[Anonymous]

I just took FAR for the SECOND time and did not finish the test AGAIN! (whhhha) I’ve always been a slow test taker (last kid left in the class) so these CPA exams are really killing me. I have taken BEC and FAR so far. I based BEC on first attempt without a problem because the simulations are such b$, but obviously FAR and the other exams are not like that.

1st time I took FAR I had not taken a practice test (I figured I will give myself 1 hr 20 mins for the simulations and that taking a practice test would be less productive than doing problems and memorizing more flashcards). I also only looked over Governmental and Not-For-Profits ONCE, (which was a big mistake as it was very heavily tested and I am pretty sure I blanked on all of them). Anyway, because I found myself struggling with the multiple choice, getting extremely anxious and upset, hot, thirsty, pressed for time, I wound up with only 45 minutes to do the simulations. I did the research tab and filled in some garbage for 1 or two more simulations. I basically know I left 3-4 simulations completely blank. Somehow I manged a score of 54…which really makes me question if you really get 40% of your points from the simulations….I really thought I was going to come out of there with a 30 or something. (Yes, I felt that bad, the whole test was such a blur due to my anxiety I couldn’t even tell you what was on the test – if it wasn’t against AICPA rules).

Monday I took the test again and this time I was FAR more comfortable with the material, I found the multiple choice to be staggeringly easy (governmental and all), I must have hesitated on maybe 2-3 questions per testlet (and I highly suspect they were pretest questions as the content was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and I worked all 1,100 becker questions, plus the becker final review questions and both practice tests) so I am not even exaggerating when I say that I think I might have scored full points on the mult-choice. I was so happy with how my mult choice went I even gave myself a bathroom and water break before starting the simulations……and thats where it all went to hell! I had 1 hr 15 mins left. I worked the research simulation and then went on to the longest simulation (I figured its most points), I worked it out on my scratch paper, went to fill in the JOURNAL entries and NONE OF THEM MATCHED. It was like a trick question. I got so upset and confused that I just wasted 25 min on this simulation. I tried to figure it out, but couldn’t so I just put what I thought was right. Then I was able to rush through 3 more simulations and my time cut off on the 4th. So I left two blank this time….

Does anyone think there is a possibility I still passed? Has anyone ever not finished and passed? I don’t know why, but I still have a glimmer of hope because I know how horribly the 1st test went in comparison to this one and I feel like I did SO MUCH BETTER on the mult-choice the second time around. Has anyone had a similar experience?

[Anonymous]

I think it's possible that you passed. I left one sim completely blank on FAR and passed with a 79. Here's how I understand it, using your situation as an example…

60% of the test is MC…let's say you got enough answers right to get 50% (of the 60%) before any adjustments for the curve. After adjustments let's say you are at 55% (just spit-balling here). That's a score of 55.

40% of the test is sims. Let's say you got 45% (actual percentage) of your SIM answers correct before the adjustments for the curve. After adjustments your number is 50%. That's a score of 20.

Add the two together and you get a score of 75. As I mentioned, I'm just spit-balling here, but I think generally this is how the test is scored. But I'm a rookie compared to some of the other candidates on this board…so I may be completely off base.

[Anonymous]

Definitely possible to pass especially on FAR. However, you have an extremely flawed approach when it comes to sims irregardless of you getting to the sims with only 45 minutes left. The logic behind going to the longest sim first because it has the most points is wrong. You can get bogged down on this simulation which you clearly did, and what's even worse is that this simulation may have been the pre-test simulation which you won't get any points for it anyway. If you're having trouble answering a sim, it's best to just jump to another sim and start racking up points on another. Secondly, I don't think your strategy of trying to write out the journal entries independent of the test is helpful either. Why not just try to do it on the simulation where the answer choices will give you hints as to what the answer will be as opposed to writing them out yourself where you might be totally off base in the first place?

[Anonymous]

To add to cardinalhoya's point. There's 7 sims that make up 40%. One sim is a pretest and doesn't count. That leaves 6 sims that are worth equally, which is about 6.66% each sim. I think you should've tackled the easier ones first since they are equally weighted. You can still pass missing 2 sims, especially if one of the ones you left blank was a pretest.

