CPA Exam Score of 75: Passing Score Explained
Yes. A CPA Exam score of 75 is the minimum passing score for every section, including AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, ISC and TCP. Scores run from 0 to 99. A 75 is a scaled score set by the AICPA, not 75% correct, and the exam is never graded on a curve. A 74 does not pass.
So what does a 75 really mean? It means you met the passing standard that the AICPA Board of Examiners set for that section. It is the same bar for every candidate in every testing window.
The AICPA has announced changes for 2027, but they are about a new testing platform and score timing. It has not announced any change to the 75 passing score.
Passing all four sections is one big step toward your CPA license. Your state board of accountancy also sets other requirements, such as education and experience.
What Does a CPA Exam Score of 75 Mean? A Marathon Analogy
Imagine a marathon challenge with a rule announced before the race: finish within five hours and you qualify. A runner who finishes in 4 hours, 55 minutes qualifies; one who finishes in 5 hours, 5 minutes does not. Other runners’ times do not change that threshold.
The CPA Exam works the same way. A reported score of 75 meets the passing standard. A 74 does not. How well other candidates did never moves that line.
The analogy has one limit. A race time is easy to measure, but your CPA score depends on which questions you got right and how hard they were. The next section explains how that works.
How Is the CPA Exam Scored?
The CPA Exam uses a scaled scoring model developed by the AICPA. Your total score combines scaled results from multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and task-based simulations (TBSs). Scoring considers factors including correct responses and question difficulty.
Each section also includes pretest questions. These are new questions the AICPA is trying out for future exams. They look exactly like the scored ones, but they do not count toward your score, and you cannot tell which ones they are.
Counting correct answers alone cannot tell you your CPA Exam scaled score. Scaling keeps scores comparable across exam versions and over time, so a 75 means the same thing no matter when you test.
| CPA Exam sections | MCQ weight | TBS weight |
|---|---|---|
| AUD, FAR, REG, BAR and TCP | 50% | 50% |
| ISC | 60% | 40% |
Source: AICPA CPA Exam scoring guidance.
Why Two Candidates With the Same Number Right Can Get Different Scores
Picture two candidates who answer the same number of scored questions correctly. Candidate A gets more of the harder questions right. Candidate B gets more of the easier ones right.
Because the AICPA’s scoring formulas account for how difficult each question is, Candidate A can end up with a higher scaled score, even though both had the same count of correct answers.
Add the pretest questions you can’t identify and the weighting between multiple-choice questions and simulations, and you can see why nobody can turn “I got this many right” into a reported score.
75 vs. 75% vs. 75th Percentile
| What people assume | What a CPA Exam 75 actually is |
|---|---|
| 75% of questions correct | A scaled score on a 0 to 99 scale |
| Better than 75% of candidates | Not a ranking, and there is no curve |
| A middling grade, like a C | The minimum standard of competence for that section |
Is the CPA Exam Graded on a Curve?
No. Your score is measured against an established standard of competence. The CPA Exam has no pass/fail quota, and other candidates’ results in your testing window do not create a curve for your score.
A passing score describes your individual result. A pass rate describes the share of section attempts that pass in a reported period. For those statistics, see our CPA exam pass rates and passing percentage guide.
What Should You Do After You Get Your CPA Exam Score?
If you earned 75 or higher, you passed that section. Nice work! Keep preparing for your remaining sections, and keep an eye on your credit window (more on that below). Not sure which section to take next? Our guide on how hard the CPA Exam is compares the sections.
If you are preparing or retaking a section, use practice results to identify what needs work. A practice percentage is not a direct conversion to an official CPA score. Review why you missed each question: an unfamiliar concept, a calculation error, a missed fact or time pressure. Revisit the explanation, solve a fresh problem without notes, and practice both MCQs and simulations.
Need fresh questions with video explanations? Try the Farhat Lectures CPA test banks for FAR, AUD, REG, BAR, ISC and TCP.
After an unsuccessful attempt, use any available Candidate Performance Report alongside your practice results. It may compare your performance with candidates who scored 75–80; that comparison does not determine your official score. Availability varies by jurisdiction, and content-area indicators are less reliable than the total score.
