ACCA 2027 · Syllabus mapping
ACCA 2027 syllabus mapping, paper by paper
Each of the 16 new ACCA papers, section by section, with the key changes against the paper it replaces. Use the summary table to compare scope at a glance, then open any paper for its full learning outcomes and topic-by-topic comparison.
Summary
All 16 papers compared
| Code | Paper | Level | Replaces | Sections | Learning outcomes | Topics added | Topics removed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Accounts Preparation | Foundations | FA/FFA | 7 | 44 | 2 | 14 |
| F2 | Management Information and Costing | Foundations | MA/FMA | 7 | 40 | 0 | 11 |
| F3 | Decision Making with Data | Foundations | New | 6 | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| K1 | Financial Accounting | Knowledge | FA/F3 | 7 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| K2 | Management Accounting | Knowledge | MA/F2 | 8 | 31 | 1 | 13 |
| K3 | Business Law | Knowledge | LW/F4 | 6 | 29 | 4 | 9 |
| E1 | Taxation | Expertise | TX/F6 | 6 | 29 | 1 | 3 |
| E2 | Financial Reporting | Expertise | FR/F7 | 5 | 24 | 4 | 6 |
| E3 | Audit, Risk and Control | Expertise | AA/F8 | 5 | 26 | 15 | 7 |
| E4 | Finance and Investment | Expertise | FM/F9 | 8 | 35 | 10 | 8 |
| E5 | Performance with Data Analysis | Expertise | PM/F5 | 7 | 34 | 7 | 11 |
| S1 | Business and Sustainability Reporting | Strategic Professional (Core) | SBR | 6 | 26 | 9 | 8 |
| S2 | Strategic Business Leader | Strategic Professional (Core) | SBL | 6 | 27 | 5 | 1 |
| SAA | Audit and Assurance Professional | Strategic Professional (Options) | AAA | 6 | 24 | 11 | 10 |
| SCF | Corporate Finance Professional | Strategic Professional (Options) | AFM | 6 | 24 | 11 | 11 |
| SDS | Data Science Professional | Strategic Professional (Options) | New | 7 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| SPI | Performance and Insights Professional | Strategic Professional (Options) | APM | 5 | 62 | 7 | 3 |
| STA | Taxation Advisory Professional | Strategic Professional (Options) | ATX | 5 | 113 | 0 | 0 |
“Topics added” and “removed” count rows marked new/added or removed/dropped in each paper’s syllabus comparison. Whole-section removals count once.
Foundations
F1 Accounts Preparation
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: FA/FFA — Financial Accounting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Accounting Principles | A1 The purpose of accounting A2 Accounting concepts and the qualitative characteristics A3 Types of business entity | 7 |
| B | Double-Entry Bookkeeping | B1 The accounting equation and double-entry bookkeeping B2 Books of prime entry | 6 |
| C | Journal Entries and Ledger Accounts | C1 Journal entries C2 Ledger accounts | 4 |
| D | Recording Transactions | D1 Sales and purchases D2 Payroll D3 Cash and cash equivalents D4 Non-current assets | 13 |
| E | Reconciliations | E1 Purpose of reconciliations E2 Bank reconciliation E3 Control account reconciliations | 6 |
| F | Trial Balance and Errors | F1 Trial balance F2 Correction of errors | 5 |
| G | Sole Trader Financial Statements | G1 Preparing sole trader financial statements | 3 |
Key changes vs FA/FFA
- Scope narrowed to sole trader only — no limited company content, no consolidations, no interpretation ratios, no cash flows
- Payroll added as new standalone subsection (D2)
- Petty cash expanded with imprest vs non-imprest systems (D3)
- Exam format: Section A expanded from 35 to 45 OTs; MTQs reduced from 2×15-mark to 1×10-mark
- Consolidation MTQ removed entirely
Foundations
F2 Management Information and Costing
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: MA/FMA — Management Accounting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Nature and Purpose of Management Accounting | A1 Management accounting and the organisation | 3 |
| B | Cost Classification and Behaviour | B1 Cost classification B2 Cost behaviour | 6 |
| C | Materials and Labour Costs | C1 Materials C2 Labour | 6 |
| D | Overhead Allocation and Absorption | D1 Absorption costing D2 Marginal costing | 7 |
| E | Costing Methods | E1 Job and batch costing E2 Process costing E3 Service costing | 7 |
| F | Budgeting | F1 Budget preparation F2 Budget types | 5 |
