which cpa exam course has the highest pass rate

by Prof. Kayden Schmitt 9 min read

CPA pass rankings by school

University Average GPA Average GRE or GMAT CPA Exam Pass Rate Online Classes Available?
BYU Marriott School of Business: MAcc 3.7 Average GMAT = 650-680 89.4% Not for MAcc; see comments below
Jones Graduate School of Business at Ric ... 3.51 Average GMAT for Jones Graduate School = ... 90.8% No; on-campus requirement
University of Texas at Austin McCombs Sc ... 3.71 Average GMAT = 652 89.5% No; on-campus requirements
Wake Forest University School of Busines ... 3.56 Average GMAT = 618 88.8% No, although online options are availabl ...
Apr 23 2022

Advertised Exam Pass Rate Claims
Gleim CPA – “Avoid being distracted by advertised pass rates!” Roger CPA – “Roger CPA Review's students have an 88% pass rate, the highest pass rate in the industry.” Surgent CPA – “Surgent 89.7% National Average 49.3%.

Full Answer

Which section of the CPA exam has the highest pass rate?

Business Environments and Concepts – continues to have the highest cumulative CPA Exam passing rate. One explanation for the higher BEC pass rates could be that candidates generally choose to sit for this section of the Exam last, narrowing the pool of candidates to those that have successfully passed three parts prior.

What is the average pass rate for the far CPA exam?

The average cumulative pass rate for the FAR CPA Exam section in 2021 is 44.7%. That gives FAR the lowest pass rate out of all four sections of the CPA exam.

What is a passing score on the CPA exam?

Furthermore, the average CPA exam score for FAR among all test takers is below passing: around 68.6. According to page 127 of the NASBA Report Jurisdiction Edition, female test takers have a FAR pass rate of 45.4% and an average score of 67.1.

What are the 2019 CPA exam pass rates in Australia?

2019 CPA Exam Pass Rates Section Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 AUD 48.56% 55.11% 51.94% 47.88% BEC 58.00% 59.74% 63.04% 58.61% FAR 44.43% 49.37% 50.29% 40.57% REG 50.23% 58.66% 58.41% 55.89%

Which CPA exam review course is the best?

These Are The Top Ranked 9+ Best CPA Exam Review Courses & CPA Study Materials in May 2022:Becker 2022 CPA Review Course.Surgent CPA Exam Review Course.Wiley CPA Review Courses.UWorld Roger CPA Prep Courses.Gleim CPA Exam Study Materials.Fast Forward Academy CPA Exam Review Course.Lambers CPA Exam Prep Course.More items...

Which CPA exam is the easiest to pass?

BECBEC is often thought to be the easiest. It has the highest pass rate. AUD and REG tend to be middle of the road.

Which CPA exam is the hardest?

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)Students often report that Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the most difficult part of the CPA Exam to pass, because it is the most comprehensive section.

What state has the highest CPA pass rate?

UtahSection pass rates for 2019 were 51 percent for AUD; 60 percent for BEC; 46.3 percent for FAR; and 56.3 percent for REG. Utah was the top jurisdiction by pass rate, with 66 percent. Wisconsin (63.4 percent) and Iowa (62.2 percent) followed. Utah was also the top jurisdiction by average score (76.7).

Should I take BEC or AUD first?

For example, any business majors may want to take the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section first. Alternatively, individuals currently working as auditors will want to try their hand at the Auditing and Attestation section (AUD).

Is AUD or Reg harder?

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 is bec the easiest?

There are several reasons why the BEC section is considered the easiest section of the four. In addition to the fact that it covers the least material and is of the shortest of the four exam sections, BEC also does not have any simulation questions; however, it does contain 3 written communication questions.

Is the CPA harder than 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 CPA harder than CFA?

It depends on what you mean by “harder.” If CPA vs CFA difficulty is judged purely by the exam, then CFA is the harder qualification to achieve. However, if you're measuring by other requirements like application and education, particularly for candidates outside the US, CPA is more complicated.

What percentage of people pass all four CPA exams on first try?

