[IndianaCPA]

I took BEC and my first testlet seemed to be a “hard” testlet. I was doing well on ninja mcq and the aicpa practice tests. However, the first testlet I received was extremely difficult. Please let me know if anyone else has experiences receiving a “hard” testlet as their first testlet. I know the aicpa says they always start with a medium testlet but is that always the case?

B 74, 79
A 62, 81
R 76
F 75

Done!

[Rocky123]

I believe they are always medium at the beginning.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Anonymous]

The general consensus is that they are medium from the beginning and then transition to hard. My FAR experience conformed to this, however, my first 2 BEC testlets were difficult and the third was relatively easy. My experience might be an anomaly , but I am sure my 1st testlet was tougher than my last for BEC.

[IndianaCPA]

@rocky123 I know the testlet is supposed to start off as medium but my first testlet was really challenging. If took me 45 mins to get through the first testlet one time when I usually go through all of the questions 2-3 times.

B 74, 79
A 62, 81
R 76
F 75

Done!

[Rocky123]

https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/PsychometricsandScoring/ScoringInformation/DownloadableDocuments/How_the_CPA_Exam_is_Scored.pdf

Read the second page.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[MrCPA511]

First testlet for FAR was super easy for me followed by hard. However, with AUD, I thought all 3 testlets were hard!

FAR - 86 7/2014
AUD - 95 10/2014
REG - 87 1/22/15
BEC - 84 7/2015

[Kimboroni]

I'd say you just happened to get topics that were more unfamiliar to you, not that it was rated a hard testlet. Due to the nature of BEC, some of the medium problems are going to be wordier than medium questions in the other sections.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[JamesBJames]

Yeah, AICPA says the first testlet will be medium difficulty every time. It could be you got unlucky and got questions relating to your weak areas.

I would guess that my testlets went medium -> hard -> hard for all of my exams. I don't think there was ever a time I thought the first testlet was harder than the second.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[syoung123]

@IndianaCPA – I took BEC this morning, and felt the exact same way about the first testlet! It was my final section and the first time I've received a 1st testlet that seemed difficult. I flagged 5 for T1, 3 for T2, and 5 for T3.

I also hear what others are saying about the AICPA always making the first one med-difficult. It didn't seem difficult in terms of the subject matter, but more so the complexity of the questions. My only guess is that it was a clumping of pre-test questions in T1 that gave this effect.

REG (July 2014) - Pass
AUD (Aug 2014) - Pass
FAR - (Nov 2014) - Pass
BEC - (Dec 2014) - Pass

Licensed Colorado CPA (February 2015)

DONE!!!!

[Anonymous]

I took BEC on 11/30 and had the same exact experience. My first testlet was so hard. It was definitely a WTF moment.

[Author]

Replies