[rockrlz87]

anybody take an exam this window (preferably NJ) that has had the experience with new white boards used for scratch paper. i read back in Jan that some people were saying its super small and non erasable. any idea that the marker/pen they provide possibly works on the desk? cause to be honest with the changes its really stupid. unfortunately my last part left is REG and could have really used the old style scratch paper.

BEC - 5/2012 - 79
AUD - 10/2012 - 77
REG - 7/2013 - ???
FAR - 12/2012 - 80

[Anonymous]

Mine was a laminated piece of pink graph paper. One of my markers didn't work at all. The computer brought me to a survey at the end and I complained. Hated it.

[rockrlz87]

thanks for the heads up.

BEC - 5/2012 - 79
AUD - 10/2012 - 77
REG - 7/2013 - ???
FAR - 12/2012 - 80

[smp73]

Mine was laminated graph paper.

First time I used it there was no erasing and one of the markers did not work. Also, the marker that did work got dry if I left the cap off. Really unhappy with it.

Second time, at a different testing center, still laminated graph paper but the markers worked but I ended up with blank ink all over my arm from it smearing off the “board”. Odd.

Not the best by far, but they serve the intended purpose!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[neika822]

I didn't have too much of a problem. They aren't really erasable. Both times, my markers have been fine, but it can sometimes take 10 seconds or so for the marker to start writing. I'm assuming the ink starts to dry with the cap off.

I took REG with them and didn't have too much trouble. I got two sheets and I used both, front and back. You can ask for additional sheets if need be.

R - *77*(02/'13)-Becker & NINJA
A - 71('11); *87*(04/'13)-Becker & NINJA
F - *76*(08/'13)-Becker & NINJA - "server upgrade" survivor
B - 60('11); *82*(10/'13) -Becker & NINA

DONE, DONE, AND DONE.

CPA in Massachusetts; issued 01/24/14

[J]

I took my first section (BEC) at the end of 2012 when real scratch paper was still used. When I went back for my second section (FAR) in January 2013 and was given two sheets of yellow laminated paper and a couple of pens, it took me a couple of minutes to get used to it… I mean, who writes on laminated paper? I asked the guy if I wasn't supposed to get the scratch paper instead, and then asked him again if he was sure…

With the third section (REG), I knew what to expect and actually found myself writing a lot less than I thought I would have, so it wasn't a big deal. However I still prefer regular paper and I think the change to the laminated stuff is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I had such a bad experience with them that I wrote about it in a blog post. They wouldn't erase. I filled them both up, front and back and when I asked the Prometric lady for something to erase it with, she ended up bringing me a wet kleenex. A wet kleenex has the consistency of a ball of snot like substance. I was mad enough to complain at the end of the exam, send e-mails to Prometric and NASBA and call the State Board of Accountancy. I wasted 5 – 10 minutes of testing time trying to get the stupid thing erased. They need to give candidates access to a spreadsheet during the MCQ's. And a calculator with a freaking thousands separator comma would really help.

[SeattleAccountant]

Used yellow & pink laminated sheets and black markers. Did not have any problems although would prefer for center to stick with yellow color since dark pink makes it harder to decipher stuff scribbled down. I was instructed to raise hand and point to laminated sheet or markers if they need replacement. Did just so once per each section so far and the employee came into testing area and provided a new set of markers and 2 new sheets of laminate. The only thing noticed with the laminate is not to use any hand lotion or have any grease on hands prior using them otherwise will be moderate smudging.

Overall, I found my center to be very user friendly but I guess it depends on personality of the particular employees.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[MintsRGood]

I tend to drag my hand a bit when I write…which smears the fine point sharpie on the graph paper…which then ended up all over my hand…then ended up smearing on my desk…then ended up transferring on the keyboard…I feel bad for whoever sat there after me, I'm sure it looked like pigpen took the CPA exam in that seat!!! I miss my pencil and paper as I am a constant scribbler (not much of a brain dump person), I wrote on EVERY page of my paper booklet for REG last November! I have no idea how I'm going to survive BEC with out real paper, too many sh!tty formulas to keep track of!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[tarepanda]

Yep, like others mentioned you get 2 laminated sheets. You have to write your launch code on both sheets before entering the testing area so I guess u could use that time to check the markers work ok or that the sheets are all nice and clean. The first time i used the new note boards it took a little getting used to, but it wasn't too bad. When I tested in Feb though, I remember having the worst glare. If I kept the sheets flat I got reflections from the ceiling lights, so I ended up holding the sheet on an angle when I wrote. I complained about the glare when writing the feedback part. My test center apparently got the message cause my last 2 tests I've been seated in a different row and had no glare problem.

2012 (Kaplan)
REG: 70, 72
2013 (Kaplan, Wiley Test Bank & textbooks, Ninja audio)
FAR 2/21/13: 75
REG rematch 4/2/13: 84
AUD: 5/22/13: 86
BEC: 7/30/13 ... 86!

[evesocal]

Took 2 tests with normal paper, then 2 with that awful laminated thing. The laminated graph paper is the worst as the squares make it harder to see what you write with the crappy marker. I asked for, and got, at least one blank laminated board but it's still awful. I complained about it in the survey at the end of the test.

You can't write on your desk. You have to turn in the laminated board, with your number on it, at the end of the test.

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

[J]

I will say this… foot tapping boy next to me was a lot more annoying than the laminated paper… I wasn't about to get up and break my chair over the laminated paper…

[jle1028]

Since the adoption of the laminated paper, I've taken two exams in NJ (Clark office). As others have experienced, I received two sheets of the scratch paper. Both times, one full sheet, front and back, had a preprinted grid, and the other had one blank side and one with a grid. The wet erase markers were sufficient–fine-tipped and did not dry out after leaving the cap off and being unused for a few minutes at a time. However, if you pressed your hand down on already-used areas of the paper, it would definitely smudge. Hope that helps!

REG -- 77 (11/12)
AUD -- 77 (2/13)
BEC -- 89 (4/13)
FAR -- 91 (10/13)

Roger CPA, Wiley

[wendywhite]

graph paper.

don't like it.

but the prometric employee was courteous & thoughtful and verified my markers were new/like new before giving them to me. I think it was also thoughtful that they put me in the corner kind of farther away from other test stations – easier to concentrate… what I did not like was the way she silently snuck up on me and observed me up close… I suppose they are supposed to… but it was creepy – I was super focused on the exam and then out of the corner of my eye – – kind of made me think of that last house on the left scary movie thing with those people in the masks that kind of just stand in the corner… ick.

i absolutely wish I had a hand held calculator, paper, and a pencil. coma separators would be lovely please.

FAR 11/2012: 80
AUD 2/19/2013: 90
REG 5/14/2013: 76
BEC 11/2013: 85
Ethics: 100
Waiting on the packet....

[SeattleAccountant]

@wendywhite,

Haha, I did complain in survey about lack of comma separator. In our age to use this type of crappy devise if you can call it unfathomable. Wonder what kind of screen calculator folks get for CFA testing.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[Author]

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