@Kricket How do you feel about FAR?

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  • #174895
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Just checking to see how your exam went. I hope you killed it!! I learned on Wednesday that I didn’t pass FAR. I scored a 69. I have already rescheduled for Monday, January 28.

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  • #382958
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Oh FAR! I hate you!! Probably another 71 or 73! I went to the new testing center this time. Prometric closed the one I've been going to since I got on this train ride through hell. Apparently they don't actually train Prometric employees. None of the people from the other site were there, so I'm guessing they all got fired. Which is worthless because they were nice and knew what they were doing.

    Anyway… I was told that I could park in the parking lot across the street from the testing center, but, no. It was apparently under some sort of construction, which they hadn't started yet but had put up the caution tape. So I hiked 1/4 of a mile from the only parking spot I could find to the 2nd floor. The first lady, I'll call her Stupid, asked me my name and what test I was taking. I told her. She said “Oh, we've only had a couple of CPA people but I wasn't here, so yea.” Then Stupid gives me a temporary parking permit to tape to my back window. Oh crap! I hike the 1/4 mile to the car and put it in the back window and hiked back.

    When I got back up there I told Stupid that my drivers license had expired on my birthday last Saturday and that I had a receipt from the State Police showing that I had renewed it online (Thank you Louisiana Dept of Motor Vehicles for using the internet). She said that was no problem. Stupid then gave me locker #4, which she not only pointed out on the key ring but used her other hand to hold up four fingers. I immediately thought “Oh Hell No, Toto, we ain't in Kansas any more!” Then she wanted me to put my NTS in the locker. I told her that I would need it for the launch code. Stupid didn't know what that was. I assured her that I had done this before and that I was going to hold on to the NTS. Then she told me to sit down and wait. I wasn't in a lobby at this point. I was in a room full of computers and people taking tests. They were all wearing the headphone things that Prometric provides. I may have gotten an ulcer, and God only knows what else, from this test, but I wasn't about to get head lice! I was prepared to walk out.

    Then another lady, we'll call her Dumba$$, called me into her office and I saw the actual testing room. Thank God! First, Dumba$$ couldn't find me on the list and she asked me if I was there on the right date. I assured her that I had the right date. She finally found me in the binder. Dumba$$ had no idea how to check me in. She didn't know if she was supposed to swipe my drivers license or scan it. I told her that she had to do both. Dumba$$ asked me which one to do first. I told her to swipe it first. That did the trick. Dumba$$ didn't know I had to be fingerprinted until it popped up on her computer screen. I put in my fingerprint and all was well. In the middle of all of this Stupid came in to watch.

    Then Dumba$$ said “Ok I think we are done. Are you ready?” I said “No, because you aren't finished yet. I still need scratch paper and pencils and I need to write my launch code on the scratch paper and then go put my NTS in the locker.” Dumba$$ asked me what color paper I wanted.

    Once, I had asked the other people, who knew what they were doing, why they didn't just give us white paper, because it was cheaper. They told me that each day is assigned a different color paper. When they shredded at the end of the day, if there was a color in the basket that shouldn't have been there, someone got in trouble.

    I told Dumba$$ that yellow would be fine. Dumba$$ gave me two of the dullest pencils I have ever seen. One of them didn't have an eraser. It hadn't been used up. It had been broken off. I wrote my launch code and went and put my NTS in locker #4.

    Dumba$$ told me that if I needed to take a break, I just needed to sign out in the book. I told her that CPA candidates weren't allowed to do that. We had to be checked in and out every time and put our finger on the scanner every time. Dumba$$ said “Oh, that sounds like an awful lot.” “Yeah” was my response. I had on a jacket because it was cold. Dumba$$ tells me “If you get hot, just take your jacket and put it on the back of your chair.” I told her that CPA candidates weren't allowed to do that. By this time it's 8:15. I got there at 7:30.

    Dumba$$ then tells me that I'll be on computer number four, also holding up four fingers. “Oh, it's the same number as your locker. Isn't that funny?” I didn't respond to Dumba$$ this time. Finally, Dumba$$ tells me “Ok, lets go get this started.” Once again I had to tell her the procedure. I turned out my pockets and told her that she had to run the wand thing over me to make sure I didn't have a weapon. It's a good thing I didn't have one because I probably would have used it at that point.

    We walk into the testing room and I'm standing by the door, as usual, while Dumba$$ is trying to get my test to load on computer #5. Dumba$$ looks at me with a bewildered look on her face when it wouldn't load. I held up four fingers. She mouthed “I know”. I then held up 5 fingers and she walked over to the correct computer and got the test started.

    Testlet #1 was ok. I marked a couple but went back and I think I got those two. Testlet #2 had longer questions. I don't know if they were more difficult or not. Same goes for Testlet #3. I can never tell if they get harder.

