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CPA Exam Pass Rates Guide


The latest CPA Exam pass rates—learn all about CPA Exam scores

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) releases aggregate CPA Exam pass rates quarterly after each testing window. Gleim reports these pass rates here immediately—we know you’re excited to see how the entire cohort did! The latest passing data also helps us understand how CPA Exam changes affect candidate performance, so we analyze and compare CPA Exam pass rates throughout the years. We highlight important patterns like the Golden Window and shed some light on how the AICPA calculates CPA Exam scores here, too.

2019 CPA Exam pass rates


If you’re a CPA Exam candidate, you will have already received your score individually in the CPA Exam score release that happens throughout the CPA Exam testing window. Now you can find here the latest overall CPA Exam pass rate for the period.

2019 CPA Exam Pass Rates
Section First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Cumulative
AUD 48.56% 55.11%     52.12%
BEC 58.00% 59.74%     59.93%
FAR 44.43% 49.37%     46.97%
REG 50.23% 58.66%     55.17%

2019 CPA Exam pass rate predictions


We saw strong performances in all four sections throughout 2018, and the cumulative average pass rate soared compared to 2017 (52.43% vs. 48.31%).

Why have CPA pass rates gone up? The AICPA’s move to CPA Exam Blueprints has made it easier than ever before for CPA review providers, like Gleim, to create the materials CPA candidates rely on to pass. This, coupled with the CPA Exam’s 2018 integration of Microsoft Excel, has given today’s candidates a leg up in terms of quality of life, even though exam standards remain stringent.

We’re optimistic pass rates will remain high in 2019.

That said, trust in your own CPA Exam preparations, which can give you a passing CPA Exam score no matter the trends. You can learn more about the CPA Exam and how to secure that passing score by accessing our free CPA Exam guide today!

CPA Exam pass rates overview


The CPA Exam is difficult for a reason. The certification is sought after because it is meaningful. It signals to employers and peers a certain caliber of professionalism. If the CPA Exam was easier, the market would be saturated with CPAs, many of whom would not be able to contribute at the highest level. The CPA Exam pass rate is something the AICPA is continuously monitoring to make sure accountants who earn the CPA embody its standard.

The AICPA has reported CPA Exam pass rates since 2006, and for the last 13 years, the cumulative average pass rate has mostly fluctuated between 45% and 50%.

Average CPA Exam Pass Rates (2006-2018)

The cumulative average CPA Exam pass rate for 2018 set a record high and is a massive leap up from the previous year’s (52.43% vs. 48.31%). But this doesn’t tell us the whole story. Each of the four CPA Exam sections are taken and passed (or failed) separately, and each presents a unique set of challenges for CPA candidates.

CPA Exam pass rates by section

Since 2015, the AUD and REG sections have both tended to be “middle-of-the-road” as far as CPA Exam difficulty is concerned. FAR has had the lowest pass rate for the past four years, and BEC has had the highest for eight! Now that the newest version of the CPA Exam has been out for a while (since April 2017), absent any more major shakeups, we anticipate these trends will hold.

REG is going through some changes in 2019 thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that was passed at the end of 2017. Because REG deals largely with tax codes, candidates will have a lot of new rules to memorize and apply to their accounting practice. We anticipate these changes will cause a temporary dip in REG pass rates.

Section Pass Rates by Year (2006-2018)

Back in 2006, CPA Exam pass rates for all four sections showed little variation. They begin to diverge in 2011 due to the massive changes the CPA Exam went through that year. In fact, 2011 boasted the biggest changes since the test was computerized in 2004; which was when the AICPA introduced testing on IFRS and removed written communication tasks from every section but BEC.

Why are CPA Exam pass rates higher in Q2 and Q3?

There are a lot of factors that determine pass rates: how hard the exam is, how prepared candidates are, any changes the exam is undergoing, etc. Also note: recorded pass rates for the CPA Exam only go back to 2006. The first “CPA Exam” was delivered by the New York Board of Examiners in 1896, so we’re unfortunately missing a lot of data (not that it would be useful for today’s CPA candidates). Let’s look at what affects the modern CPA candidate.

When is the best time to take the CPA Exam?

