ICAI Chartered Accountant Common Proficiency Test
Exam Date: 18 Jun 17
he Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is the national professional accounting body that was established on July 1, 1949 to regulate the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country. ICAI serves as the sole accounting and regulatory body of the profession in India. In order to become a CA, aspirants have to initially breeze through the first level of the Chartered Accountancy Examination. This first level is called the Common Proficiency Test i.e. CPT.
Candidates are required to secure a minimum of 30 per cent marks in each section and minimum 50 per cent marks in aggregate in all the four sections to crack the Common Proficiency Test. CPT Exam, in paper-pencil mode, is conducted in the months of June and December. The exam is also held online periodically. Graduates, post-graduates and students having equivalent degrees are exempted from appearing for the exam. Also, commerce graduates with 55% marks and other graduates with 60% marks can get direct admission into IPCC which is the second level of Chartered Accountancy.
Exam Information
Eligibility
A student who has passed the Class 10 examination conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India (or an examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto) may register for Common Proficiency Test.
A registered student may appear in Common Proficiency Test after he has appeared in the Senior Secondary Examination* (10+2 examination) conducted by an examining body constituted by law in India (or an examination recognized by the Central Government as equivalent thereto) and has complied with such requirements as may be specified by the Council from time to time.
A student who has got himself registered for Common Proficiency Test 60 days prior to the first day of the month in which CPT examination is to be held i.e. on or before 1st April and 1st October, can appear in the CPT examination to be held in June and December respectively. Common Proficiency Test examinations are held in June & December every year.
Registration Date
Fees
Exam Duration
4 HoursResults
2nd Jul 2017syllabus
Level of Knowledge : Basic knowledge
SESSION – I
Section A: Fundamentals of Accounting ( 60 Marks )
Objective:
To develop conceptual understanding of the fundamentals of financial accounting system. Contents
Theoretical Framework Meaning and Scope of accounting Accounting Concepts, Principles and Conventions Accounting Standards – concepts, objectives, benefits Accounting Policies Accounting as a measurement discipline – valuation principles, accounting estimates Accounting Process Books of Accounts leading to the preparation of Trial Balance, Capital and revenue expenditures,Capital and revenue receipts, Contingent assets and contingent liabilities, Fundamental errors including rectifications there of.
Bank Reconciliation Statement
Inventories Basis of inventory valuation and record keeping.
Depreciation accounting Methods, computation and accounting treatment of depreciation, Change in depreciation methods.
Preparation of Final Accounts for Sole Proprietors
Accounting for Special Transactions Consignments Joint Ventures Bills of exchange and promissory notes Sale of goods on approval or return basis.
Partnership Accounts Final accounts of partnership firms – Basic concepts of admission, retirement and death of a partner including treatment of good will.
Introduction to Company Accounts Issue of shares and debentures, forfeiture of shares, re-issue of forfeited shares, redemption of preference shares.
Section B: Mercantile Law ( 40 Marks )
Objective:
To test the general comprehension of elements of mercantile law Contents
The Indian Contract Act , 1872: An overview of Sections 1 to 75 covering the general nature of contract , consideration , other essential elements of a valid contract , performance of contract and breach of contract.
The Sale of Goods Act, 1930: Formation of the contract of sale – Conditions and Warranties-Transfer of ownership and delivery of goods – Unpaid seller and his rights.
The India Partnership Act, 1932: General Nature of Partnership – Rights and duties of partners-Registration and dissolution of a firm.
SESSION – II(Two Sections- Two hours – 100 Marks)
Section C: General Economics ( 50 Marks )
Objective:
To ensure basic understanding of economic systems, economic behaviour of individuals and organizations. Contents
Micro Economics
Introduction to Micro Economics Definition, scope and nature of Economics Methods of economic study Central problems of an economy and Production possibilities curve.
Theory of Demand and Supply Meaning and determinants of demand, Law of demand and Elasticity of demand – Price, income and cross elasticity Theory of consumer’s behaviour – Marshallian approach and Indifference curve approach Meaning and determinants of supply, Law of supply and Elasticity of supply.
Theory of Production and Cost Meaning and Factors of production Laws of Production – The Law of variable proportions and Laws of returns to scale Concepts of Costs – Short-run and long-run costs, Average and marginal costs, Total,fixed and variable costs.
Price Determination in Different Markets Various forms of markets – Perfect Competition, Monopoly, Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly Price determination in these markets.
Indian Economic Development
Indian Economy – A Profile Nature of the Indian Economy Role of different sectors – Agriculture, Industry and Services in the development of the Indian economy, their problems and growth National Income of India – Concepts of national income, Different methods of measuring national income, Growth of national income and per capita income in various plans. d.Basic understanding of tax system of India – Direct and Indirect Taxation
Select Aspects of Indian Economy Population – Its size, rate of growth and its implication for growth Poverty – Absolute and relative poverty and main programs for poverty alleviation Unemployment – Types, causes and incidence of unemployment Infrastructure – Energy, Transportation, Communication, Health and Education Inflation Budget and Fiscal deficits Balance of payments External debts.
Economic Reforms in India Features of economic reforms since 1991 Liberalisation, Privatisation and Disinvestment Globalisation.
Money and Banking Money – Meaning and functions Commercial Banks – Role and functions Reserve Bank of India – Role and functions, Monetary policy.
Section D: Quantitative Aptitude ( 50 Marks )
Objective:
To test the grasp of elementary concepts in Mathematics and Statistics and application of the same as useful quantitative tools. Contents
Ratio and proportion, Indices, Logarithms
Equations Linear – simultaneous linear equations up to three variables, quadratic and cubic equations in one variable, equations of a straight line, intersection of straight lines, graphical solution to linear equations.
Inequalities Graphs of inequalities in two variables – common region.
Simple and Compound Interest including annuity – Applications
Basic concepts of Permutations and Combinations
Sequence and Series – Arithmetic and geometric progressions
Sets, Functions and Relations
Limits and Continuity – Intuitive Approach
Basic concepts of Differential and Integral Calculus (excluding trigonometric functions)
Statistical description of data Textual, Tabular & Diagrammatic representation of data. Frequency Distribution. Graphical representation of frequency distribution – Histogram, Frequency Polygon, Ogive
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion Arithmetic Mean, Median – Partition Values, Mode, Geometric Mean and Harmonic, Mean,Standard deviation, Quartile deviation
Correlation and Regression
Probability and Expected Value by Mathematical Expectation
Theoretical Distributions – Biomial, Poisson and Normal.
Sampling Theory – Basic Principles of sampling theory, Comparison between sample survey and complete enumeration, Errors in sample survey, Some important terms associated with sampling, Types of sampling, Theory of estimation, Determination of sample size.
Index Numbers
Paper Pattern
CA CPT Exam Pattern: Overview
Exam Mode - Pen paper based test
Test Medium - English or Hindi
Test Sessions - 2 Sessions
Exam Timings - First session: 10:00 am -12:00 noon, second session: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Test Duration - 2 hours for each session
4 Subjects : - Fundamentals of Accounting , Mercantile Law, General Economics, Quantitative Aptitude
Type of questions - Objective Type Questions
Number of Questions - 200 questions
Total Marks - 200 marks