In a competitive field like accounting, it’s no wonder that CPA candidates often ask “Does a high CPA exam score matter?” or “How important is your CPA exam score?”. After all, passing the Uniform CPA Examination is such a huge achievement that getting a high score must be better for your career or job prospects, right?
Not exactly, and here’s why.
A passing CPA exam score simply indicates that you have the base level of knowledge the AICPA, NASBA and your state board of accountancy require to become a CPA.
Perhaps more importantly, it signals to employers that you’re serious about your career AND have the work-ethic and determination to devote hundreds of hours towards studying and doing what it takes to pass the exam. Almost nobody (and I really mean nobody!) can pass the entire CPA exam with less than 200 hours of total study time.
Still, CPA candidates often wonder how much their CPA exam scores really matter, so let’s address some of their most common questions.
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Will a High CPA Exam Score Help You Get Hired?
Aspiring CPAs often wonder “Does it make sense to include your CPA exam scores on your resume?”
No. In fact you have more to lose than gain by including your exam scores on your resume.
I was involved in the recruitment and hiring process throughout my career (including at two Big 4 firms), and can confidently say that CPA exam scores never came up once when discussing and filtering candidates. NOT A SINGLE TIME!
Potential employers are FAR (I couldn’t resist the pun here!) more interested in your experience/internships, work-ethic and how well you can fit into their company’s culture than your CPA exam scores. Diverting their time and attention away from those other important areas to list your exam scores can make you seem out of touch or even boastful.
That being said, it can be a good to share your progress on the exam (e.g. “Passed 2 out of 4 parts, sitting for 3rd section in June 202X”) since this shows initiative. Just try not to sound boastful!
Will a High CPA Exam Score Get You Promoted?
Good question, but still a no.
While becoming a licensed CPA is often a baseline requirement to getting promoted to the Senior or Manager ranks at most mid-to-large accounting firms and corporations, your CPA exam scores simply won’t matter to your boss.
That’s because the CPA exam just doesn’t reflect “a day in the life” as an accountant. Instead, your managers and bosses will be focused on your job performance, work-ethic, your ability to work with others and whether they feel you’re ready for the next role.
In other words, your ability to GSD (Get S*** Done) is usually the only thing that really matters come promotion time.
Is Getting a High CPA Exam Score Even Worth It?
Your exam scores may not help you land a job or climb the corporate ladder any faster, but it’s still worth aiming for a high score to increase your chances of passing the exam. Just don’t go overboard and spend too much time studying.
Despite following the AICPA Blueprints, the CPA exam is well known for throwing curveballs and emphasizing topics you may not know as well.
To maximize your chances of passing the exam on your first try, try to routinely score between 80-90% while practicing with your CPA review course, especially during your final review. Being slightly “over-prepared” for each exam should allow you to overcome any exam day randomness.
Bottom Line
If you have low CPA exam scores but still passed, don’t sweat it. Likewise, don’t get too excited if you scored 90+ on every section.
When it comes to landing an accounting job or standing out at work, your job performance, experience, your ability to work well with others and your fit within the company’s culture will be what matters most. Nobody will care about your exam scores, nor should they.
Still, the most sure-fire way to passing the CPA exam is by slightly over-preparing and getting yourself plenty of practice before exam day. Studying consistently and hammering out multiple choice questions and simulations until you routinely score in the 80-90% range on each topic almost always leads to success on exam day.
That means it’s critical to find a CPA review course that fits YOUR learning style, keeps you engaged and offers plenty of study material. Research and compare the best CPA review courses here to find which course suits YOU best.
Featured image courtesy of Jan Vašek of Pixabay