Give recurring weaknesses extra attention, while continuing to review all content areas. Track whether you can explain a concept, apply it to an unfamiliar fact pattern and complete the work within your practice time limit.
Scored a 74? What Are Your Options?
A 74 is painful, but it is not a pass. Your reported score is your official result. Here are your three options.
- Request a score review. A score review is an independent re-check of your score. NASBA, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, charges $240. Because every score already goes through several quality checks, NASBA says a review rarely changes the result.
- File a score appeal, if your board allows it. NASBA lists the fee as $550 plus $100 per item you appeal. Appeals are not available in every jurisdiction, and NASBA notes that, historically, no score has ever been changed through an appeal.
- Retake the section. For most candidates, this is the best use of time and money. Use your Candidate Performance Report as a rough guide, but review every content area, since your next exam will have a different mix of questions. Retake fees vary by state, so check our CPA Exam cost guide.
The fees above are NASBA’s as of October 2026. Confirm current fees on the NASBA scores page or with your state board before you pay.
Does a Score Higher Than 75 Matter?
For your license, no. Any score of 75 or higher earns credit for that section, and a 92 earns exactly the same credit as a 75.
The one place a high score matters is recognition. The AICPA’s Elijah Watts Sells Award goes to candidates who average above 95.50 across the three Core sections and their Discipline section and pass all four on the first attempt.
When Will You Get Your CPA Exam Score?
The AICPA publishes target score release dates. In most jurisdictions, NASBA then posts your score to your NASBA candidate account, while a few state boards release scores themselves. Release dates are targets, so allow a day or two of variation.
Planning to test in 2027? The AICPA is moving the CPA Exam to a new testing platform. There will be no testing from July 1 to July 11, 2027, and testing resumes on July 12, 2027. For the 12 months after the launch, scores will take longer while the AICPA recalibrates exam questions. Our guide to CPA Exam changes in 2027 walks through the timeline.
How Long Does a Passing Score of 75 Last?
Passing a section starts your credit window, the period in which you must pass the remaining sections before your earliest credit expires. Most jurisdictions now use a 30-month window, following NASBA’s model rule. A few, including Indiana, South Carolina and Washington, allow 36 months, and a small number still use 18.
When the clock starts, either your exam date or your score release date, also depends on your state. Confirm the rule with your board of accountancy before you schedule.
CPA Exam Passing Score FAQ
Is 75 a passing score on the CPA Exam?
Yes. A reported score of 75 or higher passes that CPA Exam section. A 74 is below the passing threshold.
Does a CPA Exam score of 75 mean 75% correct?
No. A 75 is a scaled score. It does not mean you answered 75% of the questions correctly or performed better than 75% of candidates.
Is the CPA Exam graded on a curve?
No. The AICPA uses an established passing standard. There is no quota limiting how many candidates can pass.
How many questions can you miss on the CPA Exam?
There is no single number that converts to a 75. Question difficulty, scoring weights and unscored pretest items prevent a simple correct-answer count from predicting your score.
Is the passing score the same for every CPA Exam section?
Yes. The minimum is 75 for AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, ISC and TCP. Candidates must pass the three Core sections and one chosen Discipline section.
Why does my performance report compare me with other candidates?
The comparison helps identify areas to improve. It is separate from your official score and does not mean your exam was curved.
What happens if I score a 74 on the CPA Exam?
You did not pass that section. You can request a NASBA score review for $240, but reviews rarely change results, so most candidates retake the section within their credit window.
Does a higher CPA Exam score help my license?
No. Any score of 75 or higher earns the same credit. A high score only matters for honors like the AICPA’s Elijah Watts Sells Award, which requires an average above 95.50 across all four sections, all passed on the first try.
When do CPA Exam scores come out?
The AICPA sets target score release dates, and NASBA or your state board posts your score. After the July 2027 platform change, expect longer waits for about 12 months.
How long does a passing CPA Exam score last?
Most jurisdictions give you 30 months to pass the remaining sections. A few allow 36 months, and some still use 18. Check your board of accountancy’s rule.
About the author
Mansour Farhat, CPA, CIA, DBA, is the creator of Farhat Lectures. He teaches accounting and CPA Exam topics through video lessons that supplement major CPA review courses such as Becker, Gleim, Surgent, UWorld and Miles. Learn more about Professor Farhat.
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