CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers: Download Latest Papers & Prepare Smarter
Preparing for CA Foundation is not just about completing the syllabus. It is about understanding how well you can apply what you have studied when you are sitting in the examination hall.
This is where CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers become extremely important.
A student may spend months watching lectures, reading study material and making notes, but still feel nervous when the actual question paper is placed in front of them. Previous year papers help remove that uncertainty. They show you how questions are framed, how concepts are tested and how much speed and accuracy you need during the examination.
If you are preparing for CA Foundation, don’t treat previous year question papers as something to solve only during the last week. They should become a regular part of your preparation strategy.
In this guide, you will find the latest available CA Foundation question papers, official ICAI links, a practical method to use PYQs, subject-wise strategies, common mistakes students make and a simple plan to get maximum benefit from previous papers.
What Are CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers?
CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers are the actual examination papers released for previous Foundation attempts.
These papers are valuable because they represent the real examination rather than questions created only for practice.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) maintains an official question-paper section where students can access Foundation papers from different examination attempts.
As of September 2026, the official ICAI page lists Foundation papers for September 2026, May 2026, January 2026, September 2025, May 2025, January 2025, September 2024 and June 2024.
For a student, this means you do not need to depend entirely on random PDF websites to find previous papers.
You can start with the official source.
View the Official ICAI CA Foundation Question Papers
Latest CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers
If your goal is to practise the most recent papers first, the following attempts should be your priority.
CA Foundation September 2026 Question Papers
The September 2026 papers are currently the latest Foundation papers listed on the ICAI official question-paper page.
| Subject | Paper | Official ICAI Link |
| Accounting | Paper 1 – September 2026 | Download from ICAI |
| Business Laws | Paper 2 – September 2026 | Download from ICAI |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Paper 3 – September 2026 | Download from ICAI |
Important: At the time of this update, ICAI’s official page lists these three September 2026 papers. Paper 4 – Business Economics is not currently listed on that page. Students should use the official ICAI page for any later updates.
CA Foundation May 2026 Question Papers
May 2026 is another highly relevant attempt for students preparing for upcoming examinations.
| Subject | Paper | Official ICAI Link |
| Accounting | Paper 1 – May 2026 | Download from ICAI |
| Business Laws | Paper 2 – May 2026 | Download from ICAI |
These papers are linked from the official ICAI Foundation question-paper section.
CA Foundation January 2026 Question Papers
The January 2026 papers are also useful for understanding recent question framing.
| Subject | Paper | Official ICAI Link |
| Accounting | Paper 1 – January 2026 | Download from ICAI |
| Business Laws | Paper 2 – January 2026 | Download from ICAI |
If you have already completed most of your syllabus, these recent papers should be included in your timed practice schedule.
CA Foundation September 2025 Question Papers
September 2025 papers can help you understand how recent concepts were tested before the latest 2026 attempts.
| Subject | Paper | Official ICAI Link |
| Accounting | Paper 1 – September 2025 | Download from ICAI |
| Business Laws | Paper 2 – September 2025 | Download from ICAI |
The September 2025 papers are listed on ICAI’s official Foundation question-paper page.
CA Foundation May 2025 Question Papers
May 2025 is another useful recent attempt for PYQ practice.
| Subject | Paper | Official ICAI Link |
| Accounting | Paper 1 – May 2025 | Download from ICAI |
| Business Laws | Paper 2 – May 2025 | Download from ICAI |
Rather than simply downloading these papers, try to solve them under examination conditions and analyse your mistakes afterwards.
Official ICAI CA Foundation Question Paper Page
If you are searching for the latest CA Foundation previous year papers, it is worth bookmarking the official ICAI page.
Official ICAI – CA Foundation Question Papers
The official page currently provides links for Foundation attempts from June 2024 onwards, including September 2026, May 2026, January 2026, September 2025, May 2025, January 2025, September 2024 and June 2024.
This is especially useful because ICAI can update the page when additional papers or examination-session resources become available.
CA Foundation Previous Year Papers: Quick Download Guide
Here is a quick view of the recent attempts currently relevant to students:
| Examination | Latest Status on ICAI Page | Priority |
| September 2026 | Papers currently listed | Very High |
| May 2026 | Papers currently listed | Very High |
| January 2026 | Papers currently listed | Very High |
| September 2025 | Papers currently listed | High |
| May 2025 | Papers currently listed | High |
| January 2025 | Papers listed | Moderate |
| September 2024 | Papers listed | Moderate |
| June 2024 | Papers listed | Reference |
For the complete and updated list, always refer to the official ICAI question-paper page.
