CPA Curriculum
CPA examination is comprised of four papers, each for a duration of 4 hours consisting questions in a mixed form of MCQs; simulations and written communication.
CPA, being one of the most advanced course has set out a well-defined syllabus and uniform approach. We at VGLD, believe in providing the most comprehensive and easier to grasp information for an easier decision-making.
Key advantages of being well-versed about course details
- Ascertain minimum level of knowledge and skills relevant to obtain CPA license
- Help students in being well-equipped for the examination with a clear definition of required knowledge and skills
Subjects
CPA examination tests students on below subjects/papers:
- Auditing & Attestation (AUD)
- (BEC)
- Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
- Regulation (REG)
Question paper format for CPA Exam
Each paper has a different mix of MCQ, case studies and written set of questions. Let us take a quick look at them:
| Paper | MCQ | Simulations | Written Communication |
| Auditing & Attestation (AUD) | 72 | 8 | Nil |
| Business Environment & Concepts (BEC) | 62 | 4 | 3 |
| Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) | 66 | 8 | Nil |
| Regulation (REG) | 76 | 8 | Nil |
Weightage for question types
Each question type has a different weight assigned to it depending upon the paper as below:
| Paper | MCQ | Simulations | Written Communication |
| Auditing & Attestation (AUD) | 50% | 50% | Nil |
| Business Environment & Concepts (BEC) | 50% | 35% | 15% |
| Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) | 50% | 50% | Nil |
| Regulation (REG) | 50% | 50% | Nil |
Skills levels
Gone are those days when the purpose of an examination was just to judge the memory skills. With changing technology and increasing demand for skilled employees, it has become imperative for institutions to redesign their courses. CPA aims to judge a student based on below four skills namely (in decreasing order):
Depending upon each paper, each of these skills are assigned different weights as below:
| Paper | Application | Analysis | Remembering & Understanding | Evaluation |
| AUD | 30-40% | 20-30% | 25-35% | 5-15% |
| BEC | 50-60% | 20-30% | 15-25% | Nil |
| FAR | 50-60% | 25-35% | 10-20% | Nil |
| Regulation | 35-45% | 25-35% | 25-35% | Nil |
Allocation of content in each paper
- Auditing and Attestation – This paper aims to test skills and knowledge to perform audit engagements, attestation engagements or accounting and review service engagements.
Entire content is divided into four categories with varied weight for each category as below:
| Content area | Weight |
| Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and General Principles | 15-25% |
| Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response | 25-35% |
| Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence | 30-40% |
| Forming Conclusions and Reporting | 10-20% |
- Business Environment & Concepts – This paper aims to test skills and knowledge to perform audit, attest, accounting and review services; financial reporting; tax preparation and other professional services.
Entire content is divided into four categories with varied weight for each category as below:
| Content area | Weight |
| Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Controls and Business Processes | 20-30% |
| Economics | 15-25% |
| Financial Management | 10-20% |
| Information Technology | 15-25% |
| Operations Management | 15-25% |
- Financial Accounting & Reporting – This paper aims to demonstrate skills and knowledge in the financial accounting and reporting frameworks to be used by various bodies like companies; government entities and others.
Entire content is divided into four categories with varied weight for each category as below:
| Content area | Weight |
| Conceptual Framework, Standard-Setting and Financial Reporting | 25-35% |
| Select Financial Statement Accounts | 30-40% |
| Select Transactions | 20-30% |
| State and Local Governments | 5-15% |
- Regulation – This paper aims to demonstrate skills and knowledge in fields of US federal taxation; US ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice; US business law.
Entire content is divided into four categories with varied weight for each category as below:
| Content area | Weight |
| Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and Federal Tax Procedures | 10-20% |
| Business Law | 10-20% |
| Federal Taxation of Property Transactions | 12-22% |
| Federal Taxation of Individuals | 15-25% |
| Federal Taxation of Entities | 28-38% |
Conclusion
Given a variety of skills and knowledge skills tested and weights given to question types in each paper, it can become overwhelming for a student to take an informed decision. We at VGLD, are here to guide you in each step-in order to help you make a career out of CPA. Please reach out to VGLD representatives for an effective and hassle-free decision.
