[jeff]

Hello friends,

With the new exam – you’re going to want to tell everyone about your experience.

It’s natural and appreciated.

HOWEVER – keep in mind that you agreed at the test center to not disclose the NATURE of your exam…meaning specifics or even alluding to specifics.

OK: “It was about what I expected.”

OK: “It was awful. AHHHHHH.”

NOT OK: “I was surprised to see so many ___ questions.”

NOT OK: “I had a SIM covering ____ which I didn’t expect.”

This is serious business and the AICPA reads this forum.

🙂

jeff

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[RE2PECT]

I agree with mla11692, but there's valid points to be made as far as greater transparency with the AICPA about grading procedures and exam content. Both times I failed BEC, I felt like I was taking some kind of IT certification exam. No review course could have prepared me for the random questions I had, but that's the roll of the dice when you take any exam. You just have to pray you get one that plays to your strengths and not get hammered on your weaker areas.

I don't think it's a big deal if people discuss the types of questions they get because you have no way of knowing if you'll see them on your exam. It can actually end up hurting you because you might spend extra time studying that topic and it barely gets tested on your particular exam. The actual content of the exams isn't all that difficult, you just have to know a little about a whole lot of material.

As far as asking the AICPA to be more lenient or understanding of our situations, I don't agree with that. Nobody is forcing anyone to take the exams and I think it would devalue the accomplishment of passing them. If this was such as easy process more people would be doing it and the value of being a CPA wouldn't hold as much weight. I was working full time and my wife had a baby 4 weeks before I took my first exam. I missed out on a lot of my son's first year and my wife and I argued a lot because I was always studying and wasn't around as much as I should have been. Sacrifices need to be made and you have to ask yourself how bad do you want it? It sucks and I was miserable for a year, but it will all be worth it when you finally pass your last exam.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Roger & Ninja

FAR: 75
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, 73, 82
REG: 68, 82

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Anonymous]

@RE2PECT – agreed about “knowing a little about a whole lot of material” but somehow even that doesn't seem to result in more people passing the exam. And with the new format, unless they lower the standard for passing, it will be even less. They really don't care. And as far as the credential even being worth something – it's not an MD, not a JD, not a PhD. It's attainable, but they want the vast majority of people to pay them tons of money and battle it out.

[Anonymous]

^stop with the boogey man conspiracy theory dude…

The AICPA is not out to get anyone. There is no law that says any of us has to take the CPA exam. It is completely voluntary!

Less time with the tinfoil hat conspiracy theories, more time studying effectively.

There is something called PMA-positive mental attitude. And until you cultivate some, the exam will be tough sledding for you. And besides, it's only an exam to let it make you this bitter and grumpy.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a conspiracy theorist but….this exam has way too many things that make it a royal pain in the ass. The only people who emerge unscathed from it are incredibly thick skinned, gifted accountants. Almost everyone else has to battle it out. Come on, don't tell me that the AICPA isn't fond of throwing up one roadblock after another?

[Nutcracker2016]

@mla11692 and @Re2pect …Thanks for stopping by this forum even after you passed. That’s great thing spending your valuable time here. Please note, I have added the personal problems as a last point in my post. It is the not the main concern .It is like supporting document . I have clearly mentioned what are my concerns in my earlier points, and added the last point because we are going through so much to pass these exams it is very important for AICPA to be more specific and tell us exactly what they need us to pass and make grading more open. I still think it is a valid supporting document. If you are designing the exam with people who are going to take ,better integrate things which will affect them in mind. Otherwise, it is not a wise design.
It seems both of you are gifted with multi tasking skills. I don't think many of us here are not including me. Also, I am not asking AICPA to reconsider the disclosure rules, appeal process etc., because of my personal limitations. I clearly know that they won’t . If not I would not have left $4,500 monthly ERP job and decided to prepare for CPA exams full time. That’s clearly not the issue.

@tncincy- We all know dishonest people are here and there always. It is one in thousand issue. Please don’t generalize it when we are talking on behalf of all people who take CPA. I bet it cannot be frequent. It is not any specific information to leak and get an unfair advantage. We are talking about information from 90 MCQ and 7 simulations which cannot be reproduced word by word. I also don’t believe that just because one person from an online forum tells you not to read some topics or say some topics they saw in exam people will take that 100% and risk their careers. We all just want real experience from real people who take this exam as a guideline. That’s it.