Busy season for tax accountants is from January-April, and 80% of that time falls within Q1 (January-March). People who work full-time probably find it hard to keep up with studying, so it falls by the wayside. Pair this with the fact that Q1 comes right after the holiday season, another time candidates probably find poorly suited for studying, and fewer people end up passing.

Q2 (April-May) is the first chance most college graduates have to take a CPA Exam section. They don’t have much time to study immediately after classes end, so most likely they have been studying while classes were in session. While they do pass at a high rate, they are not quite as prepared as they might have been in Q3.

Q3 (July-September) is a perfect time for college graduates to take a section of the CPA Exam. Students who graduate in May have all summer to study for the next section. There are very few holidays during that time, and many students probably want to finish so they don’t have to study during the holidays later in the year. This sets them up to do very well when they sit in Q3.

Q4 (October-December) pass rates could be low due to the holiday season, much like Q1. Recent graduates who began the testing process as a student are largely able to complete the testing process by the end of Q3, and so aren’t there to inflate pass rates come Q4.

Accounting coursework overlaps with many CPA Exam topics, so current and recent students tend to perform well on the exam.

These explanations are all conjecture. Still, walking through this reasoning is important because there are critical factors for candidates to consider outside of the CPA Exam itself. While passing still depends largely on how well prepared you are, you should still be aware of the way your environment affects you and craft your study plan in a way that gives you every possible advantage. Are you someone who, no matter how hard you try, will never get work done over the holiday season? Consider that when scheduling your exam. Learn more in our guide to scheduling the CPA Exam.

2018 CPA Exam pass rates


Right before the 2018 CPA Exam blueprints launched in April, the AICPA released the final set of pass rates from the old CPA Exam. The numbers show that the CPA Exam received some of its highest pass rates since the AICPA began publishing them online in 2006.

There continued to be strong performances in all four CPA Exam sections throughout 2018. The cumulative average pass rate for the year was 52.43%! A record high!

See the CPA Exam pass rates for 2018 in the chart. We’ve also analyzed the 2018 passing percentages and compared them to pass rates from previous years, including the 2017 pass rates.

2018 CPA Exam Pass Rates
Section First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Cumulative
AUD 49.27% 54.70% 51.07% 48.54% 50.97%
BEC 56.43% 60.31% 60.17% 60.13% 59.35%
FAR 41.59% 49.17% 48.85% 44.57% 46.22%
REG 49.99% 55.75% 56.55% 50.22% 53.16%

 

Cumulative Pass Rates Per Section for 2017 and 2018

2018 CPA Exam pass rate observations

Pass rates tend to rise in Q2 and Q3. We saw record-high passing data in Q2, and Q3 numbers decreased slightly overall, excluding REG, but scores remained high.

Even though FAR’s figures were historically low during Q1, it achieved one of its highest pass rates ever in Q2 after the 2018 Blueprint update. In Q3, FAR scores fell again, though they decreased by only 0.8%.

Even in Q4, when scores usually fall back down to Q1 levels, we saw much higher averages.

We’re likely seeing higher FAR scores because the integration of Microsoft Excel has made FAR’s multiple-choice question calculations much smoother. This bodes well for future candidates and explains the strong pass rates we’re seeing.

We’re taking a close look at 2018 because it’s the first time we have an entire year of data for the new CPA Exam version that launched in April 2017.

Observations by quarter

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
The Q1 2018 pass rate was 49.27%

  • The highest recorded AUD Q1 pass rate
  • 5.8% higher than the AUD Q1 2017 pass rate
  • Higher than the next best AUD Q1 (47.61% in 2009) by 1.66%
  • The 12th highest recorded AUD pass rate for any quarter

The Q2 2018 pass rate was 54.70%

  • The highest recorded AUD pass rate for any quarter
  • +2.7% compared to AUD Q2 2017
  • +5.43% compared to AUD Q1 2018
  • Higher than the next best AUD pass rate (53.09% in 2008 Q2) by 1.61%

The Q3 2018 pass rate was 51.07%

  • –1.08% compared to AUD Q3 2017
  • +3.63% compared to AUD Q2 2018
  • Higher than the best annual AUD pass rate reported since 2006 (49.79% in 2009)

The Q4 2018 pass rate was 48.54%

  • +0.85% compared to AUD Q4 2017
  • –2.53% compared to AUD Q3 2018

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
The Q1 2018 pass rate was 41.59%

