1. Structure

This is the second of the ACCA Fundamentals modules, following on from ACCA Applied Knowledge. It consists of six mandatory subjects which are examined individually. To be awarded the Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business you must successfully complete all six subjects and the Ethics and Professional Skills module. By achieving this diploma you’ll gain the knowledge equivalent of a Bachelor's degree.

Entry requirements

If you have completed the Applied Knowledge level, the final level of AAT or the Foundation Diploma, you will start studying at the Applied Skills Level.

You should check whether you're eligible on the ACCA website and apply for any exemptions launch before you start studying.

Syllabus

Subjects can be sat in any order, but you should sit AA with or after FR. Students can sit up to four subjects in one exam sitting and a maximum of eight per year. You can overlap with Applied Knowledge as long as this level is being completed.

Subjects:

2. Study methods

Do you prefer face-to-face learning? Online in your own time? Have family or work commitments? We have four study methods that suit different learning styles, to fit around your life. You’ll benefit from award-winning tutors, practical learning methods, and ongoing support, even after your exams.

Study methods available in this level

You can be confident in your exams whatever study method you choose, as we offer hundreds of practice questions and marked mock exams. We provide expert support during evenings and weekends, and we have flexible study methods and course start dates.

grid_on Study method comparison table

Timetables - Classroom and Live Online

Please click the link below for timetables of your chosen centre

date_rangeView timetables

3. Exams and sittings

Working towards an exam sitting

You must pass, or be exempt from, all six mandatory exams to complete the Applied Skills level. Each exam requires a score of at least 50% to achieve a pass.

All the subjects, except Corporate and Business Law (LW), are assessed by 3 hour session computer based exams in March, June, September and December sittings. LW (F4) is a two hour exam, and the English and Global variants are assessed as an on demand Computer Based Exam.

Corporate and Business Law (LW), both England and Global exams can be booked with Kaplan.

Book an LW exam

All other Applied Skills exams must be booked with ACCA, but can be sat at Kaplan centres.

Book an exam directly with ACCAlaunch

Exam sitting advice

For more information about which exam to sit when, and in which order, please see our ACCA exam sitting advice page.

How long does it take to pass?

Most students typically take 12-18 months to complete all six subjects in Applied Skills. From there, you can then progress onto the Strategic Professional level to complete the ACCA qualification.

Key dates

*These are Session Computer Based Exams for Applied Skills subjects and Paper Based Exams for Strategic Professional subjects.

Exam timetable

Monday - AA

Tuesday - TX

Wednesday - PM

Thursday - FR

Friday - FM

4. Study materials and delivery costs

Study materials

Classroom, Live Online and OnDemand will receive printed and online study materials, while Distance Learning students have the option of printed or online only.

Materials included in every complete course:

• Study text

  A textbook covering the full subject syllabus with worked examples and activities. We’re an ACCA-approved content provider, so you can be confident you're learning exactly what you need for the exam.

• Integrated workbook (Classroom, Live Online, OnDemand only)

  Helps you work through the syllabus, with room to write your notes. It helps you keep everything in one place to make it easy to study and revise from.

• Exam kit

  Included in the exam kit is our recommended revision approach and a revision plan, exam technique guide, an analysis of past exams* with exam specific information, and practice questions with answers covering all areas of the syllabus.

  *where past papers have been made available by ACCA

• Pocket notes

  Our ACCA pocket notes are pocket-sized, brief revision notes that highlight and prioritise the essential topics you need to understand to pass your exams.

• Study programme

  Integrated into your MyKaplan course, this outlines the course structure, providing guidance on what to do, and when.

• Application modules

  Core study material that all students receive. It’s tutor-led with interactive tasks to help deepen your understanding of key topic areas. 

To buy the materials separately...

You can buy ACCA approved books for each subject on this level from Kaplan Publishing.

Buy ACCA bookslaunch

Delivery costs

5. MyKaplan: Online Learning Environment

MyKaplan is an online learning portal with additional resources to help you prepare for your exams. Your MyKaplan account forms the core of your study experience with Kaplan and includes the following:

Online Features

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  View your online materials in one place and access your content in a few clicks
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  You can email a tutor or request a callback
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  Complete Knowledge Checks and get instant feedback
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  See instantly when your assessments have been marked
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  Access on mobile, tablet, computer or through the dedicated mobile app
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  Access to VideoBank - hundreds of tutor-led videos to help you get the most out of your course.

