A practical summary: The first two years of CA after Class 12 cover Foundation registration and exam (Year 1), then Intermediate coaching and first exam attempt (Year 2). This guide explains each stage clearly: what happens, in what order, and what your child needs from you at each point.
Why This Guide Exists
Most resources on CA are written for students. But parents often have questions that students do not think to ask: How long will this take? What does the registration process look like? When does the practical training happen? Is this a realistic path for my child's specific situation?
This guide answers those questions as straightforwardly as possible, using the current ICAI New Scheme (as of 2026). All facts here are drawn from ICAI's official Prospectus and guidelines.
Before Class 12 Ends: Registration and Early Preparation
One of the first things to know is that your child can register for CA Foundation after Class 10 is complete. They do not need to wait for Class 12 results. Registration is done through the ICAI online portal (icai.org), and the fee for Foundation registration is Rs. 9,000. Once registered, ICAI sends the study material, and the student becomes eligible to begin preparation.
Registering early, during Class 11 or early Class 12, means your child can start coaching and build the Foundation concepts while still in school. They will not be able to sit the Foundation exam until they have completed Class 12, but the preparation time starts from registration. For students who register in Class 11, this gives them 12 to 18 months of preparation before their first exam window.
Read more about early registration and how it fits around school: CA Foundation in Class 11 or 12: Registration, Preparation, and Exam Timing.
After Class 12 Boards: The First Exam Window
CA Foundation exams are held three times a year: in January, May, and September. After Class 12 boards, your child's first eligible window depends on when they registered and when they completed their boards.
Students who registered early and completed school coaching by April may be able to attempt the May window. Those who prefer more preparation time typically aim for September. There is no penalty for waiting for a later window. The preparation quality matters far more than the speed of the first attempt.
Foundation has four papers (400 marks total): Accounting (100 marks, subjective), Business Laws (100 marks, subjective), Quantitative Aptitude (100 marks, objective with negative marking), and Business Economics (100 marks, objective with negative marking). To pass, your child needs at least 40 in each paper and 200 in aggregate. For a complete subject breakdown: CA Foundation Syllabus: Complete Paper-wise Breakdown.
What Foundation Coaching Looks Like
CA Foundation coaching typically runs for 4 to 5 months. Classes cover all four papers, usually in daily sessions of 2 to 3 hours. A good coaching programme includes chapter tests after each topic, full mock exams before the actual exam date, and ICAI study material as the primary reference.
Your child will need to study outside class hours as well: solving problems, revising notes, and doing mock exams at home. The coaching is teaching time; consolidation happens through independent study. Students who only attend class without studying at home typically find the preparation falls short.
For parents helping their child choose a coaching centre: How to Choose a CA Coaching Centre in Bangalore.
After Foundation: The Move to Intermediate
Once Foundation is cleared, your child can register for CA Intermediate. The Intermediate registration fee is Rs. 18,000. Study material is provided by ICAI after registration.
Intermediate has 6 papers across two groups:
- Group 1: Advanced Accounting, Corporate and Other Laws, Taxation (Income Tax + GST)
- Group 2: Cost and Management Accounting, Auditing and Ethics, Financial Management and Strategic Management
Students can attempt both groups together in a single exam window, or one group at a time across separate windows. Both groups must be cleared to complete Intermediate. For help deciding which group to attempt first: CA Intermediate Group 1 vs Group 2: Which to Attempt First?
Year 2: Coaching for Intermediate and First Exam Attempt
Intermediate coaching for each group typically runs 3 to 4 months. Many students complete coaching for one group and attempt it before beginning coaching for the second group. Others do both groups in a single coaching cycle and attempt them together.
The papers are more advanced than Foundation, and the syllabus is wider. Subjects like Income Tax, GST, and Auditing require a level of conceptual depth that Foundation did not. Regular problem-solving and answer-writing practice are even more critical at this level.
Pass rates for CA Intermediate nationally are typically 15–30% per group per session. This reflects the standard of the exam, not the ceiling of what is possible. Students who prepare with structure and purpose (solving enough problems, writing enough answers, attempting mock exams under time pressure) do clear, often in one or two attempts per group.
When Does Articleship Begin?
Under the current ICAI New Scheme, articleship begins after your child clears both groups of CA Intermediate. It is a 2-year practical training period with a registered CA firm. The firm provides a monthly stipend, and ICAI sets minimum stipend guidelines that increase over time.
Articleship is full-time work, typically 5 to 6 days a week in the firm. Your child will be working during the day and studying for CA Final in the evenings and on weekends. ICAI also allows study leave before exam dates.
This is the phase many parents find hard to picture beforehand. The balance between firm work and CA Final preparation is real and requires planning. It is also the phase where the subjects start making practical sense: your child is no longer studying concepts in the abstract, but seeing them applied in a real firm every day.
What the First Two Years Typically Look Like in Practice
For a student who registers during Class 12 and clears Foundation in their first or second attempt:
- Year 1 (Class 12 + post-boards): Foundation registration, coaching (5 months), exam attempt in May or September, result and possible second attempt if needed
- Year 2: Intermediate registration after Foundation result, coaching for Group 1 or both groups (3–4 months per group), first Intermediate exam attempt, working toward clearing both groups
By the end of Year 2, your child will have completed Foundation, registered for Intermediate, and attempted at least one group. Once both groups are cleared, articleship begins and CA Final preparation follows. That is the shape of the full journey, and Year 2 is where the groundwork for it is laid.
What Your Child Needs From You in These Two Years
The CA journey is demanding, and the environment at home matters. The most useful things parents consistently report:
- A quiet study space with regular hours. The discipline of a consistent study routine makes a larger difference than most students or parents expect.
- Patience with exam timelines. Clearing Foundation and Intermediate in one attempt each is possible, but multiple attempts are common and do not indicate failure.
- Not comparing timelines with other students. Every student moves at their own pace based on their preparation and circumstances.
- Asking questions rather than adding pressure. "What did you cover today?" lands differently than "when will you clear this?"
If You Have Questions About Starting in Bangalore
At Superrad Academy, we speak with parents regularly: before enrolment, during coaching, and after results. If you have questions about the Foundation or Intermediate journey, registration timelines, or what our coaching covers, we are happy to talk.
Call or WhatsApp 99168 45250, or fill the enquiry form. There is no commitment involved; just a conversation.