CA Foundation Sep 2026 Grace Marks: Will ICAI Give Them?

If you appeared for the CA Foundation September 2026 exams, one question is probably running through your mind right now:

“Will ICAI give grace marks this time?”

Especially if you are just a few marks short of passing, the possibility of grace marks can make a huge difference.

After the September 2026 papers, students have been discussing the difficulty level, questionable questions, lengthy questions, and whether ICAI may award grace marks.

So, let us understand the situation clearly — what grace marks are, when ICAI can award them, what the September 2026 papers suggest, and whether you should depend on them.

---

What Are Grace Marks in CA Foundation?

Grace marks are additional marks that ICAI may award to candidates in certain circumstances.

For example, suppose:

• Your actual marks are 79
• Your marksheet shows 85

The additional 6 marks would effectively be grace marks.

However, there is an important point:

Grace marks are not an automatic right of every student who falls short by a few marks.

ICAI has discretion regarding the revision or adjustment of marks in appropriate circumstances.

Therefore, simply scoring 198 instead of 200 does not mean that you are automatically entitled to 2 grace marks.

---

When Can ICAI Give Grace Marks?

Based on the usual circumstances discussed around CA examinations, there are several situations in which grace marks may be considered.

1. A Question Is Outside the Syllabus

If a question is found to be outside the prescribed syllabus, ICAI may consider compensating candidates.

This is particularly relevant when the question requires students to answer something that they were not expected to study according to the syllabus.

---

2. A Question Has an Incorrect Answer

If there is an error in a question or its answer — for example:

• an incorrect option in an MCQ,
• an incorrect answer key,
• an error in a calculation,
• an incorrect statement in a question, or
• an issue with a descriptive question,

ICAI may take corrective action.

Depending on the situation, this can potentially result in marks being awarded or adjusted for affected candidates.

---

3. The Paper Is Extremely Difficult or Lengthy

Another possible situation is when a paper is unusually difficult or excessively lengthy.

For example, if completing the paper within the prescribed examination time is exceptionally difficult for the majority of candidates, ICAI may consider adjustments to maintain reasonable examination standards.

This does not mean:

“The paper was difficult for me, therefore ICAI will definitely give me grace marks.”

The overall difficulty and examination performance have to be considered.

---

Can You Get 20–25 Grace Marks?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions students have after an examination.

Suppose you scored:

175/400

and need 200 to pass.

You cannot assume that ICAI will simply add:

25 grace marks → 200 → PASS

That is not how grace marks should be viewed.

Grace marks are generally intended to address specific examination-related circumstances, not to bridge a large gap between a student’s marks and the passing requirement.

So if you are substantially below the passing threshold, do not build your result expectation around grace marks.

---

What About the 200 Marks / 40 Marks Situation?

Students also commonly discuss situations such as:

Case 1: Around 198–199 aggregate

Suppose a candidate clears the individual subject requirements but narrowly misses the required aggregate.

There have been discussions and instances of marks being adjusted in such circumstances.

Case 2: 38–39 in one subject

Another situation students talk about is a candidate having:

• the required aggregate, but
• just below 40 in one subject.

For example:

Aggregate: 250
Law: 39

Students often wonder whether ICAI could award 1 mark and take the candidate to 40.

This kind of situation may receive consideration, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed rule.

The important distinction is:

Possible ≠ guaranteed.

---

What About 0.5 Marks?

Another thing students sometimes hear about is rounding.

For example, if a candidate has 39.5 marks, students may wonder whether it could become 40.

Any such adjustment depends on the applicable examination/result process.

So don’t assume that every decimal mark will automatically be rounded up.

---

What Happened in CA Foundation September 2026?

Now let’s come to the question students actually care about:

Is there a possibility of grace marks in September 2026?

Based on the discussion surrounding the September 2026 papers, there are a few areas that could potentially attract attention.

Accounts

The Depreciation question has been discussed by students because of issues surrounding the question.

If ICAI determines that there was a genuine issue affecting candidates, appropriate action could be considered.

Therefore, students who are close to the passing marks should not completely dismiss the possibility of adjustments.

---

Business Laws

Law is particularly interesting because some students felt that certain case-law questions were lengthy.

The issue is not necessarily that the questions were incorrect.

Rather, lengthy case-based questions can increase the effective difficulty of the paper because candidates have to:

• understand the situation,
• identify the relevant provision,
• apply the law,
• structure the answer, and
• complete everything within the examination time.

The historical pattern of adjustments in Law is also something students frequently discuss.

However, past trends do not guarantee what ICAI will do in September 2026.

