The CPA Exam Format

The Computerized CPA Exam

There are no longer application deadlines. All education requirements must be met prior to the filing deadline. For more detailed information about exam specifics and requirements to sit, please contact the California Board of Accountancy at (916) 263-3680 or e-mail: examinfo@cba.ca.gov. For those of you planning to take the exam outside of California, please call us at 213-400-4CPA and we'll be happy to provide you with the contact information for other states.

Breakdown for each section of the new computerized exam:

Exam will be administered in “Testlets” – each testlet will have 25-30 multiple-choice questions. For FARE, Audit & Regulation, a total of 80 points will be assigned to the multiple choice and 20 points will be assigned to the simulations. About 5-7 points (out of 100) will be assigned for the research portion of the simulation. This is where data from the database is extracted (cut & pasted) and input into the solution submitted as your final answer.

Simulations will cover material/topics not previously tested in the testlets.

FARE – will use the FARS database and will have 5 testlets – 3 multiple choice and 2 simulation. Point allocation: 80% multiple choice – 20% simulation

Audit & Attestation – will use the SAS & SSARS database and will have 5 testlets – 3 multiple choice and 2 simulation. Point allocation: 80% multiple choice – 20% simulation

Regulation – will use the RIA or CCH database for taxation portion of exam and will have 5 testlets – 3 multiple choice and 2 simulation. Point allocation: 80% multiple choice – 20% simulation

Business Environment & Concepts – no data base requirement and will have 3 testlets – All multiple choice. Point allocation: 100% multiple choice

Exam grading will take approximately 6 weeks. This allows the graders to develop benchmarks for “curving” or difficulty points.

What are the new parts of the exam and what are the previous exam equivalents?

COMPUTERIZED EXAM	WEIGHT
Auditing & Attestation	100%
Financial Accounting & Reporting - Business Enterprises - Governmental Entities - Not-for-Profit Organizations	80 10 10
Regulation - Taxation - Law & Professional Responsibility   (all areas other than Business Structure)	60 40
Business Environment & Concepts - Business Structure - Measurement (managerial) - All areas other than Business Structure and Measurement   (not separately tested on current exam)	20 10 70

Auditing & Attestation (4.5hrs) Fee = $209.33

Financial Accounting & Reporting (FARE) (4hrs) Fee = $197.40

Regulation - 60% Tax and 40% Business Law. (3hrs) Fee = $173.55

Business Environment and Concepts (2.5hrs) Fee = $161.63

Additional administrative fees: