IAC 2027
IAC Preparatory Board Course
Prepare with purpose. Perform with confidence.
A focused, blended programme designed to help you apply and integrate your knowledge, sharpen your examination technique and approach the SAICA Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) with confidence.
Why the ITL IAC Preparatory Board Course?
Focused on the IAC
Focused on the IAC Practical, relevant and application-based preparation.
Experienced Academic Team
Facilitators with strong technical, academic and professional-assessment experience.
Blended Delivery
Focused online learning supported by two regional in-person weekends.
Structured Preparation
Deliberate Practice Mock Test, Mock IAC, structured self-evaluation and cohort-wide learning.
Continuous Academic Support
Guidance and candidate support throughout the active programme period.
About the Programme
The ITL IAC Preparatory Board Course is a structured blended-learning programme for candidates preparing for the SAICA Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC). It combines focused examination-technique and integrated-application sessions, two regional in-person weekends, a December Mock Test, the January ITL Mock IAC, structured self-evaluation and continuous academic support.
The programme is deliberately focused and is not intended to repeat a full PGDA curriculum. It helps candidates make better use of the knowledge they already have by interpreting requirements, planning responses, integrating and applying technical knowledge to unfamiliar scenarios, managing time and constructing focused examination answers.
Who Should Enrol?
- Candidates preparing to write the January 2027 IAC exam.
- Repeat IAC candidates who want an earlier, structured reset of their preparation, with deliberate reflection on their previous attempt and renewed focus on examination technique, integrated application and personal preparation planning.
- New PGDA graduates who want a focused transition from academic study to professional-assessment preparation through the Main Programme commencing on 27 November 2026.
- Candidates who want to strengthen examination technique, integrated application and examination readiness.
Choose Your Board Course Option
Digital Board Course File Only
- Receive the complete ITL Board Course File electronically, without the physically printed file.
Both options provide access to the same academic programme, online sessions, regional in-person sessions, Mock IAC learning process and academic support.
Your IAC Preparation Journey with ITL
A structured path from preparation to performance.
- REPEAT CANDIDATE RESET
23 Oct – 21 Nov 2026
For repeat candidates: reflect, diagnose, reset examination technique, practise integrated application and develop a personal preparation plan.
- MAIN PROGRAMME
27 Nov – 10 Dec 2026
Focused online preparation covering IAC exam technique, integrated application and a multi-disciplinary case workshop.
- REGIONAL IN-PERSON SESSION 1
12 – 13 Dec 2026
Face-to-face examination technique, selected high-impact issues and intensive question application across all four disciplines.
- MOCK TEST & CONSOLIDATION
14 Dec 2026 – 7 Jan 2027
Attempt the December Mock Test, self-review against Suggested Solutions, consolidate technically and use targeted academic consultations.
- MOCK IAC & SELF-EVALUATION
8 – 15 Jan 2027
Write the ITL Mock IAC, complete structured self-evaluation and learn from sampled-script review and the Script Review & Learning Report.
- REGIONAL IN-PERSON SESSION 2
16 – 17 Jan 2027
From Mock Performance to IAC Performance: reflection, sampled-script lessons, answer improvement and final examination advice.
- FINAL PREPARATION
20 – 23 Jan 2027
Final national check-in followed by protected preparation. No new teaching: consolidate, rest and prepare deliberately.
- SAICA IAC
26 – 28 Jan 2027
Put your preparation into practice.
Two Regional In-Person Sessions
The blended programme brings candidates together for two intensive face-to-face interventions delivered concurrently across seven regional centres over two weekends. Each weekend divides the four disciplines across Saturday and Sunday, with two disciplines addressed per day.
Regional In-Person Session 1 – Exam Technique, High-Impact Issues & Application
The first regional weekend moves candidates from focused online preparation into intensive face-to-face application. Across the two days, candidates engage with all four disciplines, with two disciplines addressed per day. The focus is examination technique, selected high-impact issues and intensive question application.
Regional In-Person Session 2 – From Mock Performance to IAC Performance
The second regional weekend is the final major face-to-face intervention before the IAC. Across the two days, candidates work through all four disciplines, with two disciplines addressed per day. The focus is high-level Mock reflection, lessons from sampled scripts, answer improvement and practical final examination advice.
Regional Centres
Candidates select the regional centre most convenient to them. Final venue details will be communicated to registered candidates. These regions will be candidate number-dependent.
Pietermaritzburg
Pretoria
Cape Town
Gqeberha
Kugompo City
Bloemfontein
Johannesburg
The ITL Mock IAC – Write. Reflect. Learn.
The revised programme deliberately creates two structured practice-and-reflection opportunities. A December Mock Test is released on 14 December 2026, with Suggested Solutions released on 18 December for candidate self-review. Candidates then write the ITL Mock IAC from 8–10 January 2027 under simulated examination conditions. The Mock IAC is designed primarily as a learning and reflection intervention rather than a mass individual-marking exercise.
- Candidates attempt the December Mock Test on their own time and compare their work with the Suggested Solutions. All candidates then write and submit the January ITL Mock IAC.
- ITL selects a representative sample of candidate scripts from across the regional cohort for academic review.
- Subject Heads identify recurring strengths, weaknesses, technical-application issues and examination-technique lessons.
- ITL prepares a consolidated Script Review & Learning Report for the full candidate cohort.
- Candidates use the detailed solution, structured self-evaluation and the Script Review & Learning Report to review their own Mock IAC responses before Regional In-Person Session 2.
PRACTISE → SELF-EVALUATE → REFLECT → LEARN → IMPROVE → PREPARE
Continuous Academic Support
Candidates are supported throughout the active Board Course period through ITL’s digital academic-support environment. Academic Consultants provide ongoing guidance, post academic and examination-preparation messages and remain available for booked one-on-one engagements.
- Viva Engage: academic discussions, guidance, candidate questions and regular support messages.
- Microsoft Bookings: access to scheduled one-on-one engagements with Academic Consultants.
- Academic Consultants: dedicated availability for candidate guidance and support during the programme.
Repeat Candidate Reset
Repeat candidates begin on 23 October 2026 with a targeted four-engagement Reset phase. It is designed to help candidates reflect on their previous IAC attempt, diagnose performance gaps, reset their examination approach, practise integrated application and develop a focused personal preparation plan before joining the Main Programme on 27 November 2026.
The Repeat Candidate Reset forms part of the ITL Board Course and does not require a separate programme fee for eligible repeat candidates.
A Blended Programme Designed Around Performance
The ITL model deliberately combines the accessibility of online learning with the value of face-to-face engagement. Online sessions establish and reinforce the learning; regional sessions create space for application, discussion, practical examination advice and reflection.
ONLINE LEARNING → APPLICATION → REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT → MOCK IAC → REFLECTION → FINAL READINESS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Early Start and Main Programme?
Will my Mock IAC be individually marked?
How do the regional sessions work?
What resources are included?
Can my Training Office or employer pay the fee?
Are regional venue details final?
Ready to prepare for the 2027 IAC?
Secure your place on the ITL 2027 IAC Preparatory Board Course.
