CPA Task-Based Simulations Practice
Understand the 2026 section formats, then practice a CPAPass-authored, editorially reviewed exhibit workflow.
Quick answer
Every 2026 CPA Exam section includes task-based simulations, but the count and score weight vary. Start with the exact section format, then practice reading the task before classifying exhibits. See the 2026 Blueprint guide and the CPAPass methodology.
What the 2026 format requires
AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, ISC, and TCP all include TBS testlets. The AICPA Blueprint gives the exact TBS count, testlet layout, and score weight for each section.
ISC is the main format exception: it has six TBSs worth 40% of the section score. The other five sections give TBSs a 50% score weight, with counts ranging from seven to eight.
The Blueprint describes representative tasks, not the exact questions a candidate will receive. Use its format facts to plan practice without treating listed tasks as a prediction.
Practice the workflow without inventing exam claims
Read the task first, identify the requested decision, and classify each exhibit before copying numbers into a response. That sequence is useful practice even when the accounting topic changes.
Use the CPAPass exhibit-triage trainer for a non-scored, original workflow exercise. It does not estimate a CPA Exam score or claim to reproduce an official item.
For an official multi-exhibit example, use the AICPA retired FAR simulation linked below. It is retired, FAR-only, and not used on the current exam.
2026 TBS format by section
These counts, testlet layouts, and score weights come from the 2026 AICPA Blueprint and its current testlet guide. They describe section structure, not the exact tasks you will receive.
| Section | TBS count | TBS testlets | TBS score weight | Section practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUD | 7 | 2 / 3 / 2 | 50% | AUD reviewed sample |
| FAR | 7 | 2 / 3 / 2 | 50% | FAR reviewed sample |
| REG | 8 | 2 / 3 / 3 | 50% | REG reviewed sample |
| BAR | 7 | 2 / 3 / 2 | 50% | BAR reviewed sample |
| ISC | 6 | 1 / 3 / 2 | 40% | ISC reviewed sample |
| TCP | 7 | 2 / 3 / 2 | 50% | TCP reviewed sample |
Blueprint limit: Blueprint tasks are representative, not exhaustive. The number of listed tasks does not establish content weight or predict the exact questions a candidate will receive. Reviewed 2026-08-03.
Practice the exhibit map before the calculation
The CPAPass trainer gives you a task and five exhibits to classify. It reveals the reviewed roles and reasons only after every exhibit has a role. It is a format exercise, not a scored accounting question.
Open the exhibit-triage trainerUse the official retired FAR item with its limits visible
Official resource
AICPA retired FAR task-based simulation
AICPA published this retired FAR simulation on 2025-10-14. It can show one multi-exhibit format, but it is not a current exam item and does not describe every section.
Open the retired FAR simulationNASBA status context
NASBA overview of the retired FAR simulation
NASBA explains that the example is retired and not used on the current exam. That status is why CPAPass treats it as format evidence only.
Read the NASBA overviewUse a task-first exhibit map
Before copying a number, restate the requested decision in one sentence. Then label each exhibit by the job it can perform: governing fact or instruction, numeric input, corroborating evidence, or not needed for this task.
A useful check is whether you can explain why an exhibit matters without solving the full accounting problem. If you cannot, return to the task instructions before entering a response.
Separate format practice from technical review
The exhibit-triage trainer on this page is a non-scored workflow exercise. It helps you practice task interpretation and document classification, but it does not establish whether your accounting conclusion is correct.
Use section guides and reviewed questions for the underlying technical rule. Use the official retired FAR simulation only to inspect one documented multi-exhibit example, with the retirement and current-exam limits kept visible.
Troubleshoot a crowded exhibit set
If two exhibits seem to conflict, identify whether one describes timing, one supplies an amount, or one shows recorded status. Do not let an invoice date replace separate evidence about when work occurred.
If a document answers none of the task, period, amount, or recorded-status questions, mark it as not needed for that task instead of forcing it into the calculation.
CPA task-based simulation questions
- How many TBSs are on each CPA Exam section in 2026?
- AUD, FAR, and BAR each have 7 TBSs; REG has 8; ISC has 6; and TCP has 7. The exact testlet layouts are shown on this page from the 2026 AICPA Blueprint.
- Are TBSs worth 50% on every section?
- No. TBSs are worth 50% on AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, and TCP. On ISC, MCQs are worth 60% and TBSs are worth 40%.
- Is the linked retired FAR simulation a current CPA Exam item?
- No. AICPA identifies it as a retired FAR simulation, and NASBA states that it is not used on the current exam. Use it to inspect a multi-exhibit format, not to predict current questions.
- Does the CPAPass exhibit-triage exercise predict readiness?
- No. It is a CPAPass-authored, non-scored format exercise. It helps you practice task-first exhibit classification, but it is not an AICPA item, score conversion, or pass prediction.
Continue from format practice to CPAPass
Create an account to continue your CPA practice. This page does not promise that every TBS feature is included in an unpaid account.
Create your CPAPass account