
What CPA exam to take first?
- The “Toughest” Exam First Strategy
- The “Easiest” Exam First Strategy
- The Middle-Ground Strategy
Which CPA exam is the hardest?
Which CPA Exam Section is the Hardest?
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What to expect from the CPA exam?
To successfully complete this section, candidates should be able to demonstrate an awareness of:
- International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and the International Standards on Auditing
- The differences between ISAs and U.S. ...
- Audit procedures for U.S. ...
- International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
What is the most difficult part in the CPA exam?
- What is the hardest section of the CPA Exam?
- Sample CPA Exam questions
- What is the hardest type of question on the CPA Exam?

Is the format of the CPA Exam all multiple-choice?
All four sections contain multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and task-based simulations (TBS). BEC has also has a portion for written communication tasks. Testing within each Examination section is administered in blocks called testlets. Testlets contain operational and pretest questions.
What are the 4 parts of CPA Exam?
All candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination ® (CPA Exam), which comprises four sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG).
How many questions is each CPA Exam?
Number and Types of Questions on the CPA Exam. The total number of questions for all of the exam sections is 307, with an average of 77 questions per section. In the CPA Exam blueprints, the AICPA breaks down the content of the four exam sections into areas, groups, and topics.
Is the CPA Exam curved?
Calculating your CPA Exam score Scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0 to 99. It's important to know that your total reported score does not represent a percentage correct, nor can you interpret it as such. Scores are not curved.
What is the hardest CPA subject?
Financial ReportingIt is important not to underestimate Financial Reporting – it is the hardest subject in the CPA Program and requires you to complete at a time when your other commitments are manageable.
Which CPA test is the hardest?
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)Students often report that Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the most difficult part of the CPA Exam to pass, because it is the most comprehensive section.
What is the pass mark for CPA exam?
One of the people who has been marking the exams since 2010 confirms to me that in most cases, the pass mark is around 40, which means that if a candidate manages to get two questions of 20 marks each, he is likely to pass the papers.
Which part of the CPA exam is the easiest?
BECCPA Exam Written Communication Testlets Either way, BEC is considered the easiest part of the CPA exam because it has the highest pass rate. The AICPA highlights one reason BEC is higher is because it is the section most commonly taken last, giving students more experience with test-taking after taking other sections.
Is the CPA exam harder than the bar?
Therefore, I conclude that based on pass rates and the length of testing time required, the CPA Exam is harder than the Bar Exam, depending on where you take your Bar Exam.
What is a 75 on CPA Exam?
Most CPA candidates know they need a “75” on each of the four exam sections to pass the CPA Exam, but “75” does not mean answering 75% of the questions right. Rather, 75 is the amount of points a candidate has earned for answering questions correctly, and different questions are worth different amounts of points.
Do real people grade CPA exams?
No, the CPA Exam is not curved. Your score is based on your responses and each question's scaled value. Moreover, your CPA Exam score percentiles are only based on your performance, not on the performance of fellow CPA candidates.
Is CPA tougher than CA?
Indian CA exam requires lot of hard work. You cannot compare two exams because one is orange and other is apple. You can pass CPA exam in 6 - 12 months whereas it takes 3 - 4 years to pass CA.
Is Reg harder than AUD?
FAR had the lowest pass rates, while BEC had the highest. AUD had the second-lowest pass rate, and REG had the second-highest pass rate. Therefore, the pass rates tell us that the hardest section of the CPA Exam is FAR, and the easiest section of the CPA Exam is BEC.
What is the easiest part of the CPA Exam?
BECCPA Exam Written Communication Testlets Either way, BEC is considered the easiest part of the CPA exam because it has the highest pass rate. The AICPA highlights one reason BEC is higher is because it is the section most commonly taken last, giving students more experience with test-taking after taking other sections.
Which state CPA Exam is easiest?
Colorado Requirements Overview: With no requirement to be a US Citizen, a resident of CO, or a certain age, it makes Colorado one of the easiest states to sit for the CPA exam and become licensed.
What is the pass mark for CPA Exam?
One of the people who has been marking the exams since 2010 confirms to me that in most cases, the pass mark is around 40, which means that if a candidate manages to get two questions of 20 marks each, he is likely to pass the papers.
What are the 4 parts of the CPA Exam?
The CPA exam consists of four separate sections, which candidates must pass to earn their certification. The four sections of the CPA are: Auditing...
Which CPA exam to take first
Scheduling each section of the CPA exam is a personal choice that will largely depend on your study timeline and process. Here are some tips based...
What order to take the CPA exam
The logical order of the CPA exam, from some a content perspective, is the following: FARAUDREGBEC However, the most important element when decidin...
What is the hardest section of the CPA exam?
Based on student feedback, many candidates felt that FAR was the most difficult section of the CPA exam. It covers a huge quantity of information a...
