FAR CPA exam: format, pass rate, passing score and cost
FAR — Financial Accounting and Reporting — is one of the three Core sections of the Uniform CPA Examination. It is a four-hour test with 50 multiple-choice questions and 7 task-based simulations, each half of the score. You need 75 on a 0–99 scale to pass; the AICPA reports a 42.95% FAR pass rate for 2026 through the second quarter. Fees and eligibility are set by the jurisdiction where you apply.
- Exam section
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), a required Core section of the Uniform CPA ExaminationAICPA & CIMA, checked 10 October 2026
- Cost
- Not a single national figure — fees depend on the jurisdiction where you applyAICPA CPA Exam FAQ and NASBA, checked 10 October 2026
- Questions
- 50 multiple-choice questions and 7 task-based simulations in five testletsAICPA Blueprints page, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 4 hoursAICPA CPA Exam FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 75 on a 0–99 scale; scores are not curvedAICPA scoring and pass rates page, checked 10 October 2026
- Score weighting
- 50% multiple-choice, 50% task-based simulationsAICPA scoring and pass rates page, checked 10 October 2026
- Pass rate
- 42.95% in 2026 through Q2; 42.12% for 2025AICPA scoring and pass rates page, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Computer-based at Prometric test centres, year-round for Core sectionsNASBA CPA Exam FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
- Eligibility and credit period
- Set by each board of accountancy; credit periods of 18, 30 or 36 months depending on the jurisdictionNASBA Candidate Guide, checked 10 October 2026
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What is the FAR CPA exam?
FAR stands for Financial Accounting and Reporting. It is one of three Core sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, alongside Auditing and Attestation (AUD) and Taxation and Regulation (REG); every candidate also takes one Discipline section. Because FAR is a Core section, there is no way around it on the road to a CPA licence.
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy describes the section as testing the knowledge and skills CPAs need in financial accounting and reporting frameworks for both for-profit and not-for-profit entities. The AICPA summarises its focus as financial statements, transactions and not-for-profit accounting.
Source: Texas State Board of Public Accountancy — CPA Exam sections. Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA exam format
The FAR section of the CPA exam has five testlets. The first two hold 25 multiple-choice questions each, 50 in total. The last three hold the task-based simulations — 2, 3 and 2 of them, 7 in total. Simulations are short case studies: you work with documents, figures and research material rather than picking one answer.
The section lasts four hours. NASBA’s Candidate Guide adds a standardised 15-minute break after the first simulation testlet that does not count against your time; other breaks between testlets run on the clock.
Source: AICPA & CIMA — Learn what to study for the CPA Exam (Blueprints). Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA exam passing score and scoring
You need a score of at least 75 on a scale of 0 to 99 to pass FAR. The AICPA states that scores are not curved: your result depends on your own answers, scaled for the difficulty of the questions, not on how other candidates did.
Multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations each count for 50% of the FAR score. A candidate who is quick at multiple choice but weak at simulations cannot make up the difference on the first two testlets alone.
Source: AICPA & CIMA — CPA Exam scoring and pass rates. Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA exam pass rate
The AICPA publishes pass rates by quarter. For FAR, 43.46% of candidates passed in Q1 2026 and 42.47% in Q2 2026, a cumulative 42.95% for the year so far. In 2025 the quarterly figures were 41.67%, 43.52%, 43.07% and 40.20%, for 42.12% across the year.
For comparison, AUD came to 48.65% in 2026 through Q2. The AICPA cautions that pass rates reflect candidate preparedness, not necessarily exam difficulty.
Source: AICPA & CIMA — CPA Exam scoring and pass rates. Checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the FAR CPA exam cost?
There is no single price. The AICPA states that fees depend on the jurisdiction where you choose to become licensed, and NASBA explains that the total includes application and administration fees as well as the examination fee. Your board of accountancy, or NASBA acting for it, sets the amounts.
NASBA’s Candidate Guide does publish one set of figures: rescheduling a Prometric appointment is free 60 or more days ahead, then costs more the closer you get to the date. Fees are generally non-refundable, so budget for a possible retake.
Source: NASBA — CPA Exam FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA exam dates and scheduling
There are no fixed FAR test dates. NASBA states that the Core sections — AUD, FAR and REG — can be scheduled year-round, and that you may test at any Prometric site in any of the 54 jurisdictions, subject to availability. Once your board approves you, you receive a Notice to Schedule, which NASBA says is generally valid for six months, and you book a date with Prometric.
Scores for Core sections are released on a rolling basis throughout the year, on target dates the AICPA publishes in advance.
Source: NASBA — CPA Exam Candidate Guide (September 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA exam requirements and credit period
Eligibility is not set by the AICPA. Each state or territorial board of accountancy decides the education, experience and other requirements for its candidates, and NASBA directs candidates to their own board’s rules.
Once you pass a section, the clock starts on the others. NASBA’s Candidate Guide shows credit periods of 18, 30 or 36 months depending on the jurisdiction, some counted from the exam date and some from the score release date. Check your board’s rule before planning the order of sections.
Source: NASBA — CPA Exam Candidate Guide (September 2026). Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR CPA study material and practice questions
The AICPA’s CPA Exam Blueprints are the official syllabus for FAR: they organise the content by area, group and topic with score weighting and the skill level each task is tested at. Blueprints effective 1 January 2026 apply now; the 2027 version takes effect on 1 January 2027.
For question style, the AICPA offers a sample test with questions from all sections, up to two hours long, and a retired FAR task-based simulation for download. The AICPA is clear that the sample test is not scored and does not tell you whether you are ready.
Beyond that, prep comes from independent review providers. Candidates should know the confidentiality rules: NASBA’s Candidate Guide says any reproduction or distribution of exam material, including memorisation, is prohibited, with penalties up to invalidated scores and civil and criminal action.
Source: AICPA & CIMA — CPA Exam sample tests. Checked 10 October 2026.
FAR vs AUD
Both are four-hour Core sections with the same five-testlet layout and the same 50/50 score weighting, but the mix differs. FAR has 50 multiple-choice questions; AUD has 78. Both have 7 task-based simulations. FAR is about preparing and reporting the numbers; AUD is about auditing and attesting to them.
On pass rates, FAR has run below AUD in every quarter the AICPA reports for 2025 and 2026.
Source: AICPA & CIMA — CPA Exam scoring and pass rates. Checked 10 October 2026.
CPA FAR practice questions
Certsqill’s CPA FAR practice questions are expert-developed: every answer option comes with an explanation, and a readiness score per content area shows where FAR still needs work before you book Prometric.
CPA FAR questions people ask
What is the FAR CPA exam?
Financial Accounting and Reporting, one of the three Core sections of the Uniform CPA Examination. Source: AICPA & CIMA, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the FAR CPA exam?
50 multiple-choice questions and 7 task-based simulations. Source: AICPA, checked 10 October 2026.
How long is the FAR CPA exam?
Four hours, plus an optional standardised 15-minute break that does not count against your time. Sources: AICPA and NASBA, checked 10 October 2026.
What score do you need to pass FAR?
75 on a 0–99 scale. Scores are not curved. Source: AICPA, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the FAR pass rate?
42.95% for 2026 through Q2 and 42.12% for 2025. Source: AICPA, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the FAR exam cost?
It depends on your jurisdiction; the AICPA and NASBA publish no single national fee. Checked 10 October 2026.
When can I take FAR?
Year-round at Prometric, once you hold a valid Notice to Schedule. Source: NASBA, checked 10 October 2026.
Can I retake FAR?
Yes. NASBA says you re-register and get a new Notice to Schedule; you must wait at least 72 hours after your score before re-registering.
