The ISA assessment test 2026 is now official. ICAI will hold the Information Systems Audit Assessment Test on Saturday, 28 November 2026, and the online application window is already open at isaat.icai.org. It closes on 21 October 2026, so members who want to appear have only a few days left to get their forms in. Below is everything in one place: what the test is, who can apply, the step-by-step application process, the fee, the exam pattern, the full 3.0 syllabus, and answers to the questions aspirants keep asking.
What is the ISA assessment test 2026?
To begin with, DISA stands for Diploma in Information Systems Audit, ICAI’s post-qualification course for chartered accountants who want to specialise in systems audit. The ISA Assessment Test (ISA AT) is the examination ICAI conducts for this course. In plain terms, DISA is the diploma, while the ISA assessment test is the exam you pass to earn it. As a result, people use “DISA exam” and “ISA exam” interchangeably, and searches for the DISA exam date 2026 and the ISA exam date 2026 both lead to the same announcement.
However, the November 2026 test runs only on the new 3.0 syllabus in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The old 2.0 syllabus no longer applies. Members who cleared the eligibility test under the old syllabus are still eligible, but they must now prepare and appear under 3.0.
ISA assessment test 2026: key dates announced by ICAI
| ICAI notification issued | 28 September 2026 |
| Online applications open | 8 October 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 21 October 2026 (up to 11:59 PM IST) |
| ISA Eligibility Test (separate) | 14 November 2026 |
| Exam date | Saturday, 28 November 2026 (tentative: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM IST, same across India) |
| Reporting time | 8:00 AM IST |
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) at designated centres |
How to apply: step-by-step guide
ICAI accepts applications only online through its official portal. Here is the full process:
Step 1. First, go to https://isaat.icai.org, the official ICAI portal for the ISA Assessment Test.
Step 2. Then log in with your ICAI membership credentials. If you are visiting for the first time, first register using your membership number and create your login. Also keep your ISA registration number handy.
Step 3. Next, open the online application form for the November 2026 ISA Assessment Test and fill in your personal, membership and eligibility details exactly as they appear in ICAI’s records. Incorrect information can invalidate your admission, so double-check every field.
Step 4. Then, choose your preferred examination centre or zone from the list. However, note that ICAI reserves the right to withdraw any centre or shift candidates to another zone, and once you opt for a centre, you cannot change it unless ICAI itself withdraws it.
Step 5. Then pay the examination fee of Rs 2,000 online only. The portal accepts Master/Visa/Maestro credit and debit cards, RuPay, BHIM UPI and net banking.
Step 6. Then, submit the form before 21 October 2026, 11:59 PM IST. Also save and print the confirmation page, and note down your barcode number and fee transaction number for any future correspondence.
Step 7. Download your admit card from isaat.icai.org once ICAI hosts it. In previous cycles, ICAI released the admit cards roughly two weeks before the exam.
Step 8. Finally, if you run into any difficulty, write to isa_examhelpline@icai.in quoting your ISA registration number, barcode number of the application form, fee transaction number, name of the centre, mobile number and email ID.
ISA assessment test 2026: who is eligible?
ICAI keeps the eligibility bar precise. In fact, you can apply only if both of these hold:
1. You are enrolled as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
2. Additionally, you have cleared the ISA Eligibility Test (ISA ET), or you hold an Eligibility Certificate issued by ICAI’s Digital Accounting and Assurance Board (DAAB) / Committee on Information Technology.
Two clarifications matter. First, the DAAB has decided that members who passed the eligibility test under the old 2.0 syllabus are eligible to appear for this 3.0 assessment test. Second, merely holding a professional training certificate is not enough: without the ET pass or the eligibility certificate, you cannot sit the assessment test.
Also note the timing: since applications for the 28 November test close on 21 October, you must already hold the eligibility certificate when you apply. ICAI has also scheduled a separate ISA Eligibility Test on 14 November 2026 (10:00 AM to 12:30 PM), which aspirants targeting the next cycle should keep on their radar.
ISA assessment test 2026: exam pattern and syllabus
Exam pattern. Specifically, the test is a single four-hour Computer Based Test comprising 200 multiple-choice questions of one mark each. There is no negative marking, so every question is worth an attempt. To pass, a candidate must therefore secure a minimum of 60 percent in aggregate, which means at least 120 of the 200 marks. The paper runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM IST (tentative), with reporting at 8:00 AM. Timings are the same across India.
