When does AICPA release pass rates for Q2 2011?
BEC 79 (2010)
FAR 81(2008), 88(2011)
AUD 82(2008), 95(8/31/11)....DONE

When does AICPA release pass rates for Q2 2011?
Look for them after the holiday.
sounds awesome! Thanks! look forward to seeing how it compared to Q1!
any update on this yet?
hopefully very very soon
Just wondering: Why does anyone care about the pass rate? Either you passed or you didnt pass, right? Does it matter if 45% passed or 42% or 48%?
i think it makes you feel better if it was a lower pass rate and you passed anyway. i dont really know. haha.
I personally have an accountant's mind, so numbers and figures are my thing...I am betting the majority of the rest of you would agree, so seeing the passing rates is an important part of all this...
Jeff said after the holidays. I believe that means after the Labor Day holiday. :D
@CPAMan lol no way. Q1 2011 pass rates came out in early April, so what is going on?
Did I miss the update, or still not out yet?
still not out yet i dont think. interesting since Q1 came out like April 7th or something
I think Jeff (correct me Jeff if I'm wrong) was predicting above for Q2 to come out right after July 4th holiday?
Well here we are on the 15th with nothing yet!!!!!!!!! I would like to know.
yeah wondering same thing =)
Doesn't look like they're going to be released. Maybe the pass rates were high in Q2 and the AICPA doesn't want to show it.
The pass rates must have posted today
AUD 47.95
BEC 46.48
FAR 44.27
REG 45.01
Wow, FAR had the lowest passing rate....even lower than REG. I guess I should be proud of myself. :D
Wow! That is much better than Q1! I am surprised to see FAR lower than REG, but happy to see AUD so high because I take that next week...REG rates scare me :(
awesome this is really interesting to look at! Thanks!
Vote: why are the 2011 scores down vs 2010?
I doubt it's the written communication. If that were the case, then BEC's pass rate would've increased. I would think this has to do with the Sims being worth more points or people didn't update their materials for the 2011 exams. Or maybe the AICPA is less lenient on the "curve."
Maybe - I think BEC topics could be the most difficult to write essays about. You're writing about processes, concepts, analysis, etc.
The other topics are more concrete...you have a client that wants to do ______, please inform them of the tax implications.
The CFO wants to know the difference between FIFO and LIFO in a period of rising prices....
etc.
Just my 1.5ยข
I think having to complete 6-7 tabs freaks candidates out, especially if time is really tight. Prior to 2011, candidates could fill out most of 1 tab, do the essay and a researchQ and move on.
I think FAR is better now, as far as time is concerned. Before, you'd have to complete 90 MCQs, 2 written communications, 2 research, and 2 LONG Sims in 4 hours. With the new format, there's no written communication, only 1 research, and 5 shorter Sims. I honestly don't know how anyone was able to finish FAR and pass it last year. It was just too much.
The written communications are not necessary related with BEC material....
It's all a money thing. How can we squeeze a few more dollars out of candidates... haha
@Philly- I agree. The AICPA controls the passing rate when they come up with your score. I think they plan the passing rate all along. That's how they scale everyone's score. They're obviously trying to make this exam harder to pass.
It definitely could be the AICPA trying to hold to a certain percentage, but I also think it could be the change in the exam with the sims. The sims are a big part of the exam. I wonder if anyone who passed an exam in Q1 or Q2 didn't finish all the sims? It seems like the old format was such that one could not finish all the sims and still pass the exam( at least it wasn't unusual to read that on the boards)...curious about that now.
I know everyone likes to blame the AICPA about everything, but I am actually thrilled the passing rates are low. I wish they would drop the passing rate to like 25%. It just makes the designation that much more valuable to those who are able to obtain it.
@minimorty:
I am not sure how valuable the CPA license would be with a passing rate of 25% as there would certainly be a shortage of CPAs and that alone would have a huge negative impact on the profession. Given the 18 month window, it would be nearly impossible to pass all 4 parts with rates that low...I mean, based on what you suggest, why not just raise the passing score to 88? Then you would have failed FAR...
@yankeeaccountant:
I did not even understand one of my FAR sims. I didn't leave it totally blank, but I put rubbish for an answer and it was certainly incomplete. I passed in Q2! I think it is possible to pass and not complete all the sims...but I don't you could leave more than 1 totally blank. Who knows?!
@IwannaBeCPA
If the passing score was 88, I would have studied more and gotten a 92.
Just because there wouldnt be as many CPAs doesnt mean the profession would be hurting. You can be an accountant without being a CPA. All I am saying is that it wouldnt be a bad thing is there were fewer CPAs. I truly believe there would be more value to the designation with fewer of us competing for the same jobs.
@IwannaBaCPA - Hi there :) Just a note on your blog... I can't read the font that you used very easily. It's hard to look at. :(
Here in the NE corner of OK we're going to have a real problem soon as most of the govt auditors are either retiring or just not wanting to do govt auditing any more. I'm not a CPA yet and so far the major drive for me to get that designation will be helping my firm out when our Sr CPA retires plus if/when I move that designation along with my CFE and CGAP should help me stay in the govt audit arena. I absolutely love what I do. I passed AUD and REG but lost both to not passing the 2011 BEC and FAR. I plan on hitting them again in 2012 after relearning what I missed in not being an acct major.
