REG CPA Exam Section Guide

CPA REG Exam Format

The REG CPA Exam section consists of five testlets: two testlets of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and three testlets of task-based simulations (TBSs). The MCQ portion of REG accounts for 50% of your CPA Exam score, and the TBS portion accounts for the other 50%.

REG Format Breakdown

REG Format Breakdown Starting January 2024

CPA REG testing process

The AICPA prescribes two levels of difficultyOpens in new window to MCQ testlets: “medium” and “difficult.” This indicates the average difficulty of questions within the testlet. Like the other CPA Exam sections, the second REG MCQ testlet adapts to your performance on the first.

According to the AICPA, there isn’t an advantage or disadvantage to receiving harder or easier questions because the exam takes question difficulty into account during grading.

In short, harder questions are worth more points.

The first MCQ testlet you receive will be of medium difficulty. The difficulty of the next testlet is determined by your performance on the first.

If you perform well on the first testlet, you will receive a difficult testlet. If you do not perform well on the first testlet, you will receive another medium testlet.

You can encounter a very difficult question in a medium testlet or a relatively easy question in a difficult testlet. It’s not worth using valuable testing time trying to figure out the difficulty of your second MCQ testlet.

Your performance on MCQ testlets does not impact how difficult your TBS testlet will be. TBS testlets are pre-selected.

See more about what makes the CPA Exam so difficult.

Why does the AICPA include pre-test questions on the exam?

The AICPA looks to continuously evolve and improve the CPA Exam. Pre-test questions are potential future exam questions the AICPA is trying out by inserting them among real exam questions on REG and other CPA Exam sections. This lets it study how suitable the questions will be for future use.

The AICPA already knows what topics the operational questions test and how difficult they are, so it can analyze candidate performance on pre-test questions with the operational questions serving as a sort of control. While no one likes to be a guinea pig for experiments—especially on an exam this difficult—keep in mind that your score on these questions will not count.

The pre-test questions that meet the AICPA’s standards are included as operational questions on later iterations of the exam. This pre-test period is also used to assign a difficulty level to questions for grading purposes, and questions continue to undergo statistical analysis based on the live exam.

How is CPA REG Graded?

Computers grade all CPA MCQ and TBS testlets. Your final score is scaled according to the difficulty of the MCQs you answered correctly, your credit on the TBSs, and the weights assigned to the different types of testlets. (See more on how the CPA Exam is scored.)

What is a CPA passing score?

The passing score for all CPA Exam sections is 75 points or higher.  This does not necessarily mean you need to answer 75% of questions correctly.

Difficult MCQs are worth more points, so a strong performance on the first MCQ testlet can give you an opportunity to earn even more points in the second MCQ testlet. Difficult questions are also more time-consuming, so you’ll need to practice a time-management strategy to optimize your score.

Is the CPA Exam curved?

The CPA Exam is not curved. The purpose of the CPA Exam is to ensure that anyone who passes it can perform the duties of a CPA and will represent the profession well.

This grading process is fair because it ensures candidates who pass meet the minimum criteria established by the AICPA. Multi-stage testing aims to match question difficulty to proficiency level, so it takes fewer questions to accurately estimate candidate proficiency.

Can I receive partial credit on Task-Based Simulations (TBSs)?

Yes, you can receive partial credit on TBSs! Never leave any part of a question blank on REG (or other sections for that matter), and always double-check to make sure you’ve answered all parts of a question. No two TBSs are the same. They can have wildly different formatting and require you to input your answer in different ways, so stay sharp.

What if I have a question about REG scoring that wasn’t answered here?

For more information on how your REG section will be scored, please check out our guide to CPA Exam pass rates and scoring. You can also see the AICPA’s FAQs or contact one of our Personal Counselors. We’re always here to help!

It’s good to look over the higher-level concepts to get a broad idea of what you should be taking away from your studies, but the Blueprints aren’t really useful for candidates who want to make a study plan. The Blueprints are incredibly detailed, and if you were to go through them on your own, you’d likely spend just as much time figuring out what to study and how much time to devote to each topic as you would actually preparing for the exam.

Our recommendation is to let a CPA Exam review course provider do the bulk of the work for you. Gleim has a team of experts that digs into each Blueprint update, taking the guesswork out of studying.

When are new REG topics testable?

Tax laws are frequently amended, so the AICPA has specific guidelines for updating the relevant REG questions. Per the AICPA, changes in the Internal Revenue Code, and federal taxation regulations are eligible to be tested in the calendar quarter beginning six months after the change’s effective date or enactment date, whichever is later.

Changes in federal laws outside the area of federal taxation are eligible to be tested in the calendar quarter beginning six months after their effective date.

Changes in uniform acts are eligible to be tested in the calendar quarter beginning one year after their adoption by a simple majority of the jurisdictions.

For all other subjects covered by the CPA Exam, changes are eligible to be tested in the later of (1) the first calendar quarter beginning after the earliest mandatory effective date or (2) six months after the issuance date.