  • The lowest recorded FAR pass rate for any quarter
  • –1.55% compared to FAR Q1 2017
  • Lower than the next worst FAR Q1 pass rate (42.19% in 2006) by 0.6%

The Q2 2018 pass rate was 49.17%

  • +5.41% compared to FAR Q2 2017
  • +7.58% compared to FAR Q1 2018
  • The 13th highest recorded FAR pass rate for any quarter
  • Lower than the best FAR pass rate (53.93% in 2008 Q3) by 4.76%

The Q3 2018 pass rate was 48.85%

  • +1.27% compared FAR Q3 2017
  • –0.32% compared to FAR Q2 2018
  • Lower than the best annual FAR pass rate reported since 2006 (49.2% in 2008

The Q4 2018 pass rate was 44.57%

  • +2.07% compared to FAR Q4 2017
  • –4.28% compared to FAR Q3 2018

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
The Q1 2018 pass rate was 56.43%

  • The highest recorded BEC Q1 pass rate
  • +6.04% compared to BEC Q1 2017
  • Higher than the next best BEC Q1 pass rate (55.40% in 2016) by 1.03%
  • The 11th highest recorded BEC pass rate for any quarter

The Q2 2018 pass rate was 60.31%

  • The highest recorded BEC pass rate for any quarter
  • +5.22% compared to BEC Q2 2017
  • +3.88% compared to BEC Q1 2018
  • Higher than the next best BEC pass rate (59.22% in 2015 Q3) by 1.09%

The Q3 2018 pass rate was 60.17%

  • +4.82% compared to BEC Q3 2017
  • –0.14% compared to BEC Q2 2018
  • Higher than the best annual BEC pass rate reported since 2006 (56.48% in 2013)

The Q4 2018 pass rate was 60.13%

  • +4.8% compared to BEC Q4 2017
  • –0.04% compared to BEC Q3 2018

Regulation (REG)
The Q1 2018 pass rate was 49.99%

  • The highest recorded REG Q1 pass rate
  • +3.89% compared to REG Q1 2017
  • Higher than the next highest REG Q1 pass rate (49.17% in 2014) by 0.82%
  • The 13th highest recorded REG pass rate for any quarter

The Q2 2018 pass rate was 55.75%

  • The highest recorded REG pass rate for any quarter until Q3 raised the bar further
  • +7.43% compared to REG Q2 2017
  • +5.76% compared to REG Q1 2018
  • Higher than the next best REG pass rate (54.03% in 2010 Q3) by 1.72%

The Q3 2018 pass rate was 56.55%

  • The highest recorded REG pass rate for any quarter
  • +7.24% compared to REG Q3 2017
  • +0.8% compared to REG Q2 2018

The Q4 2018 pass rate was 50.22%

  • +4.33% compared to REG Q4 2017
  • –6.33% compared to REG Q3 2018

2018 CPA Exam pass rate interpretations

We witnessed a jump in pass rates and saw multiple records set, likely due in part to the user experience improvements made by the AICPA at the beginning of Q2 2018. But there’s no question: passing the exam is hard. Even with some sections hitting record high pass rates, the total pass rate for the CPA Exam in 2018 remains 52.43%. A record high for the CPA Exam, but it still means that nearly half of all candidates don’t pass.

The user experience improvements may mean pass rates will permanently be a little higher. Or, the AICPA could influence the pass rates by increasing the difficulty of the CPA Exam to compensate. The AICPA explains that pass rates are low because it protects the public by ensuring CPAs are competent. Additionally, when pass rates are low, the CPA certification remains prestigious. There’s a limited supply of CPAs, so organizations and individuals in need of one have to come prepared to pay a premium.

Whether or not pass rates stay high, the exam still rewards candidates who prepare. Whatever the future holds, Gleim CPA Review can help you meet your career goals.

2017 CPA Exam pass rates


With the launch of a new CPA Exam version and a delayed score release, 2017 was a momentous period in CPA Exam history. The cumulative average pass rate for 2017 was 48.31%, but that only tells us part of the story.

The new version of the CPA Exam wasn’t released until April, so it’s useful to consider the 2017 cumulative average pass rate using only Q2-Q4 data, which was 49.58%. This might make it seem as though the new version of the exam was easier, but when you account for the fact that Q1 pass rates are typically much lower than those of Q2 and Q3, it appears the opposite is true: the new 2017 version of the CPA Exam was, on the whole, harder for candidates than the older version.

