Theory: The curve is better in the beginning of the window

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    Topic
  • #195844
    jrs91
    Member

    Has anyone heard of this?

    I understand that there are numerous vague factors in the grading process but essentially it comes down to how well you did in relation to the pool of test takers in the exam period.

    I guess you could theorize that people who take it in the beginning of the window are giving themselves less time to study than those who prepare until the end of the window. However, they may have waited the prior window out and/or are retaking the exam, in which case they theoretically would do better.

    Just seems like there’s a number of ways to slice it and ultimately its a wash. There’s probably a relatively good mix of scores for a number of reasons each period.

    I’m interested in other’s thoughts.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)
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  • #685767

    All of the exams I passed were at the end of the window. I had the opposite theory that they let minimal people pass early to make up for the massive amount of people who will be taking the exam at the end.

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    #685768
    tcheney3
    Participant

    That sounds like a conspiracy theory. I doubt there is any evidence suggesting people do better in the beginning or end of a testing window. There is a good reason why the second and third quarters have higher pass rates than the first though. One, it's tax season, and two the people with the highest pass rates are those right out of college and they tend to take the exams during the summer. The AICPA swears it doesn't curve the exam. Whether you believe that or not, I think you can safely say this theory is false.

    BEC - 82
    REG - 86
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    Ethics - 95
    In Skynet's Honor:
    Act I: Shutdown Skynet and prevent Judgment Day.
    Act II: Add a comma and three letters to my title.
    Act III: Time Travel and marry a young Denise Richards (and prevent subsequent plastic surgery),return to present.
    Act IV: Serve as Successor to Elon Musk as CEO of Tesla.
    Act V: Ensure Judgment Day has been stopped. Utopia achieved.

    #685769
    Missy
    Participant

    There is no curve. The AICPA is adament about that, and while people seek to prove otherwise they're spinning their wheels.

    The questions are weighted, but if question 2 is worth 1 point on July 1, its worth one point on Aug 31.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

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    #685770
    golfball7773
    Participant

    And per the psychometrics – there is no curve

    AUD - NINJA in Training
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    *expired

    (I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

    FAR: 63, 55, 62
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    *expired

    #685771
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Theres no curve. I think the AICPA specifically says since they went to the new format my score of 77 is equivalent to someone who got a 77 a few years ago. I think you see higher pass rates based off of timing. I assume more college graduates take the exam in the second and third quarter. Fresh out of school they are probably more likely to pass. Also the lowest pass rates are almost always the forth quarter. I think with holidays and busy season starting that makes sense.

    #685772
    JohnWayneIsGod
    Participant

    There isn't a curve. Funny thing is that I know a licensed CPA who thought there was a curve. Just goes to show how deep this myth runs.

    FAR - 80

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    #685773
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The only one I failed was at the beginning of a window (4th qrt).

    #685774
    leglock
    Participant

    We know it's being graded in real time, as the difficulty of your 2nd testlet is predicated on how well you do on the first testlet, yet it can take up to a month to get the results of your test. I wonder why that is.

    #685775
    Mika
    Participant

    If it is not curve, why don't we have our result straight after the test?

    REG - 80 (02/13/2015) Roger + Ninja Flash Card + Ninja MCQ + Becker's Note
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    #685776
    MissionCPA
    Participant

    Because they want to publish the scores(although it's graded instantly) for a large number of candidates on the same day instead of individuals getting their scores all the time(like in college, there is a particular grades release date for all students).

    #685777

    My theory is that if people got their scores immediately, there would be an increase in the number of assault and battery charges earned outside Prometric centers.

    #685778
    Missy
    Participant

    Because the people in charge of deciding score release are the same people that walked uphill in the snow 36 miles to sit for 8 hours with an abacus and had to chisel their answers on a slate only to wait 8 months for their score to be delivered by two European swallows and want to make today's candidates feel a bit of pain.

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    #685779
    Skynet
    Participant

    ^ Sounds about right.

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    #685780
    confusedcandidate
    Participant

    I love the first three posts in this thread:

    1 – a conspiracy exists

    2 – a conspiracy exists but it is the opposite of what you think

    3 – there is no evidence to suggest conspiracy

    WHO DO I BELIEVE!!!!1111?

    Weekends are meaningless to a CPA candidate

    #685781
    Skynet
    Participant

    ^ We need to get Mulder and Scully on this. File this as an X-File.

    AUD - 90
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    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

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