Your CPA prep book should cover each section of the exam in detail. A good CPA prep book will have you begin with a diagnostic exam or offer several practice tests so you can use one as a diagnostic test. This will help to show you what you already know and which areas you may need to review a little further. It’s always a good idea to begin with a diagnostic exam. Here are a few things that all good study guides should have. CPA prep book features to considerĮveryone has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to studying, so they will all need something slightly different from their CPA prep book. This strategy is designed to ensure that the passing grade represents an equal level of knowledge across all versions of the exam, even if one version is slightly easier or harder than the next. This means that you get more points for answering a difficult question correctly than you do for an easy question. Rather, they are scaled scores calculated based on the difficulty of each question. These numbers do not indicate the number of questions that you got right. Scaled scores: For each section, you’re given a scaled score from 0 to 99. If you fail a single section, you are only required to retake that section, provided that you pass all four sections within 18 months. You must pass all sections in order to pass the exam.
Pass/fail: Each section of the CPA exam is scored individually on a pass/fail basis. These sections require you to demonstrate your understanding of the important concepts in real-world scenarios you might encounter on the job.īEC: This section includes two TBS testlets and a final written communication testlet that measures your knowledge and business writing skills. You must pass all sections within 18 months in order to earn your license.Įach section is broken down into five “testlets.” Two of these always have multiple-choice questions.ĪUD, FAR, and REG: These sections also have three task-based simulation (TBS) testlets. Instead, you take each of the four sections individually, so you can study for them one at a time.
Unlike most professional certification exams, you don’t take the CPA exam all at once. You must also usually meet education and work experience requirements in order to earn your license. All 50 states require aspiring CPAs to pass this nationally standardized exam in order to begin practicing. The CPA exam is a thorough examination of all the key concepts and laws that you must know in order to succeed as a CPA. The CPA exam is a computer-based test and requires basic spreadsheet and word processing skills.
You can learn more about these or keep reading our shopping guide for more details about the exam and how to tell a good CPA prep book from the rest. A good CPA prep book covers each section of the exam in detail and offers sample questions and test-taking strategies to help you improve your odds of success.īestReviews did the research and chose the best CPA prep books based on feedback from actual CPAs who used them. It requires a lot of study, but with the help of a good CPA prep book, you can set yourself on the path to success.Įvery book claims to be the best study resource, so it can be difficult to know which to believe.
But in order to become a CPA, you have to pass a comprehensive four-part exam.
These professionals usually have good job stability and comfortable salaries, plus they never have to pay to have their taxes done. Buying guide for shopping guide for best cpa prep booksĬertified public accountants (CPA) are always in demand, and the field is slated to grow quickly over the next decade.