CMA December 2026 Exam Dates: Foundation, Intermediate & Final Schedule

ICMAI has released the CMA December 2026 examination schedule for Foundation, Intermediate, and Final. CMA Foundation will be held on 13 December 2026 (single day, two shifts), while CMA Intermediate and CMA Final will both run from 10 to 17 December 2026, with subject-wise papers on non-consecutive dates within that window. This article gives you the complete, paper-wise timetable for all three levels, exam timings, how this differs from your exam form and admit card, and what to check before exam day — verified against the latest available ICMAI examination schedule.

CMA December 2026 Exam Dates — Latest Update

Last Updated: 12 September 2026. If ICMAI issues any revision or correction to this schedule, this page will be updated to reflect the latest official version — always cross-check icmai.in before finalising your revision calendar.

Quick Answers

When are CMA December 2026 exams? CMA Foundation is on 13 December 2026. CMA Intermediate and CMA Final are both held from 10 to 17 December 2026, with individual papers spread across non-consecutive dates within that window.

When is the CMA Foundation December 2026 exam? 13 December 2026, conducted in two shifts on a single day, covering all four papers.

When are the CMA Intermediate December 2026 exams? 10–17 December 2026, with Group 1 and Group 2 papers held on alternating dates, in the 2:00 PM–5:00 PM slot.

When are the CMA Final December 2026 exams? 10–17 December 2026, with Group 3 and Group 4 papers held on alternating dates, in the 10:00 AM–1:00 PM slot.

Has ICMAI released the CMA December 2026 timetable? Yes, ICMAI has released the subject-wise timetable for Foundation, Intermediate, and Final for the December 2026 term.

What are the CMA December 2026 exam timings? Foundation: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–4:00 PM (two shifts). Intermediate: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM. Final: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM.

CMA Foundation December 2026 Exam Dates

CMA Foundation is conducted on a single day, with all four papers split across two shifts.

Each Foundation paper is fully objective (MCQ-based), with 50 questions carrying 100 marks. The exam is conducted in offline, centre-based mode. Candidates appearing for Foundation should confirm their exact shift and paper sequence on their admit card once released, and should reach their allotted centre well ahead of the reporting time specified by ICMAI.

CMA Intermediate December 2026 Exam Dates

CMA Intermediate under Syllabus 2022 has two groups — Group 1 and Group 2 — with papers held on alternating dates across the 10–17 December window, each in the 2:00 PM–5:00 PM slot.

If you're appearing for a single group, you only need to track the four dates relevant to that group — Group 1 candidates sit on 10, 12, 14, and 16 December; Group 2 candidates sit on 11, 13, 15, and 17 December. Candidates attempting both groups appear on all eight dates.

CMA Final December 2026 Exam Dates

CMA Final under Syllabus 2022 has Group 3 and Group 4, also alternating across the same 10–17 December window, each in the 10:00 AM–1:00 PM slot.

Final-level candidates should note that Paper 20 on 17 December is an elective — confirm which of the three elective options you registered for well before exam day, since this is chosen in advance and cannot be switched at the centre.

CMA December 2026 Exam Timings

Exam timings differ meaningfully by level, so don't assume one slot applies across the board:

• Foundation: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (Papers 1 & 2) and 2:00 PM–4:00 PM (Papers 3 & 4) — both shifts on the same day, 13 December.
• Intermediate: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM on each of its eight subject-wise dates between 10 and 17 December.
• Final: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM on each of its eight subject-wise dates between 10 and 17 December.

Reporting time at the exam centre is typically well before the shift start — check your admit card for the exact reporting window once it's released, since this is admit-card-specific information, not part of the timetable itself.

CMA December 2026 Exam Schedule — Foundation vs Intermediate vs Final

CMA December 2026 Exam Form vs Exam Dates

These are two different things, and mixing them up is a common source of confusion. The examination timetable (this article) tells you when each paper is held. The exam form is the application you must separately submit and pay for in order to be permitted to sit those papers — it has its own last date, distinct from the exam dates themselves, and is filed through the ICMAI examination application portal after your course registration is complete. Submitting your exam form on time does not change the exam dates; it simply confirms your seat for the papers on the dates already fixed by ICMAI. If you haven't yet filed your exam form for this term, prioritise that first, since a missed exam-form deadline means you cannot appear on these dates regardless of your preparation status.

CMA December 2026 Admit Card — When Can Students Expect It?

No official CMA December 2026 admit card release date has been confirmed at the time of this update. Based on the pattern from previous December sessions, admit cards are typically released online in the last week of November to the first week of December — this is a tentative expectation, not a confirmed date, and should not be treated as official. The admit card is a separate document from the timetable above: the timetable tells you which dates and timings apply to your papers, while the admit card confirms your specific exam centre, reporting time, and candidate details for those dates. Keep checking the official ICMAI website for the confirmed release date rather than relying on an assumed timeline.

CMA December 2026 Exam Preparation Strategy

With the timetable now fixed, here's how to use the remaining weeks effectively:

• Map your available time against your specific paper dates — Foundation candidates have a single, concentrated exam day, while Intermediate and Final candidates have roughly a week with alternating rest days between papers.
• Plan subject-wise, prioritising papers with the least revision done so far, rather than revising in the order papers appear on the syllabus.
• Use the alternating-day structure (Intermediate/Final) deliberately — the "off" day between your papers is for focused revision of the next day's subject, not a full break.
• Take timed mock tests that mirror your actual paper's duration and timing slot, so your body clock and pacing match exam-day conditions.
• Work through previous years' question papers to understand recurring question patterns and typical difficulty distribution.
• Build a short revision calendar mapped directly against the dates in the tables above, rather than a generic day-by-day plan.

Guided, structured preparation for this final stretch is available through the CMA Foundation Coaching, CMA Intermediate Coaching, and CMA Final Coaching programmes at Sachin Ajmera Classes, alongside the CMA study material and guidance on CMA study techniques and study time management for the weeks ahead. If you're not based in Jaipur, CMA online coaching covers the same structured approach remotely.

What Students Should Do After the CMA December 2026 Timetable Is Released

1. Download and save the official timetable from icmai.in for offline reference.
2. Check every paper date relevant to your level and group against your personal calendar.
3. Confirm your group selection matches what you intended to appear for — this should already be locked in through your exam form.
4. Check your exact exam timing for each paper, since Foundation, Intermediate, and Final all differ.
5. Watch for exam centre and admit card updates as the exam approaches — these arrive separately from the timetable.
6. Create a revision calendar built directly around your actual paper dates, not a generic template.
7. Track official ICMAI announcements regularly in case of any last-minute schedule clarification.

Important Things to Check Before CMA December 2026 Exams

• Timetable updates: re-confirm your paper dates closer to the exam in case of any official revision.
• Admit card: download it as soon as it's released and verify every detail on it.
• Exam centre: confirm the address and plan your travel time, especially if it's unfamiliar.
• Reporting requirements: check the reporting time specified on your admit card — this is typically earlier than the paper's start time.
• Allowed items: carry only what ICMAI's examination guidelines permit into the centre; avoid bringing prohibited electronic devices.
• Exam duration: Foundation papers run 2 hours each; Intermediate and Final papers run 3 hours each — plan your last-mile revision accordingly.
• Syllabus-specific instructions: confirm you're preparing under the applicable syllabus (Syllabus 2022) and haven't mixed in outdated material from an earlier syllabus version.

Only rely on requirements confirmed through ICMAI's own examination guidelines for specifics like permitted stationery or ID proof — these can be updated between sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When are CMA December 2026 exams?
Foundation is on 13 December 2026. Intermediate and Final both run from 10 to 17 December 2026 on non-consecutive dates.

2. Has ICMAI released the December 2026 timetable?
Yes, the subject-wise timetable for Foundation, Intermediate, and Final has been released for this term.

