This provides about 1 minutes and 35 seconds for each multiple choice question and 15 minutes for each task based simulation. The optimal time to take BEC is in the third quarter. You should take this section last because you are more likely to pass it. You should strive to take this during the highest passing windows. The audit section is 72 multiple choice questions.
How hard is the REG CPA exam?
Due to its breadth of legal topics, it is considered one of the toughest exams in the professional world. The CPA Exam tests knowledge of accounting, auditing, and tax topics, which are essential for accountants. The CPA and CFA exams target different finance sectors and require high expertise. Below, we explore how it measures against the CFA, Bar, and GMAT/LSAT exams. It often stands out for its depth and breadth compared to other professional exams.
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And it’s nearly impossible to pass once you’re a working professional. Yes, the exam is patterned on your performance—if you do well, the next testlets will get harder. Tracking progress keeps me motivated and less anxious for the CPA exams. This is how to study for CPA exam in a flexible but focused way.
CPA Exam Questions and Their Complexity
- With a plethora of different questions, the grueling 4-hour duration for a section seems a little too less.
- It also compares CPA with other exams and gives smart tips to study better.
- But in contrast, CPA candidates must juggle scheduling 4 different exam parts and pass them within the 30-month rolling window.
- For example, the FAR section covers an extensive range of financial accounting standards, from basic concepts to complex reporting requirements under U.S.
- Read each question carefully, eliminate wrong answers, and manage time wisely.
- The Bar exam does generally have higher barriers to entry between law school requirements and study time.
However, when the CPA Exam pass rates decrease, the AICPA claims it is because exam-takers were less prepared. For example, when the CPA Exam pass rates increase, the AICPA claims it is because exam-takers were better prepared. And it’s important to remember that it’s not uncommon for people to need to retake them–just look at the pass rates.” However, like all tests, the amount of time you dedicate to studying for each section of the exam will depend upon your own knowledge, experience and test-taking abilities. Keep reading to learn about the exam components, discover how it’s scored, better understand the time commitment it takes and find out how many people actually passed it in 2021. The pass rate of an exam shows how hard it is.
The answers to these questions will help you create a strategic exam schedule that will better set you up for success. In fact, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), 23,407 candidates passed the CPA Exam in 2019. “BEC and AUD are generally regarded as the ‘easier’ sections of the exam,” says Smith. According to the AICPA, the national average pass rate is 45-55%. Now let’s discuss what’s top of mind for all CPA Exam candidates–passing it. Luckily, you won’t have to cram all those hours of studying into a single month.
- Do not confuse this time with the 30 minutes required by Prometric.
- To pass a CPA Exam section, you must score a minimum of 75.
- You have 30 months to pass your remaining three sections of the CPA Exam; if you do not pass them all, you’ll lose credit for the first section you passed.
- Most have prepared for months, but still feel unprepared on exam day.
- However, the pass rates changed for the better in 2018 and afterwards.
- Practicing under timed conditions before the exam is a great way to prepare.
How Hard Is the CPA Exam with Becker?
Here are the top 10 programs with the highest CPA Exam pass rates, based on when this ranking was last published. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) releases reports on CPA Exam pass rates at the top universities with accounting programs. TCP has consistently held the highest pass rates across all sections, starting at 82% in early 2024 and maintaining strong performance into 2025 — making it the most approachable and candidate-friendly section under CPA Evolution. BAR started as one of the toughest sections under CPA Evolution, with pass rates sliding to 34% by Q4 2024. Pre-CPA Evolution pass rates aren’t directly comparable to current results due to major changes in the CPA exam’s structure, content, and testing methods.
Every section covers multiple areas that require a deep understanding and the ability to apply this knowledge in different scenarios. So now that business startup costs you have an answer to the question, “How hard is the CPA Exam,” the next question is, “What makes the CPA Exam so hard?” Watt Sells award recipients obtain a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all 4 sections. If you wish to go above and beyond, you can shoot past the CPA Exam pass score and aim to earn the Elijah Watt Sells Award. Far from it—tens of thousands of people pass the CPA Exam every year!
Furthermore, you must pass all of the Core sections, but you only need to pass one Discipline section. Therefore, preparation is the key to making the CPA Exam less hard. The more prepared you are for the CPA Exam, the higher the likelihood that you will find the CPA exam less difficult. The data reveals that the average pass rate for test-takers with a graduate degree is 58.3%. While it’s not required for your degree to be in accounting, it is highly recommended.
