REG CPA Exam Format and Structure
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REG CPA Exam Section At-a-Glance
Question Content Breakdown
Score Breakdown
(plus 15 min break)
(2 MCQ & 3 TBS)
Multiple Choice Questions
(64 operational)
(7 operational)
Comprehensive Guide to the REG CPA Exam Section
REG CPA Exam Section Content
The Regulation REG test section of the CPA Exam tests a CPA candidate’s knowledge and skill level on federal taxation, business law, business ethics and professional and legal responsibilities. As laid out in the AICPA Blueprints, more than 60% of the REG CPA exam focuses on federal taxation.
55-85% Federal Taxation
- Federal taxation of individuals
- Federal taxation of entities
- Federal taxation of property transactions
10-20% Business Law
- Contracts
- Agency
- Business structure
- Debtor-creditor relationships
- Government regulation of business
10-20% Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and Federal Tax Procedures
- Ethics and responsibilities in tax practice
- Licensing and disciplinary systems
- Federal tax procedures
- Legal duties and responsibilities
REG CPA Exam Format & Structure
The REG Exam is 4 hours long, though the candidate is not required to use all the allotted time, and consists of 76 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and 8 Task-Based Simulations (TBSs).
Of the 76 MCQs, 64 are operational, meaning they count toward the exam score, while 12 are pretested and do not count toward the exam score. Of the 8 TBSs, 7 are operational and 1 pretested. Other than scoring, there is no functional difference between operational and pretested questions and no sure way for the candidate to tell the difference between an operational and pretested question.
The REG Exam is organized into five testlets – two 38-question MCQ testlets followed by a 2-question TBS testlet, then an optional 15-minute break that does not count against the 4-hour test time, then two additional TBS testlets of three questions each.The candidate proceeds at his or her own pace through the testlets. Once a testlet has been submitted, it cannot be revisited.
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The REG section of the CPA Exam covers the entire auditing process and requires a strong technical knowledge of the auditing process. Want to test your auditing skills? Take a UWorld Roger CPA Review Free Trial for access to real CPA Exam practice questions that map to the AICPA Blueprints.
Sign Up NowREG CPA Exam Scoring
CPA candidates are given 4 hours to complete the REG Exam and are required to receive an overall scale score of 75 or higher in order to pass. Download our infographic for an easy guide on how the REG section of the CPA Exam’s structure and test administration play key factors in how the exam is scored overall.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) | |
---|---|
Testlets | 2 |
Operational | 64 |
Pretest | 12 |
Total MCQs | 76 |
Task-Based Simulations (TBS) | |
---|---|
Operational | 7 |
Pretest | 1 |
Total TBS | 8 |
The operational MCQs count 50% toward a candidate’s REG CPA Exam score. The operational TBSs count 50% toward a candidate’s REG CPA Exam score.
By default the first REG CPA Exam MCQ testlet is of ‘Medium’ difficulty. The difficulty level of the next MCQ testlet depends on the candidate’s performance on the first REG testlet. The candidate will therefore experience one of the following MCQ testlet difficulty sequences:
- Medium – Difficult (candidate performed well on first testlet)
- Medium – Medium (candidate did not perform well on first testlet)
Characterizing a REG Exam testlet as ‘medium’ or ‘difficult’ refers to the average difficulty of the questions in an MCQ testlet. There is not a binary ‘medium’ or ‘difficult’ value assigned to each MCQ. Rather, the difficulty level of each question exists on a numeric scale.
Credit awarded for REG test MCQs is weighted by difficulty level, meaning more credit is awarded for getting a more difficult question correct than for getting a less difficult question correct. Therefore, a candidate with a difficult testlet is not penalized for having harder questions, nor is there any advantage in having two Medium testlets.
It is still possible to pass the REG test even with a Medium-Medium MCQ testlet sequence. In these cases, good-to-excellent performance on the second MCQ testlet and the TBS testlets is key to passing.
The assigned REG Exam TBS testlets are pre-selected and have nothing to do with the candidate’s performance on the preceding MCQ testlets, nor do the TBSs within the TBS testlet proceed according to performance on the previous TBS.
While an MCQ is either right or wrong, partial credit is awarded for non-Research TBSs. Research TBSs are graded as either right or wrong with no partial credit awarded.
REG CPA Exam Section Study Tips
- Commit to truly understanding the REG test material.
- Make a study plan and stick to it – our Study Planners can help.
- Consider eliminating distractions during your designated study times – block Internet access, turn off notifications, tell family, friends and colleagues you will be completely unavailable.
- At the beginning of most REG sections, Roger reviews the big picture. Practice presenting the big pictures yourself, in your own words.
- Practice the REG test with the UWorld Roger CPA customizable quizzes. .
- Use our digital flashcards with Spaced Repetition Technology to hone in on hard to grasp topics.
- Eat well, exercise, and get plenty of rest.
REG CPA Review
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