[ExhaustedCPA]

Now, I don’t imagine there is an AICPA SWAT team busting down doors or anything. But I would rather play it safe, you know? There’s nothing overly blatant going on, like asking about specific questions on the exam or anything like that. But there is a lot of disclosing of the topics people have seen on the exam, like somebody had 4 sims of governmental questions, etc. It might not seem like much but it’s still against the disclosure rules. Somebody hears that the FAR exam is testing heavily on governmental and, thus, they now have an advantage (for example).

Like I said, nothing is too blatant on here. But still, it’s starting to make me uncomfortable. I don’t want to be caught up in a AICPA tornado or anything. Paranoid? Maybe. But why even risk it? So, seriously, can we try to avoid disclosing anything about the exam? I’m thinking of getting off this site and I would really hate to do that. This is an awesome site. It really helps people. So let’s be more careful ok?

Aud 4/2/11 - 86
Far 5/27/11 - 83
Bec 7/1/11 - 82
Reg 8/13/11 - 86! It's over!!!!

[ExhaustedCPA]

@BaseballCPA – I don't get your space analogy. You have someone who reads the CSO, knows IFRS questions will be on it. Then you have someone who comes on the board and hears, “Screw the CSO! IFRS was tested a lot more than that!” How is that not an advantage? I really can't make my point clearer than that. By the way, do you really believe that CSO is 100% accruate? Because in my experience, there is always a topic or two that is tested way more than the others.

Aud 4/2/11 - 86
Far 5/27/11 - 83
Bec 7/1/11 - 82
Reg 8/13/11 - 86! It's over!!!!

[kb24]

@exhausted

The CSO only applies to the questions that count. It's possible to have one or two topics with more questions than the CSO would indicate if the test questions are primarily on those areas.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Anonymous]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that even without someone telling me from personal experience that IFRS is tested heavily on the exam, that an average person could speculate that much. Ok, so the AICPA decides to adopt IFRS for testing beginning in January 1, 2011, correct? Now at least MY thought process would go like this: Step 1) Hmm, well the convergence efforts are clearly coming together enough piece by piece that the board feels that in order to obtain enough knowledge to “protect the public”, I have to display my knowledge of International reporting applications. Step 2) This is the FIRST year that they have adopted this a testable material. Step 3) I am speculating that I could see an easy 10-20% of IFRS on the exam. Step 4) I am going to study the absolute crap out of IFRS (not in lieu of anything else) just to prepare for a firebombing of international questions.

My space example was, albeit, an exaggeration, however, I guess with respect to a topic like IFRS (and specifically that), I don't feel that someone saying that they got a lot of questions on it is giving that candidate the edge over someone else. Now, does that mean that I think it is ok to disclose ANY content or nature of the CPA examination under ANY circumstances? Absolutely not. Again…we were just splitting hairs here. Additionally, like mentioned previously, every exam is different, you could completely screw yourself by studying heavily for one topic in lieu of another.

[Anonymous]

@kb24 — Right. Besides, the CSO is just a guideline of what you may see and about how much, not an exhaustive list by any means. The CSO isn't my bible or anything, I just think it's a good piece of reference material when preparing for the exam.

[rmm91909]

I am not usually one to get into these types of “debates” but I think maybe exhausted deserves a break? Sure getting off the site might be a little paranoid and what not but he/she does have a valid point. I am not sure if exhausted was referring to a post that went up yesterday on someone's FAR exam but it has been taken down since. I read it yesterday and thought to myself wow that was pretty much telling every little detail of your exam. I see all of your points and I don't think saying I saw so much on IFRS is wrong but some people really do share a little too much about their exam. I think we all just take what each other say with a grain of salt and do the best we can do.

[Anonymous]

@Peanut,

I agree!

Not sure if this is true, but the same time OP posted this, I was deleting something on the REG thread that described in detail every TBS on an exam. Maybe he saw it and posted this.

I can unequivocally say that each exam is different. What may be tested ad nauseam on one exam may not even be touched on another. Ahhhh the joys of taking FAR 4 times…

[Anonymous]

I really don't see how someone on this forum telling the readers IFRS was more heavily tested on his/her is any different than Tim Gearty telling me IFRS will be more heavily tested on the exam.

