[Anonymous]

Me and a colleague were debating the following:

What would be better? Passing the exam with four 99s or passing with four 75s.

(Assuming you’re just an average candidate and you passed on first try in both cases)…

The 99s would clearly show what an accounting powerhouse you are; and yet

The 75s would clearly indicate you are the more efficient and effective studier.

I can’t decide!

[Texas27]

In my opinion, four 99s would be cooler for one reason: You would most likely become an Elijah Watt Sells Award winner which at my Big 4 firm and I believe all of the other Big 4 firms qualifies you for a $20k bonus plus the $5k you get for passing the exam in your first year.

More money = cooler

BEC - Feb 2012: 80
AUD - Feb 2012: 84
FAR - Apr 2012: 78
REG - May 2012: 90

Thanks Becker!

[Anonymous]

99's definitely and I am in NO WAY a vain person.

It's one thing to pass and yet another to reign supreme. In the scheme of life it will not matter but it would matter to me.

Having said that, I am runninng high 80's on two parts thus far….but begging for at least at 75. I don't care if I get a 74.9999999 and they round up on REG. Please GOD help me get past REG this first time. Please. (that's sincere by the way) 😀

[Anonymous]

Think about it for a second though…

Your just an average person, which means you probably spent 150-200+ hours to get that 99 that you could of only spent 80-100 to get the 75. Then translate that to your working environment. Yes, you can spend 1000 hours on the virtually perfect audit or you can spend 500 and present a product to your client that is still acceptable. What's really the better option in terms of approach? Plus, I thinks it's cooler because I'm sure it's HARDER to try to get EXACTLY four 75s then to get four 99s.

Toss out the Watts Award incentive, what else is there?

[jeff]

What about four 71s?

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Anonymous]

I'm spending at least 150-200 hours in order to get 88 and 87 thus far. I always plan for the 100.

My thought is that if I study to get a 100 and miss by 20%, I still pass.

If I study for a 75 and miss by 1%, I fail.

I did the strive for 75 thing the first time and ended up with some barely passing scores (and plenty of failures). I'm going up top this time and making sure (as much as I can) that I pass. This exam section was fraught with all kinds of problems though so who knows. Despite all the major life events, I still put in my 175+ hours.

[Mrs 300]

I always wanted the nickname Mrs 300 (hence my screen name!!!).

]

The people that get 99s all across the boards are freaks (and that is meant in the most loving way possible). Mostly those people are naturally smart and studied pretty hard for the exam.

For me to get 99s across the board, I would have had to kill myself. I would have not seen the outside for weeks and months leading up to the exam. PLUS, I wouldn't want to have to live up to it for the rest of my career. I would feel like I couldn't make a mistake.

Casting my vote for 4 straight 75s……….

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Anonymous]

Ofcourse four 99's. However, I'd be happy with four 75's rather than four 71's:) But four 99's may open more doors at Big 4.

[Anonymous]

Can't decide…both appear very cool to be…but I would rather going out with a 75s than a 99s…not that he/she is too smart to intimidate me, most likely he/she is going to be weird or boring…After almost a year of studying and no life, I am def NOT going to talk about AMT or Variance while having a martini in my hands!!!

[Author]

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