Comments on: Passing the CPA Exam: Harder than it used to be?

By: John Smith

John Smith — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:57:55 +0000

I think the new exam is alot harder than the old version…this is all for reducing the amount of fraud that went on in the USA back in 2008; is this going to stop fraudsters? NO. Cigarettes kill people every year…have this stopped people from smoking..? NO. I took AUD and passed it studying 8 hours a day for 3 months…and the people i know who take this exam…have to take crazy concentration pills and sum other crazy things to absorb the info to pass the exam

By: Jake1044

Jake1044 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:06:25 +0000

My God……….just took 4th part(AUD) yesterday and feel like puking. I have 3 down so far (did fail twice at first before passing three parts in succession). I think that it sucks no matter how you had(have) to take it. But, once we are on the other side, I'm sure that we won't want it to be any easier – ay? Don't want to dilute the profession after we went through this crap!

Jason
Pittsburgh, PA

By: Jake1044

Jake1044 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:06:25 +0000

Jason
Pittsburgh, PA

By: Jeff - another71.com

Jeff - another71.com — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:32:07 +0000

Zero – yeah, I assumed no one would think that was Dr. Parrott. It’s the “war story” boss, actually

By: Zero Cool

Zero Cool — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:55:27 +0000

Dr. Parrott is the best accounting teacher ever (btw, that’s not him in the picture)

c/o 2008

FAR 91
AUD 96
BEC 83
REG ??

By: The Cooking Accountant

The Cooking Accountant — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:49:51 +0000

Hey Butch,
I have taken both the old version and am currently taking the new version, so I can say based on my experience the old one was definitely harder. I had passed AUD when it was paper and pencil, but I lost my credits in 2005, so I had to re-take it on Saturday.

Like I said, even though there’s a lot more info on the new exam, you only need to study one section at a time. Back then, you had to study for and pass 2 parts at once in NY (4 parts at once in some other states). Imagine you had to schedule all 4 parts at Prometric on 2 weekdays (2 parts a day with an hour break in between)? That’s what the old test was like.

But like others have said, your opinion can differ based on your own personal experiences.

By: Rich in CA

Rich in CA — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:57:26 +0000

Interesting article. I also think it is a push, though personal circumstances my tilt one way or the other. I passed the exam a couple of months ago at age 43. Spaced the exams out with at least two weeks between each session. I couldn’t imagine the grind of the paper-based test. Not sure I would have passed all the parts in a two day period. Also, I’m a lefty with horrible hand writing. Good luck grading my essays. Excellent Blog Jeff – keep up the good work.

By: Jeff - another71.com

Jeff - another71.com — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:15:05 +0000

I came away from the article with the opinion that it’s a “push”.

The actual exam day experience under the pencil and paper was more difficult, but they had the benefit of partial credit (ask anyone who has scored a 74 on the computer exam about needing a few extra points here and there).

The eligibility requirements just to sit for the exam today are much more strict and there’s a lot of hoops to jump through – as well as a lot more $$ invested in those 20-30 extra hours a lot of candidates need to reach 150.

Also – the current format is a lot more broad in scope, and 50-100 more hours of studying are necessary according to the professor.

I call that a “wash” or close to it.

By: BCool

BCool — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:00:41 +0000

Butch, any evidence to support that? I’m a new schooler too – just started taking the exam this year – so I obviously think the computer-based exam is difficult, but I’d hesitate to make any broad statements about it without any backup…

By: Butch

Butch — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:54:32 +0000

Hey Cooking Accountant…you sound like the old boss telling war stories. The new exam is definitely harder.