We’ve analyzed the 2017 pass rates and compared them to the 2016 CPA Exam pass rates so we can try to understand how the new exam version has affected CPA candidates.

Uniform CPA Examination Pass Rates 2017
Section First Quarter Second Quarter* Third Quarter* Fourth Quarter* Cumulative
AUD 43.47% 52.00% 52.15% 47.69% 48.59%
BEC 50.39% 55.09% 55.35% 55.33% 52.99%
FAR 43.14% 43.76% 47.58% 42.50% 44.42%
REG 46.10% 48.32% 49.31% 45.89% 47.24

*Please note: The 2017 Q2, Q3, and Q4 pass rates reflect those of a CPA Exam with a new passing standard. Comparisons to past years and quarters are of limited value due to the changes made to the Exam in April 2017. The AICPA Board of Examiners regularly monitors pass rates.

2017 CPA Exam pass rate observations

  • AUD was the only section to produce a cumulative pass rate in 2017 that was higher than that of 2016. AUD’s cumulative pass rate for 2017 was 2.73% higher than the 2016 AUD cumulative pass rate, and was actually the third highest ever recorded.
  • BEC, FAR, and REG had lower cumulative pass rates in 2017 than in 2016.
  • The cumulative FAR pass rate for 2017 was not only lower than that of 2016, but it was also the lowest ever recorded cumulative FAR pass rate.
  • The cumulative 2017 pass rate for REG was not lower than that of 2016 by very much (1.21%), but it was the fourth lowest ever recorded cumulative pass rate for REG.

Observations by quarter

The cumulative average pass rate for Q1 2017 was 45.78%.

  • All of the Q1 2017 pass rates were lower than those of Q1 2016.
  • The biggest pass rate difference of the year came from BEC, which fell from 55.40% in Q1 2016 to 50.39% in Q1 2017. This decrease is more than three times greater than that of any other section between these quarters.
  • AUD, FAR, and REG averaged a decrease of 1.48% between their Q1 2016 and Q1 2017 pass rates.
  • The Q1 2017 pass rate for AUD was the second lowest Q1 pass rate AUD had reached in the preceding 11 years, likely due to candidates scrambling to prepare before the new CPA Exam version was released.
  • The Q1 2017 CPA Exam pass rate for REG at least was higher than its lowest reported 2016 quarter.

The cumulative average pass rate for Q2 2017 was 49.79%.

  • This is the first pass rate data for the new version of the CPA Exam, which makes it difficult to compare to data from past years.
  • The pass rates for all four sections increased since Q1. While Q2 is typically the time of the year to see pass rates rise, the April 1 release of the new exam version could have left pass rates the same or lower as candidates acclimated. Therefore, it is encouraging to see these pass rates adhere to the Q2 tendencies of the past.
  • The BEC CPA Exam section again boasted the highest pass rate, which has been the trend since 2011. This consistency was reassuring for CPA Exam candidates because the recent exam changes added Task-Based Simulations to BEC for the first time.
  • The AUD CPA Exam section came in second place for the quarter as a result of an unprecedented pass rate boost. The increase of 8.53% was not only the greatest from Q1 to Q2 that AUD has seen in the last 12 years, but it was also the greatest increase for AUD from any quarter. Only the jump of 8.43% in Q2 of 2008 rivals such an impressive pass rate spike for AUD. In fact, no other CPA Exam section pass rate shot up as much from one quarter to the next in the preceding 11 years.
  • The fact that the pass rates for each section remained relatively stable despite the massive changes was a huge accomplishment for the AICPA.
  • All sections except for AUD saw slightly lower pass rates than in Q2 2016.

The cumulative average pass rate for Q3 2017 was 51.10%.

