Should I take AUD or BEC first?

Here's our pro tip: If you're aiming to finish in 9 months, do FAR in the first window. Then, do AUD or REG in the second quarter paired with BEC (based on your strengths: tax or audit). Finally, in the third window, aim for the remaining part, AUD or REG.

Which section of the CPA should I take first?

Starting with FAR will give you a stronger foundation into the reporting elements prior to taking the BAR section which will then build up your general knowledge as you go into AUD and REG.

Is BEC harder than AUD?

Among the four sections, FAR has a reputation for being the hardest, and it typically has the lowest pass rate. BEC has the highest pass rate and is often thought to be the easiest. AUD and REG tend to be middle of the road.

What order should I take CPA exams?

Should I take AUD or BEC in 2023?

Candidates who have credit for BEC on the current CPA Exam will not need to take any of the three discipline sections. If, however, a candidate loses credit for AUD, FAR or REG after December 31, 2023, they then must take the corresponding new Core section of AUD, FAR or REG.

Studying tips on the BEC part of the CPA Exam

What happens if I don't pass BEC in 2023?

If you did not take and pass the BEC Exam in 2023 or earlier, you will need to pass one of the three Discipline sections. The Discipline you choose does not limit your professional practice. Passing any Discipline leads to the same full CPA license.

What happens if I pass BEC before 2024?

If you pass BEC before 2024, BEC will replace a discipline section requirement. If you pass AUD, FAR or REG, they will carry over and serve as core credits. Notably, the 2024 CPA exam will emphasize advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Should I take BEC first?

The BEC exam includes material from the other 3 exam parts, so that makes it a good section to take either first or last. Taking it first means you have a working knowledge of the material covered on the other exams before you take them.

Why is BEC considered the easiest CPA Exam?

Either way, BEC is considered the easiest part of the CPA exam because it has the highest pass rate. The AICPA highlights one reason BEC is higher is because it is the section most commonly taken last, giving students more experience with test-taking after taking other sections.

Is AUD or reg easier?

AUD pass rates

FAR had the lowest average pass rate at almost 45%, and BEC had the highest at 62%. While the REG section historically tended to hover around 50%, in 2021 it jumped to almost 60%, rivaling BEC's high pass rate.

How many people fail BEC?

The BEC CPA exam section has a 62.84% average cumulative pass rate in 2021. BEC is typically considered the most straight-forward section of the CPA exam with the least amount of material covered.

Should I memorize formulas for BEC?

Yes, you need to be familiar with the formulas and you could see MCQs that require you to plug numbers into a formula.

Can you pass BEC in one month?

BEC is the easiest exam to study for a month, and auditing is close. Should not be an issue.

Should I take BEC now or wait?

If you are unable to complete all exam sections before 2024, we still recommend starting with BEC, which will replace a discipline requirement. Surgent recommends taking your discipline exam immediately following the core section associated with it: FAR > BAR, AUD > ISC and REG > TCP.

What is the easiest CPA Exam to take first?

So, we know that BEC is widely considered to be the easiest CPA exam, but where are the other CPA exam sections in order of difficulty? After BEC, the next easiest CPA exam is Regulation (REG). At 60.7%, it has a similar pass rate to BEC (based on the most recent cumulative results).

Which CPA is hardest?

Often considered the most difficult exam, Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) has had the lowest passing scores of the four exams. The amount of material CPA Exam candidates have to learn for the exam, coupled with the combination of memorization and application, makes this exam more difficult.

Will 2024 CPA exam be harder?

2024 CPA Exam Difficulty

Unless you had additional college courses or significant practical experience in one of the “disciplines” in the new “Core-Plus-Discipline” model, you might find the 2024 version of the CPA Exam harder than the 2023 one.

How many hours to study for BEC CPA?

How Many Hours to Study for BEC CPA Exam Section. BEC has 62 MCQs, four simulations, and it throws a curveball with two written communication tasks. When you use the best test prep, you can expect it to take roughly 130 hours to study for the CPA exam's BEC section.

Is BEC actually easy?

How Hard Is It to Pass BEC? With such high pass rates (almost 62% cumulative for 2021), BEC is considered the easiest section of the CPA Exam.

How many hours to study for AUD?

Another challenge to the AUD section is the wording of the questions. They are often worded in suggestive ways and need to all be carefully evaluated before choosing, since some answers may be technically partially right, but not entirely correct. The recommended study time for AUD is between 70 and 90 hours.

Which state is easiest to get CPA?

If you want to take the CPA exam as early as possible with fewer requirements, Alaska is a good state to get your CPA license in because it allows candidates to sit while completing an undergraduate degree if within 18 hours of meeting bachelor's degree requirements.

Is AUD changing in 2024?

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)

The AUD Core section remains largely unchanged, aside from the addition of selected BEC content. No existing AUD content was moved to other 2024 CPA Exam sections. BEC topics moved to AUD include: Basic economic concepts – supply and demand, business cycles.

Is BEC the hardest CPA Exam?

BEC has the highest passing rate. A lot of candidates consider it the least difficult of the 4 sections. It's one of the shorter exams: 3 hours long, with 3 MCQ testlets (24 questions each), and 3 written communication questions. BEC is the only exam that has the written communication questions.

What is the 18 month rule for CPA Exam?

The Uniform CPA Exam utilizes a "rolling" 18-month credit status period. Credit status is established by passing one section of the examination. Once you pass a section of the examination, you are allowed a maximum of 18 months to pass all remaining sections in order to retain credit for the passed section.