I think you should have given yourself 1.5 hrs to 1.75 hrs for sims because they are so important. Even if you don't know an answer to a MC, you still have a 25% chance of getting right. For a sim, you have to really work the problem and actually put in the right amount to get your points so you definitely need time for the sim. I'm not trying to kick you while you're down, but I think you should kept this in mind for AUD and REG

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I definitely agree that tackling that first SIM was a bad strategy. Problem is, the question/content seemed really easy, just lots of blanks to fill in. I can't reveal the content obviously, but I wrote it out on paper because I had to prepare the CAR-IN-BIG seasaw thing (becker people know what I'm talking about) and I thought it was worth it. It totally threw me off guard when the journal entry choices were not what I had anticipated they should be. Oh well. Lesson learned. Hopefully I passed. I just generally have a time management problem when taking these exams. I take a long time to do each mult choice, because I don't trust myself unless I write the journal entry out or make the t-accounts, or whatever I need to do. I don't trust my answer unless I double-check my work, even thought it is already correct anyway (crazy I know). The inhumane testing conditions do not help.

[makinthemagic]

It might be possible but I cam the closest to not passing on Audit where there was 1 sim I couldn't figure out. I took my best guess and finished the rest.

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Anonymous]

When I took it I left one completely undone and another 2 partially undone. I was 95% sure I had failed but ended up passing with an 86. Still don't know how that happened but glad it did.

[nearly_there]

I did not finish one of the SIMs on FAR and I got an 85. Not sure if it was experimental or not. I'm pretty sure I did will on MCQ and other SIMs though. If you really aced those MCQs than there is a big chance you passed unless you literally missed all of the SIMs.

FAR - 85 November 2011
AUD - 81 January 2012
REG - 68 March 2012
BEC - 86 April 2012
REG - 92 July 2012

[Anonymous]

How common is it for people not to finish the CPA exams? I consider myself a slow test taker as well. I was usually one of the last people finished with a test while in school, and I've literally been extremely rushed on every standardized test I've ever taken including the SAT, ACT, and GMAT. However, with the CPA tests (I've taken BEC and FAR so far), I have not had to rush AT ALL. In fact, I believe, the test gives more than an adequate amount of time to finish. I actually feel that they could probably cut down each test by 30 minutes if they wanted to make it similar to other standardized tests (although I'm definitely glad they don't!). By no means am I an accounting genius or anything. In fact, accounting was only my secondary major to finance. Anyone else feel that the CPA gives more than an adequate amount of time to finish?

[Anonymous]

@cardinalhoya

What's your point? How does your response answer my question?

[Anonymous]

I already answered your question. Look above. Sorry to go off topic. I just had a question that was tangent to the topic of this thread.

[TXAgCPA]

I took the FAR section of the cpa. Thought the sims were very hard. Was in the “weaker” comparable group for sims and “stronger” than comparable in MCQs. I left 2 sims with random numbers hoping to score any points. Another sim that I was throwing together as time expired and gave my best guess for the research question. My guess is I rocked the mulitple choice to carry me to a 76! One and done

FAR- 76 (2/2015) 1st Attempt
BEC- 86 (2/2015) 1st Attempt
AUD- 90 (5/2015) 1st Attempt
REG-87(1/2016), 74 (8/2015), 72 (12/2015)

[rossk]

Yes i passed FAR,I left half sim blank. Even took a break during the exam, I was not very hopeful that I will pass but I did.

[iloveaccounting220]

How do you guys know that the SIMS are weighted equally? Personally, I don't think they are weighted equally at all. Some SIMS have like 20 spots to fill in while others only have like 6. I think people pass because they fill in zeros or leave it blank for SIMS that require you to put that. That is how they get the score and pass. Does anyone agree?

BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
REG - 82 (4/13/15)
AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

[SurfNY]

Yes, didn't finish FAR when I took it last month. I left myself an hour and 20 min for sims and a research question. The whole exam pretty much boiled down to the last 30 min and a realization I still have 3 sims to go. The panic set in and I completely butchered the last 3 sims. Taking wild guesses and not paying attention to detail. I knew the procedures and theories behind 2 of the sims but the lack of time was detrimental to my actions. Felt pretty miserable leaving the exam wholly convinced I failed, even though I felt good about multiple choice. What also played into my thought of failure was the fact that I only studied for 3.5 weeks. However, come score release night I was relieved to see an 80.

REG - 82 05/26/15
FAR - 80 07/01/15
AUD - 82 08/31/15
BEC - .. 10/26/15

[Author]

Replies