A Look Inside Retired FAR Simulations

Did you know that the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) offers an online resource featuring retired Task-Based Simulations (TBS) from the Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the Uniform CPA Examination? This resource, released publicly by the AICPA Board of Examiners in 2025, offers Boards of Accountancy a rare opportunity to see the CPA Exam in practice rather than in outline form.

The analysis-level TBS includes all exhibits provided to candidates, along with guidance from AICPA Exam staff outlining the steps required to complete the task. Each simulation is designed to reflect realistic, application-based scenarios, with an estimated completion time of 20 to 30 minutes.

While not used on the current Exam, these retired items closely reflect the style and complexity of simulations candidates encounter today.

State board representatives may find this resource helpful in evaluating candidate preparedness and the alignment of education, examination and practice expectations in today’s evolving licensure landscape.

To learn more about retired task-based FAR simulations, visit: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/retired-task-based-simulation-from-the-far-section-of-the-uniform-cpa.