  • The second quarter pass rate data for the new version of the CPA Exam assured us that the Q2 data should be indicative of future performance because the Q2-Q3 seasonal trend appeared to be preserved. The pass rates for all four sections increased since Q2 2017.
  • All sections except for AUD saw slightly lower pass rates than in Q3 2016. In the last 11 years, the AUD Q3 pass rates have only increased 6 times. During these years (2017, 2012, 2007, 2006), the Q3 AUD pass rate was the highest for the year.
  • Not since 2011 has the Q3 BEC pass rate been as low as the Q3 2017 BEC pass rate. While the BEC pass rate for Q3 did rise compared to Q2, the pass rate was still not as high as the lowest BEC pass rate of 2016 (55.40%). Due to pass rates typically declining again in Q4, we were not hopeful that BEC pass rates would climb as high in 2017 as they did in 2016.
  • The Q3 2017 FAR pass rate was the second lowest Q3 pass rate FAR had seen in the preceding 11 years. Only in 2006 did the Q3 FAR pass rate stoop lower, to 47.31%.
  • The 2017 Q3 REG pass rate was the third lowest Q3 REG pass rate in the preceding 11 years. The last time REG saw a Q3 pass rate lower than 2017’s was in 2011, when the Q3 pass rate was 45.37% (during the last big batch of CPA Exam changes). The 2011 Q3 REG pass rate was actually the second lowest REG Q3 pass rate, as it came in slightly above the 2006 Q3 REG pass rate of 45.19%.

The cumulative average pass rate for Q4 2017 was 47.85%.

  • The final set of pass rates for 2017 took the typical Q4 tumble, but AUD, FAR, and REG fell much further than BEC.
  • AUD and BEC actually boasted higher Q4 pass rates in 2017 than in 2016.
  • The Q4 2017 AUD pass rate was higher than the Q4 2016 AUD pass rate by a significant margin: 3.28%. This was the largest difference between any Q4 2016 and Q4 2017 pass rates.
  • The difference between the Q3 BEC pass rate and the Q4 BEC pass rate was practically negligible at a 0.02% decrease. Though the 2017 BEC pass rates did not reach as high they did in 2016, they were much more consistent in the last 3 quarters, with a range of just 0.26% between Q2, Q3, and Q4.
  • With a drop of 5.08%, FAR experienced the greatest decrease between Q3 and Q4 pass rates of any exam section in 2017. That said, FAR has a history of much bigger Q4 declines than that, as this is only the fourth smallest decrease in a little more than a decade.
  • Though the REG Q4 2017 pass rate was lower than REG Q3 2017 and REG Q4 2016, the decrease between Q3 and Q4 was less for REG in 2017 than in 2016. In fact, the 2017 decrease was the fifth lowest decrease between Q3 and Q4 pass rates for REG in the preceding 12 years.

2017 CPA Exam pass rate interpretations

Overall, with the exception of the BEC Q4 and AUD Q2, Q3, and Q4 2017 pass rates, the 2017 pass rates were lower than those of 2016.

Therefore, as expected, the new version of the exam seemed to be more challenging than the previous version. Going off of just the Q2, Q3, and Q4 2017 CPA Exam pass rates, the FAR CPA Exam section remained the most challenging and BEC was still the least challenging, but as AUD demonstrated with its Q2 and Q3 shockers, the new version of the CPA Exam is challenging candidates’ expectations.

A possible explanation for the spike in AUD performance is what happened in 2016: thousands more candidates than usual sat for the exam in an attempt to pass before the CPA Exam changed in April 2017. The AUD section saw the greatest jump in attempts. Because of that, pass rates for AUD plummeted. It’s possible that some of the 2017 increase is due to retakes.

2016 CPA Exam pass rates


With the launch of a new CPA Exam version slated for April 2017, thousands more candidates than usual decided to sit for the CPA Exam before it changed. 2016 is the last full year of data we have for the old version, which remained relatively stable after the 2011 CPA Exam changes.

The cumulative average pass rate for 2016 was 48.82%. We’ve analyzed the 2016 numbers to see how the influx of candidates affected pass rates.

