So it’s February already even though it feels like just yesterday we were all duking it out over the last roll of toilet paper at Target. Time goes on, as it must, perhaps moreso in these strange times we’re lucky enough to be alive to see.
Today has the distinction of being the first CPA exam score release of 2021, unless you count the January 12 release which you really shouldn’t since those were for exams taken in 2020 and as we all know whatever you do on or before December 31 counts for the entirety of the year. With that in mind, here’s to a fresh year with all sort of fresh possibilities (personally I’m still holding out hope for that alien invasion we didn’t see in 2020).
So far so good, with the benevolent overlords of the exam hitting their release target dead on.
On February 9, 2021, NASBA received and processed the following scores from the AICPA. pic.twitter.com/s05qrj89ym
— NASBA (@NASBA) February 9, 2021
You can tell it’s busy season by the lack of critics trolling NASBA on Twitter, though the day is young and surely someone will have something to say before it’s over. Get a load of this guy, though.
You wanna do us all a favor and grade the audit exam less harshly
— Wes Weikert (@Mike_Pence_2024) February 9, 2021
Score Release: Exam sections taken January 1 June 30, 2021
| If you take your exam on/before: | Your target score release date is: |
| January 23 | February 9 |
| February 15 | February 23 |
| March 10 | March 18 |
| March 31 | April 9 |
| April 23 | May 11 |
| May 16 | May 25 |
| June 8 | June 16 |
| June 30 | July 13 |
CPA exam score release dates via the AICPA
As you can see from the chart, there are seven score releases in the first half of the year, while the second half release schedule has not yet been published. That shouldn’t affect your planning too much what with continuous testing since you can retake failed sections without having to wait until the next testing window. Testing windows were overrated anyway, who needs ’em.
Interestingly, testing numbers are down from this time last year. Way down. See for yourself.
(the ’19’ in the graphic is a typo, these are definitely 2020 numbers)
Would anyone like to speculate wildly as to why so many fewer exam sections have been taken so far this year compared to last? We already know CPA exam candidate numbers are down and have been that way for quite some time. Gonna go out on a limb here and guess the Rona might have a little something to do with it but certainly not all given the pattern.
