To recap the exam basics, the Enrolled Agent exam has 3 parts with 100 multiple-choice questions each. The EA credential allows practitioners to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and signifies mastery in knowledge of U.S. taxation laws and protocols. There’s no point wasting time arguing about the complexity of the exam. It is what it is.But one thing is clear – you are going to need a better understanding of the US Tax Code and everything tied to it, than ever before if you want to become an Enrolled Agent. The intent behind these questions was to test for the skills an EA with two years experience should have. Or, get the answers to many common EA exam FAQs from our Enrolled Agent Blog.
Is the Enrolled Agent Exam difficult?
- These candidates either underestimated the difficulty of the exam or the amount of study time necessary to learn all the material.
- This approach upholds the integrity of the Enrolled Agent certification.
- If you pass any part of the exam, you can carry over the passing score for that part for up to 2 years.
- For instance, take a look at how the EA exam pass rates compare to the pass rates of the CPA, CMA, and CIA exams.
- It is what it is.But one thing is clear – you are going to need a better understanding of the US Tax Code and everything tied to it, than ever before if you want to become an Enrolled Agent.
- SEE Part 1 tests on individuals, Part 2 tests on businesses, and Part 3 covers representation, practices, and procedures.
To make this determination, you could combine feedback from others with your own familiarity with the content of each exam part. Additionally, you could consult the enrolled agent exam pass rates to infer which EA exam part is the hardest. The IRS has a large pool of questions it can use to build the EA exam, and a team of enrolled agents and members of the NAEA author these questions that will ultimately appear on your exams. The IRS determines the question difficulty levels by providing experimental questions to actual exam takers.
Current Enrolled Agent syllabus
Many books come with practice questions and exams, which usually explain how the tests are structured, giving you the mental tools to take the exam more confidently. Let’s walk you through 10 tips on how to study for the EA exam to prepare and do well on the EA exam. No matter how hard the enrolled agent exam is, following these steps will surely make things easier. To help you manage the enrolled agent exam difficulty and increase your chance of EA exam success, I’ve created my free EA e-course. Sign up today to learn more about how hard the exam is and how easily you can pass it.
Next Steps for Passing the Enrolled Agent Exam
However, with the right preparation strategy, dedication, and mindset, success is entirely attainable. Achieving the EA designation is a significant professional milestone and well worth the effort and time invested in preparing for the exam. The Enrolled Agent Exam is the standardized test that EA candidates must pass to earn their credential. Passing the EA Exam proves readiness and ability to represent clients in their tax issues before the IRS.
- The Part 2 pass rate is a bit more consistent from year to year compared to Part 1.
- In fact, Part 3 rates have been higher than 75% for a while now.
- Sign up today to learn more about how hard the exam is and how easily you can pass it.
- As I have noted, the SEE is a long and complex assessment of your familiarity with a great deal of federal taxation and tax accounting information.
- It’s crucial to plan your exam schedule meticulously to ensure you complete all sections within the allocated time.
“Earning the EA Designation brought my credentials inline with my virtual accountant professionalism and experience. It is a great talking point with my clients and gave me the confidence to increase my fees.” The other 15 questions are experimental and are not included in the score for that part. The best place to find quality, reliable enrolled agent sample questions is in your EA review course. After all, the IRS SEE exam tests on some very specific content, and it’s hard to study on your own without any guidance. You can get a score report just like this onsite immediately after the EA examination.
How much does it cost to take the Enrolled Agent exam?
There are some real benefits to becoming an EA as well, including solid job opportunities, earning potential and becoming an expert on tax matters. With that credential on your resume, employers in at least a dozen industries will know that adding you to their team will benefit everyone involved. The company gets your expertise; you get what could well be a consistent, year-round job. The SEE is composed of three separate parts that test the knowledge of the previous tax year’s Internal Revenue Code, Code of Federal Regulations, IRS forms, instructions, and publications. Each part is taken individually and consists of 100 questions, with a 3.5-hour duration allocated.
CPA Review Courses
Colin is a practicing CPA with over 14 years of experience in various accounting and finance roles. Manager level at a Big-4 firm, he now works as a freelance consultant while helping others pass their professional exams. The least difficult part of the EA exam is Part 3, with pass rates consistently above 80%.
- In 2021, the EA exam faced major changes, and the pass rate average was also effected.
- Instead, it suggests that, with adequate preparation, you can achieve a passing score.
- The foundation of your EA score is the number of the 85 operational questions you answer correctly.
- Besides, Fast Forward has a policy of not publishing its pass rates for the EA exam.
What Do the EA Exam Pass Rates Tell Us About How Hard The EA Exam is?
- Achieving the EA designation is a significant professional milestone and well worth the effort and time invested in preparing for the exam.
- However, Gleim does advertise that it has a 99% satisfaction rate.
- Of the 100 questions, only 85 contribute to the final score, while the remaining 15 serve as experimental items and do not influence the overall score for that particular part.
- Testing according to these considerations will help you master the topics so you can pass each part on your first try and become an EA faster.
As a result, the only way you can pass the EA exam is to study well for several months. Moreover, when people don’t study, they have a high chance of failing, affecting the overall EA exam passing rate. The IRS Enrolled Agent exam pass rate fluctuates from 70% to 74%. This is a high pass rate compared to other professional accounting exams, like the CPA, which has an average pass rate of 45-50%. The IRS sets a scaled passing score at 105 out of Online Accounting the available 130 points. If you pass any part of the exam, you can carry over the passing score for that part for up to 2 years.
Locate the Question Before Reading
Some readers have pointed out that the coverage of the CPA Exam is a lot broader as well. Instead, check out what’s tested on each part of the EA exam to get the best idea of which exam part will be the most challenging for you. You can also use our free Enrolled Agent exam questions to get an idea of what the real exam questions will be like.