Can you take all four parts of the CPA exam at the same time?
You will schedule each of the four parts of the CPA exam separately. They take four hours each. You are allowed to take all four sections within th...
CPA exam: which sections are the most similar?
AUD and FAR may have the most subjects in common. In general, you will find some overlap in concepts on each of the four sections of the CPA exam....
What percentage of people pass all four sections of the CPA exam on the first try?
The AICPA pass rates for the CPA exam in 2020 so far are: AUD 47.97%BEC 61.76%FAR 46.37%REG 55.42%
What is the CPA exam score?
Each exam section is graded on a scale of 0-99. A passing score of at least 75 must be achieved in each section. There are a few things to remember about the way the exam is scored. The CPA exam is a weighted score. Each testlet has a different weight and a final section score is a weighted combination of scaled scores from each portion of the exam.
What is CAT testing?
Computer adaptive testing (CAT) is a common test form for many computerized licensing tests today. CAT is designed to adjust the level of difficulty, based on the responses provided by a candidate, to match the knowledge and ability of a test taker. If a candidate answers something correctly, the next question is harder. Alternatively, if the candidate is answering incorrectly, the subsequent question (s) is easier. This type of test format is meant to push back against standardized testing, doing a better job of determining the true skill level of individual students.
What are the different sections of the AUD exam?
The four different exam sections are Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). These exam sections can be taken in any order; that order is chosen by the candidate.
What Is the CPA Exam?
First, let’s discuss what the CPA Exam is. The test’s actual title is the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, and it’s developed and scored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
How Do I Register for the CPA Exam?
Now that you know whether or not you’re qualified to take the CPA exam, let’s talk about how you go about taking it. Just like the ACT or SAT, you have to register to take the CPA Exam. But the process can be a little intimidating!
What Types of Questions Are on the CPA Exam?
Like we mentioned earlier, there are three major question types on the CPA Exam: multiple-choice questions (MCQs), task-based simulations (TBSs), and written communication tasks (WCTs). Let’s take a look at each of these in a little more detail.
How Do I Pass the CPA Exam? What Is the CPA Exam Pass Rate?
The CPA exam pass rates are quite low. Only about half of takers pass the exam! You can dive into the specifics of the 2019 pass rates here, but here’s a general breakdown:
How much does it cost to take the CPA exam?
Like with everything related to the CPA Exam, the costs and fees vary from state to state. In general, you can expect to pay a $150 application fee, then somewhere between $180-$250 per exam section. That means the CPA Exam itself will cost you about $1200 to take (fees excluded).
How many sessions are required to take CPA exam?
Unlike many standardized tests where you have to take the complete test in one sitting, you take the CPA Exam over multiple sessions. You can take as many as two sections in a single session, and you must pass all four within an 18-month timeframe.
What is multiple choice on CPA exam?
Multiple-choice questions on your CPA test work just like those you’ve been dealing with for four years of school. The exam will posit a question, then you’ll have to choose from four or more answers.
Multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
The multiple-choice portions are presented in the first two testlets of each Exam section.
Task-based simulations
Task-based simulations are condensed case studies that test accounting knowledge and skills using real-life, work-related situations. All task-based simulations are intended to assess knowledge and skills that are appropriate for an entry-level accountant.
Written communication tasks
Written communication tasks appear only in the BEC section of the CPA Exam. For each of three written communication tasks, you must read a scenario and then write appropriate documentation relating to the scenario. The instructions state what form the document should take (such as a memo or letter) and its focus.
What are the parts of CPA exam?
The four parts of the CPA exam are: Auditing and Attestation (AUD) Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Regulation (REG) Even though you take the sections separately, the study plan you follow will include all of the subjects.
What is BEC in business?
BEC is all about answering business-related questions. You will have to clearly apply concepts and solve scenarios related to corporate structure, management and the economy.
How many testlets are there in AUD?
There are five testlets in AUD. These will include:
What is REG in tax?
REG covers taxation and law. This includes business law and federal tax procedures. These are complex systems that you will need to study well so that you can apply the principles.
What is an AUD?
AUD is all about your ability to audit, or assess, and report, or attest, in different finance-related scenarios. You will be required to apply principles, find and report on information, and display good judgment in conclusions. Click here for the AUD Blueprint from the AICPA.
How long do you have to take the CPA section?
BEC. However, the most important element when deciding which CPA section to take first is your own strengths and abilities. You will have 18 months to take all four parts. How you study will largely determine the order in which you should take the sections.
Which is easier, BEC or CPA?
On the other end of the spectrum, BEC is often reported as being the easiest. Keep in mind that the entire CPA exam is very hard, so “ease” is relative. If you take a practice exam, you will be able to determine the section that might present the highest challenge for you personally.
