AICPA responds to CPA exam myths  Another season, another batch
of new CPAs are being sworn in. Jeff, a CPA and the author of
"Another 71 - A CPA Exam Blog," recently posed these questions
to the AICPA in hopes of clearing up some confusion about the
infamous exam.  1. A Curve on the CPA Exam? A common myth that
circulates among CPA exam candidates is that CPA exam scores are
curved according to the performance of other candidates taking
the same section. Is a candidate's score entirely independent of
the performance of other candidates? Does the AICPA employ any
curving mechanism to keep pass rates at their historical levels
of 45 to 50 percent on average per section?  AICPA: The CPA exam
is not curved. And yes, every candidate's score is entirely
independent of other candidates' examination results.  The CPA
exam is a criterion-referenced examination, which means that it
rests upon predetermined standards. Every candidate's
performance is measured against established standards to
determine whether the candi