve by rumour.
- Applicable assessment year for taxation papers
- Amendment cut-off date for law and tax papers
- Applicable study material edition
- Topics excluded or deferred for that attempt
- Treatment of newly notified standards and provisions
Exclusions are the most valuable part
ICAI sometimes excludes specific chapters or topics from the syllabus for a particular attempt. These exclusions are announced, are authoritative, and are the only legitimate basis for not studying something. They are also the part of the announcement students most often miss, which means real time is spent on material that is not examinable.
- Exclusions are attempt-specific and change between cycles
- They are the only legitimate reason to skip a topic
- Check the exclusion list at the start of preparation, not in the last month
- Never rely on a secondary source for an exclusion — verify the announcement
Turn the announcement into a scope document
Reading the announcement is not enough on its own. Convert it into a one-page scope note for each paper — applicable assessment year, amendment cut-off, material edition, excluded topics — and keep it at the front of your notes for that paper. Check any scope question against it rather than asking, because the answer is almost always already there.
- One scope page per paper, kept at the front of your notes
- Record assessment year, cut-off, material edition and exclusions
- Re-verify if you defer your attempt to a later cycle
- Check scope questions against the page before seeking any other answer
For each paper, confirm
For each paper, confirm
- The applicable assessment year, for taxation papers
- The amendment cut-off date, for law and tax papers
- The applicable study material edition for your attempt
- Any chapters or topics excluded for that attempt
- The treatment of newly notified standards or provisions
- That you have re-verified all of the above if you defer the attempt
Read next
Have questions?
Find answers.
Still unsure about something? We're happy to help you figure it out.
Talk to usWhere do I find ICAI announcements for my attempt?
On icai.org, under the Board of Studies and examination sections for your level. They are published ahead of each attempt alongside the RTP and any statutory update, and are free to download.
Can I skip a chapter if a coaching source says it is excluded?
Not without checking the announcement yourself. Exclusions are attempt-specific and secondary sources frequently carry over information from a previous cycle. Verify it directly before removing anything from your plan.
How often should I re-check the announcements?
Once thoroughly at the start of preparation, and again when the RTP for your attempt is released. If you defer to a later attempt, treat the whole scope page as void and rebuild it, because assessment year and exclusions both change.
Please note
These guides are study and planning aids prepared by Kartavvya, which is not affiliated with ICAI. Eligibility conditions, registration windows, fees, exam frequency and applicability cut-offs are set by ICAI and change between attempts — the New Scheme of Education and Training in particular has revised several of them. Always verify the current position on icai.org and in ICAI's announcements for your attempt before acting on anything here.
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