Why Are CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers Important?
There is a reason experienced students and teachers repeatedly recommend solving PYQs.
It is because reading a chapter and solving an examination question are two different skills.
1. You Understand ICAI’s Question Style
Previous papers help you understand how ICAI converts a concept into an examination question.
You start noticing:
- How questions are worded
- Which concepts require application
- How numerical questions are structured
- How options can create confusion
- How much detail is expected
- Which areas require more attention
That familiarity can make the actual examination feel less unfamiliar.
2. You Discover Your Weak Areas
Suppose you believe that your Accounting preparation is strong.
You solve a previous paper and discover that you repeatedly make mistakes in one particular type of question.
That is useful information.
Instead of revising the entire subject again, you can focus on the specific weakness.
3. You Improve Speed
Knowing an answer is not enough.
You must be able to reach that answer within the available examination time.
Regular PYQ practice helps you become faster at:
- Reading questions
- Identifying the concept
- Selecting the right method
- Calculating
- Eliminating options
- Moving away from time-consuming questions
4. You Build Examination Confidence
The first full paper can feel difficult.
The second becomes slightly more comfortable.
After several properly analysed papers, you begin to understand your own strengths and weaknesses.
That confidence is valuable during the final days before the examination.
How to Solve CA Foundation Previous Year Papers Effectively
Don’t make the common mistake of opening a paper, solving a few questions and immediately checking the answer.
Use a proper process.
Step 1: Attempt It Like a Real Exam
Keep your books and notes away.
Set a timer.
Sit at a desk.
Attempt the paper without external help.
The purpose is to find out what you can actually do on your own.
Step 2: Check Your Answers
Once you finish, compare your answers with the appropriate solution or Suggested Answer.
Do not only calculate your total marks.
Analyse each wrong question.
Ask yourself:
Why did I get this wrong?
That question is more important than the score itself.
Step 3: Categorise Your Mistakes
Maintain a simple mistake tracker.
| Type of Mistake | What It Means |
| Conceptual | You need to revise the topic |
| Calculation | You need more numerical practice |
| Reading | You misunderstood the question |
| Memory | You forgot a provision/formula |
| Time | You need better question selection |
| Silly mistake | You need greater concentration |
After solving several papers, patterns will start appearing.
Step 4: Reattempt the Wrong Questions
After revising the relevant topic, solve the question again.
If you get it right this time, move ahead.
If you make the same mistake again, the underlying concept needs more attention.
This simple Attempt → Analyse → Revise → Reattempt cycle can make PYQ practice much more effective.
Subject-Wise Strategy for CA Foundation PYQs
Different subjects need different approaches.
Accounting
For Accounting, don’t focus only on the final answer.
Compare your complete working.
Pay attention to:
- Journal entries
- Adjustments
- Calculations
- Accounting treatment
- Presentation
- Time taken
If your final answer is correct but your working contains conceptual mistakes, fix them before the examination.
Business Laws
Business Laws requires understanding rather than blind memorisation.
While solving PYQs, look for:
- Important provisions
- Definitions
- Conditions
- Exceptions
- Case-based applications
- Legal reasoning
If you memorise a previous answer word-for-word, you may struggle when ICAI changes the facts in a new question.
Understand the provision first.
Quantitative Aptitude
For Quantitative Aptitude, practice is everything.
Maintain a formula and mistake notebook.
Record:
- Formulas you forget
- Questions taking too long
- Calculation errors
- Topics where you guess answers
- Repeated mistakes
The aim should be to make familiar question types almost automatic.
Business Economics
Economics requires conceptual clarity.
While practising objective questions, don’t simply remember the correct option.
Ask:
Why is this option correct?
And more importantly:
Why are the other options incorrect?
This approach prepares you for questions where the wording is changed.
Should You Solve Previous Papers Before Completing the Syllabus?
Yes—but selectively.
You don’t have to wait until 100% of the syllabus is complete.
If you have finished a particular chapter, start solving questions related to that chapter.
For example:
Chapter completed → Revise → Solve PYQs → Analyse mistakes → Continue
However, full-length papers should ideally be introduced once you have covered most of the syllabus.
