ACCA Exam Booking: A Step-by-Step Guide and Tips for Success

Booking your ACCA exams is one of the first practical steps towards qualifying — and getting it right saves you money and stress. This guide walks through how to book an ACCA exam step by step, the difference between on-demand and session exams, how to choose between a test centre and a remote sitting, and the deadlines that decide what you pay. If you're just getting started, our ACCA courses are built around these exam sessions so your study lines up with your sitting.

Before you book: register as an ACCA student

You can't enter an exam until you're registered as an active ACCA student. Registration is done online through ACCA and requires your personal details and proof of identity and qualifications. Once you're registered and your annual subscription is up to date, you can enter exams through your myACCA account. If your subscription has lapsed, you'll need to settle it before you can book.

How many ACCA exam sessions are there?

ACCA runs four exam sessions a year — March, June, September and December. Not every exam is tied to these windows, though, and this is the part students most often get wrong:

• On-demand exams: the three Applied Knowledge exams (Business and Technology, Management Accounting and Financial Accounting) and the Corporate and Business Law (LW) variants are on-demand computer-based exams (CBEs). You book these year-round through a local CBE centre rather than waiting for a session.
• Session exams: the remaining Applied Skills exams and all four Strategic Professional exams are only offered in the four quarterly sessions, so these are the ones with fixed entry deadlines.

It's also worth knowing that the full range of exam variants is available in the June and December sessions, while March and September carry a more limited set. For the confirmed dates and deadlines for each sitting, see our ACCA exam dates and deadlines guide.

Step-by-step: how to book an ACCA exam

1. Log in to myACCA and go to the exam entry section.
2. Choose your exam and session. Select the paper you want and the sitting (March, June, September or December) that fits your study timeline. For on-demand exams, you'll arrange a date directly with a CBE centre instead.
3. Choose how you'll sit it. Session exams can be taken at a physical exam centre or, for eligible exams and locations, as a remotely invigilated session CBE from home. Check ACCA's centre and remote-exam availability for your country before you commit, as eligibility varies.
4. Enter by the standard deadline. Entering by the standard deadline secures the lowest exam fee. Leaving it to the late window costs materially more, and some sittings (such as June) have no late entry at all.
5. Pay your exam fee. Pay online through myACCA by card, PayPal or other supported methods. Your entry isn't confirmed until payment clears.
6. Download your attendance docket. Roughly three weeks after standard entry closes, your docket becomes available in myACCA, confirming your timetable, desk and centre.

Standard vs late entry: why timing matters

The single biggest factor in what you pay is when you enter. Every session has a standard entry deadline; enter by then and you pay the lowest fee. Enter in the late window and the fee jumps significantly. Miss the late deadline — or the standard deadline where no late option exists, as in June — and you wait for the next sitting. All ACCA deadlines fall at 23:59 UK time on the date listed, so don't leave it to the final hour if you're in a different time zone. For a full breakdown of what each paper costs, see our guide to ACCA exam fees.

Tips for a smooth booking

• Plan around the deadline, not the exam date. Work backwards from the standard entry deadline so you never get caught paying a late fee or missing a sitting.
• Book your centre early. Popular test centres fill up, especially in busy sittings — entering early gives you the best choice of location and time.
• Double-check the details. After booking, confirm the date, paper, variant and centre, and make sure any country-specific Tax or Law variant is the one you intend to sit.
• Keep your confirmations. Save your entry confirmation and docket; you'll need them if you amend your booking or as proof on exam day.
• Know the ID rules. Bring valid photo ID that matches your ACCA registration exactly, or you may be refused entry.

Frequently asked questions

How many times a year can I sit ACCA exams?

Session exams are offered four times a year — March, June, September and December. The Applied Knowledge exams and LW variants are on-demand, so you can sit those at other times through a CBE centre. ACCA limits you to a maximum of four exams per cycle.

Can I take ACCA exams from home?

Many session exams can be taken as remotely invigilated CBEs from home, where eligible, as well as at a physical centre. Availability depends on the exam and your location, so check ACCA's remote-exam guidance before booking.

Can I change or cancel an ACCA exam after booking?

Yes — you can amend or cancel an entry up to the deadline for that session. After the deadline passes, your entry stands, so review your booking before the cut-off.

What happens if I miss the entry deadline?

If the sitting offers late entry, you can still enter by paying the higher late fee until the late deadline. If it doesn't (as with the June sitting), you'll need to wait for the next session.

Do I still pay my ACCA subscription if I'm not sitting an exam?

Yes. The annual student subscription is due regardless of whether you sit an exam that year. Let it lapse and you risk being removed from the student register and having to re-register.

Get exam-ready with Learnsignal

Booking the exam is the easy part — passing it is the goal. Learnsignal's tutor-led ACCA courses give you structured study built around each sitting, mock exams and 24/7 tutor support, so you walk into the exam hall ready. Pick your session, enter by the standard deadline, and build your revision around your exam date.