[Guti]

Do you guys know if some states grade different than others? Could it be that they curved differently? I have read probably 20 or more posts from individuals who don’t perform well during HW sections during their review, and even 2 weeks before the actual exam. Most of them claimed to have forgotten the material from first chapters but then the exam day comes about and they get higher than a 75. I have taken FAR twice and I got a 71 the last time I took it, my problem is that I get above 85 in everything and even on Becker’s final exam , I was able to get an 80%. I can’t believe almost every single person who scores above a 70 on Becker’s final exams have been able to pass the actual exam. I’m the only one who scored an 80 and then a 71% on the actual exam. For the just explained, Im beginning to think that some states curve differently than others. Back in 2007 when the MC part of the exam was worth 70% of the total grade, I passed FAR,REG, and got a 74 in Audit all on my first try. I took the exams back then in the state of Virginia. What do you guys think? Anyone from Colorado>?

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[thechapman]

Well it is the “uniform” CPA exam, and I don't think the state boards have anything to do with grading (could be wrong). If it were graded differently depending on your state I think people would riot…

Passed - 2014

[Guti]

I don’t get it. I don’t have test anxiety. This was my only logical explanation. The CPA exam is uniform when it comes to exam contents, but I’m thinking that some states can curved based on passing grades. The state of Florida where the passing rate is 60% could curve differently than a state where the passing rate is only 45%.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[roni11]

I'm from Colorado.

I don't think the grading is state-specific.

FAR August 2013 - 90
AUD October 2013 - 86
BEC March 2014 - 89
REG - May 2014 - 81
Ethics - 98

I am done!

Licensed in CO since September, 2014

[Anonymous]

The state where you take the exam has no impact at all on your score. A passing score of 75 represents that a candidate has demonstrated a level of proficiency to protect the public interest. This level of proficiency is determined by the AICPA, is uniform, and not adjusted state-to-state.

[mla1169]

I've always theorized that states with higher pass rates have colleges with curriculum more geared toward CPA exams. Even though you could live in FL and take the exam through CO, that's a small percent of candidates. I'd love to see a comparison of accounting degree curriculum state to state.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Sarah1421]

The exam isn't curved (you can read about it in the FAQs: https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/forcandidates/faq/pages/computer_faqs_3.aspx).

That sounds super frustrating, Gian. I wonder if you are starting to memorize the questions? I know I can't go through the questions more than twice… but, it's a different experience for everyone. Sounds like it's time to change your materials or try a different strategy?

FAR - 90
AUD - 91
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[floacct]

Nope. Remember u only read a handful of posts. Almost 10,000 tests are administered monthly.

[Guti]

You guys must be right about the exam. I’m just frustrated that I seem to know the material yet I don’t pass. I thought I had memorized the questions from Becker, so I started working the WTB questions, and again, I went from 85-87 on Becker to 82 on WTB. I’m only working simulations now to see if that changes anything.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Anonymous]

Scoring high on the MCQs and final exams could also mean you've memorized the questions/the Becker way of asking, rather than that you've learned the material thoroughly. Someone who scores a 70 on practice MCQs but knows the material well will score better than someone who scores 99 on practice but does so off memorized questions or knowing their review course rather than the material. Also, for some people, 2 weeks before the exam is a long time before it. 2 weeks before my exams I was probably scoring 60's, but by the exam was more like 80. You sound like you may be one of those who leans towards over-preparing, so I wonder if your scores are based on having seen the same questions so many times that you subconsciously memorized them? If so, getting a new test bank and focusing on learning from the MCQs may help you improve your scores.

[thechapman]

Another point I thought I'd make is the fact that the scoring is different when you're taking the actual exam, so that could potentially be a factor. It could be that the psychometric scoring throws you off somehow? Also, have you considered that it may be the simulations that bring you down?

Passed - 2014

[M.O.D.]

I am not familiar with Becker, but I don't think 80% on the final is something to be proud of, considering 75% is passing.

Why not aim for 90%?

Maybe I am looking at the glass as half-empty rather than half-full. But 20% of the questions wrong is a serious matter. You would not want that error rate in office work.

Second, with memorizing MCQ answers, there is a difference between clicking on the answer, and making yourself do the calculations anyway, even if you do know the answer. That is what I do with Gleim. If you redo the work, you are reinforcing the knowledge (and your confidence), rather than aiming to finish the practice test.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

@M.O.D.,

You need to check out the thread in which Becker Final Exam scores are regressed against Actual Final Exam performance. An 80 on a Becker Final (if legitimate) is impressive.

For example, I got a 70 on my Becker Final less than 3 days before my exam date.

[mla1169]

Except remember the CPA exam score is not a % of questions answered correctly, so it's apples to oranges. The goal on practice exams should be 100% of questions answered correctly without a doubt but even that doesn't guarantee a passing score. I'm not sure anybody has or will definitively find the magic correlation.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Guti]

Like nick said, getting an 80 on Beckers final is compare to a 90 on the actual exam. Lila, I thought that I had memorized Beckers questions and this is the reason why I mentioned that I started to work on wtb and I also also scored in the 80s there too. I think I just need to pound a lot of simulations for the next 2 weeks. Thank you all for the tips. I don't find it logical to believe that people that scored on the high 60s to low 70s know more than someone scoring higher without memorizing. I think my problem is that I rely too much on MC questions when that is only 60% of the exam. When it was 70% back in 2007, I was able to pass without problems. I think this test is harder now that simulations are worth 60%.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Anonymous]

Haha your post about WTB must've been made after I'd pulled up the thread – basically answered exactly what I said a few minutes later. I had the post sitting here for a bit because I was multi-tasking, so didn't see it till just now. Hopefully working on the SIMs will help you! 🙂

[Author]

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