Dear friends,
A CA Final student, after receiving certified copies of answer sheets under the RTI Act, 2005, noticed that step-wise marks were not awarded in his paper.
Believing that marks should have been awarded based on the Suggested Answers, the student drafted an email to the CPIO and a few Central Council Members of ICAI, seeking clarification.
Official Reply from ICAI (Deputy Secretary – Examinations)#
In response, the Deputy Secretary (Examinations), ICAI, issued a clear and important clarification.
The key points from the reply are:
- Revaluation of answer books is not permitted under the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988
- Suggested Answers are NOT the basis of evaluation of answer books
- Examiners are not bound to award marks strictly based on suggested answers
- Evaluation is done based on the overall quality, understanding, and presentation of answers
This clarification is extremely important, as many students assume that marks must match the suggested answers word-by-word, which is not legally or procedurally correct.
Official Email Reply from ICAI#
Below is the official reply received from the Deputy Secretary (Examinations) for your reference:
What Students Should Understand#
- Suggested answers are only indicative
- They are meant to guide examiners, not bind them
- Different approaches, interpretations, and presentations can still fetch marks
- Non-allotment of step-wise marks does not automatically mean an error
Final Takeaway#
Applying for certified copies under RTI is useful to:
- Understand your performance
- Improve answer writing
- Learn presentation techniques
However, it is important to remember:
👉 Suggested answers ≠ evaluation benchmark
Understanding this distinction will help students avoid unnecessary confusion and unrealistic expectations.
