Dip IFRS Syllabus 2026: Key Standards, Exam Weightings & Study Guide

The December 2026 Dip IFRS exam syllabus is structured around the 2026 editions of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), focusing on technical competence in recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure. The syllabus emphasizes core standards such as IFRS 9, IFRS 10, IFRS 13, IAS 12, IAS 36, and IAS 1, with increased emphasis on sustainability-related disclosures under IFRS S1 and IFRS S2. Candidates must demonstrate application-level understanding through scenario-based questions, case studies, and structured written responses.

Dip IFRS Syllabus 2026: Core Standards and Exam Weightings

The December 2026 Dip IFRS syllabus is aligned with the 2026 IFRS Foundation work plan and includes the latest amendments and new standards effective by 1 January 2026. The exam assesses technical knowledge across 10 key areas, with the highest weightings assigned to financial instruments (IFRS 9), consolidation (IFRS 10), and impairment (IAS 36). The syllabus is divided into two main parts: Part A covers the conceptual framework and general presentation, while Part B focuses on specific standards.

Key Standards and Their Exam Weightings

The syllabus is designed to test not only technical knowledge but also the ability to apply standards in complex scenarios. For example, IFRS 9 requires candidates to assess impairment under the expected credit loss (ECL) model, while IFRS 10 demands an understanding of control and consolidation procedures. Candidates must be prepared for scenario-based questions that integrate multiple standards, such as assessing impairment under IAS 36 in the context of a consolidated group under IFRS 10.

Exam Format and Assessment Structure

The Dip IFRS exam consists of two sections: Section A (objective test questions) and Section B (constructed response questions). Section A accounts for 40% of the total marks and includes multiple-choice, multiple-response, and case-based questions. Section B, which carries 60% of the marks, includes scenario-based questions, short-answer questions, and a case study requiring written responses.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate:

• Technical accuracy in applying standards.
• Professional judgment in complex scenarios.
• Clear communication of technical conclusions.

For example, a typical Section B question may require candidates to prepare a consolidated statement of financial position under IFRS 10, incorporating impairment assessments under IAS 36 and fair value measurements under IFRS 13. Candidates must also be prepared to discuss the implications of sustainability disclosures under IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, even though these standards carry a lower weighting.

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Dip IFRS 2026: Conceptual Framework and Presentation Standards

The conceptual framework underpins all IFRS standards and is a critical component of the Dip IFRS syllabus. The 2026 framework emphasizes the qualitative characteristics of useful financial information, including relevance, faithful representation, comparability, verifiability, timeliness, and understandability. Candidates must understand how these characteristics influence the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of financial information.

IAS 1: Presentation of Financial Statements

IAS 1 sets out the overall requirements for the presentation of financial statements, including the structure, components, and accounting policies. Key requirements include:

• Components of financial statements: Statement of financial position, statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, statement of cash flows, and notes.
• Disclosure of accounting policies: Entities must disclose significant accounting policies and judgments made in applying those policies.
• Going concern: Management must assess whether the entity can continue as a going concern and disclose any material uncertainties.

For the December 2026 exam, candidates must be prepared to discuss the implications of sustainability-related disclosures under IAS 1, which now require entities to provide information about their sustainability risks and opportunities. This includes disclosures under IFRS S1 and IFRS S2, which are integrated into the financial statements.

IFRS S1 and IFRS S2: Sustainability Disclosures

While not yet widely adopted, IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 are included in the 2026 syllabus to reflect the growing importance of sustainability reporting. IFRS S1 sets out general requirements for sustainability-related disclosures, while IFRS S2 focuses on climate-related disclosures. Candidates must understand:

• The four pillars of sustainability disclosures: governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets.
• The requirement to disclose material sustainability risks and opportunities.
• The interaction between sustainability disclosures and financial statements.

For example, a candidate may be asked to discuss how a company’s sustainability risks, such as climate change, could impact its impairment assessment under IAS 36 or its financial instruments under IFRS 9.

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Dip IFRS 2026: Advanced Application of Core Standards

The Dip IFRS syllabus for December 2026 places a strong emphasis on the application of standards in complex scenarios, particularly in the areas of financial instruments, consolidation, and impairment. Candidates must be able to integrate multiple standards and demonstrate professional judgment in their responses.

IFRS 9: Financial Instruments – Classification, Measurement, and Impairment

IFRS 9 is one of the most heavily weighted standards in the syllabus, with a focus on:

• Classification and measurement: Entities must classify financial assets into amortized cost, fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI), or fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) based on the entity’s business model and contractual cash flow characteristics.
• Impairment: The expected credit loss (ECL) model requires entities to recognize impairment losses based on a forward-looking assessment of credit risk.
• Hedge accounting: Entities must apply hedge accounting to manage risk exposures, with strict criteria for effectiveness and documentation.

Candidates must be prepared to assess the classification of financial instruments, calculate ECL, and apply hedge accounting in scenario-based questions. For example, a candidate may be asked to evaluate whether a financial asset should be classified as amortized cost or FVTPL, considering the entity’s business model and the nature of the cash flows.

IFRS 10: Consolidation – Control and Special Purpose Entities

IFRS 10 requires entities to consolidate all subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures where control exists. Key concepts include:

• Control: An investor controls an investee if it has power over the investee, exposure to variable returns, and the ability to use its power to affect those returns.
• Special purpose entities (SPEs): Entities must assess whether an SPE is controlled by the reporting entity, even if the SPE is not a legal subsidiary.
• Consolidation procedures: Entities must eliminate intra-group transactions, recognize non-controlling interests, and prepare consolidated financial statements.

For the December 2026 exam, candidates must be prepared to assess control in complex scenarios, such as joint ventures or SPEs, and prepare consolidated financial statements under IFRS 10.

IAS 36: Impairment of Assets – Recoverable Amount and Value in Use

IAS 36 requires entities to assess whether an asset is impaired by comparing its carrying amount with its recoverable amount, which is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value in use. Key concepts include:

• Cash-generating units (CGUs): Entities must allocate impairment losses to CGUs and recognize them in profit or loss.
• Value in use: Entities must estimate future cash flows, growth rates, and discount rates to calculate value in use.
• Reversal of impairment losses: Entities can reverse impairment losses if the recoverable amount subsequently increases.

Candidates must be prepared to assess impairment in complex scenarios, such as a consolidated group under IFRS 10, where multiple CGUs may be affected by a single impairment trigger.

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