Pass Rates for the Top 4 Accountancy Bodies in Ireland

mydiscworld

Latest final stage Pass Rates for the Top 4 Accountancy Bodies in Ireland


Chartered Accountants Ireland:
Progression: In CAI's last two (Autumn) sittings of the Old FAE course the pass rate was 76.3% in 2008 & 76.3% again in 2009.

Under the new FAE course the overall pass rate dropped to 62% in 2010 and fell again to 55% for 2011.

Back at 62.3% for 2012
http://students.charteredaccountants...0Top Ten.pdf

Note: you can only do CAI finals once per year.

CPA:
CPA publish their pass rates in their Annual Reports. The 2012 report is due out in April 2013, so presently we only have results up to 2011.

Per excel sheet attached, we can view the pass rate average for CPA's finals (P2s) from 2003 to 2011.

In 2011, the average (across both sittings) was 53.8%.

Note: you can sit CPA exams twice per year, Apr and Aug.

ACCA:
ACCA seem to publish their pass rates on a global basis only, not the pass rates in Ireland.

June 2012 results
http://www.accaglobal.com/en/press/june-2012.html
Final Stage (Ps) average was 42.3%

Dec 2012 results
http://www.accaglobal.com/en/press/record-number.html
Final Stage (Ps) average was 41.3%

Note: you can sit ACCA exams twice per year, Jun and Dec.

CIMA:
CIMA publish the pass rates on a UK and Global basis only, not the pass rates in Ireland.

Final stage (Strategic Level) pass rates:
Nov 2012 results: 60.5% (UK) or 51.5% (Global)
May 2012 results: 65.3% (UK) or 54.5% (Global)

Note: you can sit CIMA exams twice per year, May and Nov, with some extra sittings available too.

shaydy

WOW thats some difference between ACCA and CIMA on a global basis

SBWife

The P level average for ACCA doesn't really tell the whole story as the average for the options is lower again and you have to pass two of them to qualify.

P4-P7 have average pass rates of 35.5%, with two exams at 33%, one at 44% and another at 32%, so essentially if you finished your ACCA exams this December taking at least two exams in your final exam session one of the papers you sat at least 67% of those who took it with you failed it. It'd be interesting to see the pass rates broken out into those who were sitting the paper for the first time and those who were retaking it as well as the geographic divides.

shaydy

SBWife wrote: »

The P level average for ACCA doesn't really tell the whole story as the average for the options is lower again and you have to pass two of them to qualify.

P4-P7 have average pass rates of 35.5%, with two exams at 33%, one at 44% and another at 32%, so essentially if you finished your ACCA exams this December taking at least two exams in your final exam session one of the papers you sat at least 67% of those who took it with you failed it. It'd be interesting to see the pass rates broken out into those who were sitting the paper for the first time and those who were retaking it as well as the geographic divides.

Should have chose cima.......:)

mydiscworld

Latest final stage Pass Rates for the Top 4 Accountancy Bodies in Ireland

CPA:
CPA publish usually pass rates in their Annual Reports. The 2012 report omitted it this time but I have now received a copy of the pass rates.

Per excel sheet attached, we can view the pass rate for all CPA exams from 2003 to 2012.

In 2012, the average pass rate for finals (P2 exams, across both sittings) was 54.2%.

This can be broken down as
54.2% overall for P2 stage
66.0% for Compulsory P2 exams
48.3% for Optional P2 exams

Note: you can sit CPA exams twice per year, end of Apr and end of Aug.

mydiscworld

2014 final stage Pass Ratesfor the Top 4 Accountancy Bodies in Ireland

CAI: In CAI's last two (Autumn) sittings of the Old FAE course the passrate was 76.3% in 2008 & 76.3% again in 2009.

Under the new FAE course the overall pass rate dropped to 62% in 2010 and fellagain to 55% for 2011.

Back at 62.3% for 2012 and and 63.4% in 2013.