2016 CPA Exam Pass Rates
Section First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Cumulative
AUD 44.87% 48.70% 45.30% 44.41% 45.86%
BEC 55.40% 56.33% 57.55% 52.87% 55.41%
FAR 44.74% 45.61% 48.07% 43.24% 45.55%
REG 47.55% 49.98% 50.19% 45.93% 48.45%

 

2016 CPA Exam pass rate observations

  • The Q4 pass rates for all sections were the lowest for 2016.
  • The Q4 2016 pass rates were generally lower than those of Q4 2015. Only the pass rate for FAR showed an increase from Q4 2015 to Q4 2016.
  • The Q4 2016 pass rates presented the smallest average decrease between Q3 and Q4 in the preceding 10 years.
  • The cumulative pass rate for all sections for 2016 was lower than the rates for 2015, 2014, and 2013.
  • When compared to the 2012 pass rates, only BEC and REG had higher pass rates in 2016.
  • The trend of a 55% or higher BEC pass rate that began in 2014 continued.
  • The 2016 cumulative pass rate for FAR also continued its steady decrease, dropping to its lowest point in the preceding 9 years.
  • The cumulative pass rate for AUD in 2015 was the highest in the preceding 5 years, while the cumulative pass rate for AUD in 2016 was the lowest over that same time frame.
  • The declining REG cumulative pass rate from 2016 was the second lowest of the past 5 years, coming in only slightly higher than the 2012 REG cumulative pass rate.

2016 CPA Exam pass rate interpretations

According to NASBA, a total of 102,323 candidates sat for 268,933 sections of the CPA Exam in 2016. The total number of candidates for 2016 is significantly higher than for 2015, which saw 93,693 candidates sit for the exam. Not only did almost 9,000 more candidates sit in 2016, but the group of unique candidates who started the CPA Exam process in 2016 was larger than the group that began in 2015. Clearly, the April 2017 launch of the new CPA Exam version compelled more candidates than usual to take on the exam in 2016.

More candidates means more section attempts, which can contribute to lower pass rates if those candidates are under-prepared. That was certainly the case in 2016, because many candidates were rushing to complete the process before the April 2017 CPA Exam changes.

In 2016, CPA Exam candidates attempted AUD more than any other section, with 70,449 overall attempts. AUD consequently had the second lowest Q4 pass rate and the second lowest cumulative pass rate.

Of the 268,933 exam sections attempted, 157,655 were first attempts, and demonstrated higher pass rates than repeat attempts for the same section. Candidates passed first attempts at a rate of 54.4%, while they only passed repeat attempts 40.7% of the time. Furthermore, the candidates who sat for and passed an exam section the first time they attempted it were younger than those who sat for the same section again. The average age of first attempt candidates was 27.8, and the average age of repeat attempt candidates was 30.4. This result demonstrates that candidates can prepare adequately enough to pass an exam section the first time and that they are more likely to do so when they take the exam closer to graduation.

2006-2015 CPA Exam pass rates


The CPA Exam became computerized in 2004, and the AICPA began reporting CPA Exam scores online in 2006. For as long as we’ve had access to the data, the overall CPA Exam pass rate has hovered between 45% and 50%, and pass rates for individual sections have ranged from 39% (REG) to 60% (BEC). Disregarding the 2011 dip, the overall pass rate gradually climbed from 2006 to 2015, the year the pass rate peaked before the new version was released in 2017.

What do CPA Exam pass rates mean for you?


The CPA Exam is difficult for a reason. The CPA certification is sought after because it is meaningful, and it is only meaningful because of how difficult it is to acquire. It signals to employers and peers a certain caliber of professionalism. If the CPA Exam were easier, the market would become saturated with CPAs, many of whom would not be able to contribute at the highest level. The CPA Exam pass rate is something the AICPA is continuously monitoring to make sure accountants who earn the CPA embody its standard.

But whatever the pass rates are, they don’t have to define your chances of success. The best thing you can do to ensure you pass on your first attempt is to have a solid CPA review provider by your side when you sit for the exam. Each candidate who chooses to study with Gleim CPA Review has access to a team of Personal Counselors who can help you create a personalized study plan and will walk you through each step of the exam process. With SmartAdapt™ technology at your side, you’ll be on the path to success.

All about your CPA Exam score


Passing the CPA Exam is one of the four requirements to become a CPA. It is designed to measure professional competence in auditing, business law, taxation, and accounting. The AICPA’s goal is for every candidate who passes the exam with the minimum passing score of 75 to reflect positively on the profession.

To that end, the exam also tests related business skills, the ability to conduct oneself skillfully and with good judgment, and understanding of professional responsibilities and ethics. Passing this exam confirms you have the competence to practice in a highly specialized field.

Who creates the CPA Exam?

The AICPA contracts with third parties to produce multiple-choice questions (MCQs), task-based simulations (TBSs), and written communications (WCs). Exam questions are created and vetted by experts in the fields of accounting, psychometrics, and test development.