Syllabus. The assessment runs on the revised ISA 3.0 syllabus, organised into six modules:
1. Information Systems Audit Process
2. Governance and Management of Enterprise IT, Risk Management, Compliance and BCM
3. System Development, Acquisition, Implementation and Maintenance, and Application System Audit
4. Information Systems Operations and Management
5. Protection of Information Assets
6. Emerging Technologies
The course also includes lab manuals and case studies. ICAI will hold the test across 56 centres in 24 states and union territories, subject to sufficient candidates opting for a city. For instance, large cities like Mumbai and New Delhi are divided into zones, each treated as a separate centre.
How to prepare for the ISA assessment test 2026
The ISA assessment test is indeed one of the most difficult exams in the CA journey: 200 MCQs across six technical modules, four hours on the clock, and a 60 percent passing bar. The good news, however, is that the entire paper is built on ICAI’s own material, which means disciplined practice on the right questions is the whole game.
That is exactly why DISA Saarthi (https://disa.studyfromnotes.com) exists. It is a free DISA 3.0 preparation platform developed by CA Anshul Karwa, who has himself passed DISA and built it to help fellow members clear this exam.
Everything on the platform is free; moreover, everything comes from ICAI:
– All 6 modules covered chapter-wise, mapped strictly to the official ICAI DISA 3.0 material
– Chapter-wise MCQs with instant scoring and explanations
– A full 200-mark mock test in the exact ICAI pattern with a live four-hour timer, completely free
– Weak-area analysis that pinpoints the modules needing more work
– Concise revision notes covering the full syllabus
Please note: the author has not written a single question on DISA Saarthi. Instead, every question comes only from ICAI modules, ICAI mock test papers (MTPs) and ICAI resources. As a result, nothing falls outside ICAI’s own material.
So if you are appearing on 28 November, a timed 200-mark mock in the exact ICAI pattern is the closest rehearsal you will get. Start free at disa.studyfromnotes.com.
ISA assessment test 2026: frequently asked questions
What is the next DISA / ISA exam date in 2026?
The next ISA Assessment Test is on Saturday, 28 November 2026, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM IST (tentative), in CBT mode.
What is the last date to apply for the ISA assessment test 2026?
21 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM IST. Applications are online only at isaat.icai.org.
What is the difference between DISA and ISA?
DISA (Diploma in Information Systems Audit), on the other hand, is ICAI’s post-qualification course and the diploma itself. The ISA Assessment Test, however, is the examination you must pass to earn that diploma.
What is the fee for the ISA assessment test?
Rs 2,000, payable online only through credit/debit card, RuPay, BHIM UPI or net banking. ICAI does not refund the fee, though it may transfer it to the next test in specific cases of circumstances beyond the candidate’s control.
Who is eligible to apply?
Members of ICAI who have passed the ISA Eligibility Test or hold an eligibility certificate from the DAAB. In addition, old-syllabus (2.0) ET pass holders are eligible for the 3.0 test.
Exam pattern, admit card and deadlines
What is the exam pattern of the ISA assessment test?
200 multiple-choice questions, one mark each, four hours, CBT mode, no negative marking. The pass mark, therefore, is 60 percent (120 out of 200).
Is the old 2.0 syllabus still valid?
No. ICAI now conducts the test only under the new 3.0 syllabus.
Where do I download the admit card?
From isaat.icai.org, once ICAI hosts it. In the previous cycle, ICAI released the admit cards about two weeks before the exam.
Can I change my exam centre after applying?
No. However, once opted, the centre cannot be changed unless ICAI withdraws it.
What if I miss the 21 October deadline?
Online applications close sharply at 11:59 PM IST on 21 October 2026, and ICAI does not accept late forms. Therefore, if you miss it, you will have to wait for the next cycle.
Share this update: If you know a CA preparing for the ISA assessment test, please forward this post, because applications close on 21 October 2026.
About the author
CA Anshul Karwa is a practicing Chartered Accountant and DISA-qualified professional. He develops and builds free tools, websites, apps and learning platforms for professionals, CAs and students, including DISA Saarthi, the free DISA 3.0 preparation platform with ICAI-based MCQs and mock tests. He is also the author of various books published globally and available on Amazon and other websites. (more free tools: https://www.studyfromnotes.com/tools/)
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