Plan a CPA exam section and see when your score is likely to be released. Choose your section, enter your test date and a study hours target, and the calculator shows the days left, the hours per day to reach your target, and the AICPA target score-release date for that testing window.
Enter your exam date to build your plan.
Score-release dates are AICPA targets and can shift. Always confirm against the official AICPA schedule.
About this calculator
The CPA exam has run on a Core plus Discipline structure since the 2024 CPA Evolution changes. Every candidate sits three core sections, Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG), and then chooses one of three disciplines: Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC) or Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP). This calculator paces the study hours for whichever section you are sitting next. A widely quoted figure is 80 to 120 hours per section, or roughly 300 to 400 hours across the full exam, though the right number depends on your background and study habits.
The exam uses continuous testing, so you can sit a section across the year rather than in fixed sittings. Scores are released by the AICPA on a published schedule tied to when the testing window closes, which is why a test taken early in a window can wait several weeks for its result. This page reads that schedule to estimate your score-release date, but the dates are targets and can move, so treat the figure as a guide and confirm it with the AICPA. Popular review courses include Becker, UWorld (which now includes the former Roger CPA Review), Wiley and Surgent. For other exams, the general exam prep calculator covers the study-hours sum on its own.
Becker CPA ReviewA long-established full review course, with a free trial.
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Frequently asked questions
How many hours should I study for the CPA exam?
A common guideline is 80 to 120 hours per section, which works out at roughly 300 to 400 hours across all four parts of the exam. The right total depends on how recent your accounting study is, how strong each topic is for you, and how much time you can give each week. Use this calculator to turn your chosen total into a daily figure, and lean on your review course's recommended hours where it gives them.
When are CPA exam scores released?
Scores are released by the AICPA on a published schedule linked to the close of each testing window, not a fixed number of days after your test. A section taken early in a window can therefore wait several weeks for its result. This calculator estimates the target release date for the window your exam date falls in. The dates are AICPA targets and can shift, so confirm the current schedule on the AICPA website before relying on a date.
What are the CPA exam sections under CPA Evolution?
Since the 2024 CPA Evolution changes the exam has three core sections that everyone sits, Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG), plus one discipline of your choice. The three disciplines are Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC) and Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP). You pass the three core sections and one discipline to complete the exam.
How long does it take to study for one CPA section?
Many candidates spend roughly four to seven weeks of focused study on a single section, building up the 80 to 120 hours often recommended for it. FAR is usually treated as the longest and heaviest section, so people often allow more time for it. The calculator helps you set a realistic pace by dividing your target hours across the days you have, so you can see whether your timetable fits before you book the test.
Which CPA review course is best?
There is no single best course, and the right fit depends on how you learn and your budget. Becker is long established and widely used in larger firms. UWorld, which now includes the former Roger CPA Review, is known for its question bank and lecture style. Wiley and Surgent are also popular, and Surgent leans on adaptive software to shorten study time. Most providers offer free trials, so it is worth sampling a section before committing.