It is widely believed (and I held it to be true up until today) that only one simulation is graded on the CPA Exam.

This is not true.

Someone passed on to me some information from a contact at the AICPA in New York that both simulations are graded, but only one written communication is graded and the other communication is pre-test and doesn’t count.

This doesn’t really affect anything that you do on exam day – it just reinforces the fact that budgeting enough time for the 2nd simulation is very important.

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Starting in the 3rd quarter of 2008, there will be a new research format in the simulations. A tutorial will be available at cpaexam.org sometime in the 2nd quarter of 2008. Supposedly the new format will make it more simple to navigate. Personally, I don’t think it would take much to improve the current interface. It’s cumbersome and you have to hold your mouth just right and say a prayer to get your answers to transfer from the authoritative literature section.

I learned the hard way that you can’t transfer an answer unless you SPLIT THE SCREENS. Of course it says this in the instructions, but I have better things to do during the exam than read instructions.

Here is the link. It’s a Powerpoint presentation.

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According to the Uniform CPA Examination Alert, they are considering getting rid of the 6 writing sections on AUD/FAR/REG and moving 3 of them to BEC. The thinking surrounding this move is that they can adequately determine a CPA candidate’s written communication skills based on one exam alone.

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According to the Uniform CPA Examination Alert the old format of two simulations will be replaced by 5 or 6 shorter Task-Based Simulations. Unlike the current two simulations, the new simulations will be independent of each other and each question will derive from a new set of information.

Once approved by the end of 2008, the new format could be implemented in early 2009.

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