There is little value in taking a complete paper when large portions of the syllabus are still untouched.
How Many CA Foundation Previous Year Papers Should You Solve?
There is no universal number.
Solving five papers properly is much better than downloading twenty papers and barely looking at them.
A practical approach is:
| Preparation Stage | Recommended PYQ Practice |
| Early preparation | Topic-wise questions |
| Mid preparation | Chapter-wise PYQs |
| 70–80% syllabus | Mixed PYQs |
| Syllabus completed | Full-length papers |
| Final revision | Recent PYQs + mocks + mistakes |
Start with the latest papers and then move backwards.
This keeps your practice closer to the current examination environment.
PYQs vs Mock Tests: What Should You Practise?
Both are useful, but they serve different purposes.
| PYQs | Mock Tests |
| Actual previous examination papers | Practice examinations |
| Show real past question framing | Test your current readiness |
| Help understand ICAI style | Help simulate exam conditions |
| Useful for historical comparison | Useful for performance measurement |
| Best for analysing concepts | Best for testing speed and strategy |
A strong preparation plan should include both PYQs and mock tests.
Don’t Ignore ICAI Suggested Answers
Question papers tell you what was asked.
Suggested Answers help you understand the expected approach.
ICAI maintains a separate official Suggested Answers page for the Foundation course under the New Scheme. It currently lists Suggested Answers for May 2026, January 2026, September 2025, May 2025, January 2025, September 2024 and June 2024.
View Official ICAI Foundation Suggested Answers
When analysing a PYQ, don’t just ask whether your answer is correct.
Compare your approach with the official solution wherever applicable.
This is particularly useful for understanding presentation, reasoning and the expected method.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Using PYQs
Mistake 1: Solving PYQs Only in the Last Week
PYQs should be used throughout preparation.
Mistake 2: Memorising Old Questions
A previous question is not necessarily a prediction of the next paper.
Mistake 3: Checking Solutions Immediately
First attempt the question honestly.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Mistakes After Checking Marks
Your mistakes contain some of the most valuable information about your preparation.
Mistake 5: Using Outdated Papers Without Checking the Syllabus
Older papers may contain questions that are not relevant to your current examination.
Always check the applicable syllabus and study material.
Mistake 6: Solving Without a Timer
At least your full-paper practice should be timed.
A 30-Day CA Foundation PYQ Strategy
If your syllabus is substantially complete, you can use a simple 30-day PYQ-focused plan.
| Period | Focus |
| Days 1–7 | Topic-wise PYQs + weak chapters |
| Days 8–14 | Recent subject-wise papers |
| Days 15–21 | Full-length timed papers |
| Days 22–25 | Mistake analysis + revision |
| Days 26–28 | More full papers |
| Days 29–30 | Final revision + selected PYQs |
Don’t blindly follow this timetable if your syllabus is incomplete.
Your preparation level should determine the balance between learning and testing.
How CA Mentoring Program Can Help With Your Preparation
Previous year papers are most useful when you know how to analyse them.
Students often solve a paper, check the score and move on.
The better approach is to identify:
- Why marks were lost
- Which chapters need revision
- Which question types consume time
- Where repeated mistakes occur
- Whether your preparation strategy is actually working
For students looking for additional preparation guidance, mentoring and exam-oriented support, CA Mentoring Program can be explored as part of the overall CA Foundation preparation journey.
The goal should not be to solve papers simply for the sake of increasing the number of papers completed.
The goal is to become more accurate, faster and more confident with every paper you solve.
Final Takeaway
CA Foundation Previous Year Question Papers are much more than downloadable PDFs.
They are a practical way to understand the examination, test your preparation and identify the areas where you need to improve.
Start with the latest available papers.
Solve them without looking at the answers.
Check your performance honestly.
Maintain a mistake notebook.
Revise the weak areas.
Then solve the questions again.
Most importantly, use the official ICAI question-paper resources whenever possible. ICAI’s official page currently provides Foundation question papers across multiple recent attempts, including September 2026, May 2026, January 2026, September 2025 and May 2025.
Don’t try to predict the next CA Foundation paper from old questions.
Instead, learn from the way ICAI has tested concepts in the past.
That mindset will make your preparation much stronger.
And when you finally enter the examination hall, the paper may still contain new questions—but the process of reading, analysing and solving them won’t feel new anymore.
