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The ACCA December 2026 entry window opened on August 4, 2026, giving you a full session with all Applied Skills and Strategic Professional paper variants to choose from. The exam week itself runs December 7 to 11, 2026, with standard entry closing on November 2.
You don’t need to rush a decision this week. What matters more right now is using the extra runway to pick the right paper combination, register before the standard deadline, and build a study timeline that actually gets you to exam day prepared, instead of registering in a last-minute scramble in late October.
Here’s the full timeline for this session, all deadlines are set in UK time:
December is a full session, meaning all Applied Skills and Strategic Professional paper variants are available, with the exception of certain Corporate and Business Law (LW) variants, which are sat as on-demand computer-based exams rather than during the session week. Registering earlier gives you first pick of your preferred test center date within the exam week, rather than whatever slot is left once standard entry closes.
There’s also a cost incentive. ACCA doesn’t run an early-bird discount tier, so standard entry, open now through November 2, is already the lowest fee you’ll get. Miss it, and late entry between November 3 and 9 costs meaningfully more per paper.
One detail worth knowing if you’re registering from the UAE or India: UK clocks move from British Summer Time back to GMT on October 25, 2026. That means the November 2 deadline lands an hour earlier in your local time than a July or August deadline would. It’s a small shift, but worth building into your planning rather than assuming last session’s conversion still applies.
If this is your first ACCA session, don’t confuse the two. Becoming an ACCA student is a one-time registration step, separate from booking a specific exam session. You need an active ACCA registration in place before you can enter any papers for December 2026. If you’re already registered and have sat previous sessions, the entry window opening on August 4 is the relevant date for you, since it’s what lets you book your December papers.
Talk to our tutors about your paper combination, current prep level, and a realistic timeline to results day.
Step 1: Confirm your paper combination this week
Look honestly at your current standing across the papers you’re considering. You can enter up to four papers per session, but sitting fewer papers well usually beats spreading yourself across four and being underprepared for all of them.
Step 2: Register by November 2 to lock in standard fees
Log into myACCA, select the December 2026 session, choose your papers, and pay the entry fee. Registering well before the deadline also gives you time to fix any account or payment issues without the pressure of a closing window.
Step 3: Book your Pearson VUE test center as soon as entry is confirmed
Once your entry is processed, you’ll be able to select a test center and time slot within the exam week. Popular centers in the UAE and India fill up, so booking early gives you a better shot at a convenient date and location.
Step 4: Map backward from December 7 to 11 to set weekly study targets
With roughly four months between now and exam week, break your syllabus into weekly blocks per paper, leaving your final two to three weeks for revision and timed practice rather than new content.
Step 5: Build in a buffer for mocks and weak-area review
Schedule at least one full timed mock per paper a few weeks before your exam date. This is also when a tutor can help you target the specific areas costing you marks, rather than re-studying everything evenly.
Fees are charged in GBP and vary slightly by market and qualification level, so treat these as a general guide rather than your exact invoice:
December is a full session, meaning every Applied Skills and Strategic Professional variant is offered, alongside on-demand Applied Knowledge and most Foundations exams, which you can sit year-round regardless of the session calendar. Certain Corporate and Business Law (LW) variants are the exception, taken as on-demand CBEs rather than during exam week. If you’re based in India, note that remote session exams were withdrawn from the March 2026 sitting onward, so plan on sitting at a physical, approved test center.
The December 2026 window has just opened, which puts you in a genuinely good position: enough time to choose your papers deliberately, register before the standard deadline, and build a study timeline with proper buffer for mocks and revision, instead of entering in a rush during the last week of October.
If you’d like help finalising your paper combination or want a structured study plan built around the December 7 to 11 exam week, visit Vega Visionary or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll help you map it out.
Written by the Vega Visionary Team
When does the ACCA December 2026 entry window close?
Standard entry closes November 2, 2026, at 23:59 UK time. A late entry window then runs until November 9, 2026, at a higher fee. Missing November 9 typically means waiting for the March 2027 session.
Do I need to register with ACCA before I can book December 2026 papers?
Yes. Booking exam entry for a session requires an active ACCA student registration first. If you haven’t registered with ACCA at all yet, that’s a separate, one-time step to complete before entering any papers.
Is there an early-entry discount like some other qualifications offer?
No. ACCA doesn’t run a separate early-bird tier. Standard entry, open now through November 2, is already the lowest fee available for this session.
Can I sit ACCA exams remotely in the UAE or India?
Session exams, meaning Applied Skills and Strategic Professional papers, must be taken at a physical test center. Remote session exams were withdrawn in centre-provision countries, including India, from the March 2026 sitting onward.
What if I’m still deciding which papers to sit in December?
You have time. The standard entry deadline isn’t until November 2, so there’s no need to rush a decision this week. Use the coming weeks to assess your preparation level for each paper before committing to a final combination.