CPA ZONE

#1 - A Rising Trend in Sitting for the Exam - Number of CPA Exam candidates by year - In 2012, 92,839 candidates sat for the CPA Exam, up from the previous year's 90,632. The all-time-high spike of over 100,000 in 2010 was a result of candidates rushing to take the test before it switched to the current CBT format.

#2 - Keeping Pace - Number of CPA Exam sections taken, by year - There are four sections to the exam, each of which can be sat for separately; 245,193 were taken in 2012. The number of sections taken over the past few years has more or less tracked the number of candidates.

#3 - Greater Variation - Percent of candidates passing the CPA Exam, by year - While the average age of CPA Exam candidates has stayed fairly constant over the past seven years at 29, and the average score has stayed constant too, varying between 69.9 and 71.7, the percent of candidates passing has varied more widely.

#4 - Figuring out the BEC - Pass rates by CPA Exam section 

#5 - Bridging the Gap - Number of CPA Exam candidates by gender, by year - Seven years ago, more women were sitting for the exam than men, but that trend has reversed slightly. (It should also be noted that the gender of anywhere from a fifth to a sixth of candidates in any given year is unreported.)

#6 - Big in Japan - International jurisdictions by number of CPA Exam candidates, 2012 - China recently overtook Canada as the third-largest provider of CPA Exam candidates, and is expected to overtake South Korea soon.

#7 - But Growing Strongest in the Mideast - Int'l jurisdictions by % change in no. of exam candidates, 2011 to 2012 - Growth in candidate numbers is strongest in the Middle East, but it should be noted that they start from relatively small bases.

#8 - Is It Something in the Water? - The top 10 states ranked by average passing rates

(Source: Accounting Today)