[Anonymous]

So before everyone jumps down my throat let me just say this: I took FAR in April and got a 65. I then took it on the first day of the second testing window, went through that whole “server upgrade” fiasco and got a 74. On top of that, my computer shut off at the end of my exam and the Prometric center had to restart it. I would like to appeal my score and get the satisfaction that all quality controls were used on my exam (especially with all the technical difficulties). I answered every single MCQ and every simulation. I rather pay for this appeal than another $3-400 dollars just to retake the exam for 1 point. Has anyone gone through the appeal process before? Is it worth it?

[mla1169]

They've never changed a score as the result of an appeal. Focus on studying for a retake.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Devils advocate here.

If they did change the score of someone's test, do you think they would ever admit to it? If they did, I am sure they would be flooded with appeals all day every day after score release. Nonetheless, I doubt your grade would be change as a result of an appeal, rather just focus on restudying like the above poster.

[unDeR]

No matter what the circumstances are, a score appeal will prove to be a complete waste of time and money. However, what you described is very similiar to a past experience of mine. I ended up contacting AICPA (i.e. exam graders) to ask if my test had been submitted in full despite technical difficulities and they provided written affirmation pretty quickly. I would recommend this approach because an appeal is futile.

@ dutkas – A poster some time ago on this forum claimed that the AICPA contacted him/her and admitted to having used a wrong grading template on that particular exam. After applying the proper procedures, the grade was reversed from failing to passing. I believe this was confirmed by other posters. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Texas-licensed CPA

[evesocal]

@dutkas, even if the AICPA would not admit to changing scores, the people who got their scores changed (if any) would sure know. The AICPA could not take the position that “we never change scores” if there are people out there who could say “oh yes you do”.

So I think it's true that scores don't change as the result of an appeal. Which sucks because IMO there are very valid reasons for believing your score got f'd up, particularly when it's just 1 point.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[evesocal]

@unDeR – in your second example (I never heard of it but that means nothing) – it was the AICPA who initiated the contact?

More info about that story would be really interesting if anyone knows it, like by how many points the score changed and how long before the AICPA contacted the candidate.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[mla1169]

Evesocal here's the story https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-scoring-error-aicpa-nasba/

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[barelystayingsane]

“The errors were discovered by the AICPA in FAR and REG Exams from 2011 & 2012 and the errors involved Simulations.”

That article is dated the beginning of this year….. Can you imagine taking an exam in 2011, finding out you failed, putting in all that time to restudy, and then after taking the exam again, getting a phone call over a year later telling you that you passed the first time? I'd be pissed…especially if it were FAR or REG.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, interesting. I wonder what the score was before the change. In my mind, if a test was assigned an incorrect grading template , that test score would be abnormally low probably sub 30. I would assume that the AICPA investigates any extremely low scores to make sure the grading template was applied correctly.

[mla1169]

The scores were 73 and 74, it was an error in the coding of some sims. The important takeaway is that these folks were notified 1-2 years later (and they only had 3 months to appeal so it wasn't a change based on appeals) and that nobody in their right mind is going to just sit and wait 18 months for the extremely remote possibility of a change. So these folks retook the exam one or more times and their only compensation was a refund for the extra exams. Big deal right?

Since they admitted to finding a mistake in the last 8 months and insist they put in controls to prevent it from happening again, the odds are pretty much nil that we'd have a repeat so soon.

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/far-exam-scoring-error-july-11

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

The thing is the exam fee you pay is minimal compared to lost time with loved ones, family stress and all other life events that happen because of the cpa exam. People have actually lost their marriages and relationships over this exam and if someone comes back to me 18-months later and goes opps….you actually passed I would be livid. I bet you someone forced them to acknowledge the mistake I don't see any institution/association doing it at the goodness of their heart. But they will never admit to a lawsuit. Because they are perfect and we the candidates trust that there are adequate controls functioning effectively to catch all errors. Yeah right!! we are all humans and make mistakes.

[Author]

Replies