| G | Standard Costing and Basic Variances | G1 Standard costing G2 Basic variances | 6 |
Key changes vs MA/FMA
- Scope narrowed — advanced variance analysis, investment appraisal, and performance measurement removed
- Focus on core costing techniques: absorption, marginal, process, job/batch, service
- Budgeting simplified to functional budgets and basic types
- Standard costing limited to basic variances only
Foundations
F3 Decision Making with Data
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: None — entirely new paper · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Data and Information in Business | A1 The role of data and information | 4 |
| B | Data Collection and Organisation | B1 Data types and collection B2 Data organisation | 6 |
| C | Spreadsheet Skills for Analysis | C1 Spreadsheet functions | 4 |
| D | Statistical Concepts and Data Analysis | D1 Descriptive statistics D2 Correlation and trends D3 Index numbers and probability | 10 |
| E | Presenting and Interpreting Data | E1 Data visualisation E2 Report writing | 7 |
| F | Data-Informed Decision Making | F1 Decision making frameworks F2 Data ethics and limitations | 7 |
Key changes
- Entirely new paper — no direct ACCA predecessor
- Introduces data literacy and analytics at entry level
- Covers spreadsheet skills, basic statistics, data visualisation
- Includes data ethics and decision-making frameworks
Knowledge
K1 Financial Accounting
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: FA/FFA — Financial Accounting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Context and Purpose of Financial Reporting | A1 Regulatory framework | 3 |
| B | The Qualitative Characteristics of Financial Information | B1 Qualitative characteristics | 3 |
| C | The Use of Double-Entry and Accounting Systems | C1 Double-entry bookkeeping | 4 |
| D | Recording Transactions and Events | D1 Accounting for transactions | 7 |
| E | Preparing Financial Statements | E1 Single entity statements E2 Simple consolidated statements | 8 |
| F | Interpreting Financial Statements | F1 Ratio analysis | 5 |
| G | Digital Technology in Accounting | G1 Technology in financial accounting | 4 |
Key changes vs FA/F3
- Sole-trader content moved down to F1 Foundations
- Focus is now entirely on limited companies
- New Section G: Digital Technology in Accounting (AI, cloud, cybersecurity)
- Consolidation scope limited to single subsidiary and associates
- Same exam format as current FA: 35 OTs + 2 MTQs
Knowledge
K2 Management Accounting
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: MA/FMA — Management Accounting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Nature and Purpose of Management Accounting | A1 Accounting for management | 3 |
| B | Cost Accounting Techniques | B1 Costing methods | 4 |
| C | Budgeting | C1 Budget preparation and control | 5 |
| D | Standard Costing and Variance Analysis | D1 Variance analysis | 4 |
| E | Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis | E1 CVP analysis | 4 |
| F | Short-Term Decision Making | F1 Relevant costing | 3 |
| G | Performance Measurement | G1 Performance measures | 4 |
| H | Digital Technology in Management Accounting | H1 Technology in management accounting | 4 |
Key changes vs MA/F2
- Basic costing content moved down to F2 Foundations
- New Section H: Digital Technology in Management Accounting
- ABC introduced at this level
- Performance measurement section retained with Balanced Scorecard
- Same exam format as current MA
Knowledge
K3 Business Law
Format: CBE · 2 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: LW (F4) — Corporate and Business Law · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Essential Elements of the Legal System | A1 Law and the legal system | 4 |
| B | The Law of Obligations | B1 Contract law B2 The law of torts | 7 |
| C | Employment Law | C1 Employment relationships | 4 |
| D | The Formation and Constitution of Business Organisations | D1 Company law D2 Other business structures | 7 |
| E | Capital and the Financing of Companies | E1 Company finance | 3 |
| F | Corporate Governance, Ethics and Data Protection | F1 Governance and ethics | 4 |
