CMA Foundation Passing Criteria and Marking Scheme
- Shankargouda S Malipatil
- Sep 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 4
To qualify through the CMA Foundation, you need a minimum of 40% in every subject, alongside an overall score of 50%. Studying at a well-regarded cma institute in bangalore can illuminate how grades are figured - giving you focused support to excel

CMA Foundation Passing Criteria and Marking Scheme
Are you looking to establish a career as a Cost and Management Accountant? Then, the CMA Foundation course is your first milestone towards this objective. This comprehensive guide will explain the CMA Foundation eligibility requirements in detail CMA Foundation Passing Criteria and Marking Scheme.
What is CMA Course?
The CMA (Cost and Management Accountant) course/program is a professional qualification (from The Institute of Cost Accountants of India - ICAI) to help students to skill themselves to be competent in cost accounting and financial management and make analytical strategic decisions. This professional qualification is divided into three stages - Foundation, Intermediate and Final - which progressively focus on more complex theories in finance and management frameworks. Students qualify for the CMA Foundation classes having achieved 10+2 education, and it takes approximately 3–4 years to complete the full CMA program. CMAs can pursue opportunities in cost management, financial planning, auditing, consulting and corporate strategy in almost every sector.
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Eligibility
The Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) offers CMA Foundation course to students after their higher secondary classes. To enroll for the course, candidates must have passed their Class 12 examination of a board recognised by the ICAI, or be in Class 12 and thus apply for provisional registration.
How to Register
Candidates can register for the CMA Foundation course on the official ICAI website. Once registered, the registration is active and valid for three years which means candidates can attempt the Foundation examinations according to ICAI scheduled examination cycles.
Documents Required for CMA Foundation Registration
During registration for the CMA Foundation course, candidates will need to have the following documents to ensure a smooth registration:
- Mark sheet of Class 10 
- Mark sheet of Class 12 (if the candidate has already finished) 
- A valid government-issued proof of identity 
- Recent passport-size photograph 
- Current digital signature scanned copy 
- Active e-mail ID and mobile number 
CMA Course Schedule
Candidates will take the CMA Foundation exam twice annually in June and December. It is important for candidates to design their studies accordingly so they can study for CMA Foundation Exam and time their study cycle with the exam cycle for the successful outcome.
Every CMA course program includes the same three divisions:
Foundation, Intermediate, Final. All students must complete all three divisions of the CMA program requirements in order to obtain their CMA designations. Each of levels of learning have a sequence of subject content in grounded fundamentals to then advanced management and financial decisions.
CMA Foundation Subjects & Syllabus
The Foundation consists of four subjects that focus on developing a solid foundation in accounting and management. The subjects of the CMA Foundation consist of the following papers:
- Paper-1: Fundamentals of Economics & Management 
- Paper-2: Fundamentals of Accounting 
- Paper-3: Fundamentals of Laws & Ethics 
- Paper-4: Fundamentals of Business Mathematics & Statistics 
CMA Foundation Exam Pattern
- Duration: 3 hours for each paper 
- Maximum Marks: Each paper is for 100 marks 
- Passing Marks: Students must score a minimum of 40 marks in each paper 
- Questions: A mix of objective questions and short descriptive questions to be answered 
- Negative Marking: No negative marking. 
CMA Intermediate Eligibility
- Eligibility for the second level examination (CMA Intermediate), which means passing the CMA Foundation examination. 
- There are a few limited case scenarios that provide a direct/casual entry to CMA Intermediate. For instance, B.Com graduates with at least 55% marks. 
CMA Intermediate Subjects
The Intermediate stage has a total of two groups, which include core areas of accounting, taxation, and management.
Group 1:
Cost Accounting,
Laws & Ethics,
Direct Taxation,
Company Accounts & Audit
Group 2:
Financial Accounting,
Operations Management & Strategic Management,
Indirect Taxation,
Cost & Management Accounting and Financial Management.
Intermediate Exam Pattern
- Time: 3hours (per paper) 
- Marks: 100 marks for each subject 
- Minimum 40% requirement in every paper and also 50% aggregate in all subjects. 
- Question Format: Mix of theory-based and practical problem-solving questions. 
Reaching Professional Expertise at the CMA Final Level
Qualifications
In order to register for the CMA Final level, applicants need to:
- successfully complete the CMA Intermediate exam in both groups. 
- Finish the required 15 months of hands-on instruction. 
Subjects at the Final Level
Group Three
- Compliance & Corporate Laws 
- Management of Strategic Finances 
- Strategic Cost Control: Making Choices 
- International Taxation and Direct Tax Laws 
Group Four
- Reporting on Corporate Finances 
- Management of Strategic Performance and Evaluation of Businesses 
- Strategic Options & Analysis for Strategic Cost Management 
- Indirect Tax Laws and Procedures 
Pattern of the Final Exam
- Exam time: three hours for each topic 
- 100 marks is the maximum for each paper. 
- Qualification Requirements: 50% overall and at least 40% in each topic separately 
- Case studies and real-world application-based questions make up the majority of the question types. 
Compensation for CMA Qualified Professionals in India
Achieving the CMA designation means a rewarding career opportunity across industries. As a CMA, the average salaries packages will vary depending on above entry level experience, continued development, company size, and location. Below are examples of some common job roles and their average salaries packages across India:
| Job Title | Average Salary (INR per annum) | 
| Cost Controller | ₹6.94 LPA | 
| Finance Manager | ₹10.86 LPA | 
| Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | ₹36.98 LPA | 
| Senior Financial Analyst | ₹8.17 LPA | 
| Certified Management Accountant | ₹5.00 LPA | 
| Cost Accountant | ₹7.05 LPA | 
| Finance Analyst | ₹5.40 LPA | 
| Internal Auditor | ₹5.85 LPA | 
| Financial Controller | ₹24.35 LPA | 






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