Of CPA candidates, what percentage pass all four parts of the CPA exam the first time? About 20%, or one in five, CPA candidates pass all four parts of the exam on the first try. However, the 2019 CPA pass rates on the individual parts of the exam are higher: AUD: 55.35%

What is the Becker CPA pass rate?

94%Frequently asked questions Becker estimates the overall pass rate to be between 45-55% in any given year. What are the Becker CPA pass rate statistics? In 2020, Becker's Exam Day Ready students reported successfully passing 94% of the CPA Exam sections they attempted.

What is the average CPA exam score?

The average pass rate for this section is the lowest of the four at 49.9%. Furthermore, the average CPA exam score for FAR among all test takers is below passing: around 68.6.

What is the pass rate for CPA?

A CPA exam tests a candidate’s competency to meet the rigorous accounting industry standards. Over the past decade, the CPA exam pass rate has hovered around 50% (including 2020 and 2021). A pass rate of just 50% acts as a deterrent to most aspiring candidates. You are free to use this image on your website, templates etc, ...

What is the pass rate for CPA exam Q1 2020?

Generally, Q1 has lower pass rates than the year’s cumulative average, and Q1 2020 was no different. BEC CPA exam candidates fared well and managed to get a pass rate of more than 60%. The REG CPA exam pass rate was the lowest compared to the other quarters at 55.42%.

What is the BEC CPA exam?

BEC CPA exam BEC CPA Exam The BEC CPA Exam (Business Environment and Concepts) exam section evaluates your understanding of the general business environment and your duties and responsibilities as a CPA towards it. It assesses your ability to recognize and scrutinize situations related to Financial reporting, Financial statement audit and attestation and Tax preparation read more candidates fared well and managed to get a pass rate of more than 60%

How long is the reg CPA exam?

It is a four-hour exam with 15 minutes break. read more pass rate was the lowest compared to the other quarters at 55.42%.

Why is the AICPA exam so challenging?

The exam is considered to be one of the most challenging exams. The AICPA follows a stringent scoring process. The low pass rates reflect the complex nature of the exam and the strict scoring process. It may also be an indicator of the lack of preparation of candidates appear ing for the exam.

What is the average age to pass the NASBA exam?

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 does the syllabus affect the success rate of an exam?

The syllabus of each exam section influences a candidate’s preparation and test success rate. Since the success rate is closely related to the curriculum, a candidate must closely monitor any changes in the curriculum.

What is the average CPA pass rate?

The cumulative pass rate percentages vary slightly per section and per quarter, but tend to hover around 45-55%. See previous years’ pass rates for each section of the CPA Exam.

How many students have passed the Roger CPA exam?

Roger CPA Review has helped over 200,000 students pass the CPA Exam with a 91% CPA test pass rate. Our students’ extraordinary rate of success is accredited to our patent pending SmartPath Predictive Technology™. We’re empowering future accountants to achieve their career goals through impactful, data-driven learning – faster than ever before.

How much will the number of accountants and auditors grow in 2024?

The employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 11% from now until 2024, revealing just how in demand accountants are nationwide.

What is the CPA exam resource center?

Our CPA Exam Resource Center provides candidates with study materials and resources needed to prepare for the CPA Exam.

Why is the CPA exam so hard to study?

Students find the Regulation portion of the CPA Exam to be difficult to study due to the sheer amount of non-accounting information covered in the Exam, as it incorporates tax law and business law.

Why is the ebb and flow of CPA pass rates important?

It’s important to note that the ebb and flow of CPA pass rates is not due to any change in exam difficulty, but instead an indicator of student preparedness – what review course they studied with, what materials they used, and how much support they received.

Why are the questions on the Auditing Exam confusing?

While the material within the Auditing Exam contains very fundamental concepts, students allege that the questions on the Exam are confusing, mainly because there could be more than one correct answer to each problem.

Why is it important to understand CPA pass rates?

Why? Well, the schools with the highest CPA Exam pass rates can give students a strong background for a variety of accounting certifications. Plus, accounting firms can directly recruit from top CPA schools. So, let’s break down CPA passing rankings by school.