Through the development process, these experts ensure that testlets and exam versions will be graded and scored equitably on a comparative basis. The AICPA is ultimately responsible for the creation and maintenance of the CPA Exam.

Who administers the CPA Exam?

The CPA Exam is administered at Prometric test centers in partnership with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). After you apply to your state board of accountancy, you will schedule and sit for your exam with Prometric.

Who grades the CPA Exam?

The CPA Exam is scored in a largely automated process. MCQs, TBSs, and WCs are all graded electronically; however, WCs may be reviewed and regraded by human scorers if a candidate’s score is very close to 75. The human grading process can push the release of a BEC score back by a week or so.

How is the CPA Exam graded?

The minimum CPA Exam passing score is 75 points, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to answer 75% of questions correctly in order to pass.

The CPA Exam is what is known as a criterion-referenced test, which means every candidate’s performance is measured against established standards to determine whether the candidate has demonstrated the level of knowledge and skill represented by the CPA passing score.

The CPA Exam is not curved in the traditional sense. Every candidate is held to the same standard. The AICPA uses Item Response Theory (IRT) to figure out the relative value of MCQs and TBSs. It rates questions according to three statistics:

  • Difficulty – whether the question is generally easier or more difficult for candidates
  • Discrimination – how well the question differentiates between more able and less able candidates
  • Guessing – the chances of candidates answering the question correctly just by guessing

The calibration for the automatic grading of WCs is done using the input from a network of volunteer CPA readers. This process ensures that scores from different exam forms are comparable. Again, if a candidate’s BEC score is close to 75, WCs may be rescored by human graders.

Using the collected data, the AICPA is able to extrapolate scores from different exam forms that accurately represent candidates’ knowledge and skill levels. These scores are comparable because, to put it simply, difficult questions are worth more points and easier questions are worth fewer. It is entirely possible for two candidates to answer the same number of questions correctly and have slightly different scores.

The scores from each testlet are then multiplied by the policy weights:

  • 50% for multiple-choice and 50% for simulations for AUD, FAR, and REG
  • 50% for multiple-choice, 35% for simulations, and 15% for written communications for BEC

Finally, the aggregate score is mapped to the 0 to 99 scale used for score reporting.

How CPA is scored

How does the AICPA set the CPA Exam’s passing score?

The AICPA Board of Examiners sets the CPA passing score by considering historical trends, changes in content, input from the academic community and profession, and other sources. The score is set such that a candidate who passes with the lowest possible score will reflect positively upon the professional community. Anyone who scores a 75 or higher is capable of performing the duties of a newly minted CPA.

When are CPA Exam scores released?

The CPA Exam is administered in four testing windows throughout the year, and the AICPA regularly sets four CPA Exam score release dates per window. For the most part, you can expect your score a few weeks to a month after you sit for the exam.

CPA Exam score reports


When your CPA Exam score release date arrives, there are two ways to get your score:

  1. Some CPA state boards of accountancy partner with NASBA to provide CPA Exam scores to candidates, so if your state board offers NASBA’s online score retrieval service, you must visit NASBA’s website to discover your score.
  2. If your state board handles the process of sharing exam scores with their candidates, you will receive your exam score from them. Some state boards post the scores on their website and then email their candidates, while others mail candidates their scores in a letter. Check with your state board for more info.

How do I read my CPA Exam score report?

The AICPA does not release sub-scores by content area, but it does report “weaker,” “comparable,” and “stronger” performances. Exercise caution when interpreting your content area performance, because these sub-scores are calculated using a relatively small number of questions.

For example, in REG, 10-20% of your exam will be on “Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and Federal Tax Procedures.” If your exam only contains 10% of questions on that topic, that’s about 8 multiple-choice questions and maybe a TBS. It’s useful to know how you did, but we don’t advise drawing conclusions about your mastery of the topic based on such a small sample size.

What should I do if I don’t pass a CPA Exam section?

If you fail a CPA Exam section, don’t panic. We have steps to get you back on track on our blog.

If you decide to retake any section of the exam, we recommend you go through all of the material again at least once. A lot of time can pass between attempts, and it is best to keep the material fresh in your mind.

Read more about how to improve your CPA Exam score!