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CPA Exam Sections: Which CPA Section is Hardest?
Discovering the CPA Exam sections is very important in preparing for the CPA Exam. There are four sections of the CPA Exam: AUD, BEC, FAR, and REG. And each of the four sections tests you on different content areas. Additionally, not all 4 sections include the same amount of multiple-choice questions, simulations, or written communications.
* Note: This post covers the 2023 CPA Exam sections. However, the CPA Exam undergoing major alterations in 2024, so be sure to understand the 2024 CPA Exam changes.
CPA Exam Format – Number of CPA Exam Sections
How many sections are on the CPA Exam? And how many questions are on the CPA Exam? These are common questions.
There are four CPA exam sections:
- AUD — Auditing & Attestation – 4 Hours (72 questions and eight task-based simulations)
- BEC — Business Environment & Concepts – 4 Hours (62 questions, four task-based simulations, and three written communications tasks)
- FAR — Financial Accounting & Reporting – 4 Hours (66 questions and eight task-based simulations)
- REG — Regulation – 4 Hours (76 questions and eight task-based simulations)
CPA Exam Format – Question Types for Each Exam Section
There are three different types of questions you will encounter on the CPA Exam:
- Multiple-choice questions – There will be multiple-choice questions on all four parts of the CPA Exam. They are based on the topics covered in the Content Specification Outlines (CSOs). Each exam section has three MCQ testlets (or groups of questions).
- Task-based simulations – These simulations use real-life work situations that you would face as a CPA to help test your in-depth knowledge and skills. The task-based simulations are presented after the MCQs testlets in the exam and are part of all 4 CPA Exam sections.
- Written communications tasks – Finally, the written communications tasks are found only in the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section of the exam. These require you to respond in a memo or letter format to a presented scenario. You will be given access to word-processing tools to help you prepare your answer.
CPA Exam Sections: Weights & Overview
Auditing & Attestation (AUD)
This section is weighted as 50% MCQs and 50% task-based questions. As the name suggests, this section covers the entire audit process. It also includes other services like compilations, reviews and attestation engagements, and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.
If you already work in auditing or just took classes in auditing as a student, this might be a good part of the exam to take first. If not, many people like to take it after the FAR section is completed.
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
This section is also weighted as 50% MCQs and 50% task-based questions. Also, FAR encompasses the most significant volume of information in all the sections, and some people like to take it first. By completing FAR first, you’ll see some content overlap with the other CPA Exam sections, making FAR almost like a prerequisite to AUD, BEC, and REG. Others save it for the last since it can be more challenging.
Since many students take several classes relevant to the Financial section of the exam prior to taking it, this could be still fresh for you. You should expect some questions in this section to be focused on key differences between financial statements prepared on U.S. GAAP versus IFRS.
Also, if you had courses in government accounting or non-profit accounting, it might give you an advantage in this section.
Regulation (REG)
Like FAR and AUD, REG is weighted as 50% MCQs and 50% task-based questions. REG tests a combination of federal taxation and business law. REG also includes ethics and professional responsibilities. If you’re already familiar with tax or specialized in tax in an internship or job, this section might be a bit easier for you.
The areas covered within the business law portions are straight out of most core business law classes. Most CPA candidates find the business law section to be less challenging than the taxation portion. For the most part, you can rely on rote memorization for business law concepts. However, be prepared to apply all the taxation knowledge to very challenging questions and simulations.
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)
BEC is the only section to have a different weighting. Consequently, BEC is weighted as 50% MCQs, 35% task-based questions, and 15% written communications tasks. BEC includes operations and strategic management, economics, financial management, and information technology.
BEC is like a melting pot: the information is a mix of many of your core business classes (economics, managerial accounting, accounting information systems, and so on). Because this section is seemingly random in the content that’s tested, it can be quite tricky.
And just because the study guide for BEC is less dense than it was for other sections, it doesn’t mean you can study any less. BEC catches people off guard and many candidates feel that BEC is easy, only to fail the section because they didn’t study enough.
Also, BEC is the only section to have written communications. These aren’t challenging, but you must prepare and practice your writing skills. Written communications make up 15% of the overall score on BEC, so if you’re a good/decent writer, you will likely have an advantage. I like to think of the written communications as some extra padding to help with all the calculation- and application-based questions on BEC.
Which Content Areas Are Tested on the CPA Exam?
Within each CPA Exam section, there are different content area allocations. These content allocations represent the number of content areas over all the various question types (MCQs, SIMs, and WCs).
Auditing & Attestation (AUD)
| Content area allocation | Weight |
| I. Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and General Principles | 15–25% |
| II. Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response | 20–30% |
| III. Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence | 30–40% |
| IV. Forming Conclusions and Reporting | 15–25% |
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
| Content area allocation | Weight |
| I. Conceptual Framework, Standard-Setting, and Financial Reporting | 25–35% |
| II. Select Financial Statement Accounts | 30–40% |
| III. Select Transactions | 20–30% |
| IV. State and Local Governments | 5–15% |
Regulation (REG)
| Content area allocation | Weight |
| I. Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and Federal Tax Procedures | 10–20% |
| II. Business Law | 10–20% |
| III. Federal Taxation of Property Transactions | 12–22% |
| IV. Federal Taxation of Individuals | 15–25% |
| V. Federal Taxation of Entities | 28–38% |
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)
| Content area allocation | Weight |
| I. Corporate Governance | 17–27% |
| II. Economic Concepts and Analysis | 17–27% |
| III. Financial Management | 11-21% |
| IV. Information Technology | 15-25% |
| V. Operations Management | 15-25% |
Quick Note About CPA Exam Changes
With numerous CPA Exam changes on the horizon in 2024, please note that the content allocation will change.