How long does it take to get a CPA from Rice University?

In fact, the Rice University Master in Accounting faculty boost they can prepare students to sit for the CPA Exam in just 10 months. And that’s impressive.

Why is Rice University MBA ranking so high?

Why? Well, they place a strong emphasis on small class size and helping students excel in their careers after graduation.

What degree do accountants need?

Master’s degrees. If you’re thinking about graduate school, you have several decisions to make. Firstly, many accountants go for a MAcc, or a Masters in Accounting. After all, the Big Four accounting firms often seek out graduates from the top MAcc programs.

Is BYU accounting ranked?

The BYU school of accountancy is frequently ranked, and accounting BYU students usually have a strong showing at the CPA Exam. For example, U.S. News and World Report proclaimed that BYU had the #2 accounting program in the country in 2021. And that’s just the beginning of a long list of BYU accounting rankings.

Is Wake Forest University an accounting school?

In contrast, the Wake Forest University master of accounting degree is an MS, or Master of Science. However, others go for an MBA in accounting, or a Master’s of Business Administration with an accounting focus. The Wharton School, for example, only has an MBA, you students can opt for an accounting focus.

Is UT Austin an iMPA?

Plus, there is an integrated option for the UT Austin masters in accounting that’s referred to as the iMPA. If you get a BBA from the McCombs School of Business, you can take advantage of the integrated UT Austin accounting degree plan. Therefore, students can move through the undergrad and graduate programs in 5 years.

What is the pass rate for CPA exam?

Wondering what the CPA exam pass rates are—and what your chances of passing might be? The cumulative CPA exam pass rate averages between 46-60% across all sections in 2019 and 2020, with some sections having much higher pass rates closer to 60%. The highest pass rate recorded between 2017-2020 was 63.04% for Q3 of 2019 of the BEC section—and ...

Who determines the passing score of a CPA exam?

According to the AICPA, the passing score for the CPA exam is determined by their Board of Examiners (BOE), who consider many factors and input from others like, NASBA, consultant psychometricians, the academic community, and licensed CPAs, when making decisions.

What is continuous testing?

Continuous Testing replaces the CPA exam testing windows, which had only permitted candidates to test during designated time frames each calendar quarter.

How is the written communication exam scored?

Most written communication responses are scored by a computer grading program , which is calibrated using human scorers.

Why are pretest questions included in every exam?

Pretest questions are included in every exam (they may be multiple-choice questions, task-based simulations, and one written communication tasks) only for the purpose of collecting data.

What is the pass rate for Q4?

It is 8.92% higher than the average Q4 FAR pass rate (2006-2019) of 46.97%.

Is it possible to pass the CPA exam?

It takes a lot of study and practice to pass the CPA exam, but it’s not impossible. Check out the break down below by section and quarter of the percentage of candidates who passed the exam in 2019 and in the first quarter of 2020 to get an idea of how you might fare. Overall, nearly 50% passed the exam in all sections in those years, with some sections having much higher pass rates closer to 60%.

How many hours should I work to study for CPA exam?

Thankfully if you make the necessary sacrifices, it CAN be done while working 40-60 hours per week. The next step in this stressful reality is to find a CPA review course that will maximize your time down to the second. For working professionals, I recommend Wiley CPAexcel's Platinum Review Course for your studying needs. They give you the ability to watch lectures, test yourself with flashcards and answer practice exams on the go from your laptop to smartphone and it's all integrated in one dashboard.

How many questions are asked in the CPA exam 2021?

12,000 CPA Exam Questions (Multiple Choice + True False Knowledge Checks) & 600+ Simulations (With Platinum Course - most in industry) - All content now updated for the 2021 CPA exam and will mirror the actual exam.

What to do if you fail the CPA exam?

