CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers: Download Latest Papers & Prepare Smartly
Preparing for CA Intermediate is not just about completing the syllabus. At this level, students need to understand how concepts are actually tested in the examination.
You may read a chapter several times, watch lectures, make detailed notes and still feel uncertain when you see a full question paper.
That is exactly where CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers become important.
Previous year papers give you a realistic idea of how ICAI frames questions, how concepts are applied, how much time different questions can consume and where students commonly make mistakes.
But there is one thing to remember: PYQs are useful only when you analyse them properly. Simply downloading 20 PDFs and keeping them in a folder will not improve your preparation.
In this guide, you will find the latest CA Intermediate question papers available up to September 2026, direct links to the official ICAI papers, subject-wise preparation strategies, a practical PYQ-solving method, and tips to use previous papers along with RTPs and mock tests.
What Are CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers?
CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers are the actual examination papers conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in earlier attempts.
These are different from:
- Mock Test Papers
- Revision Test Papers
- Coaching institute test series
- Practice question banks
- Sample papers
A mock test may be designed to resemble the ICAI examination, but a previous year paper is an actual paper from a real examination attempt.
That makes PYQs extremely valuable for understanding the examination from a student’s perspective.
Under the current New Scheme, CA Intermediate consists of six papers:
| Group | Paper | Subject |
| Group I | Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting |
| Group I | Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws |
| Group I | Paper 3 | Taxation |
| Group II | Paper 4 | Cost and Management Accounting |
| Group II | Paper 5 | Auditing and Ethics |
| Group II | Paper 6 | Financial Management and Strategic Management |
ICAI’s official Intermediate question-paper page currently provides papers for multiple examination attempts, including September 2026, May 2026, January 2026, September 2025 and May 2025.
CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers – Last 5 Available Attempts
If you are preparing for the upcoming CA Intermediate examination, it makes sense to begin with the most recent papers.
The following are the five latest available examination attempts up to September 2026:
- September 2026
- May 2026
- January 2026
- September 2025
- May 2025
The official ICAI page also lists older attempts such as January 2025, September 2024 and May 2024.
CA Intermediate September 2026 Question Papers
September 2026 is the latest examination attempt listed on ICAI’s official Intermediate question-paper page.
At the time of this update, ICAI has listed Paper 1 – Advanced Accounting and Paper 2 – Corporate and Other Laws for September 2026.
| Paper | Question Paper | Official Link |
| Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting – September 2026 | Download September 2026 Paper 1 – Advanced Accounting |
| Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws – September 2026 | Download September 2026 Paper 2 – Corporate and Other Laws |
Important: Paper 3, Paper 4, Paper 5 and Paper 6 are not currently listed on ICAI’s official question-paper page for September 2026. Students should check the official ICAI page for future updates instead of relying on unofficial links.
CA Intermediate May 2026 Question Papers
The May 2026 examination is particularly useful for students because ICAI has listed all six Intermediate papers for this attempt.
| Paper | Question Paper | Official Link |
| Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 1 |
| Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 2 |
| Paper 3 | Taxation – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 3 |
| Paper 4 | Cost and Management Accounting – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 4 |
| Paper 5 | Auditing and Ethics – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 5 |
| Paper 6 | Financial Management and Strategic Management – May 2026 | Download May 2026 Paper 6 |
All six papers are listed on ICAI’s official Intermediate question-paper page.
CA Intermediate January 2026 Question Papers
January 2026 is another important recent attempt and contains all six Intermediate papers on the official ICAI page.
| Paper | Question Paper | Official Link |
| Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 1 |
| Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 2 |
| Paper 3 | Taxation – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 3 |
| Paper 4 | Cost and Management Accounting – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 4 |
| Paper 5 | Auditing and Ethics – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 5 |
| Paper 6 | Financial Management and Strategic Management – January 2026 | Download January 2026 Paper 6 |
Students preparing for the next attempt can use these papers after completing the relevant portion of their syllabus.
CA Intermediate September 2025 Question Papers
The September 2025 attempt is another excellent source of recent practice.
All six papers are listed on the ICAI official question-paper page.
| Paper | Question Paper | Official Link |
| Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 1 |
| Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 2 |
| Paper 3 | Taxation – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 3 |
| Paper 4 | Cost and Management Accounting – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 4 |
| Paper 5 | Auditing and Ethics – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 5 |
| Paper 6 | Financial Management and Strategic Management – September 2025 | Download September 2025 Paper 6 |
These papers can be particularly useful once you have covered most of the current syllabus.
CA Intermediate May 2025 Question Papers
The fifth latest available attempt in this list is May 2025.
