[Anonymous]

i understand the differences in the format of the exam and method of taking the exam itself, but is it just me or do older CPAs always find a way to bring up that we “have it easy?”

so annoying!….all we can do is smile and laugh at it since they are usually our bosses and supervisors 😛

[titine]

Probably we will do the same 30 years later…

[mgoloubenko]

Insecurity 😉

FAR 4/9/12- PASSED
BEC 7/13/12- PASSED
AUD 8/16/12- Ughhh 71, Rematch: 90!!!
REG-12/6/12 PASSED

USC MAcc- Fight on!

They say good things come to those who wait, but only those things that are left by those who hustle.

[KassiusKlay]

Whoa. Every CPA I have talked to only talks about how much harder the test has gotten. Even in the last few years I have heard it has gotten harder. Hmm maybe their trying to instill confidence? lol

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Audit 4/19/12 - 77
BEC 5/31/12 - 75
FAR 8/30/12

[Anonymous]

Ummmm WHAT? I have never had an older CPA tell me it's easier. I always tell them it's way harder now. Just look at the areas added in the last few years, let alone the last 20 years:

SOX

PCAOB

IT

IFRS

What does annoy me is how smug CPAs are that they have already passed the exam. Whether it was 2 years ago or 20, they love rubbing it in that you are still trying to pass. Then they try and one-up you on your accounting knowledge as if everything they studied for the exam is still fresh in their mind. I don't think so, but thanks for trying!

[masa_inn]

My boss told me exactly this – “You have it so easy”

She had to drive to the test center 5+ hours and stay in a seedy motel; it was paper and pencil etc etc etc.

I agree with mgoloubenko – it's insecurity.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[bighitter56]

The majority of the CPA's I know tells me that they are thankful they aren't taking the exam now because of how much harder it has gotten.

BEC- 86
AUD- 96
REG- 83
FAR- soon hopefully

Using Wiley CPA Review Books and 2012 Wiley Online Test Bank
MBA in Finance & Strategy

[Sandra]

Hahaha. “Back in my day we had to do it with pencils on a piece of paper. And we had to take all four sections at once. Also we had to walk 500 miles uphill both ways through broken glass with no shoes.” Heard it about a million times. I think its fair to say the exam is VERY different now. Some may find it easier to take all 4 sections at once with more limited content, others find it easier to take a section at a time. I will say I am pretty happy that I can take at least a few weeks between sections.

As I sit here and stare at the FAR book I'm not thinking I would have room in my brain for much more.

A lot of it might come from the fact that people have gotten much lazier and less educated, etc. I don't think the newest generation of college graduates as a whole is doing us much favors in the way young professionals as a whole are viewed. I'm not that old, but when I was doing my undergrad we had professors that would refuse to grade papers if they had more than 1 or 2 typos and things like “the remodel on theyre house is going good” did NOT fly. I recently TA'd for a small chemistry class (mostly college juniors and seniors) and was amazed at how LAZY and careless people have gotten.

[Anonymous]

It was harder, and easier.

Hands down, when the test was two full days and someone without any credit had to take all four parts…it was brutal. Parking. Sitting in a room full of 5,000 people where if someone belched loudly 30 people would drop dead from the stress. Dealing with some turd next to you that was either sick and sneezing, a heavy sigher, a furious eraser, or the absolute worse—a person who tapped the freaking folding table with their knee. Having to study for all parts or study for two and then hope you get a 50 or above on the other two you didn't study for. Ending up passing one part only to miss holding credit on the second part by 1 feaking point. Then having to do it all over again with four parts…oh but wait you couldn't do it when you had time, you had to do it twice a year because that was when it was offered. Taking four parts in two days was brutal, you better hope that the parts you really studied for and wanted to pass were on the first day or else you would be exhausted. Driving to downtown Atlanta (for me), trying to get in a restaurant overflowing with stressed out people trying to study between sessions. I have heart palpatations just thinking about it. The SIMS were written essays and after hours of holding that pencil, your hand was cramped and hurting. Then you get to wait months to get your results back, they came in that carbon paper (still have mine and I look at them when I get tired to bring back those feelings of failing).

If the exam was the way that it was back then, I would not have taken it again. It was twice as brutal for the process more than the exam content.

Now the exam is computerized (which helps me, I'm much more comfortable in front of a computer). However, the MCQ's are adaptive which SUCKS. There is a LOT more material now. But having said that, the ability to take one part at a time is remarkably easier for me. It just is.

So the test itself is probably more detailed and more difficult now. However the process, ability to take one part at a time, the ability to schedule it when you want, etc. It is easier now, sorry folks that's been my experience. Having said that though, it is still the world's most difficult achievement, IMHO.

I've been there on both sides and I'll take this way hands down.

[lynseyklly]

We all think our own personal battles are harder than anyone elses, human nature. That's my answer. 😉

No experience with paper/pencil but when I think of having to take all 4 at once I am grateful that we take 1 at a time. On the other hand, when I was doing the SIMS, especially for FAR, I would have loved to have them on paper. I hate trying to scroll up and down, up and down. Wth? Why they didn't use the extra tab confused the heck out of me, at least I could've split the screen. Instead I had to rewrite all the info on my BLUE paper that I can barely see my pencil markings on. smh

Getting your CPA is a great accomplishment, whether it was then or now. Just smile and nod at the ignorant people that try to belittle your efforts.

AUD 85 (2/22/12)
FAR 81 (5/10/12)
BEC 7/13/12
REG 10/1/12

using Becker

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with CPAPending…. I took the paper and pencil exam, but never could get the motivation to study adequately. It just seemed too daunting of a task. Plus the review courses have changed a lot now, too. I know they still offer live classes, but back then that was mostly what people did. I remember working a long day at a Big 5 then having to go to class from 6-10 2x a week. I finally gave up on the classes, but still took the exam b/c I had already paid for it. I feel the material was easier (not easy though), but the process was 10x worse. I would much rather climb a hill 4 times than climb a mountain once. If the format had not been changed to the way it is now, I'm pretty certain I would have never attempted the exam again.

[Anonymous]

Oh and by the way, I'm passing it (or going to) under the computerized methodology and when I do, I will be just as proud had I passed it when paper and pencil.

My comments were in no way meant to take away from anyone's accomplishments. I've had people do the same for my EA exam, stating that when they took it they had to take all three parts at once. I don't care.

I take such comments as friendly hazing and I am sure that MOST do not mean anyhting by any of it.

Good luck everyone.

[HumanPiranha]

why does every fisherman say that lake x and river y was great 20 years ago and stinks now?

why does every football fan say that football players were so much tougher in the 70s? and that the players cared more?

why does every old person say that the younger generation is helping to tear apart the moral fabric of ameirca

why does every old person say that hamburgers, steaks, beer, cakes, and whatever else was tastier 20 years ago

ill tell you why, becuase old people say that about everything. change is horrible.

[mparker1904]

I don't know how it could be harder back then. My boss didn't even get his degree in accounting and said he studied for two weeks and passed 3 of the 4 parts on the first try. I think between the requirements needed to sit, plus the new things added and the grading system installed today, there is no question the exam is harder today than 25 years ago.

BEC 76
AUD 86
REG 78
FAR 76 DONE!

[littlenumberrobot]

I think it may scare them that they do not really know what you are going through. That maybe somehow because it is different format that means you are smarter than them. My boss always tells me its a part of the accounting life, it will be gruling but when its over ITS OVER!! He always shares his horror stories of the two day part exam. I have respect for older CPAs and how they had to take it, as they should have respect for us!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[mla1169]

hey hey hey kids. Lets not be hating on the old people. LMAO!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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