May be, I will not be worried this much if the rest of quarter is like Q1. Please all the people who finished the exams remember that we have only 3 for results release for rest of this year. Not once in three weeks. For many people this window is DO or DIE. NASBA and AICPA together has said they are aware of candidate’s expiry dates but will consider ONLY case to case. We cannot afford to make mistakes or just praying won’t help. Clarity about the exam is very important. We all (including people who pass this) know even one or two questions in the exam is not from what we read we freak out. Please remember they are changing the entire format and there are no Proper models of question papers released form AICPA. Of course, evolution, so far, they have said only in AUD. I already passed AUD. But I want to speak for the people who take AUD knowing the gravity of difficulty in it. The AICPA till not released what is meant by evolution questions? In which form it will be asked etc., AUD is the most difficult exam to pass if you don’t have Public audit experience . They cannot add more complexity to it.
Instead of having war of words, please think about us, and please understand situation is completely different from Q1 and the ambiguity and secrecy in the process should not continue. If you guys know the new format and patterns for analysis and evolution please post it here. Any form of help is appreciated.

Trust in yourself. It is the key to passing any exam.

Passed: FAR -1st attempt

AUD-2nd attempt

REG-1st attempt

BEC- 3rd attempt

DONE

[Missy]

We don't NEED to know how the exam is scored or the exact methodology to pass. We WANT to know to satisfy our curiosity and perhaps be more efficient with our study time. And again most of the gamemakers have at one time been through the process themselves so they're well aware of the struggles and frustration.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Hey, **I** for one need to know the exact methodology to pass! Then I could actually get through these exams in a reasonable amount of time and not have to be in this maze of trying to figure out how to get through it and having to change my game plan over and over and over again. I'm sure everybody at the AICPA passed all four in four weeks and try to think up ways to trip up candidates who don't know and will never know as much as they do. It's f***ing ridiculous. But…I'm not gonna give up so easily.

[Missy]

You're fine Leon, I've never done anything more frustrating than the exam and trust me I wanted to hurt people while I was in the process. It helped a LOT to know others here struggled as much if not more (some with over TWENTY attempts to pass) and got their license. Use the search field and look for Kricket's post. Chick did this I think it took her about five years, turns out she had thyroid cancer. Know what she does now? Runs her own firm. She's my hero but proof once you channel the anger into showing this exam who's boss you'll be taking your victory lap here too.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

@mla – it all begins with a 75. I hope and pray I will ever get it. I don't even know if I have what it takes. Already, I'm getting questions from people I told a year ago or more that I am doing these exams like “Are you done yet?” “You must have taken all of them now, right?” “You've taken them all and you passed them right?” All I can do is sigh and say no.
I'll be one of the people who takes each one multiple times, I'm sure. Once I have ‘a pass', there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Right now, it's still black.
I can definitely relate about wanting to hurt people haha. Particularly those who whine about scoring 20% on practice exams or walk out of Prometric wanting to stab themselves thru the heart and just end it all…and then report that they got a 92 on FAR.

That's great that she has her own firm!! Again….all you need is your experience hours and four 75's.

[mv1120]

@jeff, Can you delete my post on 4/18 regarding AUD.. think its too descriptive. Thanks!

[Madhav]

@Jeff, would you be able to delete my comment? It could be inappropriate.

AUD - 76
BEC - 75
FAR - 76
REG - 77

FINISHED.    "If I can do it, so can you".- ME.

LEO MESSI:GOAT

 

Ethics: WA: 93, AICPA: 93

[jeff]

Email support@another71.com with the specific link, please.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Julia]

@ SpencerJames: “I have two words for you…Please help.” This made my day. lol. I don't have a lot going on outside of study and this forum.

B- 74, 84

A- 75

R- 74, 81

F- 09-07-18

[TommyTheCat]

Rules are rules, you agreed to them and must abide by them. I agreed to them and abided by them and passed these difficult exams and now expect other folks to do so.

The exams were fair, the rules are fair. Study hard and focus and put in the time. This isn't a test you need to be some genius to pass. Study smart, study hard. If you put in the time you can do this. Focusing time an energy hoping the AICPA will read your complaints and change the rules is not a good use of one's time.

AUD - 85
BEC - 89
FAR - 91
REG - 97

[YouCanDoIt]

@TommyTheCat, yes rules are rules, but we are still allowed to vent. Reading these posts, makes me realize I am not the only one struggling. There are others out there as well, with their own unique situations, who are having a tough time as well. I am sure, they all realize its a choice, not a requirement to take the CPA exam.

With that said, I hope we all make the best of what we have/are given/or not, and beat this test's @ $ $ !

AUD - 77
BEC - 79
FAR - 75
REG - 80

Won't know until you try.

FAR: 76
REG: Currently studying
AUD:
BEC:

[Author]

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