If you have failed the CPA exam, the first step is to recover from this devastating (but not too uncommon) experience. Once you have recovered from failure, the next step is to find fresh multiple choice questions to use so that you don't repeat the same questions over and over. I recommend using the Gleim Megabank. It's what I used to pass the CPA exam after failing all four sections in a row. The next step is to pick the next exam section you need to sit for and whether it should be your retake or a brand new CPA section.

What is a Gleim CPA review?

Gleim CPA Review is ideal for Self-Studiers who prefer to take thousands of multiple choice questions and teach themselves from in-depth text and question explanations.#N#Gleim also offers a significant amount of video lectures to go along with their text and questions.

How much does Becker CPA review cost?

Wiley CPAexcel, UWorld Roger CPA Review and Gleim CPA Review offer very similar features for nearly half the cost of Becker with pricing starting at just over $1,300 for these top-rated CPA Exam Review Courses (after promo codes).

What is bite size CPA?

The " Bite-sized lectures" allow you to spend more time to spend with your CPA exam study materials and less time highlighting! All lessons are created by a team of experienced teachers and professionals.

What is Fast Forward Academy analytics?

The more questions you answer the smarter the Fast Forward Academy analytics will be in determining where you should spend your time. It tracks what concepts you have mastered and which ones need work.

What is the average CPA exam pass rate?

What is the CPA Exam Passing Rate? Historically, the average CPA exam passing rates for each section have been around 50 percent. According to the AICPA, at least half of the CPA candidates who take the Certified Public Accountant exam each quarter fail their exam part.

How to increase CPA exam score?

The best piece of advice I can give you to increase your score and CPA exam passing rate is to get a proper CPA review course and stick with it. The easiest and fastest way to pass the exam is the get a CPA study guide that matches your learning style and simply go through it.

How many sections are there in the CPA exam?

Let’s look at the passing rate for all four sections of the CPA exam and shed some light on the trends!

Is the AICPA exam hard?

No, the AICPA doesn’t make the exam really hard in the 4th quarter and easier in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Nor is there some conspiracy from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to lower CPA pass rates at the end of the year. The exam is the same all year.

Is BEC better than other CPA exams?

In the past 5 years, candidates have performed better on BEC than any other exam. This is somewhat surprising in that many candidates tend to struggle with the written communication simulations on BEC. This CPA exam section is the least technical, however.

Is the AUD the lowest scoring exam?

As you can see, there is a slight downward trend in AUD scores over the past several years. Surprisingly, AUD is the lowest scoring exam section out of the four. This might have to with the theoretical and vague nature of most auditing and attestation questions compared with other subjects.

Is the accounting exam the same every year?

The obvious answer to that is, no. The exam is the same all year. You should schedule exams based on your own personal schedule and ability to put in the study time. For instance, if you work in public accounting, the first quarter might not be a good quarter to take a section.

How long does it take to pass CPA exam?

The 18-month clock to pass all four sections starts after you pass your first exam, so if you pass one section of the CPA exam, the next step will be to move onto another section as soon as possible. If you aren’t able to pass all four sections in the 18-month window, you will have to start over and retake the exams that you previously passed.

What percentage of accountants have a CPA license?

A Certified Public Accountant ( CPA) license is a highly sought after credential in the accounting industry, but less than 50% of the 1.4 million U.S. accountants have one. 12 Why? Because the biggest hurdle in obtaining a CPA license is taking the CPA Exam. In fact, according to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the cumulative pass rate of 2021 for each of the four sections of the CPA exam ranged from 47% to about 62%. 3

Why is it important to demo a CPA course?

The ability to demo the product before purchasing is important because a CPA prep course can be a significant financial investment. Pass rates and quality of instructors were also of high importance because they provide candidates with a sense of security when making a decision that will impact their career.

Why do we use Surgent CPA Review?

Why We Chose It: Surgent CPA Review provides students with AI software to determine exactly what topics need to be covered. This ensures the shortest study time. Their advanced online technological tools set them apart from the others.

How much does Roger CPA review cost?

It offers two four-part CPA review courses: Premier ($1,899) and Elite ($2,999). However, deals and discounts are frequently offered on its website. It also offers an Individual Review ($399 each) for students who want to purchase courses one exam at a time. Financing options are available.

