[Jj]

Are you all ready for this score release or what???

[Tax lady]

@Danko I tend to overflag as well but I like to compare testlet difficulty by how many I flagged in each one. Usually if there is more in the 2nd and 3rd then it's a good sign but I honestly don't know about this last exam. I have so much riding on this score, either I'm done or back to 1 credit. I think we've both been on this train ride through hell for a while so it's nice to have people to commiserate with.

REG 8/15/14 (73); 11/13/14 (82)-expired 🙁
AUD 5/30/15 (80)
BEC 11/28/15 (75)
FAR 7/30/16

Studying with CPAexcel and Ninja notes/MCQ's/Flashcards

[SallyCPA]

@taxlady how would you compare your first experience with FAR with your Q2 experience?

[Tax lady]

@sally I honestly thought I had passed after the prior Q2 exam. Usually I feel unsure (like now) but that time I actually felt good about it. So I was very disappointed with a 73. After studying this last time I realized there were several things I wasn't as clear on as I should have been so I'm hoping that helps me pass this time around. It just scared me that the first testlet was so hard compared to the prior exam. The sims didn't really confuse me too much which seems to be the case for a lot of the Q2 testers. I just need to know! I'm ready to move on with my life!

REG 8/15/14 (73); 11/13/14 (82)-expired 🙁
AUD 5/30/15 (80)
BEC 11/28/15 (75)
FAR 7/30/16

Studying with CPAexcel and Ninja notes/MCQ's/Flashcards

[SallyCPA]

@taxlady Wow thats so weird that your first testlet was hard and your sims were easy. I feel like FAR will have the biggest “curve” based out of all the tests in Q2. Anyone else feel the same way?

[danko1983]

@taxlady – this is literally the only section I've never passed in my years of taking the exam (also the one I've taken the least). I have time if I don't pass this time at least, luckily, but these long waits are ridiculous to say the least. My second testlet was a bit harder I would say, but I also feel that if you get questions on subjects you are not as strong on you're going to feel that way no matter what, which makes it hard to really say that. There will always inherently be subjects you aren't as strong on, so I've never put as much weight into that as some people have. I've always taken the attitude of it doesn't matter how the last one went, onto the next one. Problem is, all I can do here is be ready for a retake. When they change the exam as radically as they did in Q2 as well, there's no way to gauge how you felt you did on it as well imo. I'd have an inkling before at least. I would get into a mode where I just start reasoning everything out in my head as to why this is wrong and this is correct, which I did get into with this exam at least. I've never been like that on FAR before. I just feel with what they did and how long they're making us wait they're putting a lot of unwarranted pressure on candidates whom are down to one test left.

BEC - exp 2/28/13 (crap)
AUD - exp 11/30/13

[SallyCPA]

Quick thought here…most people who have taken FAR in Q3 are coming out saying it wasn't too bad and that they think they could have passed. In my opinion, FAR (mostly the sims) was/were ridiculously hard in Q2. Does anyone think that the AICPA saw that a lot of people bombed it in Q2 and had to adjust it…?

[Affekerl]

@jordan.davis @gicenter27 @danko1983 I'm wondering about the 0's/blank issue too. If I remember my FAR sims correctly, I think they said to leave the spaces blank. I would guess that they wouldn't ding you one way or the other if a human actually looks at the Sims.

AUD: 81 (10/30/15)
BEC: 80 (01/19/16)
REG: XX (05/XX/16)
FAR: XX (07/XX/16)

[Cruzer]

@SallyCPA I haven't seen Q3 people talk like the exam was easy at all so I'm not 100% sure your statement is accurate. On the other hand, the aicpa isn't going to change the test based on statistics they are getting from Q2 people. The way a new exam works is that people adapt to the changes over time, therefore, you essentially are competing not only against the exam itself and the right answers but your counterparts taking it (i.e. everyone on this forum). This is specifically why its a code of professional conduct and the reason they make us sign a nda before we take the exam. If questions were to get leaked from one candidate to another the information leaked would now be more subjective to being worth less in points however the material is quality that is being tested so the aicpa doesn't want that information to be shared. Hard to explain but makes sense if you think about why this exam is known to be one of the hardest professional exams out there.

[Wannafree]

@SallyCPA ,I think the same way as you do.Many people on this forum said they did well in FAR exam in Q3 compared to Q2 ,when the questions were not leaked or not allowed to discussed on this forum at least how are the students adopting ? Becker's and other's have not changed their materials either then how will some one adopt to new format ?
Some smoothing has to be done in exam and level of difficulties has to be nearly uniform for all papers.Some people may find BEC difficult but for some it would be easy.As the things stood in Q2 ,FAR was too FAR for most of the students and just check other section thread.I am not sure they adjusted in Q3 as such because the exam started in April 1st (Q1 ended on 31st March ).I doubt AICPA can do the adjustments that fast.As per one of the podcast by AICPA ,the trends and stat was supposed to be ready by the end of July.So I doubt if they have adjusted in questions itself in Q3.I believe the changes may be ( if they decide to change ) visible in Q4 not in Q3.

[danko1983]

I can't remember what the directions said, but they were very specific to fill in/leave blank, which was not the case in the past. That's a step in the right direction. After all, paying attention to detail is part of our profession. If I had to guess, the odds of an actual human looking at your exam are slim, although with it being the first batch of the new exam, odds are probably higher.

I actually also think the new sims are vastly improved; However, dual monitors would do this exam wonders with the new setup. I remember there being something that completely irritated me with how it took over the screen basically. Something did not function the way I remembered it to, I'm just drawing a blank.

BEC - exp 2/28/13 (crap)
AUD - exp 11/30/13

[SallyCPA]

@Wannabe should be very interesting!

Does anyone remember that post in Surgent CPA review that said to take the hardest section in Q2? I tried looking for it but it must have gotten deleted.

[Wannafree]

@Sally,not sure if that trend will be followed this Q2 as this is new format.

[silverladye]

Thought I did okay on the MCQ part but the SIMs part is just impossible to handle. I've done FAR twice before but neither of them was as difficult as the last time so I'm just trying my best (and failing) to freak out right now

[Tax lady]

Does anyone else make a list of everyone they want to check up on at score release? lol I get so invested in everyone and their journey!

REG 8/15/14 (73); 11/13/14 (82)-expired 🙁
AUD 5/30/15 (80)
BEC 11/28/15 (75)
FAR 7/30/16

Studying with CPAexcel and Ninja notes/MCQ's/Flashcards

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@tax lady, I expect @mtaylo to be the first one in here celebrating with all caps that he's slayed the beast.

[Author]

Replies