Key changes vs LW/F4
- Moved from Applied Skills (LW/F4) to Knowledge level
- New Section F: Corporate Governance, Ethics and Data Protection including GDPR
- Exam format changes: 45 OTs + 1 MTQ (vs LW's 70 OTs + 5 MTQs)
- Scope slightly streamlined from LW
Expertise
E1 Taxation
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: TX (F6) — Taxation · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The UK Tax System and its Administration | A1 Tax system overview | 3 |
| B | Income Tax | B1 Income tax computation B2 Employment income B3 Trading income | 11 |
| C | Capital Gains Tax | C1 CGT computation | 4 |
| D | Corporation Tax | D1 Corporation tax computation | 5 |
| E | Value Added Tax | E1 VAT | 4 |
| F | National Insurance Contributions | F1 NICs | 2 |
Key changes vs TX/F6
- Core TX syllabus retained with updated rates and legislation
- Exam format moves to session CBE (4x/year) from on-demand
- Section C introduces constructed response questions (2×20 marks)
- Available in jurisdiction-specific variants (UK, Global)
Expertise
E2 Financial Reporting
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: FR (F7) — Financial Reporting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Financial Reporting Framework | A1 Regulatory framework | 3 |
| B | Accounting for Transactions in Financial Statements | B1 Application of accounting standards | 6 |
| C | Preparing Financial Statements | C1 Single entity statements C2 Consolidated financial statements | 7 |
| D | Analysing and Interpreting Financial Statements | D1 Analysis and interpretation | 4 |
| E | Sustainability Reporting | E1 Sustainability | 4 |
Key changes vs FR/F7
- New Section E: Sustainability Reporting (IFRS S1, IFRS S2, integrated reporting)
- Group accounting expanded to include complex structures and mid-year disposals
- IFRS 16 Leases included (was added to FR syllabus recently)
- Exam format moves to session CBE with constructed response questions
Expertise
E3 Audit, Risk and Control
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: AA (F8) — Audit and Assurance · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Audit Framework and Regulation | A1 The nature and purpose of audit | 4 |
| B | Risk Assessment and Internal Control | B1 Risk assessment B2 Internal control B3 Enterprise risk management | 10 |
| C | Audit Evidence and Procedures | C1 Audit evidence | 4 |
| D | Audit Review and Reporting | D1 Review and reporting | 4 |
| E | Technology in Audit | E1 Audit technology | 4 |
Key changes vs AA/F8
- Expanded scope: adds enterprise risk management (Section B3)
- New Section E: Technology in Audit (data analytics, AI, cybersecurity)
- COSO framework added for internal control evaluation
- IT controls (general and application) given greater emphasis
- Exam format moves to session CBE with constructed response
Expertise
E4 Finance and Investment
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: FM (F9) — Financial Management · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Financial Management Function | A1 The role of financial management | 4 |
| B | Working Capital Management | B1 Working capital | 4 |
| C | Investment Appraisal | C1 Investment decisions | 5 |
| D | Business Finance | D1 Sources of finance | 5 |
| E | Cost of Capital | E1 Cost of capital calculations | 5 |
| F | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Theory | F1 Investment and portfolio theory | 5 |
| G | Risk Management | G1 Financial risk management | 3 |
| H | Sustainable Finance | H1 ESG and sustainable finance | 4 |
Key changes vs FM/F9
- New Section F: Investment Analysis and Portfolio Theory (CAPM application, EMH, valuations)
- New Section H: Sustainable Finance (ESG, green bonds, sustainability-linked loans)
- CAPM calculation expanded from cost of capital to investment analysis context
- Core FM content retained (working capital, investment appraisal, business finance, risk management)
- E4 and E5 linked to BSc university pathway — these are the university partner papers
Expertise
E5 Performance with Data Analysis
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: PM (F5) — Performance Management · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Information, Technologies and Systems | A1 Information systems | 4 |
