[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 😛

[Anonymous]

I would say the new method is more manageble than the old one, but having all four tests in two days has no merits! If someone told me about the “old day” they had, I would say I am sorry for the unnecessary pain they had to go thru…seriously, what is the point bragging about the “old method” being difficult, most “old” folks took their exams at least twice to pass anyway. Beside, if we can pass the exams today, we are well capable passing those exams in old days.

[Anonymous]

Neither method is easy.

I have discovered that public accounting is a strange contest whereby whomever has “suffered” more is the winner. If you worked 75 hours this week and the other guy worked 80, you're “not committed.” I have been told my master's degree isn't worth anything. (Many “older” accountants don't have one, because there was no 150 hour requirement.) I once heard someone say that new graduates shouldn't be paid anything at all because they are worthless. They should feel lucky to get experience and even PAY for internships and entry level positions.

Once I learned to ignore all this crap my work life has become (somewhat) less stressful. I wish I had never told my coworkers I was studying and instead just showed up one day with all four sections passed.

We all need to earn respect in our profession and we have a lot to learn from our colleagues even after we pass the exam. Its like anything else in life, when times are rough and you fail, you end up finding out who your friends are and who you respect among your colleagues.

[Anonymous]

I had a CPA tell me that if he had to jump through the hoops that are in place today, he literally would not even pursue it.

Also, I imagine these older CPA's who harp about how tough they had it are also the ones who are terrified of computers and the move towards computerized-everything. Sorry Pappy, carbon paper and pencils are out. Go ahead and retire, make room for the next generation of CPA's

[Anonymous]

Edit: double posted for some reason

[Herbieherb]

It was tougher on

Waiting – long 3-4 months time for scores

Scheduling – only offered November and May for a total of 4 testing days per year. You made time its set in stone!

Task- passing at least 2 parts at same time or no credit

Agree with others it just seemed like such a

daunting task and was hard to get into studying for 5 months in all the different subjects.

Poor testing location- I took my exams in a hockey stadium with hundreds of other candidates in a cramped little elementary school chair-desk combination..

Cbte only has harder sims and more volume . The old LPR was its own section, meanwhile its only a small % of REG now as business law …I do beleive the easiest version of the exam was the original pre 2011 cbt…with the 70/30 weight which included the wc as 10%…I heard of people passing with only doing mcqs and the wc. No ifrs etc …that's just my take on it…failed paper and pencil, passed 3 with cbt, and finished FAR with CBT-e

NEW YORK- DONE

[Anonymous]

I have never heard any CPA say that the exam is easier nowadays, especially when they hear about IFRS, GNFP, IT, IAS, etc, etc.

It's hard to judge unless one has taken the exam in both formats.

However, I'd rather prepare 4-5 months and get them all done in 2 days. Whats sucks about the current format is the adaptive feature and not being able to review all the MCQs.

[Herbieherb]

@terminator you have the option to take them all at the same time , go for it :)…

NEW YORK- DONE

[Anonymous]

@Herbieherb..lol..I mean if it was in the old format…I can't even imagine taking two exams in the same month with this format…especially since I read everything like 30 times…haha

[Anonymous]

Older CPA's may be worried that they may be out of date, and that the old test was so out of date by now. Hence they get defensive.

[lynseyklly]

@bluegirl – I laughed out loud at your comment about whoever suffers the most is the winner. Sounds just like my department. I'm salary, I will put in the time needed and then enjoy the rest of my life. I do not understand the older employees who seem to think that sitting at their desk longer somehow makes them a better employee. I prefer to be efficient than a warm body.

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

using Becker

[young scholar]

anyone who took it before the tasked based simulations should have to take it again in my opinion. Such bullshit none of them deserve their licenses.

[Recked]

this thread certainly was an interesting read.
I'm thankful that I didn't have to take all 4 at once, but also really regret not attempting it when I had the chance.
I remember all the professors in college advising people to sit for the CPA exam asap before the change to computer as it was going to only get more difficult.
could have, should have, no point in crying over spilled milk.
I would imagine the actual percentage correct needed to pass back in the day was substantially different than it is today. (but there's no curve)

[CS]

4 parts in 2 days, I couldn’t even imagine that now. Also the review courses now are so streamlined and there’s something for everyone, plus the accessibility thanks to the modern internet age provides incredible convenience. Even if the material is more difficult Id rather that than what seems like a more overall brutal process with the pencil/paper format.

[alloverit]

The pass rate is up these days due to the better review materials I think. So I agree with @SBNY2K17. Also, studying for one portion each time helps. But some candidates back in the day would simply study for the main exam (there were 3, but 1 big section counted as 2 if you passed…huh?). After passing any “two” sections, you could take either the remaining two individually (if you passed the big section) or take the big section again (if you passed the two smaller sections). But the vast majority of candidates failed something…few passed both days of testing on the first try.

I've also had older CPAs confess to me that you could buy a review book and get the exact same questions on the exam (like up to 65-70% word for word). But believe it or not, many candidates would attempt the test WITHOUT a review course.

Also when the test was on paper, you could thumb back through the part you've already taken to get the answer for a question you got later. That's been eliminated with computers

Another difference was that there was much more writing on the exam as all sections had it (I think). Anyway, it was common to just basically write the same thing for all written questions because a different person graded each written response…and so the use of keys terms was huge…and probably still is today.

One thing that would drive today's candidates mad is the wait time. It took several months to get scores back then since everything was graded by hand/humans. The old timers have no sympathy for us on that point.

So anyway, all in all there are advantages and disadvantages now versus the “olden days”

[jdub]

Oh I've definitely heard this.

“Be glad you don't have to take all 4 at the same time” — okay valid

“Be glad you don't have to wait forever on your score” — HAHAHAHA I've tested at the very beginning of a quarter and had to wait until AFTER the window closed for a score. I would qualify over 2 months when it's 2018 and a computerized exam as forever

“Really? You REALLY got a 74? Because when I took the exam they didn't tell you if you failed by that small of a margin” — would you me to take a screen shot and send it to you? thanks for not believing me, because I would rather not know than know I missed by 1 point (again)

The only thing I haven't heard is about the administrative process “back then”. Today it's a nightmare in my opinion. Not to mention it's 2018, we take the entire test on a computer, and we still only get 1 score release a quarter (yes I know about the ‘upgrades' before everyone jumps on my case – just saying this has been our reality for 2 years). And my testing center sucks. They did upgrade the monitors but I think the keyboards are older than me – and people that aren't taking the CPA exam are in there banging away that sometimes it's impossible to concentrate. The walls also aren't well insulated and you can hear the conversations of the testing center employees – even with the noise cancelling headphones. It's still rather distracting even without the scratching of pencils and erasers.

Also – Amen to the person that said they can go back and look at questions. I don't know how many times in testlet 2 or 3 I see something that was similar to or answered in a question from testlet 1 and I can't go back!!

[Author]

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