The CPA exam measures your understanding of public accounting principles, and is made up of four parts: Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), Auditing and Attestation (AUS), Regulation (REG), and Business Environment and Concepts (BEC). You have to complete and pass all four sections become a CPA and to earn your license.


You will find four two-month testing windows each year, and you might choose all or any portions of the examination in a specific window. Nevertheless, it's crucial that you allow yourself enough time to get ready for every single section. Candidates who try spread their study time too thin or to take on too much may find it hard to pass on their first effort. Likewise, those who undertake the assessment without the benefit of CPA exam courses may discover to be able to pass they desire proper exam homework.


In the event you do not pass one or more portions of the exam, you will get the chance to retake those segments during a testing window that is after. These summarizes the thing you need to know about retaking - and finally passing - the CPA exam.


Scoring of CPA Exam Sections


Each portion of the exam is scored on a scale of 0 with varying weights applied to particular types of exam questions. But, the marking and weights have changed with the debut of the exam's computer-based testing evolution (CBT-e) in January of 2011. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Board of Examiners will make a decision concerning the minimum passing score in the early months of 2011, after data from the initial testing window of the new 2011 exam become available.


As for the CBT-e REG sections, the FAR, AUD and scoring weights all have precisely the same structure - multiple choice questions account for 60% of the overall level, while job-based simulations are worth 40%. While written communication endeavors contribute 15% of the level, for the BEC section, multiple choice questions are worth 85% of the ultimate score.


Launch of CPA Exam Results


Test testing windows run the first two months of each calendar quarter, and their scores are normally received by candidates during the last month of the quarter. The results of the CPA exam are released in two waves; the first is while the second is about two weeks after the test window shuts, approximately per week before the testing window ends.


But, the AICPA doesn't issue candidates scores. The individual boards are responsible for approving and releasing scores to candidates, for spreading the results, and each board sets its schedule. If you guess you did poorly on a particular section, before rescheduling a retake you really do not have to wait for your CPA exam results; nonetheless, you cannot retake the exact same section more than once in the same testing window.


Timeframe for Completing CPA Exam


There isn't any limit to the number of times you may retake the CPA exam to answer the question posed at the outset of this particular article. Nonetheless, you should pass all four parts of the exam within 18 months that are consecutive. The calendar begins when you take your first exam, assuming you pass at least one section because window. You'll lose credit for any sections you passed at the start of the rolling window in case you do not pass all four parts inside the 18 month timeframe, and also the calendar will restart on the date of the following exam section you passed.


In case you surpass the initial 18 month window, not only will you have to retake the section(s) you didn't pass, but also any section(s) that you may have formerly passed but which have since expired. That is why many candidates opt to put money into CPA exam courses to improve their chances of passing the tests the first time and avoid retakes.


Whether you are preparing to choose your first section of the CPA exam or getting ready to retake a section, make sure you allow adequate time for groundwork and planning.


Consider enrolling in CPA exam courses designed for the unique study settings. It's possible for you to pick a guided or self directed CPA review, attend live courses or accessibility lessons and practice exams online, read textbooks or view DVDs.