[Anonymous]

I am not downplaying that it is a tough exam to pass and it is a great way to filter out the people who really want it vs those who don’t.

But it’s just a strange concept that you can literally study your life away and have a great understanding of the complex material, yet on the actual exam it only tests you on a small fraction of what you actually studied for. And the exam might completely leave out an important topic that you were well prepared for then randomly test you on the most foreign/irrelevant/easily-overlooked material.

That just means someone can get very lucky and see several questions with material they knew well (but not necessarily prepared for the exam as a whole) vs someone who got unlucky because they got the random questions out of left field but knew most of the material and was prepared for the more complex questions.

For a “uniform” “standardized” exam, by the reasoning above, I would say many people pass with a lot of luck on their side and others just get unlucky.

Anyone experience this firsthand? Correct me if I’m wrong. Thoughts? 🙂

[Anonymous]

If the exam was a REAL test of real-world ability, they wouldn't give MCQs. Only TBS's. They'd let the candidates use Google and whatever other resources were needed. I was born way too late. If this exam were a paper-pencil test, I would already be done by now. Instead, it's more or less a computer game. Click an answer choice. Click and select from drop-down answer choices.
Type in a few numbers. L*A*M*E. Real world? Hardly!!

[ForgottenOne]

You might pass the exam by luck, but you also get exposures to many different area of accounting and business alike. You might not have the skill and expertise in handling complex items, but you could at least identify what type/kind of area this complex item is from and how to read instruction in handling them.

You might not have the skill but you have the awareness

[Trele6]

I agree about getting lucky. That was my experience for REG for sure. I didn't want to see Farm taxes, AMT, or K-1's and I pretty much fully dodged those bullets. If my test would have been heavy on those I probably fail.

BEC hit me hard on the topic I didn't want to see much of (COSO), but they must have been pre-test questions since I passed. No way I got many of them right in my opinion.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Anonymous]

It is a cold, hard fact that person X, taking the exam today may get an easier set of questions than person Y, who takes it tomorrow.
Luck is definitely a factor….it has been in the past anyway. With the new version of the test, I think they are trying to get rid of the “luck”
factor because too many people were passing who didn't know the material very well.

[Anonymous]

Hey @crazyleon, you are always ranting and raving about the CPA exam, the lack of prestige, how much of a farce it is? So why are you still battling to take it to get a ceritification with the pedigree that is beneath you?

You should go take the bar exam or the actuarial exams then. Good grief.

[benboccio]

I think the CPA exam favors those who are good test takers and especially those who have good reading comprehension skills.

Tests are inherently flawed for those reasons. But on the other hand, having good reading comprehension is relevant to some degree, for a CPA to have. If there is a better way to grant this certification, it'll take a smarter person than myself to figure it out.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

These tests are good at determining your skills for taking this test period. Call it sour grapes or testing fatigue because the AICPA has been screwing me on grades since 2013 I dont care. The fact of the matter is the real world you can use resources, ask co-workers, do internet searches for answers. Sitting down in an artificially pressurized environment to answer some questions and respond to case studies IMO doesnt really say everything about a person. Bottom line is I have to pursue this cert for reasons other than my own desires, and Im starting to get very bitter. I've never been a strong test taker, but since Ive been an accountant I have usually been one of the more knowledgable and hardworking staff.

Fact of the matter is for industry earning a CPA is to make the hiring manager's job easier so they have less resumes to review since you can get a degree in your underwear.

@cessnapilot ranting is stress relief for some people because for some people just trying hard doesnt get you 80's on these exams. Its ok to be angry as long as you keep moving forward. I will not be defeated by the people who are actively working against me to pass and I dont crazyleon will either. Sorry you didnt struggle to know what its like.

[NeedsA75]

I don't agree that the CPA doesn't have “prestige”. If you work in accounting, having those initials behind your name is the gold standard and certainly does carry prestige in the accounting profession.

It's not really relevant to argue CPA vs JD vs MD in my opinion

Those of you who are struggling, hang in there. You will be done soon enough. Don't get discouraged and throw in the towel.

[Author]

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