CA ANZ Core 1

It is aimed at graduates entering the CA Program who have completed an accredited qualification and are working towards Chartered Accountant status, usually while employed in public practice, commerce, government or not-for-profit organisations. It is a foundational technical module rather than a specialisation.

Expect a mix of multiple-choice questions, short-answer tasks and extended-response or case-based questions that test application and professional judgement. CA ANZ publishes the current assessment format, weighting and any examination conditions on its official website, so confirm details there before you plan your study.

Most candidates find the content familiar but the application harder. University exams often reward recall; Core 1 asks you to select relevant standards, apply them to messy scenarios and communicate a clear recommendation. Breadth across all domains matters, because weak areas are exposed in integrated case questions.

Retake and supplementary assessment rules, including any limits on attempts or additional enrolment conditions, are set by CA ANZ and can change. Check the current policy on the official CA ANZ website rather than relying on what colleagues did in previous years.

Plan for consistent weekly study over the whole module rather than a final cram, since content accumulates. A realistic pattern is several short sessions each week for reading and note-making, plus longer blocks for practice questions and case analysis, with extra time in the weeks before assessment.

Follow the official module sequence first, because later material often assumes earlier concepts. If you are revising, secure financial reporting and management accounting foundations early, then layer in finance, IT, audit, tax, law and ethics, finishing with integrated practice that mixes domains.

Cramming technical rules without practising application, ignoring weaker domains, misreading question requirements in extended responses, and running out of time because practice was untimed. Poor structure in written answers also costs marks, so rehearse concise, well-signposted responses.

Attempt them closed-book and timed, then mark against the requirements rather than the model answer alone. Keep an error log noting whether a mistake was knowledge, application or exam technique, and revisit those themes. This independent page is not an official question source, so use it alongside official materials.

The program serves both countries, so you should be alert to differences in tax, law and reporting frameworks. Confirm which jurisdictional content applies to your cohort through official CA ANZ materials, and avoid assuming a rule from one country transfers unchanged to the other.