What is the most failed CPA Exam?

Asked by: Prof. Jannie Hudson I  |  Last update: September 18, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (54 votes)

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

What is the lowest CPA pass rate?

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%.

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.

How many times can you fail CPA Exam?

You may take any unpassed section of the Uniform CPA Exam year-round. Your only restriction is waiting to receive your score from a previous attempt of the same section. Additionally, there is no limit as to the amount of times you may repeat a failed section.

How many people fail CPA Exam first time?

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%.

Failed CPA Exam: 3 Simple Steps to Pass Your Retake

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Which is harder CPA or bar?

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.”

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.

Is passing the CPA impressive?

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

What happens if you don t pass all 4 CPA exams in 18 months?

The second time limit: passing all 4 sections within 18 months. Once you have passed your first section of the CPA Exam, a new timer begins counting down. You have 18 months to pass the remaining three sections of the CPA Exam; if you do not pass them all, you'll lose credit for the first section you passed.

Do you have to pay again if you fail CPA Exam?

All re-examination candidates are required to pay the CPA Exam retake fees, which include both the re-application and examination fee. Fees will vary based on the state you are seeking CPA licensure in.

What is the hardest to easiest CPA Exam?

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.

Why do so many people fail CPA exams?

Studying Inefficiently (Or Studying the Wrong Material)

Candidates who have disciplined study plans are more likely to pass the exam the first time around! Another common mistake that candidates make is not researching what specific concepts will be tested on the exam.

Is the CPA getting harder?

It is likely that the 2024 FAR core will be less difficult and contain less content than the 2022 or 2023 FAR exam you will take. The CPA Evolution Blueprint has moved some of the more difficult FAR topics (e.g., governmental accounting, derivatives, consolidation, etc.) into the BAR discipline track.

What is the easiest CPA to get?

BEC has the highest pass rate and is considered the easiest CPA exam section.

Which US CPA is the easiest?

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 state has the highest CPA pass rate?

In 2019, the jurisdictions with the highest pass rates were: Utah (66.0%), Wisconsin (63.4%) and Iowa (62.2%).

Which part of CPA Exam is hardest?

Often considered the most difficult exam, Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) has had the lowest passing scores of the four exams. The amount of material CPA Exam candidates have to learn for the exam, coupled with the combination of memorization and application, makes this exam more difficult.

Can you get a 74 on the CPA Exam?

Your 74 on the CPA Exam does not mean you were one point away from passing. Instead, your 74 means once they determined you failed, they compared your score with other people that failed and determine you performed better than them but still failed.

Will 2024 CPA be harder?

Basically, the CPA Evolution initiative means that the CPA Exam will change by January 2024. And since you will need to demonstrate your skills in the core content areas plus a sub-discipline, the CPA Exam could become much more challenging.

Is being a CPA prestigious?

The CPA designation is one of the accounting industry's most recognized and respected credentials. Earning your CPA can open up doors to exciting career opportunities. This blog post will explore the history of the CPA designation, what it takes to become a CPA, and why it is so important.

Are CPAs in demand?

Overall, the 2022 study found that although the current CPA shortage is expected to ease moderately over the next five years, the labour market is expected to remain tight, which means ongoing challenges for employers.

Does GPA matter for CPA?

Is There a GPA Requirement for CPA? No, there is no GPA requirement to take the CPA exam or get your CPA license—you just need to meet the education requirements and obtain a 4-year degree plus additional credit hours. However, if you have dreams of working for The Big 4, you'll want to maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher.

Who is the youngest CPA?

Her name is Belicia Cespedes and she was just 17 years old when she passed her CPA Exam. You read that right, 17. Which pretty much makes Belicia the world's youngest CPA.

What age are most accountants?

The average accountant age is 43 years old. The most common ethnicity of accountants is White (61.1%), followed by Asian (15.0%), Hispanic or Latino (10.9%) and Black or African American (8.6%). Accountants are most in-demand in New York, NY. The technology industry is the highest-paying for accountants.

Does a 75 pass the CPA exam?

To pass a CPA Exam section, you must score a minimum of 75. Have you ever wondered how the AICPA calculates your CPA Exam section scores? Scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0 to 99.