Once a new pronouncement is testable, questions testing the old pronouncement will be removed.

THE  SOLUTION 

In our experience, the AICPA does not appear to hold hard and fast to these rules.

For example, you may see tax forms from prior years on your REG task-based simulations (TBSs), but don’t be distracted by dates. Simply complete the form to the best of your ability and follow all instructions in the question. If the exam provides an out-of-date tax rate, use that rate to answer the question.

Gleim Review Courses are automatically updated to reflect the latest material that could appear on the CPA Exam.

How Hard Is It to Pass REG?

The REG section of the CPA Exam isn’t easy (none are). One factor contributing to CPA Exam difficulty is the fact that the exam assesses candidates at four different levels of skill. The pass rate for REG typically hovers around 50%. However, in 2021 the average jumped up to nearly 60%. Even so, it’s important to make sure you have a firm grasp of the subject matter.

Each skill level builds on the preceding one. The REG CPA Exam takes a balanced approach to testing at every skill level (except for Evaluation, which is only tested in AUD).

REG and FAR test Analysis more than AUD and BEC. Analysis is one of the more difficult skill levels on the CPA Exam, but it is not hard to master when you review with a thorough CPA review course featuring the best test bank on the market. Gleim CPA Review covers the exam content better than any other course, and our high-quality practice simulations will help you achieve the analysis level of skill quickly and effectively.

When should I take REG?

If you have tax experience, REG may be the section you should take first. A good deal of REG content will be familiar to candidates who have had internships or worked in a public tax practice. If this describes you, or if you’re planning to begin work at a tax firm in the near future, consider scheduling this section early to build confidence. The knowledge you gain will be a great asset to you in your professional career.

For candidates without much tax experience, REG can be fairly tricky because there is a lot of material you must memorize before you can begin to apply it at a high level. The BEC, FAR, and AUD CPA Exam section content overlaps somewhat, so it’s usually best to schedule those sections close to one another. If you are not comfortable taking REG first, consider scheduling it last.

As you plan when to take the different sections, we recommend starting with the one you’re most familiar with to help position you for an early win. This can give you confidence and let you get comfortable with the CPA Exam.

REG CPA Exam Time Management

The total testing time for REG is four hours, the same as the other CPA Exam sections. The five testlets of the REG CPA Exam section are independent. There are no time limits on the individual testlets, so it is up to you to manage your time appropriately so that you can complete all five testlets before the exam ends.

Based on the total time of the exam and the amount of time needed to complete each testlet, you should plan to spend:

As you can see from the small amount of extra time left over, this schedule is very tight. That’s because REG has more MCQs than any other exam section. Straying from this schedule greatly reduces your chances of passing. Do whatever you can to keep to a strict time management system. This includes making educated guesses when necessary and not stressing about difficult questions (remember, they might be pre-test questions!).

It will take a lot of practice to get to a place where you can answer questions this quickly. But as you learn the material and complete more sample questions, you’ll build mastery of the topics and get faster.

• If you know you can answer a question in less time, do it. That way, you’ll have a little extra time to spend on more difficult questions.
• If you hit a difficult question and still haven’t settled on an answer after a minute and a half, make an educated guess, flag the question, and move on. If you have time later, you can return to it during your review.
• Work at a pace that lets you read and answer every single question.

Use any extra time you have available. Those four hours are yours! Don’t risk leaving any points on the table.

What is the best way to study for the CPA REG Exam section?

We’ve compiled some of our top tips for the REG CPA Exam section.

1. Study early; study often.

Your exam score on REG will reflect the amount of time you put in, so put in as much time as you can and make the most of it. The most successful candidates know the huge effect stress and fatigue can have on their performance, so they set up a study calendar that accounts for their lifestyle and sleeping habits. An interactive study planner like Gleim’s lets you set a realistic schedule for your study sessions. Our study planner also tracks your performance, even making it possible for our Personal Counselors to support you right where you are in your studies.

2. Become familiar with federal taxation, especially income, gift, and estate taxation.

More than 70% of the REG exam focuses on federal taxation. If you’ve had coursework focused on taxation or worked in a public tax practice, you have an advantage. If you haven’t, don’t worry. Gleim CPA Review has the tools you need to master REG tax topics.

3. Practice applying concepts.

Rote memorization comes in handy on REG, but now more than ever the AICPA is testing candidates at a higher level. You’re expected to show you have the skills to provide tax preparation and advisory services. You’ll find what you need in the Gleim CPA Review, with a powerful bank of highly acclaimed practice questions built right into the course.

Looking for more helpful CPA Exam prep tips?

If you’re looking for a start-to-finish CPA Exam walk-through, download our free CPA Exam Guide for more information! This PDF contains our top tips for scheduling, studying, and sitting for the CPA Exam. You can bet we know a thing or two after helping candidates pass over a million CPA Exams in the last 40 years.