ICAI lists all six Intermediate papers for this attempt.
| Paper | Question Paper | Official Link |
| Paper 1 | Advanced Accounting – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 1 |
| Paper 2 | Corporate and Other Laws – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 2 |
| Paper 3 | Taxation – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 3 |
| Paper 4 | Cost and Management Accounting – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 4 |
| Paper 5 | Auditing and Ethics – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 5 |
| Paper 6 | Financial Management and Strategic Management – May 2025 | Download May 2025 Paper 6 |
Official ICAI CA Intermediate Question Paper Page
Students should bookmark the official ICAI page because it is the most reliable place to check for new question papers.
Official ICAI CA Intermediate Question Papers:
View All CA Intermediate Question Papers on ICAI
The official page currently lists September 2026, May 2026, January 2026, September 2025, May 2025 and earlier Intermediate attempts.
This is particularly important for students because ICAI may update the page as new examination papers become available.
Why Should You Solve CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers?
There is a major difference between studying a topic and knowing how that topic appears in an examination.
A chapter may look easy while reading your notes. The same chapter can feel completely different when ICAI combines two or three concepts into one question.
Previous year papers help you understand this difference.
1. Understand ICAI’s Question Style
PYQs show you how ICAI converts concepts into questions.
You start becoming familiar with:
- Question wording
- Practical application
- Case-based questions
- Numerical problems
- Theory questions
- Integrated concepts
- Time-consuming questions
This familiarity is extremely valuable.
2. Identify Your Weak Areas
Suppose you solve a previous paper and score 58%.
Instead of simply feeling disappointed, analyse the result.
Maybe:
- 10 marks were lost because of calculation errors.
- 8 marks were lost because of one weak chapter.
- 6 marks were lost because you couldn’t manage time.
Now you know exactly what needs improvement.
3. Improve Speed
CA Intermediate is not only about knowing the answer.
You need to know it quickly enough to write it within the examination.
Regular timed practice helps develop that ability.
4. Build Confidence
The more actual papers you solve, the less unfamiliar the examination environment becomes.
You start developing your own strategy for:
- Question selection
- Time allocation
- Numerical questions
- Theory answers
- Revision
- Checking answers
Subject-Wise Strategy for CA Intermediate PYQs
Advanced Accounting
Accounting requires practice rather than passive reading.
When solving PYQs, compare your complete working with the solution.
Focus on:
- Accounting treatment
- Adjustments
- Journal entries
- Working notes
- Calculations
- Presentation
A correct final answer with incorrect working is still a warning sign.
Corporate and Other Laws
Law questions should be approached conceptually.
Instead of memorising an old answer, understand:
- The relevant provision
- Conditions
- Exceptions
- Application
- Legal reasoning
- Important keywords
If the facts of the question change, your understanding should still allow you to answer.
Taxation
Taxation requires special care when using old question papers.
A previous year question can still be useful for understanding the concept, but tax provisions, amendments and applicable assessment years can change.
Therefore, always cross-check an old Taxation question against the applicable ICAI study material and statutory updates for your examination attempt.
Never assume that an old tax answer is automatically valid for your current examination.
Cost and Management Accounting
For Costing, practice is the key.
Maintain a notebook for:
- Formula mistakes
- Calculation errors
- Wrong methods
- Questions taking too much time
- Chapters requiring revision
Try to solve questions independently before looking at the solution.
Auditing and Ethics
Auditing requires conceptual understanding and answer-writing practice.
When analysing PYQs, pay attention to:
- Keywords
- Provisions
- Conceptual differences
- Question requirements
- Answer structure
Don’t write everything you know.
Write what the question actually asks.
Financial Management and Strategic Management
This paper requires two different approaches.
For Financial Management, focus on numerical practice, formulas and speed.
For Strategic Management, focus on:
- Concepts
- Keywords
- Application
- Structured answers
- Understanding the question requirement
PYQs help you understand the difference between merely knowing a topic and actually applying it.
How Many CA Intermediate Previous Year Papers Should You Solve?
There is no magic number.
Solving five papers properly is much more useful than downloading twenty-five papers and never analysing them.
A practical approach is:
| Preparation Stage | PYQ Strategy |
| Less than 40% syllabus | Topic-wise PYQs |
| 40–60% syllabus | Chapter-wise PYQs |
| 60–80% syllabus | Mixed PYQs |
| 80–100% syllabus | Full-length papers |
| Final revision | Recent PYQs + Mocks + Mistake Book |
Start with recent papers and gradually move backwards.
How to Solve CA Intermediate PYQs Correctly
Step 1: Attempt Without Notes
Keep your study material aside.
Don’t search for solutions.
Try the paper honestly.
Step 2: Use a Timer
Timed practice is essential for full-length papers.
Step 3: Check Every Answer
Don’t only calculate the final score.
