The CA Final November 2026 exams start on Monday, 2 November. Admit cards are on the ICAI portal, so now is the time to sort out your exam day.
This guide covers the paper schedule, what to carry, what is banned, and what to do after the last paper. Every rule here comes from ICAI’s guidance notes for the exam.
CA Final November 2026 Paper Schedule
All papers start at 2:00 PM IST. Paper 6 runs for four hours, and the others run for three.
| Group | Paper | Date | Timing (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Paper 1: Financial Reporting | Monday, 2 November | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Group 1 | Paper 2: Advanced Financial Management | Wednesday, 4 November | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Group 1 | Paper 3: Advanced Auditing, Assurance and Professional Ethics | Friday, 6 November | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Group 2 | Paper 4: Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation | Monday, 9 November | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Group 2 | Paper 5: Indirect Tax Laws | Wednesday, 11 November | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Group 2 | Paper 6: Integrated Business Solutions | Friday, 13 November | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM |
ICAI says there is no change in the schedule if a paper day is declared a public holiday. You can see the full datesheet for all levels in our CA Final November 2026 datesheet.
Before the Exam Day
Print and Check Your Admit Card
ICAI does not send a physical admit card. You must print it from eservices.icai.org, and the printout is what lets you into the hall.
Check these details the moment you print it. If anything is wrong, contact ICAI before the exam, not on the day.
| Detail on the admit card | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Name, registration number and photo | The photo and signature on it must be yours |
| Exam centre and its address | Visit the centre or check the route a day early |
| Group and medium | English or Hindi, as you chose in the form |
| Paper dates and timings | Match them with the schedule above |
Know Your Exam Pattern
The MCQ share is fixed by ICAI for the CA Final papers. Know it before you plan your time.
| Paper | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Papers 1 to 5 | 30 marks of case scenario based MCQs and 70 marks of descriptive questions |
| Paper 6 | Five case studies of 25 marks each, and you attempt any four. Each has 10 marks of MCQs and 15 marks of descriptive questions |
| All MCQs | Compulsory, with no choice and no negative marking, and no reasoning is needed |
| Paper 6 MCQ answers | Marked in the OMR portion on the cover page of the answer sheet |
What to Carry and What to Leave at Home
| Carry | Do not carry |
|---|---|
| Printed admit card | Mobile phone of any kind, even switched off or on silent |
| Pens you are comfortable writing with | Any other electronic gadget, such as a smartwatch or earphones |
| A battery operated calculator that follows ICAI’s limits (see below) | A scientific calculator |
| For Paper 6 only: your own study material in hard form | Material to swap with other candidates, which ICAI does not allow |
ICAI treats even having a mobile phone in the hall as unfair means, and the candidate can be debarred for five years. Leave it at home or with a family member outside the centre.
The Calculator Rule
You may use a battery operated portable calculator with up to 6 functions, 12 digits and two memories. A scientific calculator is not allowed, and using one counts as unfair means.
Paper 6 Is Open Book, With Rules
For Integrated Business Solutions, you can bring your own material in hard form. This includes study materials, practice manuals, ICAI RTPs, text books, bare Acts and your own notes.
You must write the answers in your own handwriting. Pasting answers from reference material is unfair means. Read our IBS law strategy guide for what to carry and how to find law answers fast.
Things That Count as Unfair Means
These are all listed in ICAI’s guidance notes. Avoid every one of them, even by accident.
| Action | Why it is a risk |
|---|---|
| Having a mobile phone or electronic gadget in the hall | Counts as unfair means even when switched off or silent |
| Writing your roll number anywhere except the space provided | Treated as unfair means |
| Writing marks or words such as “OM”, “Sri”, “Jesus” or “786” in the answer book | Treated as unfair means |
| Using a calculator that breaks ICAI’s limits | Treated as unfair means |
| Pasting answers from reference material in Paper 6 | Treated as unfair means |
The centre superintendent can expel a candidate from the hall, and ICAI can take disciplinary action or withhold the result.
Your Exam Day Checklist
The Night Before
Keep everything ready in one bag so the morning stays calm.
- Printed admit card, with the details checked
- Two or three working pens and a tested calculator
- For Paper 6, your tabbed books and notes
- Your route to the centre, with extra time for traffic
In the Exam Hall
These are practical tips, not ICAI rules.
- Read the whole paper once before you answer anything
- Attempt the MCQs carefully, since there is no negative marking
- Keep the OMR portion neat and match each answer to its question number
- Reserve the last ten minutes to check your answer sheet
After the Last Paper
You can take the question papers, including the MCQs, home after the exams are over. Compare them with the suggested answers when ICAI publishes them.
If a question was out of syllabus or ambiguous, you can send a representation to examfeedback@icai.in within a week of the last paper. It must be in ICAI’s prescribed format. ICAI says the result is likely in December 2026 or January 2027 on icai.nic.in.
Want practice before the first paper? Use our CA Final RTP collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does CA Final start in November 2026?
Paper 1 is on Monday, 2 November 2026, and Paper 6 on Friday, 13 November 2026 closes the exams.
Do I need a printed admit card?
Yes. ICAI sends no physical admit card, so print yours from eservices.icai.org and carry it to every paper.
Which calculator can I use in CA Final?
A battery operated calculator with up to 6 functions, 12 digits and two memories. Scientific calculators are not allowed.
Can I carry my phone to the exam centre?
ICAI does not allow mobile phones in the exam hall. Even having one switched off can be treated as unfair means, so leave it outside.
Is there negative marking in the MCQs?
No. ICAI says there is no negative marking for wrong answers, and the MCQs are compulsory.
Which paper is open book?
Only Paper 6, Integrated Business Solutions. You must still write answers in your own handwriting.
Source: ICAI guidance notes for the Final November 2026 exams.
