Was this an unnecessary exam change?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1563727
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Does anyone else think that creating 3 smaller simulation testlets (instead of having one with all the simulations) does more harm than good?

    So much time gets wasted on sims that should be sacrificed and there’s less time to spare for the ones that would’ve been solved correctly if read in advance.

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #1563841
    .
    Participant

    Yeah, that does suck time management wise. When I took the exams I did the easy SIMs first and left the hard ones for last. I was really pinched for time in FAR and left one horrific looking SIM blank. Had plenty of time in REG and AUD though. I used the extra time for looking up stuff in the AL trying to confirm my answers.

    The good thing though is that you can go for a wee wee break in between the SIM testlets now. And you get one break that doesn't cut into your test time. Couldn't do that with the old exam. I mean what would happen if you were in the middle of doing the SIM testlet (6-7 SIMs) and had to pee or poop urgently?

    FAR- 88- 6/16- (Ninja Avg. 74%)
    REG- 89- 7/16- (Ninja Avg. 77%)
    AUD- 95- 8/16- (Ninja Avg. 81%)
    BEC- 82- 9/16- (Ninja Avg. 75%)
    [Wiley CPAExcel + Ninja MCQ]

    Finally licensed.

    FAR - June 2016 - 88
    REG - July 2016 - 89
    AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
    BEC - Sep 2016 -

    Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

    #1563852
    Superdude3000
    Participant

    I think this exam tests candidates on multiple levels. I think they idea here was to pass more individuals with great time management skills.

    REG - 92 (1/17)

    BEC - 82 (2/17)

    AUD - 89 (5/17)

    FAR - 94 (9/17)

    Rogers Elite + Becker mcqs/sims for all 4 exams

    WA State Ethics Exam - 83, 83, 90 (9/17)

    AICPA Ethics Exam - 95 (9/17)

    1-year of work - complete (11/18)

    Licensed WA State CPA

    #1563862
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It was unnecessary and pointless. I personally don't believe it has a thing to do with time management. Yeah, you do have to budget time for the questions but the splitting-up of them is just silly. I like the old format with MCQ-MCQ-MCQ-SIMs/WC.

    What I do think it has to do with is weeding people out by giving easier or harder SIMs based upon how well you do on a particular SIM testlet. Just as the MCQ testlets are “adaptive”, the SIMs probably are too. If you blow a SIM testlet, you probably wont' get any more hard ones. The last time I took FAR, I had a very weird SIM testlet – the hard ones were lumped in with the moderate ones (I had no easy ones.) I preferred that.

    I just posted earlier on another thread that it seems very likely that they gauge performance on the first MCQ and first SIM testlets now. If you blow them, you'd better plan on acing the easy ones they give you after that or you ain't gonna pass. This is entirely conjectural, especially since the new format just debuted this past testing window. It does seem to make sense though, thus far.

    #1563868
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    They could always give a break between MC and SIMS if they really wanted to. Lets just hope they take feedback and adapt. This is from one of their Q&As. “Please note that the task-based simulations are not chosen based on candidate performance on the multiple-choice testlets. They are pre-assigned.”

    #1563880
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    This new format caused me to miss the research question! I would have just saved it for last during the old days, wasted an hour in sim testlet one and still couldn't find it. Had 55 minutes to rush through the remaining 6 loaded sims.

    CPA (2017)

    REG:  75

    BEC:  76

    FAR:  77

    AUD: 78

     

    CMA (2019)

    P1: 380

    P2: 360

    AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
    REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
    BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
    FAR - (8/16)

    #1563901
    TBone
    Participant

    @circadianmalfunction I would gladly sit in poopy-pants for an hour while battling SIMs if it meant a 75+ on FAR

    FAR:  68, 75 (Lost Credit), 69 because f*uck me, right? 77

    REG:  71, 79

    BEC:  73, 75

    AUD: 69, 70, 72, 74, 74, 69, 75

    FAR: 66, 75
    AUD: 67, 69, 70, 74, 74
    REG: 71, 79
    BEC: 73

    #1564462
    Pete
    Participant

    Actually, when I took REG, there was a gas containment leak on decks 1-8, mid-way through the sims. I had left to use the bathroom, before starting the sims as I had usually done; however, some girl was taking forever in the solo bathroom, so I decided to “tough it out.”

    Somehow I passed, despite the fact I easily scored 5 points less, due to my “condition.” I was considering just getting up to use the bathroom; luckily, I made it through that experience though. Hopefully, I didn't cause too much of a distraction for the other test takers, but i'm sure I did, especially in such a quite room.

    B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
    A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
    R=81 I LOVE taxes
    F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

    #1564500
    tg7174
    Participant

    I like the intentions behind the new changes, but there is just so much material that it might have been overkill. We do need people with more “higher order skills” but we also need them to know the basic terminology and methodology as well, so they end up trying to make the test even harder. It also seems like they added time management as another part of the exam even more so than before.

    AUD 83
    BEC 78
    FAR 78
    REG 74, 79
    #1564506
    Wannafree
    Participant

    What is “higher order skills” ? Can someone explain me,sincerely asking.

    WannaB
    #1564510
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Simulations in my audit exam required “higher order skills” meaning instead of selecting an answer from a drop down menu, it asked me to calculate values, select audit procedures, select controls, and form a conclusion based on my findings.

Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.