3. What is the CMA Foundation December 2026 exam date?
13 December 2026, held on a single day across two shifts covering all four papers.

4. What is the CMA Intermediate December 2026 exam date?
10–17 December 2026, with Group 1 papers on 10, 12, 14, and 16 December, and Group 2 papers on 11, 13, 15, and 17 December.

5. What is the CMA Final December 2026 exam date?
10–17 December 2026, with Group 3 papers on 10, 12, 14, and 16 December, and Group 4 papers on 11, 13, 15, and 17 December.

6. What are the CMA December 2026 exam timings?
Foundation: 10 AM–12 PM and 2 PM–4 PM. Intermediate: 2 PM–5 PM. Final: 10 AM–1 PM.

7. Is the CMA December 2026 timetable official?
Yes, it reflects ICMAI's released examination schedule for this term. Always verify against icmai.in for the most current version in case of any later revision.

8. Where can I download the CMA December 2026 timetable?
Directly from ICMAI's official website under the Examination section.

9. Are CMA Foundation exams held on the same day?
Yes, all four Foundation papers are conducted on a single day (13 December 2026) across two shifts.

10. What is the CMA Intermediate Group 1 exam schedule?
Business Laws and Ethics (10 Dec), Financial Accounting (12 Dec), Direct and Indirect Taxation (14 Dec), and Cost Accounting (16 Dec), each 2 PM–5 PM.

11. What is the CMA Intermediate Group 2 exam schedule?
Operations Management and Strategic Management (11 Dec), Corporate Accounting and Auditing (13 Dec), Financial Management and Business Data Analytics (15 Dec), and Management Accounting (17 Dec), each 2 PM–5 PM.

12. What is the CMA Final Group 3 exam schedule?
Corporate and Economic Laws (10 Dec), Strategic Financial Management (12 Dec), Direct Tax Laws and International Taxation (14 Dec), and Strategic Cost Management (16 Dec), each 10 AM–1 PM.

13. What is the CMA Final Group 4 exam schedule?
Cost and Management Audit (11 Dec), Corporate Financial Reporting (13 Dec), Indirect Tax Laws and Practice (15 Dec), and the Elective paper (17 Dec), each 10 AM–1 PM.

14. When will the CMA December 2026 admit card be released?
No official date has been confirmed yet. Based on previous sessions, expect it tentatively in late November to early December 2026 — check ICMAI's official announcements for confirmation.

15. What should I do after the timetable is released?
Save the timetable, confirm your paper dates and group, cross-check your exam form details, and build a revision calendar around your actual paper dates.

16. Is the CMA exam form different from the timetable?
Yes. The timetable tells you when papers are held; the exam form is the separate application (with its own deadline) that confirms your seat for those papers.

17. Can ICMAI change the CMA December 2026 exam dates?
It's uncommon but not impossible — ICMAI can issue a revised notification if required. Always check the official website close to the exam for any last-minute update.

18. Where should students check timetable updates?
Directly on ICMAI's official website, under the Students and Examination sections, which is the only authoritative source.

19. Do Foundation, Intermediate, and Final all use the same exam timing?
No. Foundation uses two shifts (10 AM–12 PM and 2 PM–4 PM), Intermediate uses 2 PM–5 PM, and Final uses 10 AM–1 PM.

20. Can I appear for only one group in CMA Intermediate or Final?
Yes, both levels allow single-group or both-group attempts, and your exam form determines which dates apply to you based on your group selection.

What's Next?

With the CMA December 2026 timetable now fixed, the most useful next step is turning it into an actual revision plan rather than just noting the dates. Whether you're preparing for CMA Foundation, CMA Intermediate, or CMA Final, structured guidance can help you use the remaining weeks efficiently rather than reactively. Explore the complete CMA course overview, pick up tips on how to crack CMA in your first attempt, or review CMA study material and study techniques to sharpen your final revision. You can also check verified student success stories, see why students choose Sachin Ajmera Classes, book a free demo lecture, or simply get in touch to plan your run-up to the December 2026 exams.