CPA Exam Pass Rates From Last 15 Years (2006-2021)

CPA Exam Pass Rate Rankings (2021 Q1) by Section:

2021 Q1 Analysis:

Predictably, the Q1 2021 scores dipped a bit vs Q4 2020. This is usually attributed to tax season.

The CPA Exam Pass Rate data shows some interesting 5-year Trends:

AUD increased approx. 7 points
BEC is way up, 2/3 who take it are passing
FAR leaped from mid-40s to the 50s
REG actually increased with the TCJA changes, and the CARES Act didn't change that either

Jeff's Takeaways:

Long-Term: CPA Review material quality/technology has increased due to fierce industry competition and entrants into the marketplace like NINJA.
Short-Term: People staying home (and/or not traveling) during COVID resulted in higher than usual scores in 2020. That trend seems to continue, as Q1 2021 is higher than a “normal” Q1.

CPA Exam Pass Rates

2021 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	49	50
BEC	62	63
FAR	47	43
REG	59	59

2020 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	48	65	57	48	53
BEC	62	77	70	61	66
FAR	46	63	56	44	50
REG	55	76	66	58	62

2019 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	49	55	52	48	51
BEC	58	60	63	59	60
FAR	44	49	50	41	46
REG	50	59	58	56	56

2018 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	49	55	51	49	51
BEC	56	60	60	60	59
FAR	42	49	49	45	46
REG	50	56	57	50	53
2017 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	43	52	52	48	49
BEC	50	55	55	55	53
FAR	43	44	48	43	44
REG	46	48	49	46	47

2016 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	45	49	45	44	46
BEC	55	56	58	53	55
FAR	45	46	48	43	46
REG	48	50	50	46	48

2015 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	45	49	48	47	47
BEC	53	58	59	55	56
FAR	44	49	50	43	47
REG	48	51	51	47	49

2014 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	47	49	47	42	46
BEC	53	58	58	52	55
FAR	44	48	51	46	48
REG	49	52	52	44	49

2013 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	45	48	47	43	46
BEC	53	56	59	54	56
FAR	47	49	51	45	48
REG	48	50	50	47	49

2012 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	45	48	50	44	47
BEC	49	53	58	51	53
FAR	44	47	54	46	48
REG	45	50	51	46	48

2011 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	44	48	47	43	46
BEC	42	46	52	45	47
FAR	42	44	50	44	46
REG	41	45	45	44	44

2010 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	47	51	49	45	48
BEC	47	49	51	44	47
FAR	45	48	53	45	48
REG	49	52	54	47	51

2009 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	48	52	52	48	50
BEC	46	49	52	46	48
FAR	46	51	51	46	48
REG	48	52	52	47	50

2008 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	45	53	51	47	49
BEC	47	48	50	46	47
FAR	46	50	54	46	49
REG	46	49	51	49	49

2007 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	44	48	51	45	48
BEC	44	48	47	47	47
FAR	44	49	52	46	48
REG	42	48	50	47	47

2006 Section	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Cumulative
AUD	41	44	47	44	44
BEC	42	43	46	43	44
FAR	42	43	47	45	48
REG	39	42	45	42	42

PS – Have a Question? Ask Jeff.