CA Intermediate Passing Marks and Pass Percentage: Session-wise Trends

CA Intermediate does not have a competitive cut-off. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) passes every candidate who meets fixed criteria: at least 40% in each paper and at least 50% in the group aggregate. There is no rank-based selection and no category-wise cut-off, so your target is the same whether 10,000 or 30,000 students pass in a session.

This page explains the passing marks per paper, per group and for both groups, how exemptions work, and how pass percentages have moved across recent sessions. Use the pass rates as a measure of difficulty, not as a cut-off, and plan to clear the criteria with a margin.

CA Intermediate passing marks

How the rules play out

• Per-paper minimum is strict: 39 in one paper fails the group, even if the total is above 150. There are no grace marks you can plan on.

• Aggregate is the second test: Scores of 42, 45 and 50 clear every paper but add up to 137, which fails the group.

• Both groups taken together: If you write both groups, scoring 40 in each paper and 300 out of 600 overall can clear both, even if one group alone is below 150.

• Groups pass separately: If you clear one group and not the other, the cleared group stays passed.

Exemption: what 60 marks gets you

1. Earning an exemption: If you appear in all papers of a group, fail the group, but score 60 or more in a paper, that paper is exempted for the next three examinations.

2. Using it: In the next attempt, you write only the remaining papers. You still need 40% in each of them, and the exempted marks count towards the 150 aggregate.

3. When it runs out: The exemption lapses after three sessions whether or not you appear. You then get one chance to make it permanent, in which case you need at least 50% in each remaining paper of the group.

A practical example: you score 64, 38 and 52 in Group I. The group fails because of the 38, but the 64 paper is exempted. Next time, you need at least 40 in each of the other two papers and a total of 86 or more across them (150 minus 64).

CA Intermediate pass percentage by session

Figures for May 2026, January 2026 and September 2025 are from ICAI result press releases. Figures for May 2025, January 2025 and September 2024 are as widely reported from ICAI result announcements. The September 2026 result was awaited at the time of writing.

Candidates appeared and passed, recent sessions

What the trend tells you

• Pass rates are low and swing widely: Group I has stayed between about 9% and 15% in the sessions above, while Group II has ranged from about 15% to 27%.

• Group I has been harder to clear: In all six sessions above, Group I had a lower pass rate than Group II. Give Group I papers extra practice time if you are writing both.

• Both groups together is the hardest route: The both-groups pass rate has been between about 6% and 14%. Writing both groups only makes sense if every paper is ready.

What affects your result

• Paper difficulty: A tough paper in one session pushes the group pass rate down, because the 40% rule is applied paper by paper.

• Weakest-paper preparation: A single paper below 40 fails the whole group, however strong the other two are.

• Answer presentation: In the descriptive 70%, working notes, formats and correct provisions decide step marks.

• Amendments: Answers based on outdated law or standards lose marks, especially in Taxation and Corporate Laws.

How to set your target

1. Aim for 55% or more in each group: A group total of 165 to 180 gives you a buffer against one difficult paper.

2. Keep a 50-plus floor in every paper: Treat 50 as your minimum in practice tests, so a bad day still lands above 40.

3. Push one or two papers to 60: Even if the group does not clear, a 60 gives you an exemption for the next attempts.

4. Track mock scores paper by paper: Look at your lowest paper, not your average.

Official results and press releases are published on the ICAI examination page.