[OntheRoad]

In reading exam taking strategies, most sources state to answer exam questions in consecutive order. I have not seen any information as to why. Does anyone know *why* we should be answering exam questions in order from 1-30 or 1-24?

[Mamabear]

If you're talking about in order from 1 to whatever versus skipping around then I think the reason is because it's a waste of precious time to skip around. I don't flag anything and I don't go back to any questions because it is extremely important to save as much time as possible for SIMS. If you're talking about in order from 1 to whatever versus starting at the end and working backwards in order then I don't know what the reason is. I don't think that matters much, but skipping around is not a good idea.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Mamabear]

If you're talking about in order from 1 to whatever versus skipping around then I think the reason is because it's a waste of precious time to skip around. I don't flag anything and I don't go back to any questions because it is extremely important to save as much time as possible for SIMS. If you're talking about in order from 1 to whatever versus starting at the end and working backwards in order then I don't know what the reason is. I don't think that matters much, but skipping around is not a good idea.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Determined CPA]

I don't think this means that you cant skip a question, it just means don't click around and do a piece of a question that youre unsure about and then click another question and start that one. If you don't know how to tackle a question, I think you can fully skip it and save it to the end. I think part of the reasoning is that once you start a question and get to a certain point and then stop, you forget your thinking, which wastes time.

A - 75
B - 78 God is good.
F - 77 Answered prayers.
R - 84! Done!!

Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

[Determined CPA]

I don't think this means that you cant skip a question, it just means don't click around and do a piece of a question that youre unsure about and then click another question and start that one. If you don't know how to tackle a question, I think you can fully skip it and save it to the end. I think part of the reasoning is that once you start a question and get to a certain point and then stop, you forget your thinking, which wastes time.

A - 75
B - 78 God is good.
F - 77 Answered prayers.
R - 84! Done!!

Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

[Gatorbates]

I think this is bogus advice. Everyone's test taking is different. I personally, went through each question consecutively, and if I could answer it in 1-15 seconds, I'd answer it. If I couldn't, or it required a lengthy calculation, I'd flag it. Once I got to the end of the testlet, I'd have a number of questions (sometimes 40-60%) answered. Then I went back to the longer problems and answered them. It eased my mind knowing that I had created “more time” to spend on these, in essence, and didn't have as much stress about getting through that particular testlet. Just the way I did it, and it seemed to work well for me. I did still keep an eye on the clock every 5 minutes or so.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Gatorbates]

I think this is bogus advice. Everyone's test taking is different. I personally, went through each question consecutively, and if I could answer it in 1-15 seconds, I'd answer it. If I couldn't, or it required a lengthy calculation, I'd flag it. Once I got to the end of the testlet, I'd have a number of questions (sometimes 40-60%) answered. Then I went back to the longer problems and answered them. It eased my mind knowing that I had created “more time” to spend on these, in essence, and didn't have as much stress about getting through that particular testlet. Just the way I did it, and it seemed to work well for me. I did still keep an eye on the clock every 5 minutes or so.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Author]

Replies