Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) - Syllabus and study guide - September 2023 to August 2024

Oct 22, 2026

Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) Syllabus and study guide for September 2023 to August 2024 explains how ACCA assesses knowledge and skills across the qualification. It outlines learning hours and education recognition, the qualification structure requiring candidates to pass FA1 and MA1 and complete Foundations in Professionalism. It details the exam structure, delivery mode, and assessment rules, including K and S indications, examinable regulation cut-off dates, and the scope of what can be assessed. It also provides a syllabus approach and overarching aims up to the trial balance stage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Intellectual levels

Learning hours and education recognition

Qualification structure

Guide to ACCA examination structure and delivery mode

Guide to ACCA examination assessment

Relational diagram linking Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) with other exams

Approach to examining the syllabus

Overall aim of the syllabus

Introduction to the syllabus

Main capabilities

The syllabus

Detailed study guide

Summary of changes to Recording Financial Transactions (FA1)

Recording Financial Transactions ( FA1 ) Syllabus and study guide September 2023 to August 2024 Designed to help with planning study and to provide detailed information on what could be assessed in any examination session Contents 1. Intellectual levels .....................................3 2. Learning hours and education recognition...................................................................3 3. Qualification structure .............................3 4. Guide to ACCA examination structure and delivery mode .............................................4 5. Guide to ACCA examination assessment4 6. Relational diagram linking Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) with other exams .........................................................5 7. Approach to examining the syllabus ........5 8. Overall aim of the syllabus ......................5 9. Introduction to the syllabus......................5 10. Main capabilities ...................................6 11. The syllabus ..........................................7 12. Detailed study guide..............................8 13. Summary of changes to Recording Financial Transactions (FA1) ....................12 1. Intellectual levels ACCA qualifications are designed to progressively broaden and deepen the knowledge and skills demonstrated by the student at a range of levels on their way through each qualification. Throughout, the study guides assess both knowledge and skills. Therefore, a clear distinction is drawn, within each subject area, between assessing knowledge and skills and in assessing their application within an accounting or business context. The assessment of knowledge is denoted by a superscript K and the assessment of skills is denoted by the superscript S. 2. Learning hours and education recognition As a member of the International Federation of Accountants, ACCA seeks to enhance the education recognition of its qualification on both national and international education frameworks, and with educational authorities and partners globally. In doing so, ACCA aims to ensure that its qualifications are recognised and valued by governments and regulatory authorities and employers across all sectors. To this end, ACCA qualifications are currently recognised on the educational frameworks in several countries. Please refer to your national education framework regulator for further information about recognition. 3. Qualification structure The qualification structure requires candidates who wish to be awarded the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting (RQF Level 2) to pass both the FA1 and MA1 examinations and successfully complete the Foundations in Professionalism module. 4. Guide to ACCA examination structure and delivery mode The structure of examinations varies. The Foundations examinations contain 100% compulsory questions to encourage candidates to study across the breadth of each syllabus. All Foundations examinations are assessed by two-hour computer based examinations. The pass mark for all FIA examinations is 50% . 5. Guide to ACCA examination assessment ACCA reserves the right to examine anything contained within the study guide at any examination session. This includes knowledge, techniques, principles, theories, and concepts as specified. For specified financial accounting, audit and tax examinations, except where indicated otherwise, ACCA will publish examinable documents once a year to indicate exactly what regulations and legislation could potentially be assessed within identified examination sessions. For this examination, regulation issued or legislation passed on or before 31 August annually, will be assessed from 1 September of the following year to 31 August of the year after. Please refer to the examinable documents for the exam (where relevant) for further information. Regulation issued or legislation passed in accordance with the above dates may be examinable even if the

FAQs

What is assessed in FA1, and how are knowledge and skills distinguished?

FA1 assessments distinguish knowledge (denoted by K) from skills (denoted by S), within each subject area. The study guides assess both knowledge and skills, including how skills are applied in an accounting or business context.

What are the key FA1 exam format requirements for Foundations examinations?

Foundations examinations include 100% compulsory questions and are assessed by two-hour computer-based examinations. The pass mark for FIA examinations is 50%.

What regulation and legislation dates are used to determine what can be examined?

Regulation issued or legislation passed on or before 31 August annually is assessed from 1 September of the following year to 31 August of the year after. Even if the effective date is in the future, items issued or passed under those dates may be examinable.

Oct 22, 2026

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