@kandisjoy: Thanks for the suggestion. I switched it up...my hubby said the same thing, but I decided he was wrong...LOL! I appreciate you giving my blog a look too :)
@dhuffman,
That stinks that you lost REG and AUD .........but kudos to you for not giving up the fight. Best of luck to you!!!
@Iwannabeacpa,
I actually liked the font!!! I think it is nice to see something different instead of the same old fonts. I myself like copperplate gothic!!
Best of luck to you this window! I think I read that you have Audit coming up......good luck. I am sitting for REG at the end of July and then Audit the end of August--hopefully then I can be done .crossing my fingers :)
@IwannaBaCPA- If they changed the passing score to an 88, I would've still passed FAR but would've failed AUD. Ouch! Seriously, if they did that, these exams would probably have like a 10% pass rate. I don't understand why they have to even make the passing rate a 75. Why not 70?? Weird!
@IwannaBaCPA - No problem! It's not that I didn't LIKE the font, it's just that my eyes hurt when I read it. It was definitely a fun font! Maybe I'm just getting old. I'm only 26 but it seems like my eyes are always hurting, probably from staring at two computer screens all day and reading tiny little font. I appreciate you changing the font, I'll definitely be checking out your blog again! :o) Take care and I wish you the best of luck on your next exam.
@yankeeaccountant: I changed the font to something between what it was and something boring...I like playing around with different fonts and color schemes :) I have just the opposite exams this window, AUD next week and REG on 8-31. I really think I can nail Audit, but everyone is making me afraid of REG! I just don't know what to expect...good luck on both your exams this window! I am hoping we can both be in the minority come September :)
@CPAMan: I have always wondered about why the passing score was a 75...what makes that the magic number?! I wonder how much the passing rates would change if they just dropped it to a 74 or increased it to a 76. Crazy to think about, but a lot of people score right around that range...at least we aren't having to take all 4 parts at once and score at least a 50 in order for passing scores to count or whatever they did in the past...that seems crazy!
@kandisjoy: Thanks for the encouragement. I wish you the best with REG next month! You take it 5 days before I do...I am sure you are really sick of this whole process and when you pass REG next month you can finally say you are done! I am crossing my fingers that the both of us can say that come September!!
@everyone: I love coming to this forum and getting encouragement, tips and advice. It has made this whole painful process so much better! THANKS in a big big way! (and thanks to Jeff for creating this place for us...)
Let's be honest here!
The passing rates have declined b/c of the new 60-40 weight on the scoring. In the past, with the 70-30 weight (actually more of an 80 - 20 because the WC was 10%, leaving the Sims to be only 20%), you could nail the MCQ and WC and barely complete the Sims and still get a passing score. This year, you HAVE to save plenty of time for the Sims in order to pass. I have yet to hear a story of someone not finishing the last Sim or two and still pass. I heard the story of not finishing the Sims and still passing countless times with the 2010 testing weights.
On all my Sims for the 2011 exams, I saved at least 2 hours for the Sims (other than BEC, saved 1 hour), and went 3 for 3.
Good post...
But I thought the CPA exam is graded on how other people did. That's how they supposedly scale your score. That's why there are myths that the exam is "curved." So if people are doing poorly because of the new Sims, it now makes me wonder how they grade these exams and scale your score.
I agree with Whyeventry. I posted a comment along the same lines. When I first started this last August, alot of the posts regarding sims were about skipping one or not finishing one and still passing the test. It was a common post. I don't see that kind of comment now. The sims portion of the exam definitely has changed the dynamic in my opinion.
I agree with the reasoning in yankee's and whyeventry's posts. If you used to be able to pass with poor SIM scores, but now can't, it's going to affect the passing rate.
@CPAMan - My understanding is that the examiners use data from test questions to determine the weights that should be applied. They look at how many people got it right and evaluate the chances of guessing correctly. Once they assign the weight and begin using it as a real question, though, they don't directly compare how people do. Rather, they calculate scores based on the weights of the correctly answered questions.
Well I think they throw everyone's name in a hat and then randomly assign scores as they pull names out...I mean, I am still in disbelief that I passed! And I know many others are in shock they didn't...
@IwannaBaCPA- Someone said that same thing in another thread and I will say the same think I said over there. I am 100% sure they don't do such a thing. I've taken these tests before without studying much and I failed miserably. Then, I study like crazy and pass! For those in disbelief that they passed.... it's because you know more than you think. For those in disbelief that they didn't pass..... it's because they were overconfident and they THINK they know the material well enough when, in fact, they don't.
@CPAMan: I was honsestly just being sarcastic...obviously they don't do that as it would be unethical. I just think it feels that way at times. You make good points about people not realizing they are/aren't prepared well enough to pass, but I think that a good amount of luck is more of a factor than people want to admit.
@IwannaBaCPA maybe luck in the sense that the page from your review course you happen to be looking over at the last minute in the Prometric waiting area/lobby happened to be an important piece of what was on your exam
To get a 75, yes, that's luck. Many people aim for a 75 and get a 75, but it's risky business. So luck is a big factor there. But to do well on the exam (i.e. get higher than an 80), it's all based on how well you studied. When someone gets a 95 on FAR, I hardly think it's luck. I think they just really know their stuff.
Also, I do not think it's a great idea to study the morning of your exam. Take it easy and a relax. Save the stress until your exam time. You've stressed yourself enough over the past month or so trying to prepare. Always relax the day before and the morning of your exam. This is not the kind of exam where you can cram last minute studying. It can make things worse instead of better.
You must log in to post.