You’ve probably heard by now that the biggest thing to happen to the Uniform CPA Exam since it switched over to computerized testing is officially happening. But if you haven’t seen the mass amounts of panic taking place through just about every CPA Exam’s candidate’s newsfeed, fear not! We’ve got you covered and can assure you it’s not as bad as it sounds. Here at Roger CPA Review, we’ll walk you through what changes you can expect to see in the 2017 CPA Exam and provide you with all the information you need to know!
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) announced today that there will be a new version of the Uniform CPA Exam launching in the second quarter of 2017.
The AICPA began research and development for the next version of the Exam in 2014, looking to ensure that the content and structure were still relevant—and most importantly— reliable measures of the knowledge and skills required of a CPA to protect public interest. The comprehensive research, known as the Practice Analysis, was initiated by market demand for a “higher-order” skillset that CPA Exam candidates need to demonstrate in order to execute CPA job responsibilities effectively.
Changes to CPA Exam Content
While the content of the new version of the CPA Exam will remain mostly the same, there will be an increase in the skill level at which the subject matter will be tested, assessing the candidate’s problem solving/analytical abilities and professional skepticism. Currently, the CPA Exam is designed with the following learning classifications: Remembering, Understanding, and Application. The new version will measure the candidate’s higher-order skillsets that will force them to use Application, Analysis, and Evaluation.
Changes to CPA Exam Structure
An entirely new type of TBS will also be added to the Exam known as Document Review Simulations (DRS). They will be added to satisfy the demand of larger workplaces requiring CPAs to frequently review and manipulate electronic documents. Candidates will reference written documents to test their proficiency in electronic document management. Writing will continue to be assessed only in the Business Environment & Concepts (BEC) section.
Furthermore, Task-Based Simulations (TBS) will now focus on testing 50% Application and 50% Analysis and Evaluation, with an emphasis on determining candidates’ abilities to discern what is and what is not important when solving problems. An additional 2-3 TBS will be added to each section of AUD, FAR, and REG. Furthermore, 4-5 Task-based Simulations will now appear on the BEC section of the CPA Exam.
The 2017 CPA Exam will also show changes in the overall question-type weight and structure for each section. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) will now account for 50% while TBS will account for the other 50% for the AUD, FAR, and REG sections. BEC will likely have a weighted score of 50% MCQ, 15% WC, and 35% TBS.
With the addition of Task-based Simulations to the BEC Exam, the new Document Review Simulations, and the overall change to test on a more analytical level, the 2017 CPA Exam will also see changes in time allocation, with exam time totaling 16 hours. While these new changes appear to make the CPA Exam longer and more difficult, it is just a matter of perspective. As Roger likes to say, “If you study, you will pass.” This is true for any and all changes made to the Exam. As long as you know and understand the material thoroughly, you should be able to tackle the Exam just fine.
For more detailed information about the 2017 CPA Exam changes including the timeline in which it will take place, visit our website.