[Anonymous]

Has anyone created a fancy algorithm for projecting likely actual exam scores based on Becker final exam performance? I am being half-sarcastic, but also half-hopeful that someone can provide some information on whether the 2 scores correlate at all and how so. I’ve read that Becker exam scores are typically much lower (and the exams more difficult) than the real exam. If it makes a difference, I’m referring to FAR.

[Anonymous]

From what I've read on the board, +15 is a safe estimate.

[mrwills12]

@ajelias

I kind of have done something like that just to interpret Becker's final test better. I just take my actual MCQ correct/total MCQ possible and multiply it by 60 (FAR, REG, AUD, 85 for BEC) and then i do the same with the sims only multiply it by 40 or 15 depending on the test. Add both the numbers and you get your overall score. Now its a very crude way and it assumes every point is worth the same, which is not true but at least i can kind of interpret the results compared to just looking at percentages.

I would say Becker's exams are harder then the actual exam but you always have to be careful about the sims cuz they can easily blow you away from a passing score.. Take it however you want it tho, my first attempts on beckers final tests were about 10ish points below what i actually got on the test.

FAR - 88 (Jul 2012)
AUD - 85 (Oct 2012)
BEC - 82 (Nov 2012)
REG - 92 (Jan 2013) DONE!

Using Becker Self Study 2012

[terpcpa]

Co-workers who have passed the CPA using Becker say they usually scored anything between 10-20 pts higher on the actual exam than on Becker. I'd say 10 pts give or take a few is a safe general assumption.

BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - May 2014

[Keely]

+10 is usually a safe bet for most, although I've found my scores have been right on point w/ the practice exams.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

I just bombed the second final review for BEC (did OK on the first!) I have my test tomorrow and feel pretty prepared. Now I'm FREAKING out!!

[mrwills12]

@cmcd2011

Lol that same thing happened to me when i took the second BEC test. Dont worry the 2nd test isnt anything like the test is going to be.

FAR - 88 (Jul 2012)
AUD - 85 (Oct 2012)
BEC - 82 (Nov 2012)
REG - 92 (Jan 2013) DONE!

Using Becker Self Study 2012

[Anonymous]

It is certainly good to hear someone else say that they had the same experience! And you are right, it was nothing like the test. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

Just took my first CPA exam (FAR) on Tuesday. I got a 90 on my first Becker practice exam and an 87 on my second exam, so I was feeling pretty confident going in, but my actual exam was incredibly harder than the practice exams. The first testlet was very easy (similar to a Becker testlet). I apparently did well on it, because my second testlet was extremely difficult with questions on topics I had never even seen covered in Becker. I'm guessing I didn't do as well on that one, because my third testlet was in between the difficulty of the first and second testlets. The simulation testlet was almost impossible…again, with questions completely out of left field. I made educated guesses on probably half of the simulation.

This was my first CPA exam. I studied 3.5 months for it (while finishing my undergrad) and felt like I knew the book backwards and forwards and could apply what I had learned. The scores on my practice exams were also encouraging.I just feel disheartened that I studied so much for the exam, but there's a possibility I didn't pass because of the simulations. Makes me wonder if the exam was really a “faithful representation” of my knowledge, and if it was, then maybe Becker wasn't teaching enough of the right stuff.

[Author]

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