Common Proficiency Test is an entry level examination for admission to the Chartered Accountancy Course. A 10th Passed student can register for CPT Course by filling in the prescribed registration form along with the requisite fee. A student who has passed higher qualifications than 10th class such as B.Com, M.Com, LL.B., ICWA, CS, MBA is also, in the first instance, to appear and pass CPT Examination to join the Chartered Accountancy Course.

CPT Examination is objective type test comprising of 4 subjects which are: -
(a) Fundamentals of Accounting – 60 marks,
(b) Mercantile Laws – 40 marks,
(c) General Economics – 50 marks and
(d) Quantitative Aptitude - 50 marks.

The CPT Examination is held twice a year on a Sunday in the months of June and December every year. A student to be eligible to appear in the CPT Examination must have been registered for the CPT Course with Board of Studies of the Institute on or before 1st April in the case of June Examination and on or before 1st October in the case of December Examination and must have passed 12th Class Examination or already appeared in 12th Class Examination of a recognized Board. The Examination Form is available on payment of Rs. 400/- (inclusive of the examination fee) generally in the 1st week of April for the June Examination and 1st week of October for the December Examination from all Regional /Branch Offices of the Institute in the country.

Candidates have option to opt for English or Hindi language as medium, for the purpose of question papers booklet while answer sheets are in English Language only. Each student who appears in the CPT Examination is issued a Result Card within two weeks of the declaration of results. No Pass Certificate as such is issued to CPT pass students. A candidate securing 70% and above marks is declared to have passed with Distinction. A candidate securing a minimum of 60% marks in order of merit up to 10th Rank are included in the Merit List and Merit Certificate to such candidates are also issued.

A candidate who is not satisfied with the result of his appearance in the CPT Examination can apply for verification of his answer sheets in accordance with Regulation 39(4) of the CA Regulations 1988 within a month of the declaration of the result by making a request under his signature along with a fee of Rs. 200/- by way of Demand Draft drawn in favour of Secretary, ICAI, Payable at New Delhi. Though all efforts are made to inform the outcome of the verification within 3-4 weeks of the receipt of the request letter of the student, however, no assurance could be given and the candidates are advised to submit the Examination Form for the next Examination within the prescribed date, if they so wish.

For any further enquiry relating to examination matters you can write to:
Senior Joint Secretary (Exams.) The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India,
ICAI Bhawan,
C-1 Sector-1
Noida 201 301.
Telephone No. 3054806 (D) 3989398 Ext.806,
Fax 0120-3054843/841.