    By the middle of testlet #2, I realized my shoulder was hurting like crazy. The rotator cuff in my right shoulder is torn and I have to have surgery to correct it, but with this stupid test, I haven't taken the time to get it done. I tried to raise my chair so that I wouldn't have to reach up to hold the mouse. Yeah, the chair was broke. It would go further down, but not up. I ended up taking half of the test sitting on my feet.

    The Sims were alright. I had seen two of them before and I had an hour and 45 minutes. I got kind of stuck on #1 so after 20 minutes I moved on. The rest were relatively easy. One that has to be pretest. I finished them all and realized that I had almost an hour so I went back and researched the crap out of them.

    Finally, I had 3 minutes left so I hit Quit. I had every intention of leaving some feedback on the testing center, but it never showed up. I didn't have to do the survey. It just went back to the screen with my picture.

    I got my stuff and the key to locker #4 and left the room. There was a new guy at the desk, we will call him Lazy Idiot. Well, Lazy Idiot didn't want to give me my letter showing that I had actually sat for the exam or even check me out. I told Lazy Idiot that I had to check out and put my fingerprint in again. Lazy Idiot said “I don't think so.” I told him that I had done this before. I finally got my letter and got checked out. I gave my scratch paper to Lazy Idiot and he said “What am I supposed to do with that?” I told him that he had to shred it. Lazy Idiot looked annoyed with this news but finally took it.

    I've heard of people not getting the survey. I think it was because I was on Sim #3 instead of the last one when I exited. I'm sure it saved. I intend to contact the state board to make sure they actually receive my exam, because I don't have a lot of faith in the combined talents of Stupid, Dumba$$ and Lazy Idiot.

    I hike back to my car, remember I've been sitting on my feet for over 2 hours, my feet and knees were killing me, so was my shoulder. I get to my car just in time to see some stupid campus cop, we'll call him Barney Fife, trying to put a parking ticket on my car. I asked him what the ticket was for. Barney said I didn't have a temporary permit. I pointed it out to him in the back window. Then he tells me that my window tint is too dark and is illegal. I explained to Barney Fife that I had letters in my glove compartment, one from a Many PD officer and one from a State Trooper, both stating that my tint is .001 within legal limits. He couldn't have given me a ticket for tint anyway, but he had attitude and so did I. Stupid Rent-a-Cop!

    So, I'm sure I came damn close but I don't feel like I passed. The real bit@H of it is that I will lose AUD Monday if I didn't pass. But it is what it is and I can't change it now.

    The 69 sucks! Just get mad at it and go take it down! I may be right there with you in January!

    #382959
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Oh my goodness!! I am laughing my head off! So what do you drive ? A low rider? I got my earrings taken up the last time I took FAR but no experience compared to yours! The staff at “my” Prometric center knows my voice, name and that I always want to start early. I walked in the last time and Mr. L without even turning his chair around says” Oh Ms. R, I don't have any seats available right now”. I guess he saw me almost jump the curb in my truck.

    You definitely need to contact your state board about Lazy, Idiot and Dumba****. That type of incompetence could really mess some folks up. I can't imagine someone coming in for their first exam and experiencing this.

    I really felt like I had passed FAR this time. I never verbally said so to anyone, but the MC's were so reasonable and then I thought the SIMS were relatively easy compared to the first time I took it. Oh well. I started studying again last night. Nine weeks of this crap again. Really wish I could have scheduled sooner but there were no seats on the first weekend in January or any weekend in January for that matter.

    Gotta get back to FAR studying. Good luck!

    #382960
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I drive a Saturn Ion 4 door coupe. It looks like a 2 door until you get close to it, then you realize the back doors are “suicide” doors. They open backwards. I bought it used and it was originally tagged in Texas. Their window tint law is not quite a strict as Louisiana. But he could see the piece of paper in the back window. He was just being a jerk.

    The sims weren't hard at all. There were two that I had to research but I know that I got them right. What concerns me is that they weren't worth a lot of points. If I bombed the MCQ's then I may not have had enough points available on the sims to put me over 75. But like I said, it's a done deal and I can't change it now.

    Are you using the free access to the FASB standards while you are studying?

    #382961
    Lisa
    Member

    Hi Kricket:

    Like a lot of people on this board, I have followed your CPA story and it has helped me ‘forge on' when I'm very frustrated….Anyway, when I took FAR on 10/25, I logged out of the last SIM, after reviewing all of them, with 2 minutes left and I did not get the survey either. When I did not see the survey, I was frightened that my exam may not have been submitted, since I have always received a survey on every previous exam. However, when I was checking out the Prometric employee said it was fine (AKA, Mr. Why are you Asking Me a Question), with no further explanation. So I was very careful to keep the testing center confirmation letter I received when he checked me out….

