CPA Exam Study Guide 2026 — All 6 Sections Explained

The CPA exam underwent its most significant restructuring in years with the introduction of the Core + Discipline model. If you are preparing for the CPA in 2026, this guide covers everything you need to know: the new format, section-by-section breakdowns, study strategies, and how to build a passing study plan.

The New CPA Exam Structure

The CPA exam now consists of three Core sections (required for all candidates) and one Discipline section (chosen based on your career focus):

Core Sections (Required)

  • AUD (Auditing and Attestation) — 36 MCQs, 2 hours
  • FAR (Financial Accounting and Reporting) — 33 MCQs, 2 hours
  • REG (Taxation and Regulation) — 36 MCQs, 2 hours

Discipline Sections (Choose One)

  • BAR (Business Analysis and Reporting) — 25 MCQs, 1.5 hours
  • ISC (Information Systems and Controls) — 25 MCQs, 1.5 hours
  • TCP (Tax Compliance and Planning) — 25 MCQs, 1.5 hours

Every section requires a 75% passing score. You must pass all four sections (3 Core + 1 Discipline) within an 18-month rolling window — once you pass your first section, the clock starts.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

AUD — Auditing and Attestation

What it covers:

  • Ethics, professional responsibilities, and general principles
  • Assessing risk and developing a planned response
  • Performing further procedures and obtaining evidence
  • Forming conclusions and reporting

Difficulty: AUD is often considered the most conceptual Core section. There is less calculation and more judgment-based reasoning. The challenge is distinguishing between similar auditing standards and applying the right one to a given scenario.

Study tip: Focus on understanding the audit process flow rather than memorizing individual standards. Questions test whether you know what to do next in a given situation.

Practice AUD questions on FreeFellow — 1,045 free questions with solutions.

FAR — Financial Accounting and Reporting

What it covers:

  • Financial reporting frameworks (GAAP, IFRS differences)
  • Select transactions (leases, bonds, pensions, revenue recognition)
  • State and local governments
  • Not-for-profit organizations

Difficulty: FAR is widely considered the most challenging Core section due to the sheer volume of material. Government and not-for-profit accounting are topics most candidates have limited exposure to.

Study tip: Start with FAR if you are choosing your exam order. It has the broadest syllabus and benefits most from fresh study energy. Do not skip government accounting — it accounts for a meaningful portion of questions.

Practice FAR questions on FreeFellow — 1,043 free questions with solutions.

REG — Taxation and Regulation

What it covers:

  • Ethics and responsibilities in tax practice
  • Business law (contracts, UCC, debtor-creditor, agency)
  • Federal taxation of individuals
  • Federal taxation of entities (partnerships, corporations, S-corps, trusts)
  • Federal taxation of property transactions

Difficulty: REG requires detailed knowledge of tax rules and their application to specific situations. The tax code is vast, and questions often involve multi-step calculations with specific phase-outs and limitations.

Study tip: Create a tax rate and threshold reference sheet. Many REG questions hinge on knowing specific numbers (standard deduction amounts, phase-out ranges, contribution limits). Flashcards are particularly effective for these.

Practice REG questions on FreeFellow — 1,045 free questions with solutions.

BAR — Business Analysis and Reporting

What it covers:

  • Business analysis (financial statement analysis, projections, valuation)
  • Technical accounting and reporting (complex transactions)
  • State and local government concepts (extended from FAR)

Best for: Candidates pursuing careers in financial reporting, corporate accounting, or advisory.

Practice BAR questions on FreeFellow — 1,045 free questions.

ISC — Information Systems and Controls

What it covers:

  • Information systems and data management
  • Security, confidentiality, and privacy
  • SOC engagements and trust services criteria

Best for: Candidates interested in IT audit, cybersecurity, systems consulting, or SOC reporting.

Practice ISC questions on FreeFellow — 1,033 free questions.

TCP — Tax Compliance and Planning

What it covers:

  • Tax compliance for individuals and entities
  • Tax planning and consulting
  • Advanced individual and entity tax topics

Best for: Candidates pursuing careers in tax at a public accounting firm or in corporate tax departments.

Practice TCP questions on FreeFellow — 1,040 free questions.

How to Choose Your Discipline Section

Your discipline section should align with your career plans:

  • Going into audit at a Big 4/regional firm? BAR or ISC
  • Going into tax? TCP (this is the most natural choice for tax professionals)
  • Going into advisory or IT audit? ISC
  • Undecided? BAR is the most general-purpose choice

Study Hours and Timeline

Most candidates need 300-400 total hours across all four sections:

| Section | Recommended Hours | Typical Study Period |
|---------|------------------|---------------------|
| FAR | 100-120 | 8-10 weeks |
| AUD | 80-100 | 6-8 weeks |
| REG | 80-100 | 6-8 weeks |
| Discipline | 50-70 | 4-6 weeks |

Total timeline: 6-12 months for all four sections, depending on how many sections you prepare for simultaneously.

Section Order Strategy

The most common successful order is:

  1. FAR first — hardest and broadest section, best tackled with maximum study energy
  2. AUD second — some overlap with FAR (financial statement concepts)
  3. REG third — independent content, but benefits from the study discipline you have built
  4. Discipline last — shortest section, and you have exam-taking experience by now

The critical constraint is the 18-month window. Once you pass your first section, you must pass all remaining sections within 18 months or the first one expires.

Passing Strategies

Use Active Recall, Not Passive Review

The CPA exam tests application, not memorization. Working through practice questions is far more effective than re-reading study material. Aim for at least 500 practice questions per Core section and 300 per Discipline section.

Simulate Exam Conditions

The CPA exam is computer-based with strict time limits. Practice under timed conditions regularly, especially for FAR (33 questions in 2 hours = ~3.6 minutes per question).

Focus on Weak Areas

Track your accuracy by topic and devote proportionally more time to weak areas. FreeFellow's analytics dashboard shows your performance breakdown by topic and difficulty, making it easy to identify where to focus.

Do Not Over-Study Strong Areas

A common trap: spending too much time on topics you already understand because it feels productive. If you are scoring 85%+ on a topic, move on to areas where your score is below 70%.

Free CPA Exam Resources

FreeFellow provides 6,251 free CPA practice questions across all six sections, with:

  • Detailed solutions for every question
  • Three difficulty levels per section
  • Adaptive practice targeting weak learning objectives
  • Full practice exams with realistic timing
  • Performance analytics and readiness scoring
  • Spaced repetition flashcards for conceptual topics

All features are completely free — no trial period, no paywall.

Start your CPA exam preparation at FreeFellow.