CPA - Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Practice Test

72 questions available

Build your confidence for CPA - Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR). Practice the concepts, understand the answers, and strengthen your knowledge one question at a time.

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Certification exam
66 Exam questions
4 hours Time Limit
Your practice
72 Practice questions
1 hour 12 minutes Practice Time
Try 5 free questions
No account needed. A free account includes 20 questions for this exam.
The bar to clear 75/99 scaled score; 75 required to pass Published passing score for this certification.
Explore exam topics Official objectives from AICPA
AICPA72 practice questions
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Exam overview and details

The CPA Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) exam is a core component of the Uniform CPA Examination, representing the most comprehensive assessment of a candidate's mastery of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and financial reporting standards. This section validates a professional's ability to prepare, analyze, and interpret financial statements for both public and private entities, including complex areas such as consolidations, derivatives, and revenue recognition under ASC 606. Successfully passing the FAR exam is a non-negotiable milestone for licensure, signaling to employers, clients, and regulators a foundational and rigorous understanding of the accounting framework that underpins the global financial system. The certification is universally recognized as the premier credential in the accounting profession, opening doors to roles in audit, financial analysis, controllership, and executive management.

Sample Questions

Choose an answer and explore the explanation to see how practice works.

Select Balance Sheet Accounts

Ridgeway Housing incurs costs for a new internally developed product: early research experiments, design after technological feasibility is established, and routine marketing. Under U.S. GAAP for most internal R&D, which cost is generally expensed as incurred?

Select Balance Sheet Accounts

Oak & Vale installs equipment that must be dismantled and the site restored at the end of ten years. The legal obligation exists when the equipment is placed in service, and fair value can be reasonably estimated. What should be recorded initially?

Financial Reporting

Granite Charter is preparing an annual Form 10-K. Its CFO wants to omit related-party disclosures for a below-market loan from the CEO because the loan was approved by the board and no default occurred. Which treatment is appropriate?

Select Balance Sheet Accounts

Cedar Transit has inventory pledged as collateral for a bank loan. The inventory remains on site, can be sold in ordinary operations only with replacement collateral, and is material. What is the appropriate financial statement treatment?

Financial Reporting

Talon Freight receives a restricted cash grant from a donor for a building project and presents a statement of cash flows. Under ASU-style restricted cash presentation used in current U.S. GAAP statements, how should cash and restricted cash be reconciled?

Career Opportunities & Salary

Median salary: $83,680– Accountants and Auditors

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 -- Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), US national. Occupation median, not a certification salary. (2025)

Accountants and Auditors

Exam insights and study advice

Achieving a passing score on the FAR exam is a critical differentiator in the accounting profession. It is a mandatory step toward CPA licensure, which is often a prerequisite for senior financial roles, signing audit opinions, and holding positions of public trust. This certification demonstrates not only technical proficiency but also a commitment to the highest standards of ethics and professional competence. For career advancement, it directly impacts earning potential, credibility with clients and stakeholders, and eligibility for leadership positions within public accounting firms, corporations, and government agencies. Industry recognition as a CPA, fortified by conquering the breadth of FAR, establishes immediate professional legitimacy.

These are the backgrounds the certifying body suggests. Check the vendor's own page for anything it formally requires.

Your Path Forward

You are here CPA - Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Practice Test Step 1 of 4 – Core
CPA Examination Track

What this exam covers

Use the published domain weights to plan your study. Practice results do not predict your certification exam score.

01Financial Reporting

30-40%

02Select Balance Sheet Accounts

30-40%

03Select Transactions

25-35%

Exam Details FAR | $226.15 USD | 4 hours

Exam Code FAR
Vendor AICPA
Exam Cost $226.15 USD
Passing Score 75/99 scaled score; 75 required to pass
Time Limit 4 hours
Exam questions 66
Question TypesMultiple Choice (MCQ), Task-Based Simulations (TBS) — research, document review, journal entries, calculations
Retake Policy Must wait until test results are released before retaking the same section. All four sections (3 core + 1 discipline) must be passed within 30 months of passing the first. CPA exam offered year-round (continuous testing).
Exam Format Linear (computer-based)
Available In
English

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single most heavily tested area within the FAR exam?

How important is Governmental Accounting (State and Local) for the FAR exam?

Are there specific FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) topics I must know?

What is the best strategy for tackling the Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) on FAR?

How does the conceptual framework relate to the more technical accounting topics tested?