What Is the Total Testing Time for the CPA Exam?
The AICPA allows CPA candidates 4 hours for each section of the CPA Exam.
AUD: 4 hours
BEC: 4 hours
FAR: 4 hours
REG: 4 hours
On average, it should take four hours to complete each section or 16 hours total.
If you finish your exams before the 4 hours are up, you can end your exam early. However, if you do not complete your exam within 4 hours, your exam will end, and you will not have the opportunity to continue. So, pay careful attention and manage your time well.
What are the Pass Rates for the CPA Exam?
Historically, the average CPA exam pass rates for each section have been around 50 percent. According to the AICPA, at least half of the candidates who take the exam each quarter fail their exam part.
That can sound very discouraging, but don’t give up! Getting an excellent review course like Becker CPA gives you a much higher chance of passing.
Which is the Hardest Section of the CPA Exam?
The answer can vary based on your specialty areas and your strengths. What is hardest for you might be easier for someone else. We can, however, say that the FAR is the most comprehensive and covers the most information.
Many people find it easier to take the other sections when they take FAR first. However, some people are the opposite and will have a harder time with a more comprehensive test that covers a lot of material.
But we can lean on the CPA Exam pass rates to tell us which section candidates found to be most difficult. 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.
If you’re curious if the CPA Exam or Bar exam is harder, it may surprise you to know that pass rates for the Bar exam are higher than that of the CPA Exam, but only slightly.
What is the Best Order for the CPA Exam Sections?
The CPA Exam section order will vary for CPA candidates. However, I highly recommend taking FAR first because the content overlaps with the other 3 sections. Additionally, I recommend taking BEC last because the content is all over the map and doesn’t really build on the other 3 sections. Finally, I would advise taking either AUD or REG second, based on which one feels more comfortable to you.
Here are some guidelines to help you do that:
- Play to your strengths – If you know you’re strong at writing, you may want to take the BEC section first. Similarly, if you’re currently working in a tax office, you may take REG first since that info will be familiar to you.
- Go in a logical order – If you want to go in the most logical order based on the information that is provided on each section of the CPA exam, then you should take FAR first, then AUD, REG, and finally BEC.
How Long Should You Study for Each CPA Exam Section?
In general, it’s recommended that CPA candidates study for 300-400 hours for the CPA exam in total to ensure they pass.
The overall CPA study hours equates to about 80-100 hours of study time for each CPA exam section.
If that sounds like a lot, it is. However, it’s essential to ensure that you will pass. You can break the studying down into sections, use comprehensive study guides, and even join a study group to help you.
If you study while you’re still in college or right after you’ve graduated, you’re likely to need fewer study hours overall. You don’t want to re-learn all the CPA Exam content, so I advise that you take the CPA Exam no more than 6 months after graduation.
So, while taking the exam long after graduation isn’t advised, it is still doable. But you’ll need a top-notch review course that will give you more hand-holding if you’re going to pass all 4 on your first attempt.
What is the CPA Exam Section ID?
When you have completed your application and you’re ready to schedule the test, you need to get your CPA Exam Section ID.
Also, your section ID is the Launch Code on NTS. It is essentially how you register to take the CPA Exam and how you are tracked within the system. The NTS means you have met all of the requirements for taking the CPA Exam, and you must take your tests while you have an active NTS.
Where to get your NTS
You get your NTS from your state Board of Accountancy. Each state has a different set of CPA Exam requirements that you must meet before you can get your NTS and take the exam.
While you may be tempted to register for all the exams at once, this isn’t always a good idea. Most states have an expiration on each NTS, which is usually 6 months (although it could be shorter or longer in your state).
If you register for all 4 sections on 1 NTS and then cannot take all of the CPA Exam sections in the window allotted, you’ll forfeit your exam fees and need to apply for a new NTS.
How Many CPA Exam Sections Can You Take in Six Months?
Only register for as many CPA Exam sections as you feel you can realistically take in a six-month period. When in doubt, I recommend aiming lower.
You can always come back and add on a section later, but not being prepared for a section you’ve already paid for will create stress, and you may lose money on exam fees.
This is especially important to remember if you’re registering around the CPA Exam blackout dates. Part of your six-month window will always include a blackout period, and you will not be able to schedule an appointment to take the exam during the blackout dates.
Additional Tips for Scheduling the CPA Exam
Here are some other notes about scheduling your CPA Exam with Prometric.
- There is no walk-in testing offered.
- Appointments are always first-come, first-served. (Weekends tend to fill up very quickly.)
- You can’t schedule with fewer than 6 days out.
- You cannot take the exam during blackout dates
What is the CPA Cost Per CPA Exam Section?
After all of that studying and prep work, you might also be interested in knowing the financial investment to take this exam.
The cost of the CPA exam varies by state, but most states charge $238.15 per section.
Conclusion
With all of these details about the CPA Exam format and structure, you have the information you need to study for, register for, and take the four parts of the CPA Exam.
And some of these details, like the granular level of the content tested on each section, won’t matter if you use a CPA review course. It’s not worth the time to study the AICPA Blueprints (the outline of all the topics tested on the CPA Exam) because the best review course will cover all the content you need to know.
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About the Author Stephanie Ng
I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley), and I also passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam on my first try. Additionally, I have led webinars, such as for the Institute of Management Accountants, authored featured articles on websites like Going Concern and AccountingWeb, and I'm also the CFO for the charity New Sight. Finally, I have created other accounting certification websites to help mentor non-CPA candidates. I have already mentored thousands of CPA, CMA, CIA, EA, and CFA candidates, and I can help you too!
