[M.O.D.]

Gleim MCQ software has multi-part questions. Ie one complicated “fact pattern” followed by several MCQ questions.

If all the questions are asked, the time required to study the complicated facts is divided amongst the answers But if only one question is asked (when in test mode that is how random choice works), the time required to read the facts (as long a 5-10 minutes) is used to only answer that one question. This throws off the total time available to complete the exam.

Is this an error in the Gleim testing method or is the CPA/CMA really like this?

Thanks in advance for your answer, and apologies for inciting heated debates 🙂

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

Yes. And no. 🙂 I haven't taken the CMA yet, but for the CPA…

The Simulations on the CPA exam are similar sometimes to the questions you're describing – it may lay out several aspects of a complicated situation and then ask 10 questions to do with it.

However, for the MCQ part of the exam, it would present a simpler version of the problem. It might still throw in some facts that you don't need, but it wouldn't be as much as the SIMs.

In order to avoid appearing to be disclosing exam content…I'll use baking for an example. An MCQ might say:

Chris is taking brownies to a birthday party. In order to arrive on time, the brownies need to be ready to go out the door by 5:10pm. The brownies require:

1 pkg mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

The brownies are supposed to bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven (preheating takes 10 minutes). Before Chris can package the brownies to take to the party, they will need to cool for 15 minutes. What time does Chris need to go to the kitchen to ensure that the brownies are ready in time?

The SIM might say:

Chris is taking goodies to a birthday party. In order to arrive on time, everything needs to be ready to go out the door by 5:10pm.

Brownies require:

1 pkg mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

5 minutes preparation; 45 minutes to bake; 15 minutes to cool down

Cupcakes require:

1 pkg mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup water

5 minutes preparation; 30 minutes to bake; 30 minutes to cool before icing; 15 minutes total to ice

Ice cream requires:

1 gallon ice cream

30 cones

10 minutes to drive each way to store; 10 minutes in store to purchase

Chex Mix requires:

1 box Chex Multi-grain

1 pkg pretzels

1 pkh Chex Mix seasoning

10 minutes to prepare

Peanut butter cookies require:

1 pkg mix

1 egg

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup water

30 minutes preparation; 10 minutes to bake; 5 minutes to cool

The oven will require 10 minutes to preheat before baking the first item but will not require preheating between items. Preparing a shopping list will take 15 minutes. The store for the ice cream and the store for the baked goods are not the same. The drive time to the baking store is 5 minutes; shopping there will take 15 minutes.

1. In order for Chris to have the goodies prepared on time, what time does Chris need to start preparations?

2. How many eggs does Chris need to buy?

3. How much oil does Chris need to have?

4. If ice cream is $3 per quart, how much will Chris spend on ice cream?

5. How much total time will Chris use the oven?

6. Which of the following is the most efficient order to bake the baked goods in? (Cupcakes first so that they can cool and be iced before everything else is done; peanut butter cookies last since they have the shortest cool time.)

[Anonymous]

Yes. And no. 🙂 I haven't taken the CMA yet, but for the CPA…

The Simulations on the CPA exam are similar sometimes to the questions you're describing – it may lay out several aspects of a complicated situation and then ask 10 questions to do with it.

However, for the MCQ part of the exam, it would present a simpler version of the problem. It might still throw in some facts that you don't need, but it wouldn't be as much as the SIMs.

In order to avoid appearing to be disclosing exam content…I'll use baking for an example. An MCQ might say:

Chris is taking brownies to a birthday party. In order to arrive on time, the brownies need to be ready to go out the door by 5:10pm. The brownies require:

1 pkg mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

The brownies are supposed to bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven (preheating takes 10 minutes). Before Chris can package the brownies to take to the party, they will need to cool for 15 minutes. What time does Chris need to go to the kitchen to ensure that the brownies are ready in time?

The SIM might say:

Chris is taking goodies to a birthday party. In order to arrive on time, everything needs to be ready to go out the door by 5:10pm.

Brownies require:

1 pkg mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

5 minutes preparation; 45 minutes to bake; 15 minutes to cool down

Cupcakes require:

1 pkg mix

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup water

5 minutes preparation; 30 minutes to bake; 30 minutes to cool before icing; 15 minutes total to ice

Ice cream requires:

1 gallon ice cream

30 cones

10 minutes to drive each way to store; 10 minutes in store to purchase

Chex Mix requires:

1 box Chex Multi-grain

1 pkg pretzels

1 pkh Chex Mix seasoning

10 minutes to prepare

Peanut butter cookies require:

1 pkg mix

1 egg

1/3 cup oil

1/4 cup water

30 minutes preparation; 10 minutes to bake; 5 minutes to cool

The oven will require 10 minutes to preheat before baking the first item but will not require preheating between items. Preparing a shopping list will take 15 minutes. The store for the ice cream and the store for the baked goods are not the same. The drive time to the baking store is 5 minutes; shopping there will take 15 minutes.

1. In order for Chris to have the goodies prepared on time, what time does Chris need to start preparations?

2. How many eggs does Chris need to buy?

3. How much oil does Chris need to have?

4. If ice cream is $3 per quart, how much will Chris spend on ice cream?

5. How much total time will Chris use the oven?

6. Which of the following is the most efficient order to bake the baked goods in? (Cupcakes first so that they can cool and be iced before everything else is done; peanut butter cookies last since they have the shortest cool time.)

[M.O.D.]

Thank you Lilla, this is kinda what I thought. It is strange that Gleim places SIM-like questions amongst traditional MCQs in their software.

I did read that they try to over-prepare their students. Perhaps this is how they do it: making the questions harder than traditional questions.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[M.O.D.]

Thank you Lilla, this is kinda what I thought. It is strange that Gleim places SIM-like questions amongst traditional MCQs in their software.

I did read that they try to over-prepare their students. Perhaps this is how they do it: making the questions harder than traditional questions.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

Could very well be. Or could be simple laziness to not remove the extra. 😉 haha! But good to know that they over-prepare. I'm considering Gleim for the CMA exam in the future, but really liked that Wiley is on the over-prepare side with the CPA and I didn't know if Gleim was or not. Gleim's price for the CMA is far better than Wiley's, so good to know it's also on the over-thorough side!

[Anonymous]

Could very well be. Or could be simple laziness to not remove the extra. 😉 haha! But good to know that they over-prepare. I'm considering Gleim for the CMA exam in the future, but really liked that Wiley is on the over-prepare side with the CPA and I didn't know if Gleim was or not. Gleim's price for the CMA is far better than Wiley's, so good to know it's also on the over-thorough side!

[Author]

Replies