Fell to 50.2% in 2014 (579 of 1,114 (52%) passed on firstattempt + 214 of 519 (46%) passed on 2nd or later attempt)

Note: you can only do CAI finals once per year.

CPA: CPA used to publish their pass figures in their annual reports until2012.

2014 aren’t online yet it seems. Results 2009 to 2013 are here

Pass rate average for CPA's finals (P2s) in
2009: 63.4%
2010: 57.5%.
2011: 53.8%
2012: 54.2%
2013: 52.7%
2014: Unknown

You can sit CPA exams twice per year.

ACCA: ACCA seem to publish the pass rates on a global basis only, notthe pass rates in Ireland. Dec 2007 to Dec 2014 are here http://www.accaglobal.com/ie/en/student/acca-qual-student-journey/qual-resource/acca-qualification/pass-rates.html
Final Stage (Ps) average was
June 2012: 42.3%
June 2013: 41.4%
June 2014: 40.6%
Dec 2014: 41.9%

with two sittings per year.

CIMA: CIMA, like ACAA, seem to publish the pass rates on a global basisonly, not the pass rates in Ireland.

Final stage (Strategic Level) pass rate:
2012: 49.8%
2013: 58.3%
2014: May 52.3% Nov 46.0%

with two sittings per year.

mydiscworld

Based on the above pass rates from the last 5 years or so, I wouldn't touch ACCA with those pass rates in low 40s consistently.

CAI rates dropped a massive 13.2% from 63.4% to 50.2% in 2014. If they stay at 50% there would be little reason to pick CAI with only one sitting per year.

CPa have been consistently in 50s range though we're missing the 2014 results.

CIMA, while more popular in UK than Ireland, are around the 50 mark also.

0028673

mydiscworld wrote: »

Based on the above pass rates from the last 5 years or so, I wouldn't touch ACCA with those pass rates in low 40s consistently.

CAI rates dropped a massive 13.2% from 63.4% to 50.2% in 2014. If they stay at 50% there would be little reason to pick CAI with only one sitting per year.

CPa have been consistently in 50s range though we're missing the 2014 results.

CIMA, while more popular in UK than Ireland, are around the 50 mark also.

Thanks for the post.

Personally for ACCA I would not consider P1-P3 to be at finals level.
The pass rates for the final 2 papers (must choose 2 from a choice of 4) take a complete nosedive when you look at it.


Dec 2014 35.75%
June 2014 34.75%
Dec 2013 36.5%
June 2013 35.25%
Dec 2012 35.5%
June 2012 36.5%

myshirt

Remember, with ACCA, there are a lot of people taking this exam that will never pass it, ever, and they dilute the results. ACCA is only £70 to join, and cheap per exam also. They have a lot of poor quality candidates and dreamers mixed in with ok candidates and excellent ones. You don't have as many, if any, of those with Chartered, as they are weeded out well before they even get a sniff at the doormat. ACCA will not give you the Irish pass rates, but they are not so bad if you ask the right people at the right conferences.

Key point though, all these exams are difficult.

In my view, go chartered, ultimately the premium qualification.

adrianw

Chartered is the ultimately the premium qualification based on?

Audit4Lyf

myshirt wrote: »

Key point though, all these exams are difficult.

I think that's the key point, there is no easy pass in these exams. You will need to work for them and the pass rates should really not be a deciding factor in which ones you do.

Jim2007

adrianw wrote: »

Chartered is the ultimately the premium qualification based on?

When it comes to accounting qualifications there is a big difference between operating globally as the ACCA does and being recognised globally. The Chartered Accountant is widely know and respected not just within the profession, but in the business community as a whole, I guess that this is partially to do with the days of Empire and the fact that Chartered Accountant bodies have long standing in most of the large English speaking economies, the US being the obvious exception. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard members of other accounting institutes describe themselves as be the same as Chartered Accountant/CPA(USA) when introducing themselves at meetings....

This is not to say that any of the qualifications are superior to the others in terms of competence it is just a matter of brand recognition and that comes much easier for a CA.