Access duration

Your chosen study method determines how long you can access your content for. Please note, all extensions are for the existing content, and do not include any updated content.

Classroom
Six months from enrolment date, with three month free extension on request, then a further extension for £50.

Live Online
Six months from enrolment date, with three month free extension on request, then a further extension for £50.

OnDemand
Six months from enrolment date, with three months free extension on request, then a further extension for £50.

Distance Learning
6 months from enrolment date, with three months free extension on request, then a further extension for £50

computerMinimum system requirements for MyKaplan

6. Tutor support

We’ll support you every step of the way throughout your learning experience with us. You can contact a tutor and get the help you need quickly and easily.

Provided by our Academic Support team (our dedicated team of expert tutors):

• LiveChat (instant feedback)
• Email (we'll get back to you within 4 hrs)
• Online community (we’ll get back to you within 4 hrs)
• Request a callback so you can speak to a tutor (we'll arrange a call with you within 24 hours). Please note request a callback is not available to overseas students

Ways to get support

If you think you'd benefit from additional tutor support while studying, we recommend the structured study methods such as Classroom and Live Online.

7. Testing and mocks

We have a wealth of materials to help you revise for and pass your exams. The tests provided in some of the study options include:

Knowledge checks
As you go along knowledge checks help assess your understanding of a topic before you move onto the next one.

Consolidation Test
This is a short assessment of approximately 50 marks designed to show where your knowledge strengths and weaknesses are. It’s computer marked for instant feedback.

Progress Test
This is an exam that closely reflects the real exam format to give you an early indication of your progress. It’s computer marked (Section A and B*) and part human marked (except for Corporate and Business Law (LW)) to provide individual student feedback.

*Section A only for AA

Mock exam
Practice your exam technique with a mock exam, which replicates the format of the final exam, so you can check your progress. The mock exam is computer marked (Section A and B*) and part human marked (with the exception of the Corporate & Business Law (LW) subject) with feedback provided directly to you so you can understand the answer and improve your own.

*Section A only for AA

Revision Question Debriefs
Videos that walk you through an answer to an exam-standard question highlighting the correct approach to the question and how you could score marks.

Question-based mock exams
The question-based course provides you with additional questions worth in excess of the 100 marks you will have in your real exam, in the computer based exam format. In a classroom course, you will complete these to time, with the support of a tutor for any queries you may have. These will then be given to expert markers to mark, and feed back improvements you could make, which they will do while you attempt the next question. Your attempt will be returned as soon as it has been marked on the day, and your tutor will be able to provide the class with tailored debriefs and tips based on the classes performance on each question.

For a Live Online question based course, the difference is that you complete the questions in your own home and submit them online by the submission date for marking. You will then have a live session with the tutor to provide the tailored debriefs for your course.

Both options also provide detailed answers for all the questions and recorded debriefs to take you through the detail of these answers to ensure you have the utmost confidence in your preparation for your real exam.

Question based is also included with OnDemand and Distance Learning courses. On these courses, you will complete the questions at home and submit online by the submission date. You will then have access to the recorded debriefs (OnDemand only) and detailed answers to work through with your personalised feedback to help you prepare fully for your exam.

Test yourself
Choose multi-choice questions from the relevant topics and create your own mock exam to test areas of the syllabus you want to focus on. This is computer marked for immediate feedback.

8. Pricing structure

Subject prices can differ depending on your study method, location and the time you choose to study (if you’re choosing Classroom). Go to our study methods page to learn more about each option.

Subjects are all priced individually, so you can purchase them altogether, or separately as you need them. This also helps you split the cost to make it more affordable.

Funding options

Apprenticeships ›

You may eligible for an Apprenticeship through your employer, depending on your circumstances. Speak to your employer to find out more.

Employer sponsored ›

Your employer may fund the costs of your studies if you’re already working in a related field and want to develop your learning. You’ll need to speak to them to see if you’re eligible.

Payment plans ›

Available for any course as long as the total cost is a minimum of £500 (before any discounts). Any available discounts can be applied, provided the terms and conditions of that discount have been met.

Classroom and Live Online course fees must be repaid over the duration of the course(s) purchased, up to a maximum of 12 months. The final payment must be made one month prior to the final date of the last course.

OnDemand and Distance Learning course fees must be repaid over three months per subject purchased, up to a maximum of 12 months.