CA Intermediate — What the Numbers Say
CA Intermediate is one of India's most competitive professional exams. Understanding the historical pass percentage helps you make the single most important decision: attempt one group or both?
CA Intermediate Pass Percentage Table (2019–2026)
| Attempt | Group 1 % | Group 2 % | Both Groups % |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 10.25% | 16.11% | 8.47% |
| Jan 2025 | 14.17% | 22.16% | 14.05% |
| Nov 2023 | 16.78% | 19.18% | 9.73% |
| May 2023 | 18.95% | 23.44% | 10.24% |
| Nov 2022 | 21.19% | 24.44% | 12.72% |
| May 2022 | 13.30% | 12.45% | 5.46% |
| Dec 2021 | 21.78% | 11.81% | 11.56% |
| Jul 2021 | 29.11% | 22.20% | 10.49% |
| Jan 2021 | 12.95% | 18.67% | 9.83% |
| Nov 2020 | 25.64% | 21.85% | 17.09% |
| Nov 2019 | 22.49% | 17.87% | 14.37% |
| May 2019 | 17.69% | 31.70% | 17.11% |
Key Patterns
- Group 2 typically has higher pass rates than Group 1 in most recent attempts — subjects like Advanced Accounting, Auditing, and FM tend to reward preparation better.
- Both Groups pass rate is always the lowest — it consistently stays 4–8 percentage points below individual groups. This is expected since students appearing for both have a larger syllabus to cover.
- May 2022 was the toughest recent attempt — "Both Groups" dropped to just 5.46%, likely due to disruption from COVID and new exam patterns.
Single Group or Both Groups: The Decision Framework
- More than 6 months preparation + 70%+ syllabus done → Attempt both groups
- 3–6 months prep, working professionals → One group only, clear it decisively
- Less than 3 months left → Never attempt both — quality over quantity
💡 E-mentor Study Planner generates a day-by-day preparation schedule based on your target exam date. If you are 180 days away and have covered less than 40% chapters, the planner will flag it and redistribute your load. No more guessing — just execute.
Scoring Above the Pass Percentage
Since the average pass rate is around 15–20%, clearing CA Inter is not about being average — it is about outperforming 80% of candidates. That means one thing: consistent, tracked, structured study from Day 1.
Reading CA Intermediate Pass Data Correctly
CA Intermediate pass percentages often mislead students. A 10–15% overall pass rate looks scary, but it includes students who appeared without adequate preparation. Serious, coached candidates who appeared for the right attempt pass at significantly higher rates.
Group 1 vs Group 2: Which to Attempt First?
ICAI allows you to attempt one or both groups. Data consistently shows students who attempt Group 1 first have better completion rates, because Group 1 (Accounting, Law, Taxation) builds the conceptual base for Group 2 (Advanced Accounting, Auditing, FM, SM).
Attempt-wise Patterns You Should Know
- November attempts show slightly higher pass rates than May — students have more preparation time post-Foundation.
- First-time attemptees outperform re-attemptees — motivation and freshness of knowledge matters.
- Both groups together = lower individual paper scores — split groups if you haven't studied all 8 papers thoroughly.
Subject-wise Tips to Beat the Average
- Accounting (Paper 1): 60% questions are practical. Solve at least 200 sums before the exam. ICAI study material + past papers = enough.
- Law (Paper 2): Companies Act 2013 is the backbone. Write answers in sections and bullet points. Bare Act reading is non-negotiable.
- Taxation (Paper 3): Changes every year. Use the ICAI's updated RTP (Revision Test Papers) for the current attempt. GST and Income Tax are equally weighted.
- Cost Accounting (Paper 4): Practice-heavy. Standard costing, budgeting, and marginal costing appear every attempt.
How to Score 60+ in CA Intermediate
The passing mark is 40 per paper and 50% aggregate per group. To score 60+:
- Identify 5–6 high-probability topics per paper and master them completely
- Solve ICAI RTPs and MTPs for the exact attempt you're appearing in
- Presentation matters — ICAI papers are valued by junior examiners who reward clear format
- Avoid leaving any question blank — attempt all, write what you know in a structured format
3-Month Study Plan Outline
Month 1: Complete all topics — one paper per week. Month 2: Revision + past papers — two papers per week. Month 3: Full mock tests, RTPs, and weak area strengthening. This 12-week cycle is what most successful first-attempt candidates follow.
Build your personal CA Intermediate timetable on e-mentor's Study Planner. Track chapters completed with the Chapter Tracker to see what's left before your attempt date.
📎 Official Resources