Analyse individual questions.
Step 4: Record Your Mistakes
Use a simple tracker:
| Mistake | Reason | Action |
| Concept error | Topic not clear | Revise concept |
| Calculation error | Carelessness | More practice |
| Memory error | Provision forgotten | Revise notes |
| Time issue | Question took too long | Improve selection |
| Reading error | Misunderstood requirement | Read carefully |
Step 5: Reattempt Difficult Questions
After revision, solve the question again.
This is where real improvement happens.
PYQs vs Mock Tests: Which Is Better?
You should not choose one over the other.
Use both.
| PYQs | Mock Tests |
| Actual past exam papers | Practice examination |
| Show ICAI’s historical approach | Test present preparation |
| Help understand question style | Help test time management |
| Useful for concept analysis | Useful for exam simulation |
| Based on actual attempts | Created for practice |
Think of PYQs as your learning tool and mock tests as your performance test.
Don’t Ignore ICAI Revision Test Papers
Previous year papers are important, but they should not become your only source of practice.
The ICAI Board of Studies provides a wider student-resource ecosystem that includes Previous Year Question Papers, Revision Test Papers, Suggested Answers, Mock Test Papers and other academic resources.
A strong preparation combination is:
ICAI Study Material + RTPs + PYQs + Mock Tests + Revision + Mistake Analysis
This gives you a much stronger preparation base than relying on a single question bank.
How to Use PYQs in the Last 30 Days
If your syllabus is substantially complete, your final month should increasingly move towards testing and revision.
| Days | Focus |
| 1–7 | Weak chapters + topic-wise PYQs |
| 8–14 | Recent PYQs |
| 15–21 | Full-length timed papers |
| 22–25 | Mistake analysis |
| 26–28 | More full papers |
| 29–30 | Final revision |
Don’t follow this schedule blindly if your syllabus is incomplete.
If you still have major chapters left, completing the concepts should remain your priority.
Should You Solve Old CA Intermediate Question Papers?
Yes, but carefully.
Older papers can be excellent for:
- Concept practice
- Numerical practice
- Answer-writing practice
- Understanding question framing
However, always check:
- Current syllabus
- Applicable amendments
- Applicable accounting standards
- Tax provisions
- Current paper structure
This is particularly important for Taxation.
An old question can be useful for practice while its old legal position may no longer apply.
How CA Mentoring Program Can Help
Solving a paper is only half the process.
The other half is understanding what your score is telling you.
If you score 55 in one paper and 68 in another, don’t just look at the difference.
Ask:
- Which chapters caused the difference?
- Did you make fewer calculation errors?
- Did you manage your time better?
- Did you attempt more questions?
- Which mistakes are repeating?
Students looking for additional academic guidance and mentoring support can explore CA Mentoring Program at CA Mentoring Program.
The objective should not be to complete the largest number of papers.
The objective should be to become better after every paper.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Solving PYQs
1. Solving Without a Timer
This can give you an unrealistic idea of your preparation.
2. Looking at Solutions Too Quickly
Give yourself enough time to think.
3. Memorising Old Answers
Understand the concept instead.
4. Ignoring Small Mistakes
A repeated “silly mistake” can cost significant marks across a full examination.
5. Using Outdated Tax Questions Blindly
Always check current applicability.
6. Focusing Only on Marks
Your score matters, but your mistake pattern matters more during preparation.
A Simple Weekly CA Intermediate PYQ Routine
A simple routine can make PYQs much easier to manage.
Monday to Thursday
Study the planned topics and solve related PYQs.
Friday
Review mistakes from the week.
Saturday
Attempt a mixed test or selected PYQs under time pressure.
Sunday
Analyse the test and prepare your next revision list.
As the examination gets closer, gradually increase full-length paper practice.
Final Takeaway
CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers are not simply PDFs that you download before the examination.
They are one of the best ways to understand how your preparation performs under real examination conditions.
Start with the latest papers.
Use the official ICAI links.
Attempt papers honestly.
Use a timer.
Analyse every mistake.
Revise the weak areas.
Then reattempt difficult questions.
Most importantly, don’t try to predict the next ICAI paper simply by looking at repeated questions.
The purpose of PYQs is not to tell you exactly what will appear.
The purpose is to make you comfortable with how ICAI tests concepts.
If you combine official ICAI study material, Revision Test Papers, previous year papers, mock tests and consistent revision, your preparation becomes much more structured.
For the latest official question papers, always check the ICAI Intermediate question-paper page because new papers and resources may be added as they become available.
Your target should not be:
“I solved 20 papers.”
Your target should be:
“Every paper I solved made me better than the previous one.”
That is the real value of CA Intermediate Previous Year Question Papers.
