1. May 2025 Final Pass Rate Snapshot
First, let’s look at the headline figures:
- Group I: 66,943 appeared; 14,979 passed → 22.38% pass rate.
- Group II: 46,173 appeared; 12,204 passed → 26.43% pass rate.
- Both groups combined: 29,286 appeared; 5,490 passed → 18.75% overall pass rate reddit.com+15livemint.com+15indianexpress.com+15.
Thus, fewer than one in five candidates cleared both groups together. This underlines how tough the CA Final remains.
2. How May 2025 Compares to Past Sessions
Next, context matters. Let’s compare to recent years livemint.com+4finance.careers360.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4:
| Session | Group I | Group II | Both Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 22.38% | 26.43% | 18.75% |
| Nov 2024 | 16.8% | 21.36% | 13.44% |
| May 2024 | 27.35% | 36.35% | 19.88% |
| Nov 2023 | 9.46% | 21.6% | 9.42% |
Clearly, May 2025’s overall pass rate (18.75%) is higher than November 2024 (13.44%), but still slightly below May 2024 (19.88%). Meanwhile, Group II often records stronger scores than Group I.
3. Why the Final Is Still A Challenge
Moreover, the CA Final continues to demand full mastery:
- Candidates need at least 40% in each paper and 50% overall to pass navbharattimes.indiatimes.com+4m.economictimes.com+4indiatimes.com+4.
- Coverage spans advanced accounting, law, tax, audit, and case studies—all at professional depth.
- Low combined pass rates highlight the toughest hurdle for those aiming to qualify on a single sitting.
This requires thorough preparation, exam strategy, and time management.
4. TA Perspectives & Aspirant Reactions
Turning to social media and forums:
- A post in r/CharteredAccountants called the pass rate “very good” given recent trends, and offered encouragement to those who didn’t clear m.economictimes.com+14reddit.com+14indianexpress.com+14indiatimes.com+4indianexpress.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4livemint.com+5finance.careers360.com+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5.
- Another popular comment noted: “Congrats to all those passed. And all the best for those who couldn’t… Trust me the passing percentage is going to be superb in 2024, 2025 & 2026.” reddit.com
Still, many acknowledge the CA Final as one of the most demanding professional exams in India.
5. Toppers: Stand-Out Achievers
From the May 2025 exams:
- AIR 1: Rajan Kabra scored 516/600 (~86%) m.economictimes.com+14caclubindia.com+14finance.careers360.com+14.
- AIR 2: Nishtha Bothra – 503 marks (83.8%).
- AIR 3: Manav R. Shah – 493 marks (82.2%).
Top performers consistently score above 80%, showing remarkable consistency and depth of knowledge.
6. Group-Wise Notes: Where Aspirants Need Focus
Breaking down performance:
- Group I (Accounting, Audit, etc.): Lowest pass percentage at 22.38%.
- This group remains a major barrier.
- Group II (Tax, IBSC): 26.43% pass rate—stronger but still rigorous.
- Most failures occur in one group only, reinforcing the need for split focus.
→ Aspirants must craft a strategy to balance both groups, taking one after the other if better for preparation.
7. Placement Impact of Results
Next, these results unlock placements:
- The ICAI campus placement drive opens July 10–20, 2025. Only passed candidates can register m.economictimes.com+4indianexpress.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4indiatimes.com+9indianexpress.com+9vsijaipur.com+9finance.careers360.com+3shiksha.com+3caclubindia.com+3navbharattimes.indiatimes.com+8m.economictimes.com+8indiatimes.com+8hindustantimes.com+6caclubindia.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
- Large accounting, consulting, and audit firms attend.
- Getting a roll number before placement is vital.
Therefore, results matter not just for certification—but also for early career prospects.
8. Foundation and Intermediate Results
Results from other levels matter too:
- Foundation: 15.09% pass rate m.economictimes.comm.economictimes.com+6hindustantimes.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
- Intermediate:
- Group I – 14.67%; Group II – 21.51%; Both – 13.22% finance.careers360.com+4livemint.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4.
All show similar patterns—Group II better, and combined group success remains low.
9. What Candidates Should Do Next
Moving forward:
- Passed both groups: Register for ICAI membership, start articleship or placement participation.
- Passed one group: Carry forward and plan to tackle the other in next exams.
- Cleared none: Register early for the next session; identify weak areas and consider coaching .
Internally tracking your position helps for strategic preparation.
10. Tips to Improve Next Time
For future aspirants:
- Understand weak areas: Use scoring trend data to prioritize sub-sections.
- Group-wise focus: Separate study blocks for each group, not jumbled.
- Revise regularly: Maintain accuracy in laws and advanced standards.
- Attempt mocks: Develop speed and time management in answering skilled-Requires.
- Mental resilience: Low pass rates are stressful—mindset matters.
Internal link to deeper study strategies section (#prep-tips).
11. Broader Examination Trends
In summary:
- May sessions often perform better than Nov, possibly due to summer study patterns.
- But some years (e.g., May 2024) saw pass rates drop sub-20% too finance.careers360.com+1indiatimes.com+1.
- For foundation and inter, the trend is similar: slight fluctuation, consistent challenge.
Candidates must prepare for a consistently tough exam—not a rare anomaly.
12. Conclusion: Read the Numbers, Plan the Path
In short:
- CA Final May 2025 pass rate stands at 18.75% overall—challenging but slightly improved.
- Numbers reflect the stringent standards of ICAI.
- Aspirants need strategic preparation, mental strength, and incremental growth.
Congratulations to those who passed. For others: analyse, regroup, and prepare smartly. ICAI offers the chance again. Your goal remains in sight—just plan it well.