| B | Specialist Cost and Management Accounting Techniques | B1 Cost techniques | 4 |
| C | Decision-Making Techniques | C1 Decision making | 5 |
| D | Budgeting and Control | D1 Budgeting D2 Quantitative analysis | 7 |
| E | Standard Costing and Variances | E1 Advanced variance analysis | 3 |
| F | Performance Measurement and Control | F1 Performance measurement | 5 |
| G | Data Analytics for Performance Management | G1 Data analytics | 6 |
Key changes vs PM/F5
- Major new Section G: Data Analytics for Performance Management
- Includes AI, machine learning, predictive/prescriptive analytics
- Data visualisation for performance reporting added
- Core PM content retained but enhanced
- E5 linked to BSc university pathway (university partner paper)
Strategic Professional · Core
S1 Business and Sustainability Reporting
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: SBR — Strategic Business Reporting · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Financial Reporting Framework | A1 Framework and standards | 3 |
| B | Reporting the Financial Performance of Entities | B1 Complex IFRS application | 5 |
| C | Financial Statements of Groups | C1 Group reporting | 4 |
| D | Interpreting Financial Statements | D1 Analysis | 4 |
| E | Sustainability Reporting | E1 Sustainability standards and frameworks | 6 |
| F | Professional Skills | F1 Professional skills | 4 |
Key changes vs SBR
- Major new Section E: Sustainability Reporting (IFRS S1, IFRS S2, GRI, TCFD, SASB)
- Sustainability integrated across the paper, not isolated
- Connectivity between financial and sustainability reporting emphasised
- Assurance of sustainability information included
- Professional skills assessed throughout (20 marks)
- Paper renamed from "Strategic Business Reporting" to include "Sustainability"
Strategic Professional · Core
S2 Strategic Business Leader
Format: Session CBE · 4 hours · 100 marks · Replaces: SBL — Strategic Business Leader · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Leadership and Governance | A1 Leadership and governance | 5 |
| B | Strategy and Innovation | B1 Strategic management | 5 |
| C | Risk Management | C1 Risk | 4 |
| D | Technology and Data | D1 Technology | 4 |
| E | Financial Analysis for Strategic Decisions | E1 Financial strategy | 4 |
| F | Professional Skills | F1 Professional skills | 5 |
Key changes vs SBL
- Greater emphasis on sustainability strategy
- Digital transformation and AI in strategic decisions added
- Cybersecurity strategy included
- Core SBL structure and case-study format retained
- Professional skills continue to carry 20% of marks
Strategic Professional · Options
SAA Audit and Assurance Professional
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: AAA — Advanced Audit and Assurance · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Regulatory Environment and Professional Ethics | A1 Regulatory and ethical framework | 4 |
| B | Planning and Risk Assessment | B1 Planning complex audits | 4 |
| C | Audit Evidence and Procedures | C1 Advanced audit procedures | 4 |
| D | Audit Review and Reporting | D1 Reporting | 4 |
| E | Assurance Engagements and Sustainability Assurance | E1 Assurance | 4 |
| F | Professional Skills | F1 Professional skills | 4 |
Key changes vs AAA
- New: Sustainability assurance (ISSA 5000) added in Section E
- Data analytics and technology in audit given greater emphasis
- ISQM 1 and ISQM 2 replace ISQC 1
- Core AAA content retained
Strategic Professional · Options
SCF Corporate Finance Professional
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: AFM — Advanced Financial Management · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Role and Responsibility of the Senior Financial Adviser | A1 The role of senior financial adviser | 4 |
| B | Advanced Investment Appraisal | B1 Investment decisions | 5 |
| C | Acquisitions and Mergers | C1 M&A | 4 |
| D | Corporate Reconstruction and Reorganisation | D1 Reconstruction | 3 |
| E | Treasury and Risk Management | E1 Risk management | 4 |
| F | Professional Skills | F1 Professional skills | 4 |
Key changes vs AFM