---

Quantitative Aptitude / Mathematics

Students have also raised concerns about questions where:

• more than one answer appears possible, or
• an answer may be incorrect.

If a genuine error is identified by ICAI, affected candidates could potentially receive appropriate benefit.

This is one of the circumstances where students have a legitimate reason to watch for ICAI’s official result-related decisions.

---

Economics

Similar discussions have emerged around certain Economics questions.

If an examination question is subsequently determined to have an issue, ICAI can take the appropriate corrective measure.

Again, however:

Do not convert “there may be an issue” into “I will definitely receive grace marks.”

---

Does ICAI Give Grace Marks in Law?

This is another question that comes up frequently.

Looking at previous CA Foundation attempts, students have observed instances where adjustments have benefited candidates in Business Laws.

That historical pattern is one reason Law is often discussed whenever grace marks are being considered.

But there is a crucial distinction:

A previous attempt receiving grace marks does not create an automatic entitlement for the next attempt.

Every examination is evaluated according to the circumstances of that particular examination.

Therefore, September 2026 should be judged on its own facts.

---

If I Am 1–5 Marks Short, Should I Expect Grace Marks?

This is where you need to be realistic.

If you are:

• 1 mark short
• 2 marks short
• 3 marks short
• or perhaps a few marks away from the required threshold,

then grace marks could potentially make a meaningful difference if ICAI decides to award them.

But there is no formula such as:

“1 mark short = 1 grace mark.”

or

“5 marks short = definitely 5 grace marks.”

There is no guaranteed conversion table that students can use to calculate their final result.

---

Should You Depend on Grace Marks?

No.

This is probably the most important point for September 2026 students.

Think of grace marks as a bonus, not as part of your planned score.

For example:

Situation A

You calculate your marks and get:

205

You are already above the aggregate requirement.

Good.

Situation B

You calculate:

201

You are probably in a relatively comfortable position, assuming you also satisfy the individual subject requirements.

Situation C

You calculate:

198

Now there is uncertainty.

Grace marks could potentially matter, but you cannot assume they will.

Situation D

You calculate:

175

You should not sit around expecting ICAI to add 25 marks.

That is not a realistic strategy.

---

What If I Am Failing by 1–2 Marks?

Don’t panic.

If your estimated score is very close to the passing requirement, there are several things you need to remember:

1. Your calculation may be wrong.
2. You may have received marks differently from what you expect.
3. The official evaluation is what ultimately matters.
4. ICAI may make appropriate adjustments where applicable.
5. Grace marks, if any, are determined by ICAI — not by student predictions.

So don’t spend the next few weeks calculating your marks 15 different ways.

---

What Should You Do Until the Result?

The September 2026 result will ultimately decide everything.

Until then, you essentially have two possibilities.

If You Are Confident That You Will Pass

Take some time off.

You just completed CA Foundation. A little rest is reasonable.

Then start thinking about your next academic/professional step.

---

If You Are Not Confident About Passing

Don’t spend the entire result-waiting period refreshing Telegram, YouTube and Instagram for:

“CONFIRMED GRACE MARKS NEWS 😱🔥”

Most of these discussions are speculation until there is an official announcement.

Instead, keep a simple backup plan.

If you believe there is a serious possibility that you may have to appear again, start revising gradually rather than waiting until the last moment.

---

Final Verdict: Will CA Foundation September 2026 Students Get Grace Marks?

The honest answer is:

Grace marks are possible, but nobody outside ICAI can guarantee them.

The September 2026 papers have areas that students may reasonably discuss in relation to possible adjustments, particularly where there are concerns about:

• questionable questions,
• potentially incorrect answers,
• lengthy questions, or
• unusually difficult portions of a paper.

But until ICAI makes the relevant decisions, statements such as:

“Everyone will get 5 marks.”

“Law will definitely get 8 marks.”

“Anyone below 200 will be passed.”

“You are guaranteed to clear if you’re at 198.”

should be treated as speculation, not confirmed information.

---

The Best Way to Look at Your Result

If your marks are close to the passing requirement, keep this mindset:

“If grace marks come, they are a bonus. If they don’t, I need a backup plan.”

Do not make your entire result prediction dependent on grace marks.

You gave the examination. The papers are over.

Now wait for the official result and ICAI’s final evaluation decisions rather than stressing over rumours.

And remember:

A result is important, but one CA Foundation attempt does not determine your entire CA journey.

If you pass — move forward.

If you don’t — analyse what went wrong, correct it, and prepare for the next attempt.

The objective is not to get lucky with grace marks.

The objective is to become a Chartered Accountant.