CPA Pass Rates 2003 to 2011

mydiscworld

CPA have published their 2011 Annual Report

http://www.cpaireland.ie/UserFiles/File/Business%20Development/Annual%20Report%202011/CPA%20Annual%20Report%202011.pdf

It contains a breakdown of pass rates for the last few years.

I've attached a breakdown of their pass rates from 2003 to 2011.

This may be helpful for those choosing which Accounting body to go with.

smcgiff

Interesting...

I'm surprised with the student drop off. Surely accountancy would be seen as a good/safe option in the current climate?!?

mydiscworld

smcgiff wrote: »

Interesting...

I'm surprised with the student drop off. Surely accountancy would be seen as a good/safe option in the current climate?!?

I'd say it's more of a case of the Big 4 and smaller firms are taking on less graduates.

IAASA publish the student figures every year. See pg 108

http://www.iaasa.ie/publications/Annual_Report2010.pdf

The highest level was in 2008, with 18,803 accounting students in Ireland. This dropped to 17,227 in 2010. A fall of 8.4%.

Breakdown by the 4 biggest accounting bodies by student numbers:

ACCA 2008 9,526 2010 9,016 Fall 5.4%

CAI 2008 4,920 2010 4,682 Fall 4.8%

CIMA 2008 2,591 2010 2,260 Fall 12.8%

CPA 2008 1,620 2010 1,180 Fall 27.2%

The 2011 IAASA report should be out soon. This will show if the student numbers continue to fall or have levelled out.

neverwasser

I think the drop in CPA students is due to the exams becoming similar in difficulty with the other bodies and students deciding to go with ACCA and ACA as they are perceived to be better qualifications.

I recently reviewed final tax exams for the 3 main bodies in Ireland and there is no difference in standards.

SBWife

neverwasser wrote: »

I think the drop in CPA students is due to the exams becoming similar in difficulty with the other bodies and students deciding to go with ACCA and ACA as they are perceived to be better qualifications.

I recently reviewed final tax exams for the 3 main bodies in Ireland and there is no difference in standards.

But CPA pass rates are significantly higher?

neverwasser

SBWife wrote: »

But CPA pass rates are significantly higher?

If the pass rates are higher then maybe they are marked easier or and dare I say it (I know this will be shot down) the students for CPA are a lot more intelligent.

mydiscworld

CAI: pass rates have fallen off a cliff.

See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75534900

In CAI's last two (Autumn) sittings of the Old FAE course the pass rate was 76.3% in 2008 & 76.3% again in 2009.

Under the new FAE course the overall pass rate was 62% in 2010 and dropped to 55% for 2011.

http://www.charteredaccountants.ie/PageFiles/351/exam%20results/xcrftyw/FAE%20SEPTEMBER%202011.pdf

This means a staggering 21.3% fall in overall pass rates in just two years.

Plus you can only do CAI finals once per year.

CPA: Per excel sheet above, pass rate average for CPA's finals (P2s) in 2011 was 53.8%. And you can sit them twice per year.

EDIT:

ACCA: June 2011 pass rates http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74121126

Final Stage (Ps) stage average was only 41.4%

SBWife

mydiscworld wrote: »

CAI: pass rates have fallen off a cliff.

See http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75534900

In CAI's last two (Autumn) sittings of the Old FAE course the pass rate was 76.3% in 2008 & 76.3% again in 2009.

Under the new FAE course the overall pass rate was 62% in 2010 and dropped to 55% for 2011.

http://www.charteredaccountants.ie/PageFiles/351/exam%20results/xcrftyw/FAE%20SEPTEMBER%202011.pdf

This means a staggering 21.3% fall in overall pass rates in just two years.

Plus you can only do CAI finals once per year.

CPA: Per excel sheet above, pass rate average for CPA's finals (P2s) in 2011 was 53.8%. And you can sit them twice per year.

EDIT:

ACCA: June 2011 pass rates http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74121126

Final Stage (Ps) stage average was only 41.4%

The P level options papers are lower than this again at just over 33%.

mydiscworld

Latest final stage Pass Rates for the Top 4 Accountancy Bodies in Ireland

CAI: In CAI's last two (Autumn) sittings of the Old FAE course the pass rate was 76.3% in 2008 & 76.3% again in 2009.

Under the new FAE course the overall pass rate dropped to 62% in 2010 and fell again to 55% for 2011.

Back at 62.3% for 2012
http://students.charteredaccountants.ie/Global/examdocs/FAE%20SEPTEMBER%202012%20Publication%20Statistics%20with%20Top%20Ten.pdf

Note: you can only do CAI finals once per year.

CPA: Per excel sheet in a post above, pass rate average for CPA's finals (P2s) in 2011 was 53.8%. And you can sit them twice per year.

ACCA: ACCA seem to publish the pass rates on a global basis only, not the pass rates in Ireland. June 2012 results

http://www.accaglobal.com/en/press/june-2012.html

Final Stage (Ps) average was only 42.3% with two sittings per year.

CIMA: CIMA, like ACAA, seem to publish the pass rates on a global basis only, not the pass rates in Ireland. Sep 2012 results

http://www.cimaglobal.com/About-us/Press-office/Press-releases/2012/September-2012/CIMA-announces-results-for-September-2012-exams/

Final stage (Strategic Level) pass rate: 49.8%

sandy60

anyone know what % you need to
pass cpa exam?

mydiscworld

sandy60 wrote: »

anyone know what % you need to
pass cpa exam?

50%

Baby4

This post has been deleted.

SashaH

Baby4 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Hi Baby4, which fees are they? i am in the process of choosing griffith or independent in dublin. P level acca is 875euro per paper in GC. While P2 CPA is 600euro. there is bulk discounts though as far as I know. but overall CPA seemed to be the cheaper one which suits my firm who need phased payments.

can you pm me if you have any thought son GC vs independent?

blackwhite

mydiscworld wrote: »

I'd say it's more of a case of the Big 4 and smaller firms are taking on less graduates.

Big 4 graduate numbers have remained largely the same (actually increased in two firms). And anyway, Big 4 would only really have an impact on CAI, with a small proportion doing ACCA, and very few, if any, doing CPA.

smcgiff

SashaH wrote: »

Hi Baby4, which fees are they? i am in the process of choosing griffith or independent in dublin. P level acca is 875euro per paper in GC. While P2 CPA is 600euro. there is bulk discounts though as far as I know. but overall CPA seemed to be the cheaper one which suits my firm who need phased payments.

can you pm me if you have any thought son GC vs independent?

I think they meant student/membership fees paid to the institutes, not the study course fees.

mydiscworld

CPA's 2012 Annual Report is out.

http://www.cpaireland.ie/UserFiles/File/Business%20Development/Annual%20Report%202012.pdf

Unfortunately, for the first time in years, the pass rates are not published in the report.

Don't know how we can find them out so going forward...

mydiscworld

I have now received the 2012 pass rates for CPA (attached)

Also attached are all results from 2003 to 2012

Interesting to see Advanced Taxation in 2012 had a pass rate of only 33%