What is CPA prep?

CPA prep courses typically provide candidates with a textbook for each section of the exam, flashcards, online recorded (or live) lectures, multiple-choice questions, longer simulation practice problems, and mock practice exams.

Why do we choose Roger CPA?

Why We Chose It: Even though Roger CPA review doesn't have as large of a question bank as some of the other courses on this list, the engaging lectures will give you fun ways to remember challenging topics. Roger CPA Review is great for students who typically have trouble focusing during lectures and are also looking for a more affordable option.

What is the CPA exam?

The CPA Exam tests a variety of topics through multiple choice questions and task-based simulations designed to mimic the real-world tasks CPAs are expected to perform. The exam is divided into four sections:

How difficult is the CPA exam?

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 pass rate for first time candidates is only 50%.

How many sections of the CPA exam did Becker students pass?

Of Becker’s “Exam-day Ready SM ” 1 students, 94% reported that they passed their CPA Exam sections. In total, Becker students pass more than 36,000 sections of the CPA Exam, which represents more than ⅓ of all CPA Exam sections passed according to data published by AICPA and NASBA!*

What is the 1Pass rate?

1Pass rate based on those students that met the Exam Day Ready SM threshold and self-reported scores to us in 2020 and are calculated by dividing the total sections passed by total sections attempted across all qualifying students. The “exam-day readiness” threshold means students watched 80% of our lecture videos, answered 80% of our MCQs and TBSs correctly and scored a minimum of 50% on our Simulated Exams. Scores may be reported at any time. We recognize there is an inherent bias to these results as students who do not pass may not share this information with us.

How long is the exam section?

Each section has its own content area, and each content area constitutes a different percentage of that section’s exam. Each exam section has a four-hour time limit.

Can a low CPA pass rate discourage you?

Don’t let the low average CPA pass rates discourage you. Our results make it clear that with the proper guidance, you can develop the skills and strategies that can help improve your chances of obtaining a CPA passing score.

What is the pass rate for CPA?

The average pass rate for this section is the lowest of the four at 49.9%. Furthermore, the average CPA exam score for FAR among all test takers is below passing: around 68.6. According to page 127 of the NASBA Report Jurisdiction Edition, female test takers have a FAR pass rate of 45.4% and an average score of 67.1. Males have it a bit better with a FAR pass rate of 53% and a 70.3 average score; however, neither of these average scores are passing.

What is the hardest section of CPA exam?

When studying for the CPA exam, the content areas you’re going to want to spend the most time studying are those related to the Financial Accounting and Reporting section of the exam. This is the toughest CPA exam section for the majority of candidates. The Financial Statement Accounts-related questions and the Task-Based Simulation section in particular are among the most difficult based on the numbers.

What was the CPA pass rate in 2017?

For males, the CPA exam pass rate in 2017 was 51.5%. For females, the 2017 CPA exam pass rate was 45.6%. This data seems to suggest that women have a harder time passing the exam than men; however, the specific reasons as to why this is the case is still unclear.

What is the most common education for a CPA?

Based on this data, it appears that the most common education for CPA candidates is a Bachelor’s degree by a significant majority. This has been consistent for the entire time period tracked by the AICPA, with an all-time high of 216,482 enrollees in 2015-2016. Ultimately, this trend makes logical sense; it’s the easiest way for candidates to meet the 150 education hours required in order to qualify for licensure.

Why are accounting firms pushed out of business?

As they grow over the years, smaller local accounting firms are either acquired by one of the Big 4 or pushed out of business due to an inability to compete. This would explain the shrinking employment pool for United States graduates who have fewer potential employers in their country of origin.

When is the best time to take the CPA exam?

The time in your life when you’re most likely to pass the CPA exam is in your early 20s. Therefore, if you’re still in college or a recent graduate, this is the best time to schedule your CPA exam test dates if you want the highest probability of a passing grade.

Who are the biggest employers of certified public accountants?

From largest to smallest, these four firms are Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, and KPMG.

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