Exam guide
IFRS Standards in ACCA FR: The Full List and Where to Focus
Last updated 12 September 2026 · Written by the AccountingTutorAI team · Reviewed by a qualified CPA (Canada)
Quick summary
This page lists every document on the ACCA FR examinable documents list for the September 2026 to June 2027 exam sessions, grouped by theme, with a one-line note on why each matters and a link to our free study guide where one exists.
ACCA publishes a shared examinable documents list covering both FR and SBR once a year. The current list covers the September 2026, December 2026, March 2027 and June 2027 sessions and includes standards and amendments issued up to 31 August 2025 — a document can be examinable even if its effective date is still in the future. Everything below is the subset of that list examinable in FR specifically; several further standards are examinable in SBR but not FR, which is one reason FR is the more foundational exam of the two.
IFRS 18 has replaced IAS 1 — and FR now includes a sustainability standard
IAS 1 no longer appears on the FR examinable documents list. Its place is taken by IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements, which restructures the statement of profit or loss into operating, investing and financing categories and introduces new required subtotals. IAS 8 also continues under a new title: "Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements". FR now also includes IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information at a general-requirements level — the more detailed climate-specific standard, IFRS S2, is examinable in SBR but not FR. Start with our IFRS 18 study guide.
Framework and single-entity presentation
— Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
Underpins every recognition and measurement question — objective test questions on qualitative characteristics and the elements of financial statements appear regularly.
Guide coming soonIFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements
Sets the current structure for the statement of profit or loss, including the new operating, investing and financing subtotals. Replaces IAS 1.
Read the full guide →IAS 8 Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and correction of prior period errors — a reliable source of Section A questions.
Read the full guide →IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows
A full single-entity cash flow statement, or an extract from one, is a recurring Section C possibility alongside the group questions.
Read the full guide →Revenue and inventories
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The five-step recognition model, variable consideration and principal-versus-agent analysis are frequently tested across Sections A, B and C.
Read the full guide →IAS 2 Inventories
Cost versus net realisable value, and the components of cost — a consistent, calculation-friendly topic for shorter questions.
Read the full guide →IAS 41 Agriculture
Fair value measurement of biological assets — a narrower topic, usually tested through a small number of objective test questions.
Guide coming soonNon-current assets
IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment
Cost, depreciation, revaluation and derecognition — one of the highest-frequency topics across all three sections.
Read the full guide →IAS 23 Borrowing Costs
Capitalising borrowing costs on qualifying assets — usually a small, calculation-based adjustment inside a larger question.
Read the full guide →IAS 38 Intangible Assets
Recognition criteria for internally generated intangibles (particularly research versus development) is a recurring source of objective test questions.
Read the full guide →IAS 40 Investment Property
The fair value versus cost model choice, and reclassifications between owner-occupied and investment property.
Read the full guide →IFRS 5 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
Classification criteria and the resulting presentation in the statement of profit or loss.
Read the full guide →IAS 36 Impairment of Assets
Recoverable amount, cash-generating units, and the impairment loss allocation — a common calculation-based question.
Read the full guide →Leases, fair value and financial instruments
IFRS 16 Leases
The lessee right-of-use asset and lease liability model — FR focuses mainly on lessee accounting rather than the full lessor model tested in SBR.
Read the full guide →IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
Definitions and the fair value hierarchy, usually tested in combination with another standard such as IAS 40 or IFRS 9.
Read the full guide →IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation
Classifying an instrument as debt or equity, and splitting compound instruments — a recurring source of tricky objective test questions.
Read the full guide →IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
Classification and measurement at amortised cost, fair value through profit or loss, or fair value through OCI.
Read the full guide →IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
Tested at a lighter, disclosure-awareness level rather than through detailed calculation.
Guide coming soonProvisions, tax and other transactions
IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets
Recognition criteria for provisions versus contingent liabilities, and measurement at the best estimate — a very regular Section A and B topic.
Read the full guide →IAS 12 Income Taxes
Current tax adjustments and deferred tax on timing differences — appears in almost every sitting, often inside a larger Section C question.
Read the full guide →IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period
Adjusting versus non-adjusting events — a quick, definitional topic that suits short objective test questions.
Read the full guide →IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance
The two permitted presentation methods for grants relating to assets.
Guide coming soonIAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates
Translating individual foreign currency transactions — a narrower single-entity topic, distinct from the group foreign operations covered in SBR.
Guide coming soonIAS 33 Earnings per Share
Basic EPS calculation, including the effect of a bonus or rights issue during the year.
Guide coming soonGroups
IFRS 3 Business Combinations
Goodwill calculation and consideration — the foundation of every Section C group question.
Read the full guide →IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements
Control and non-controlling interests — read alongside IFRS 3 as the two standards that drive the consolidation proforma.
Read the full guide →IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements
A parent’s own (unconsolidated) financial statements — mostly a definitional and disclosure topic in FR.
Guide coming soonIAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures
The equity method — regularly combined with a subsidiary in the same Section C question to test both consolidation methods at once.
Read the full guide →Interpretation and reporting entities
IFRS S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information
Newly examinable in FR at a general-requirements level. Know what the standard requires entities to disclose and why, rather than detailed calculation — the more technical climate disclosures of IFRS S2 sit in SBR, not FR.
Guide coming soonRoughly two-thirds of this list carries forward into Strategic Business Reporting, tested in more depth and alongside additional standards. See the full picture on our IFRS standards in SBR page, and browse every free guide on the study guides index.
Frequently asked questions
How many IFRS standards are examinable in ACCA FR?
FR currently examines around 27 IFRS and IAS standards plus the Conceptual Framework, out of the roughly 40 documents on the combined FR/SBR examinable documents list. The remainder — including IAS 19, IAS 24, IAS 34, IFRS 2, IFRS 8, IFRS 11, IFRS 12, IFRS for SMEs and IFRS S2 — are examinable in SBR but not FR.
Is IFRS S1 examinable in ACCA FR?
Yes. IFRS S1, the general sustainability disclosure standard, is on the current FR examinable documents list, tested at a general-requirements level. IFRS S2, the more detailed climate-specific standard, is examinable in SBR but not in FR.
Does IAS 1 still apply in ACCA FR?
No. IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements has replaced IAS 1 on the examinable documents list and restructures the statement of profit or loss with new required subtotals.
Which FR standards carry the most exam weight?
IAS 16, IFRS 15, IAS 37, IAS 12, IFRS 3 and IFRS 10 appear with the most consistency across recent sittings, since non-current assets, revenue, provisions, tax and consolidation are all regularly tested in both the short-form and Section C questions.
What is the difference between the standards examinable in FR and SBR?
FR covers the core standards needed to prepare single-entity and consolidated financial statements. SBR examines that same core in more depth and adds standards FR does not cover — including employee benefits, share-based payment, segment reporting, joint arrangements disclosure, subsidiaries without public accountability, and the more detailed sustainability standard, IFRS S2.