Which CPA Exam is easier?

Asked by: Mitchel Bernier IV  |  Last update: October 10, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (16 votes)

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).

Which exam is easiest in CPA?

CPA Exam Written Communication Testlets

BEC is the only CPA exam section with WCTs. Some students find this makes the exam easier, but some do find WCTs to be harder than TBSs. Either way, BEC is considered the easiest part of the CPA exam because it has the highest pass rate.

Which CPA Exam is the 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.

What state is the easiest to take the CPA Exam?

Colorado's (CO) CPA exam requirements are possibly the most advantageous of all the states. It does not require 150 hours to sit. 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.

Is the new CPA Exam easier or harder?

Is the New CPA Exam Harder? I hate to be a downer, but yes it is. Candidates typically have more problems with the task-based simulation portion of the exam and now that portion is worth more and covers more topics. It will also require a different way of thinking.

Is the CPA Exam getting easier? By Darius Clark

22 related questions found

Is the 2024 CPA Exam harder than the current exam?

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 the CPA Exam harder in 2024?

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 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%).

What state do CPAs make the most money?

Based on Job Location

According to data from the BLS, the top five highest-paying states for CPAs in the U.S. are the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California. The higher-than-average salaries for CPAs in these areas can be attributed to several factors: High demand for accounting services.

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.

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%.

How many people never pass 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%.

Which CPA Exam is the longest?

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the CPA Exam is the longest and by far the most comprehensive section of the CPA Exam. This part of the exam requires that CPA candidates have a strong knowledge of US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

Has the CPA gotten easier?

People always wonder if the cpa exam is harder than it used to be. Don't worry about the cpa exam difficulty increasing over time. If you are already worried about this, then you are just preparing your excuse. If you look at the test scores over the years, test scores have been going up.

How to pass CPA easily?

10 tips & strategies to pass the CPA Exam
  1. Determine your why. ...
  2. Set your desired timeline. ...
  3. Determine a study schedule that works for you. ...
  4. Get a review course. ...
  5. Get a CPA mentor/coach or join a CPA study group. ...
  6. Stick to your study patterns. ...
  7. Limit the distractions during your study hours.

Which accounting class is hardest?

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.

Do all CPAs make 6 figures?

A CPA salary usually reaches the high five figures, and senior CPAs in management can earn a six-figure salary.

Which CPA firms pay most?

The company has a workforce of more than 330,000 spread across more than 150 countries.
  • Accountants at Deloitte earn an average salary of $81,000 per year.
  • The average accountant salary at PwC is around $81,521 a year.
  • The average accountant salary at KPMG is around $74,838 a year.

Which company pays highest salary for CPA?

Big 4 Accounting Firms Salary 2023
  • PwC Starting Salaries. pwc starting salary. ...
  • EY Starting Salaries. EY's starting salary is $64,000 for EY audit associates. ...
  • Deloitte Starting Salaries. Deloitte's starting salary for a Tax Associate is $61,000. ...
  • KPMG Starting Salaries. KPMG's starting salary is $62,000 for tax associates.

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.

What is the average age of a CPA?

Certified public accountant demographics research summary.

There are over 478,783 certified public accountants currently employed in the United States. 56.8% of all certified public accountants are women, while 43.2% are men. The average certified public accountant age is 43 years old.

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 busiest time of year for CPA?

Busy season for accountants generally takes place during the first quarter of each year (i.e., January 1 – March 31). During this period, you may have a time that's busier than others, depending on your field of accounting.

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.

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.