CPA Board Exam (CPALE) Guide 2026 - Subjects, Schedule, Passing Rules

The CPALE's reputation precedes it — historically 20-30% passing rates put it among the country's hardest gates — but its rules also contain provisions most reviewees learn too late, including the rare gift of partial credit. Here is the full rulebook.

The Six Subjects

Under the Philippine Accountancy Act (RA 9298) and its current syllabi:

1. Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

2. Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting (AFAR)

3. Management Advisory Services (MAS)

4. Auditing

5. Taxation

6. Regulatory Framework for Business Transactions (RFBT)

FAR and AFAR carry the volume; Taxation moves with every new revenue law — which is why review materials age faster in accountancy than in any other board.

The Passing Rules (Read Twice)

Eligibility and the Path

BS Accountancy graduates only — the full roadmap, including the retention-culture warning. After passing: registration, then the audit-corporate-government-abroad fork with its honest salary curves.

Preparing for a 20-30% Exam

The CPALE rewards exactly what the learning science prescribes: volume problem-solving under time pressure (retrieval practice in its purest form), currency in tax and standards updates, and refusing to abandon any subject — the 65 floor makes "bahala na ang RFBT" a fail sentence even with brilliant FAR scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CPALE subjects?

Six: FAR, AFAR, MAS, Auditing, Taxation, and RFBT.

What is the CPALE passing rule?

75% general average with no subject below 65% — the strictest subject floor among major boards — plus a conditional-credit provision for those passing a majority of subjects.

How hard is the CPA board exam?

Historically 20-30% national passing rates, among the lowest of the major licensure exams.

Can I retake only failed subjects?

Under the conditional-credit provision, candidates passing a majority of subjects may retake only the deficient ones within the prescribed window — confirm current mechanics with the Board of Accountancy.