- Sustainable finance integrated into Section A
- FinTech in treasury management added
- Core AFM content retained
- Paper rebranded from AFM to SCF
Strategic Professional · Options
SDS Data Science Professional
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: None — entirely new paper · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Business Problem Identification and Data Sourcing | A1 Problem identification | 4 |
| B | Mathematical and Statistical Methods | B1 Quantitative methods | 6 |
| C | Programming for Data Science | C1 Programming | 5 |
| D | Data Science Modelling Techniques | D1 Modelling | 5 |
| E | Accounting and Finance Applications | E1 Applications | 5 |
| F | Governance, Ethics and Risk Management | F1 Governance and ethics | 6 |
| G | Data Storytelling and Communication | G1 Data storytelling | 5 |
Key changes
- Entirely new paper — no ACCA predecessor
- Covers Python and SQL evaluation (not writing from scratch)
- Machine learning: supervised (classification, regression) and unsupervised (clustering)
- Accounting and finance applications throughout (audit, tax, management accounting, finance)
- Mandatory governance/ethics component in Section A
- Data storytelling always assessed
Strategic Professional · Options
SPI Performance and Insights Professional
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: APM — Advanced Performance Management · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Strategic Management and Value Creation | A1 Strategic management accounting A2 Performance hierarchy A3 Financial performance measurement A4 Non-financial performance measurement A5 Sustainability | 23 |
| B | Performance Optimisation | B1 Budgetary planning and control B2 Performance and reward B3 Performance improvement models B4 Performance in specific contexts | 20 |
| C | Performance Reporting | C1 Management reports | 4 |
| D | Technology and Data Analytics | D1 Technology and information systems D2 Data analytics | 11 |
| E | Professional Skills | E1 Professional skills | 4 |
Key changes vs APM
- APM Section F (Employability and technology skills) removed
- Many combined "apply and evaluate" outcomes split into separate outcomes
- New "recommend" outcomes throughout (A3, A4, B1, B2, C1, D1)
- Data analytics (Section D) nearly all raised from [2] to [3]
- Section D renamed from "Data science" to "Data analytics"
- BCG matrix and Porter's Five Forces removed from A1
Strategic Professional · Options
STA Taxation Advisory Professional
Format: Session CBE · 3 hours 15 minutes · 100 marks · Replaces: ATX-UK — Advanced Taxation (United Kingdom) · Pass mark: 50%
| Section | Title | Subsections | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Taxation of Individuals | A1 Personal and family tax planning A2 Employment income A3 Capital taxes | 30 |
| B | Taxation of Businesses and Corporate Entities | B1 Owner managed businesses B2 Single companies B3 Groups of companies B4 Expansion, restructuring and winding up | 44 |
| C | Overseas Tax Issues | C1 Individuals C2 Companies | 18 |
| D | Tax Compliance and Ethical Obligations | D1 Tax compliance D2 Ethical obligations | 8 |
| E | Professional Skills | E1 Communication E2 Analysis and evaluation E3 Scepticism E4 Commercial acumen | 13 |
Key changes vs ATX
- Restructured from tax-type-based layout (ATX-UK: IT, CGT, IHT, CT, Stamp taxes, VAT) to scenario-type-based layout (STA: Individuals, Businesses, Overseas, Compliance+ethics)
- ATX-UK's 5 separate ethics marks in Section A removed — ethics now explicit in Section D2 with named learning outcomes
- Section E Employability and technology skills removed entirely (consistent with 2027 qualification redesign)
- Stamp taxes no longer a standalone section — integrated contextually in business and overseas sections
- Trust content significantly narrowed to discretionary trusts only (ATX-UK had extensive trust type distinctions)
- FIG regime replaces remittance basis; long-term UK residence replaces domicile/deemed domicile for IHT
- Off payroll working (IR35) now a named outcome under owner managed businesses
- Finance Act 2026 applies for Sep 2027–Mar 2028 examinations
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