Based on the OP's logic, every CPA review course should be outlawed because all they do is tell you what to focus your studies on. How is Becker et. al. NOT violating AICPA rules by telling people exactly what parts of the CSO to focus my attention on?

I think people on this forum are starting to get too paranoid if anything. As long as your not commiting blatent violations eg posting specific questions you got, then just talking about seeing a topic that the AICPA already said could be on the exam isn't going to get you in trouble with the CPA patrol.

[mla1169]

dtom, like Allyson said a lot of stuff gets deleted so the OP was probably referring to something you didn't see before it was gone.

I've seen VERY specific details here about questions that appeared on the exam, like word for word. And those are gone now because the moderators don't want anybody to get themselves (or this website) into any trouble.

I don't think its paranoia at all. Jeff is kind enough to keep the one and only place available on the internet that is a great source of information and empathy. Would really stink if somebody from the AICPA was trolling and found any reason for grief. I think Jeff is one of the few people here without anonymity, so guess who gets the call?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Megan]

I'm just hypothetically asking…

I know you aren't supposed to disclose anything. But, my friend and I took parts of the exam at the same time yesterday. We're going to have lunch tomorrow and talk about our experiences. Not specifics like we aren't supposed to, but just general stuff. She took REG, which I've passed so hopefully it's behind me, and I took FAR, which she has passed. It's tempting to talk about more specifics since we both are hopefully done with each of those sections. I know the harm in that could be that I have to re-take REG or she has to re-take FAR.

What about telling someone specifics that has passed the exam and is licensed? What is the harm telling specifics to that person?

Just hypothetical 🙂

BEC 52, 61, 74, 77
AUD 80
REG 75
FAR 50, 60, 70, 74, 83...DONE!!
..Texas.. Baby #2 born 4/11/11

[Anonymous]

There really is no harm since everyone gets a completely different exam. But it's just a rule that the AICPA sets and we have to follow it. It's a silly rule, but it's a rule we agreed to abide by when we took the test.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for writing this/starting this thread ExhaustedCPA. I don't mean to sound like I'm overreacting, but when I began to see such comments about what may have been seen on the exam, I couldn't believe it. I was a bit shocked. I mean, you're hopefully going to begin a career as a CPA, where we know integrity and ethical values play a very important part, and here that very same person is letting questions on the exam kind of slip out. We all have to “sign” that non-disclosure agreement, it's a known thing you can't disclose what was on the exam, so what's the excuse to do it? And when a person posts it and others read it, they're affected by what they read…so it's not just the person who's disclosing who may be causing himself harm, but s/he's harming everyone else who reads it…

It may be challenging, but it's what indicates how trustworthy a person is.

Whether such a rule should or shouldn't exist is a separate discussion. The fact is, it does exist, and we have to deal with it appropriately.

Just my thoughts. Thanks Jeff and moderators for trying to keep an eye on this!

[letsfixthis]

I don't know about you guys, but I sure would love Snausages opinion on all of this……

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[NoScores2Display4thisSection]

I wonder if CPA review courses get a leg up by hearing from a bit from candidates here and there about exam content. I've heard a CPA review teacher say things like “___(insert topic) is now tested in FAR SIMS!” I mean how do they know this? If they base it on the CSO, it's legit, but otherwise Are they supposed to know this?

done

[NoScores2Display4thisSection]

Also, i think it's an advantage to log on to another71.com and read about someone's exam experience, for better or for worse. Just seeing that there are many others out there struggling like you helps a lot in motivating you to keep on pushing. And I guess that as long as someone's exam experience is just a rant over how hard it was without disclosing specifics about exam content topics, it's supposed to be OK.

Is it OK to say: “my MCs were OK but my TBS were horrible?” This is probably OK but Some might see this as unfair – it lets exam candidates know to study more/pay more attention to TBS.

Or how about ” I got X (1 or 2) number of research tabs in my SIM.”

But Is it OK to say “I got a TBS tab that had J/Es up the wazoo”?

done

[Author]

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