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CIMA BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting — Information & Free Practice

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About CIMA BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting

CIMA BA3 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting · GB

Key exam facts

Provider
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), presented through AICPA & CIMA, designs and administers the examination. Pearson VUE is the assessment delivery partner.
Format
Computer-based, computer-marked objective test; available on demand at Pearson VUE test centres or online. Short scenarios may support one or more questions.
Exam questions
Total questions: 60.
Time limit
120 minutes (two hours) of standard examination time; approved individual accommodations may provide extra time.
Passing score
A scaled score of 100 or above on the 0–150 scale is a pass; this is not a raw percentage threshold.
Exam fee
United Kingdom (Tier 1): GBP 123 per Certificate objective test from 1 January 2026; GBP 128 from 1 January 2027. These are per-exam fees, separate from registration, subscription and tuition; prices include VAT where applicable.

Topics covered

  • Accounting Principles, Concepts and Regulations (10%)

    • Explain the principles and concepts of financial accounting.
    • Explain the need for accounting records.
    • Identify the needs of different user groups.
    • Distinguish between the purposes of financial and management accounts.
    • Explain capital and revenue, cash and profit, income and expenditure, assets and liabilities.
    • Explain the underlying assumptions, policies and accounting estimates.
    • Identify the need for and information to be included in an integrated report.
    • Describe the accounting equation.
    • Explain the need for accounting codes.
    • Explain the impact of the regulatory framework on financial accounting.
    • Explain the influence of legislation and accounting standards on published accounting information.

  • Recording Accounting Transactions (50%)

    • Prepare accounting records.
    • Prepare the books of prime entry.
    • Apply the principles of double-entry bookkeeping.
    • Prepare nominal ledger accounts.
    • Prepare the trial balance.
    • Explain the nature of accounting errors.
    • Prepare accounting entries for the correction of errors.
    • Prepare accounting entries for non-current assets.
    • Prepare a non-current asset register.
    • Prepare accounting reconciliations.
    • Prepare bank reconciliation statements.
    • Prepare petty cash statements under an imprest system.
    • Prepare sales and purchase ledger control account reconciliations.
    • Explain the impact of the regulatory framework on financial accounting.
    • Calculate sales tax.
    • Prepare accounting entries for sales tax.
    • Prepare accounting entries for payroll.
    • Prepare accounting entries for the issue of shares.

  • Preparation of Accounts for Single Entities (30%)

    • Prepare accounting records.
    • Prepare accounting entries for accruals and prepayments.
    • Prepare accounting entries for irrecoverable debts and allowances for receivables.
    • Prepare accounting entries for inventories.
    • Prepare manufacturing accounts.
    • Prepare basic manufacturing accounts.
    • Prepare financial statements for a single entity.
    • Prepare financial statements from a trial balance.
    • Prepare financial statements from incomplete records.
    • Prepare a statement of cash flows.

  • Analysis of Financial Statements (10%)

    • Identify information provided by accounting ratios.
    • Identify the information provided by the calculation of accounting ratios.
    • Identify reasons for the changes in accounting ratios.
    • Calculate basic accounting ratios.
    • Calculation of profitability ratios.
    • Calculation of liquidity ratios.
    • Calculation of risk ratios.

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam format?

Computer-based, computer-marked objective test; available on demand at Pearson VUE test centres or online. Short scenarios may support one or more questions.

How many questions are on the exam?

Total questions: 60.

How long is the exam?

120 minutes (two hours) of standard examination time; approved individual accommodations may provide extra time.

What is the passing score?

A scaled score of 100 or above on the 0–150 scale is a pass; this is not a raw percentage threshold.

How much does the exam cost?

United Kingdom (Tier 1): GBP 123 per Certificate objective test from 1 January 2026; GBP 128 from 1 January 2027. These are per-exam fees, separate from registration, subscription and tuition; prices include VAT where applicable.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.