Also, each section of the CPA Exam is allotted a total of 4 hours to complete. It is important to note that there is a great deal of material to cover during the exam, so you have to know a little bit of information about a lot of topics to cover everything successfully. For the written portion of the exam, there is only one correct answer. The four sections are Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). The CPA Exam is broken down into four sections and each section covers a myriad of topics categorized into sections and subsections. See how accounting on Salesforce can eliminate the need for costly integrations—and silos of mismatched information—by sharing the same database as your CRM.
Do whatever you can to avoid distractions and prioritize your studying so you can reach your goals. The road to becoming a CPA may not be easy, but it’s certainly worth it. As the saying goes, anything worth having is worth working hard for. For those that enjoy deliberating and weighing nuanced problems or aren’t a “numbers person”, the Bar exam may be easier. Students that are very regimented, organized and thrive with order and following rules and standards, the CPA exam is probably going to be an easier exam. Unfortunately, it’s also very subjective and almost impossible to answer.
The content is not easier at all, but the exam process is less arduous. But each exam is compartmentalized and short compared to the Bar Exam. The information tested is a mile deep, but only a block wide for each exam.
Another common issue is underestimating the difficulty of the exam. Many candidates struggle with the CPA exam because of the significant time and effort required to prepare. This relatively low success rate reflects the difficulty of the exam. Each section has a time limit of four hours, making the total exam length 16 hours.
You passed the bar, but the CPA Exam will be much more difficult,” came the advice from my CPA friends. What I did not expect was the debate surrounding which exam is harder. You might not believe this, but some accountants and attorneys compete for who had the tougher journey to pass their credentialing exam. Try Becker’s CPA Exam Review FREE for 14 days and see what it’s like to prepare to pass with confidence. So go ahead and start learning, reviewing, and preparing to be 64% more likely to pass the CPA Exam!
With tools like these, you can feel confident in your readiness to pass. Becker’s CPA Exam Review can make all the difference in your exam performance by providing you everything you need to be Exam Day ReadySM. Success on the CPA Exam comes down to preparation and strategy. With so much to do in so little time, effective time management is crucial.
But how hard is it to get CPA certified? Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) is a goal for many aspiring accounting professionals. Some people can get through the exam in a matter of a few weeks/months while others take years. Also looking at the replies, the CPA exam experience is a spectrum. ISC showed strong momentum throughout CPA Evolution, climbing from 51% in early 2024 to an impressive 68% in 2025 — indicating rapid candidate adaptation and possibly better-aligned prep resources over time. However, it saw a significant rebound in 2025 — rising to 42% — as candidates and educators began to adjust to its new demands.
With each section featuring complex questions that test not only your theoretical knowledge but also your ability to apply that knowledge in practical scenarios. First, The CPA Exam’s structure presents significant challenges, requiring you to navigate a comprehensive 16-hour assessment across four sections of the CPA exam. Understanding these elements can significantly impact your exam preparation and success rate. This exam sets the foundation for a successful and respected career in accounting. Consistent preparation and understanding of each exam section significantly enhance your chances of success. This typically involves allocating 75 to 100 hours per exam section.
The weighted combination of scaled scores is 50% MCQs and 50% TBSs for both Core and Discipline sections, with the exception of ISC, which is 60% MCQs and 40% TBSs. The CPA Exam consists of three Core sections (AUD, FAR and REG) and the choice of one Discipline section (BAR, ISC and TCP). To pass a CPA Exam section, you must score a minimum of 75.
It’s definitely harder than the BAR exam and maybe even some medical board exams. The cpa exam failure rate is around 50% for each section. Read on to learn the truth behind the CPA exam difficulty. It also compares CPA with other exams and gives smart tips to study better.
The CPA exam is notorious for testing certain topics and concepts very lightly while covering others with much greater frequency and complexity. The content covered by the 4 sections of the CPA Exam is both wide-ranging and deep. This requires an intimate knowledge of the concepts being tested. Not only that, but the exam is designed to test a range of different skill sets. This means that, on average, 1 out of every 2 people taking a given exam section is likely to fail.