    My FAR SIMS were all manageable in terms of topics but the directions on a couple of them were vague and the template to enter the answers for one particular SIM was confusing….And like you, I cannot tell that the testlets are getting any harder, but I did notice that the 2nd FAR testlet had longer questions.

    To date, I have walked out of every exam thinking that I have failed, since there have been many questions that I did not know the answer, and other test questions where the best I could do is to narrow down the answer choices, and then make a selection. Finally, my CPA exam experience, has also included the unsettling experience of not absolutely knowing the answer to the 1st question on the exam. This has been my experience on all exams to date, except my FAR experience. So I actually expect not to know the answer to the 1st question, and was pleasantly surprised this time. And all this after spending countless hours studying, and that's why it took me so long to sit for FAR. And even given all the effort and time spent preparing for this exam, I still had basically the same experience on 10/25 in that I still had a number of questions that I was unsure of, or couldn't quite obtain the correct calculation/answer.

    Hopefully, with all the test center drama you experienced, that means you will get the magic score and have this journey behind you.

    Thanks for all your posts and willingness to share so much of yourself and your journey with us. It has been very helpful to me.

    AUD 8/04/11: 78
    BEC 1/9/12: 73, 4/04/12: 80
    FAR 10/25/12: 80
    REG 02/25/13: 79
    Ethics 100%
    VA License Issued 3/2013

    #382962
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Kricket, where on earth did you test? I need to make sure I don't go there. I always drive to Beaumont and test at the Prometric center at Lamar. it's closer to me than any of the Louisiana test centers. They have their stuff together there.

    #382963
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Lisa – If I'm nothing else in this world, I'm going to be honest. This exam process hasn't been easy on me but it is what it is. A lot of it is my fault. I will admit walking in to test not being prepared a time or two. Life has handed me a dirt sandwich from time to time as well, but I've always made the best of it. As for Mr. Why Are You Asking Me A Question, he's a jerk. Seriously, Prometric really needs to get their employees some training. Not just in proper procedures but in customer service. A smile and being nice to someone will leave a much better impression. Stupid and Dumba$$ were nice but didn't know what they were doing. Lazy Idiot didn't know what he was doing but could really benefit from the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” I had one sim that was confusing , but once I figured it out, it wasn't hard.

    @bnrhilton – I tested in Alexandria. The old one was just off MacArthur Drive. It was great. If I got there early, they let me start early. If there was a particular seat that I wanted, they would make sure I got it. If I ran out of the room to throw up, they were understanding about it. But for some reason Prometric closed that one and moved it to LSU-A. If I didn't pass, I will go to Tyler, Beaumont, or Houston. I won't go back there ever again. I've only tested once in Bossier City. That was not a good experience for me. The testing center is close to Barksdale AFB. Believe me, there is no amount of sound proofing they could have done to that room to block out the noise of B-52's taking off. I'm sure people who live there are accustomed to it and they don't notice it. But every time one would take off, it felt like my teeth were falling out.

    #382964
    jenuno01
    Member

    It sounds like you had a good experience Kricket. I think the universe will reward and conspire in your favor. You shall claim victory upon this exam! Lol, I need to stop reading my Horoscope everyday!

    Class of 2012

    #382965
    jomarie
    Participant

    OMG!!! I hope that's your last experience!!!!

    Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
    AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
    REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
    FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
    BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
    After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

    #382966
    mla1169
    Participant

    My bet is that you went out with a bang and are done! You should be a writer, that was a story very well told!

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #382967
    Minimorty
    Participant

    Kricket – You are probably the only exam candidate who would care enough to correct the Prometric people about the exam procedures. lol.

    Let's hope you never have to see the inside of a Prometric center again.

    #382968
    jokami
    Member

    Kricket… I love you!!!! You really make me laugh so much; I don't even know you and I wish and pray every night to be your friend.

    Your sense of humor, the way you see life, how your thought comes through! They really make my day; they inspire me to be a better person!!!!

    I know you did well. I dreamt yesterday that I had a74 on BEC… So, I think 2012 alumni is not happening…

    Anyways hope your grade is the final one!

    B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
    A - 68, 81
    R - 70, 82
    F - 84

    "The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

    #382969
    Rebecca_AZ
    Member

    Kricket – you're a saint for putting up with those people!! I would call Prometric AND the state board and complain about them. I feel bad for anyone taking their first section at that testing center…they would have no idea they weren't being checked-in properly. I'm praying for a 75 for you!

    I passed in 2012!

    BEC - PASSED - I'M DONE!!!
    AUD - PASSED (finally!!)
    REG - PASSED (Twice - lost credit first time)
    FAR - PASSED!

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