CA Foundation Pass Percentage
CA Foundation pass rates have historically ranged between roughly 15% and 30% per attempt, moving with the profile of the cohort (first attempt after boards vs repeaters) and paper difficulty. The objective Papers 3 and 4 with negative marking are where most aggregate failures originate.
- Long-run band
- ≈15–30%
- Pass criteria
- 40% + 50% agg
- Negative marking
- P3, P4
- Attempts / year
- 3
Figures below are approximate historical ranges compiled from ICAI result announcements, rounded for readability. ICAI publishes exact attempt-wise numbers with each result — treat this page as a trend guide, not an official record.
Approximate trend
2023 attempts (range)
2024 attempts (range)
2025 attempts (range)
Long-run band
Reading the numbers
- A 20% pass rate means the median student fails — but the criteria (40% per paper, 50% aggregate) are absolute, not relative. There is no quota; every student above the line passes.
- Aggregate failure is the most common failure mode: three papers at 55 and one at 35 fails, while four papers at 51 passes.
- Negative marking in Papers 3–4 quietly drags aggregates: 25 wrong MCQs cost 6.25 marks — often exactly the margin between pass and fail.
How to beat the average
- Target 60+ in your strongest paper to build aggregate headroom for a weak one.
- Practise objective papers with negative-marking discipline — skip below 50% confidence.
- Take at least eight timed mocks; exam temperament, not knowledge, separates the 45s from the 55s.
- Drill past papers by question type in the Kartavvya past-papers library.
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Talk to usWhat is the average pass percentage of CA Foundation?
Across recent years, roughly 15–30% of candidates pass per attempt, with the long-run average near 20%. Exact figures vary by attempt and are published by ICAI with each result.
Why do most students fail CA Foundation?
The dominant causes are aggregate shortfall (strong papers not compensating a weak one enough), negative-marking losses in Papers 3–4, and underestimating Accounting's practice volume.
Is there relative grading or a pass quota?
No. The criteria are absolute — 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate. Every candidate who crosses the line passes regardless of how many others do.