Certified Copies & Answer Book Inspection FAQs: ICAI Process, Fees & Guidelines

After the declaration of CA exam results, many students wish to review their evaluated answer books to better understand their performance and verify the accuracy of the evaluation. To ensure transparency, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) allows candidates to obtain certified copies of their evaluated answer books or apply for answer book inspection. Understanding the application process, fees, and applicable guidelines can help students use this facility correctly. 

How to Apply for Certified Copies and Answer Book Inspection?

ICAI has prescribed a structured process for candidates seeking copies of their evaluated answer books. Most candidates are required to apply online, making the process faster and more convenient.

Online Application Process

Candidates appearing for the following courses must submit their requests online:

• Foundation

• Intermediate (IPC)

• Intermediate

• Final (Old Course)

• Final (New Course)

Applicants are required to:

• Visit the ICAI examination portal.

• Submit the application online.

• Pay the applicable fees.

• Upload a handwritten and signed application.

The uploaded application must be written in running handwriting so that ICAI can match it with the handwriting used in the answer book.

Important: Candidates who wrote their examinations in Hindi must submit the handwritten application in Hindi as well.

CPT and PQC Candidates

Candidates of Common Proficiency Test (CPT) and Post Qualification Courses (PQC) can still apply through physical applications along with a demand draft. Online applications are presently not available for these courses.

Certified Copies for MCQ-Based Papers

For papers containing objective questions answered on OMR sheets, ICAI supplies only copies of the OMR sheet. The question paper and answer key are not provided.

Marks awarded are system-generated and therefore are not displayed on the OMR copy.

Verification Process Before Supplying Certified Copies

Before providing answer book copies, ICAI automatically conducts a verification under Regulation 39(4). This ensures that there are no mistakes in the evaluation process.

The verification checks:

• Questions or portions left unevaluated.

• Totalling mistakes.

• Errors on the cover page.

• Differences between step-wise marks and total marks.

If any discrepancy is found and marks increase, ICAI issues a revised statement of marks to the candidate.

Is Re-evaluation Allowed by ICAI?

Students often confuse verification with re-evaluation. However, ICAI regulations do not permit re-evaluation of answer books.

Under Regulation 39(4) of the CA Regulations, 1988:

• Re-checking of answers is not allowed.

• Only verification-related errors can be corrected.

• Candidates may report discrepancies within 30 days of receiving certified copies.

Therefore, answer book inspection should not be viewed as a re-evaluation mechanism.

Difference Between Answer Book Marks and Mark Sheet Marks

Students occasionally notice that marks appearing on their answer books differ from those shown in the official mark sheet.

This happens because marks displayed on answer books represent the examiner's awarded marks, whereas the final marks shown on the mark sheet may include adjustments made under Regulation 39(2) by the ICAI Council.

Such revisions may apply to:

• All candidates.

• A specific group of candidates.

• Particular papers or examinations.

Hence, minor differences between answer book marks and mark sheet marks are possible.

Fees for Certified Copies and Inspection

Candidates should note that fees paid for obtaining certified copies or answer book inspection are non-refundable.

Even if marks are revised after verification, the amount paid for certified copies or inspection is not returned.

How to Check Application Status?

After submitting the application, students can track its status online.

They may:

• Visit icaiexam.icai.org.

• Check the progress of their request.

• Contact ICAI through email or helpline numbers for examination-related assistance.

Tracking the application helps candidates stay informed about the processing stage and expected delivery of certified copies.

Why Is Answer Book Inspection Important?

The facility of obtaining certified copies and inspecting answer books provides students with greater transparency and confidence in the evaluation process.

Key Benefits

• Helps students understand their mistakes.

• Ensures fairness in evaluation.

• Identifies totalling or unmarked-answer errors.

• Assists in future exam preparation.

• Provides clarity regarding marks awarded.

For CA aspirants, awareness of these procedures is equally important as academic preparation, since it enables them to handle post-result queries efficiently.

ICAI's certified copies and answer book inspection facility is designed to promote transparency and accuracy in the examination system. While re-evaluation is not permitted, the automatic verification process ensures that errors relating to totalling or unchecked answers are corrected.