With applications for this year's second-stage certified public accountant exam now closed, 4,494 people have registered to take the test. This year's second-stage exam will select 1,150 final passers.
The Financial Supervisory Service said on the 20th that the competition rate for this year's second-stage certified public accountant exam is 3.9 to 1, up by 54 people (1.2%) from a year earlier.
By gender, men accounted for 61.6% and women 38.4%. The share of women had risen for three straight years through last year, but dipped slightly this year.
By age, those in their late 20s were the largest group at 58.2%, and those in their 20s overall accounted for 23.6%. The average age of all test takers is 27.7. The average age of applicants has been on the rise for three years since 2023.
Among applicants, 52.6% were enrolled in university, and those majoring in business and economics fields accounted for 73.7%.
Including 1,643 people who passed last year's first-stage exam and deferred the second-stage exam for one year, 4,494 are expected to sit for the second-stage test. The second-stage exam will be held over two days, from the 27th to 28th of next month, and the results are scheduled to be announced on Sept. 4.