What is harder LSAT or CPA?

Asked by: Garrett Lakin  |  Last update: December 8, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (11 votes)

I found the LSAT much easier, but it plays more to my strengths. I struggle with memorization, and process mapping is harder for me…so the CPA exams took a lot of practice. You'll have some idea of how you'll do with the initial test…the dramatic 50 to 80 improvements don't happen as much with the LSAT.

Is CPA harder than law?

Just look at the pass rates for first time exam takers. You passed the bar, but the CPA Exam will be much more difficult,” came the advice from my CPA friends. My attorney colleagues had this to say, “Well, after studying for and taking the Bar Exam, the CPA Exam will be a piece of cake for you.”

Is the CPA exam the hardest exam?

The CPA exam is a four-part, in-depth assessment of proficiency in all requirements for public accountancy. It is considered one of the most challenging professional exams on the planet. When the national pass rate is roughly 50%, you know it can't be an easy exam. Hundreds of hours of study time will be necessary.

What is harder than the CPA?

Keep in mind, the Bar exam has much more difficult requirements to even sit for the exam—you need to go to law school, which is quite a commitment, both financially and in terms of time. While the CPA requires accounting experience and coursework, there's a lower bar for entry for this test.

Is the CPA exam harder than the MCAT?

Both are broad, difficult tests. The CPA exam has about a 50% cumulative pass rate, which indicates that it's the harder of the two tests.

How Hard Are the CPA Exams? | 2022 Pass Rates

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How hard is CPA for an average student?

You've probably heard quite a bit of intimidating details about how hard it is — it's long, it requires hundreds of hours of study time, it's so difficult that the average CPA Exam passing rate for first-time candidates is only 50%.

What is the most failed CPA exam?

Often considered the most difficult exam, Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) has had the lowest passing scores of the four exams.

Do most people pass the CPA exam?

About half of the individuals who take the CPA Exam don't pass on their first attempt. According to the AICPA, the national average pass rate is 45-55%. Cumulative pass rates reported by the AICPA for the calendar year 2021 show that FAR had the lowest pass rate at 44.54% and BEC had the highest pass rate at 61.94%.

Why is the CPA so hard to pass?

The CPA exam is notoriously difficult for a number of reasons. Overall, it covers an extensive amount of information—everything newly licensed CPAs will need to know to perform their jobs well. And each section of the exam has its own unique challenges.

Is passing the CPA impressive?

A CPA designation is commonly recognized as difficult to achieve, making the certification even more impressive when earned.

How many people fail the CPA exam?

The average CPA exam pass rate is around 50%.

Is the CPA as hard as the bar?

So, more Bar Exam candidates pass the Uniform Bar Exam vs. the CPA Exam. 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.

Is it common to fail the CPA exam?

Just know that you're not alone—the CPA Exam is hard. The CPA Exam has a pass rate of around 50%. So, though millions of candidates have passed the CPA Exam, many first faced failure along the way. Remember, not passing the CPA Exam doesn't mean you can't do this.

Does CPA require a lot of math?

Accounting programs usually require business and management courses as well as statistics. While some degrees may require a higher math course, it's really lower math operations and basic algebra that will help you most. So if you struggled through calculus in high school or managed to avoid it entirely, don't despair.

Which CPA is the easiest?

What is the easiest part of the CPA exam? BEC has the highest pass rate and is considered the easiest CPA exam section.

Which CPA Exam is easier?

So, we know that BEC is widely considered to be the easiest CPA exam, but where are the other CPA exam sections in order of difficulty? After BEC, the next easiest CPA exam is Regulation (REG). At 60.7%, it has a similar pass rate to BEC (based on the most recent cumulative results).

What is the average age to pass the CPA Exam?

CPA Exam Rate by Age

As per the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the average age of qualified candidates in 2016 was 28.9 years at one of the examinations. In 2015, a NASBA report observed that the mean age of successful candidates was 29, with the median age being 25 years.

How long on average does it take to pass the CPA?

You must complete all the CPA exam sections within 18 months for successful licensure. An average CPA candidate requires 9-14 months to pass all the sections of the CPA Examination. However, this period may vary as per your familiarity with the material, acquired skills, and study time devoted.

Is the CPA Exam curved?

Scores are not curved. When you fail an Exam section, you'll also receive a Candidate Performance Report that assesses your performance on that specific section. CPA Exam scoring is treated with a high level of importance, due diligence, and attention to accuracy.

How many times can you retake CPA Exam?

How many times can I retake the CPA exam? You can retake it as many times as you want, but you can only take each section once per testing window.

How long should I study for the CPA Exam?

Studying for the CPA Exam

We recommend that you spend approximately 150 hours studying for the Financial section, 120 hours studying for the Regulation section, 90 hours studying for the Auditing section and 90 hours studying for the Business section. Here are tips for stress while studying for the CPA Exam.

What is considered a good CPA score?

According to the AICPA a high CPA exam score is anything over 85. Since less than 50% of candidates don't get above a score of 75, a score of 85 is in the top 10 percentile. Remember, the CPA exam isn't scored on a percentage basis. It is a standardized test that is scored on percentiles.

What is the hardest topic on the CPA Exam?

In many ways, the BEC section of the CPA Exam is the hardest section for candidates. While many exam students have education and experience in the areas of financial accounting, audit and tax, BEC covers content that some students may not have much exposure.

What is the hardest accounting class?

Tax Accounting: Usually some of the most difficult classes for an accounting major as they delve into the minutia of tax codes, though this knowledge is a major source of income for accounting graduates.

What is the lowest CPA pass rate?

Visit our BEC CPA exam guide for more information and tips! FAR: While we saw a slight increase from Q1'22 to Q2'22, that was short lived as the pass rate dropped below 45% on average for 2022. With a pass rate of 44.3% in Q3'22, FAR continues to have the lowest pass rate.