Score release

CPA exam scores: how they’re set and when they arrive

By Joey Arnold, CPA · Last updated August 24, 2026

Source: AICPA exam scoring and NASBA score information, current as of August 2026.

A passing score is 75, on a scale that runs from 0 to 99.

That much is simple. What isn’t simple is the wait between finishing your section and seeing that number.

What happens between your exam and your score

Your exam doesn’t get graded at the testing center. Prometric sends your exam data file to the AICPA, which scores it and runs a quality review. The AICPA then sends results to NASBA, which processes them, passes them to your state board, and makes them available to you.

You’ll see your score in the NASBA Candidate Portal or the NASBA CPA Mobile App. The formal score notice usually follows within about 72 hours of the score itself posting.

Your total score is a weighted combination of your multiple-choice and simulation performance — 50/50 on every section except ISC, where multiple-choice carries 60%. More on section structure →

If you didn’t pass: reading the performance report

Fail a section and you’ll receive a Candidate Performance Report — though not every jurisdiction provides one.

It shows how you did in each content area of that section, and how you did by item type. Each is labeled one of three ways: stronger, comparable, or weaker.

Most candidates read those labels as a grade. They aren’t a grade. They’re a comparison, and the group you’re being compared to is the thing nobody tells you.

What “weaker” actually means

You are not being measured against all candidates who sat that section. You’re measured against the ones who just passed — specifically, those who scored between 75 and 80.

The scale is built from the range half a standard deviation above and below that group’s average.

So read the labels this way:

Comparable means you performed about as well as the candidates who just passed. That’s a narrow band, and landing in it on most content areas while still scoring under 75 is common.

Weaker means you came in below that just-passed group. It does not mean you were near the bottom of everyone who tested. Candidates routinely see two or three “weaker” labels and conclude they need to restart the section from scratch. Usually they don’t.

Stronger means you were above the just-passed group in that area — which, if you failed, tells you where not to spend your retake time.

Used properly, the report is a targeting tool: it tells you which two or three content areas moved you from 75 to 72, so your retake isn’t a full re-study. How pass rates fit the picture →

Where to start

If you’re retaking, the report shows you where to focus. If you’re sitting for the first time, cover everything and find out early where you actually stand.

Start free →

No credit card, full access to Chapter 1 of every section. All six sections — $1,249 · See what’s included.

Score release FAQ

What is a passing score on the CPA exam?

75, on a scale that runs from 0 to 99. It’s a scaled score, not a percentage of questions answered correctly.

When are CPA exam scores released?

In cycles, on target dates published by the AICPA. NASBA notes those dates are targets and are not guaranteed, so check NASBA’s score information page for the current windows rather than relying on a date you saw months ago.

Why hasn’t my score been released yet?

Most often because your exam data file didn’t reach the AICPA before that cycle’s cutoff, so your score moves to a later release. NASBA states that a delayed score does not necessarily indicate a scoring issue.

Where do I see my score?

Through the NASBA Candidate Portal or the NASBA CPA Mobile App. The formal score notice is typically available within about 72 hours after the score posts.

What does “weaker” mean on my Candidate Performance Report?

That you performed below candidates who scored between 75 and 80 — the ones who just passed. It’s a comparison against people who barely made it, not against the whole candidate pool, so it’s a less damning label than it reads.