At a glance
Sitting: March, June, September and December
Location: Exam centre or remote invigilation
Duration: 2.5 hours
Format: The exam consists of four compulsory questions.
- One question focuses on consolidated financial statements eg, a consolidated statement of financial position, profit or loss, cash flows or changes or equity (or extracts) with possible written follow‑ups on consolidation treatments and other syllabus areas. Aspects of consolidation may also appear in other questions given its weighing.
- At least one question is integrated, linking financial reporting issue with the related assurance implications, risks and/or procedures.
- One question requires students to use data analytics software to interrogate a dataset, identify issues or unusual transactions, and link findings back to the scenario.
- The remaining question typically focuses on assurance reporting and/or wider assurance scenarios and may include other syllabus areas such as ethics.
Pass mark: 55%
Syllabus weighting: The syllabus is split across five areas, with sustainability and technology running throughout the exam. Weightings are wide to allow breadth within a single exam:
- Single entity financial statements (15-25%)
- Consolidated financial statements (25-35%)
- Planning and performing assurance engagements (25-35%)
- Concluding and reporting on assurance engagements (15-20%)
- Professional scepticism and ethics (5-10%)
Need to know
A key feature of the Corporate Reporting, Data and Assurance exam is integration. You’ll be expected to link the financial reporting treatment to the assurance consequences of that treatment, rather than treating reporting and assurance as separate silos.
The exam builds on your knowledge from Certificate Level exams, including Accounting Fundamentals, Assurance and Risk Fundamentals, and Sustainability and Ethics.
There is a strong emphasis on reporting and concluding, covering both statutory audit reporting and wider assurance. You might need to explain implications for the assurance report and, in some cases, draft extracts from the report.
Sustainability and technology are embedded throughout. You might, for example, be asked about assurance procedures over sustainability information and be expected to use data analytics software in one question (typically worth around 15-20 marks).
How to approach the exam
Practise as much as possible under focused, timed conditions. Because the exam is 2.5 hours, time management is key both across the four questions and within each question.
Always pay attention to balance. It can be tempting to focus on numerical areas, but this exam rewards clear written application in assurance and reporting. Support your answer with a concise explanation grounded in the scenario you’ve been given.
Integrated questions are often where students lose marks. You might deal well with the financial reporting treatment but overlook the follow‑up assurance risks, procedures or reporting implications. In preparation, try switching mindsets between financial reporting and assurance within the same scenario.
For data analytics, familiarity with the software is essential. Use the platform guidance and practice datasets so you can quickly navigate between high‑level summaries and underlying ledger detail during the exam.
On the exam day, remember to protect your time. If you get stuck on a calculation, move on and return to it later if you have enough time. Always attempt every requirement even if you’re unsure, as partial answers can still earn marks.
Top tips for success
- Manage your time carefully across (and within) all four questions.
- Make clear points applied to the scenario to maximise marks.
- Practise integrated questions so you are comfortable linking financial reporting issues to assurance risks, procedures and reporting outcomes.
- Use the data analytics software regularly in preparation, so you can navigate the dataset quickly in the exam.
Read more about Corporate Reporting, Data and Assurance in the ACA Syllabus Handbook.