Jump to page content

CLEP®

Exam-Specific Prep

Visit the online store to download Individual Subject Study Guides. For $10, you'll get an outline of the test, sample questions, and tips for preparing to take the exam.

Download Individual Subject Study Guides

Real Deal

"Participating in CLEP exams has helped me get a sense of what college is like."

Claire, student, Arizona State University

Got a Real Deal to share?
Tell us

Home > College Board Tests > CLEP: Exam Descriptions > Financial Accounting

Financial Accounting

Description of the Examination

The Financial Accounting examination covers skills and concepts that are generally taught in a first-semester undergraduate financial accounting course. Colleges may award credit for a one-semester course in financial accounting.

The exam contains approximately 75 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time candidates spend on tutorials or providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.

Knowledge and Skills Required

Questions on the Financial Accounting examination require candidates to demonstrate one or more of the following abilities.

  • Familiarity with accounting concepts and terminology
  • Preparation, use, and analysis of accounting data and financial reports issued for both internal and external purposes
  • Application of accounting techniques to simple problem situations involving computations
  • Understanding the rationale for generally accepted accounting principles and procedures

The subject matter of the Financial Accounting examination is drawn from the following topics. The percentages next to the main topics indicate the approximate percentage of exam questions on that topic.

20-30%    

General Topics

  • Generally accepted accounting principles
  • Rules of double-entry accounting/ transaction analysis/accounting equation
  • The accounting cycle
  • Business ethics
  • Purpose of, presentation of, and relationships between financial statements
  • Forms of business
20-30%

The Income Statement

  • Presentation format issues
  • Recognition of revenue and expenses
  • Cost of goods sold
  • Irregular items (e.g., discontinued operations, extraordinary items, etc.)
  • Profitability analysis
30-40%

The Balance Sheet

  • Cash and internal controls
  • Valuation of accounts and notes receivable (including bad debts)
  • Valuation of inventories
  • Acquisition and disposal of long-term asset
  • Depreciation/amortization/ depletion
  • Intangible assets (e.g., patents, goodwill, etc.)
  • Accounts and notes payable
  • Long-term liabilities (e.g., bonds payable)
  • Owner's equity
  • Preferred and common stock
  • Retained earnings
  • Liquidity, solvency, and activity analysis
5-10%

Statement of Cash Flows

  • Indirect method
  • Cash flow analysis
  • Operating, financing, and investing activities
Less than 5%

Miscellaneous

  • Investments
  • Contingent liabilities