When MCQ testlets don't show obvious signs of progessing difficulty…

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    Topic
  • #182196
    km13
    Member

    There is so much on here and from the AICPA about how rising difficulty levels between testlets is a good sign. But what if there is no noticeable change? Does that neccessarily mean I bombed?

    Anyone have this experience and passed?

    BEC: 4/15/13 - 79
    AUD: 7/15/13 - 75
    REG: 8/28/13 - 77
    FAR: 11/26/13 - 75

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)
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  • #482612
    tough_kitty
    Member

    No! I had hard time figuring out the difficulty of my AUD testlets….I flagged about 10 in each, then narrowed them down to about 5….still got a good score….but who knows what they consider difficult……the scoring on this exam is a HUGE mystery….

    FAR: 81 (May 2013)
    BEC: 81 (July 2013)
    REG: 83 (August 2013)
    AUD: 82 (November 2013)
    California CPA since 1/30/14

    #482622
    tough_kitty
    Member

    No! I had hard time figuring out the difficulty of my AUD testlets….I flagged about 10 in each, then narrowed them down to about 5….still got a good score….but who knows what they consider difficult……the scoring on this exam is a HUGE mystery….

    FAR: 81 (May 2013)
    BEC: 81 (July 2013)
    REG: 83 (August 2013)
    AUD: 82 (November 2013)
    California CPA since 1/30/14

    #482613
    10keyLeah
    Member

    One question may be difficult for you and not difficult for someone else and vice-versa. Not noticing a change doesn't mean questions aren't rated higher by AICPA. It could mean you just know the material.

    I've had exams where I've thought the difficulty increased, and I've had exams where there was no noticeable difference. I passed on both. No, it doesn't necessarily mean you bombed.

    Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

    #482624
    10keyLeah
    Member

    One question may be difficult for you and not difficult for someone else and vice-versa. Not noticing a change doesn't mean questions aren't rated higher by AICPA. It could mean you just know the material.

    I've had exams where I've thought the difficulty increased, and I've had exams where there was no noticeable difference. I passed on both. No, it doesn't necessarily mean you bombed.

    Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

    #482615
    Iron_Victory
    Member

    Most people on here get all convinced of the progression or lack there of during the test. I see a new topic on this often and since no one here is employed by the AICPA as test question writers I tend to not believe their subjective view of moderate or hard questions.

    My advice is don't let it get into your head too much. The psychological aspect of this test is huge and very capable people blow it focusing on minutiae like the timer or the testlet difficulty.

    AUD - (74),78
    BEC - 85
    FAR - 86
    REG - 84

    #482626
    Iron_Victory
    Member

    Most people on here get all convinced of the progression or lack there of during the test. I see a new topic on this often and since no one here is employed by the AICPA as test question writers I tend to not believe their subjective view of moderate or hard questions.

    My advice is don't let it get into your head too much. The psychological aspect of this test is huge and very capable people blow it focusing on minutiae like the timer or the testlet difficulty.

    AUD - (74),78
    BEC - 85
    FAR - 86
    REG - 84

    #482617
    san4596
    Member

    I did some reading up on the grading by the AICPA. They base the value of a question on the amount of people who answer the question correctly. Questions that candidates tend to answer correctly are worth less than those that tend to be answered incorrectly. I can only guess that they base it on a % like: 75-80% = 1 point; 50-74% = 2 points.

    The information that really bothers me is the amount of questions that are graded:

    Total = 90

    Graded = 60

    Pretest = 12

    Other = 18 (WTF)

    CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
    Ethics Course: Passed
    Application Mailed: 3/16/15
    Professional Conduct Exam: 97
    Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

    #482628
    san4596
    Member

    I did some reading up on the grading by the AICPA. They base the value of a question on the amount of people who answer the question correctly. Questions that candidates tend to answer correctly are worth less than those that tend to be answered incorrectly. I can only guess that they base it on a % like: 75-80% = 1 point; 50-74% = 2 points.

    The information that really bothers me is the amount of questions that are graded:

    Total = 90

    Graded = 60

    Pretest = 12

    Other = 18 (WTF)

    CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
    Ethics Course: Passed
    Application Mailed: 3/16/15
    Professional Conduct Exam: 97
    Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

    #482619
    tough_kitty
    Member

    @san4596: How do you know that only 60 are graded???

    FAR: 81 (May 2013)
    BEC: 81 (July 2013)
    REG: 83 (August 2013)
    AUD: 82 (November 2013)
    California CPA since 1/30/14

    #482630
    tough_kitty
    Member

    @san4596: How do you know that only 60 are graded???

    FAR: 81 (May 2013)
    BEC: 81 (July 2013)
    REG: 83 (August 2013)
    AUD: 82 (November 2013)
    California CPA since 1/30/14

    #482621
    jaclyne29
    Member

    @san4596

    Those are stats for REG/BEC

    Graded: 60

    Pretest: 12

    The information for FAR/AUD

    Graded:75

    Pretest:15

    AUD 59,69,71,73 76
    BEC 79(LC), 80
    FAR 71,59,78 (expires 1/31/14)
    REG 77(LC), 88!!!

    DONE 12/6/13

    #482632
    jaclyne29
    Member

    @san4596

    Those are stats for REG/BEC

    Graded: 60

    Pretest: 12

    The information for FAR/AUD

    Graded:75

    Pretest:15

    AUD 59,69,71,73 76
    BEC 79(LC), 80
    FAR 71,59,78 (expires 1/31/14)
    REG 77(LC), 88!!!

    DONE 12/6/13

    #482623
    runnerup
    Member

    I didn't notice a change in difficulty on AUD and passed it.

    I thought I failed FAR and still passed.

    I cannot for the life of me explain how these get graded!

    REG 10/12/13 - 94
    FAR 10/17/13 - 93
    AUD 11/11/13 - 92
    BEC 11/20/13 - 87
    ethics 11/27/13 - 92%

    #482634
    runnerup
    Member

    I didn't notice a change in difficulty on AUD and passed it.

    I thought I failed FAR and still passed.

    I cannot for the life of me explain how these get graded!

    REG 10/12/13 - 94
    FAR 10/17/13 - 93
    AUD 11/11/13 - 92
    BEC 11/20/13 - 87
    ethics 11/27/13 - 92%

    #482625
    san4596
    Member

    Tough – it is listed on the AICPAs website.

    CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
    Ethics Course: Passed
    Application Mailed: 3/16/15
    Professional Conduct Exam: 97
    Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)
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