[Anonymous]

…so I was speaking with someone the other day and telling him that I believe as long as you put in the time, you could pass the CPA.

He replied, “let’s be honest – you can pass as long as you put in the time AND you’re good at standardized testing”. Which was a bit of a shock to me, because his statement was quite paradoxical.

I’ve never been good at standardized testing (1170 on the ACT when it was out of 1600), and never been good on tests because I generally have poor time management and get nervous.

My question to you guys is, for those of you who have passed any or are of the parts, do you find that you have the confidence to pass as long as you put in the time, identify your weaknesses, and correct your errors? Were there any of you who were never good at standardized testing and yet still managed to pass any or all of the CPA exams?

[mla1169]

Does this person with whom you were speaking realize that passing/failing this exam is not based on a percentage correct but a bizarre methodology that is more hush hush than an ant at area 51? We are literally at the mercy of the grading system of the AICPA and (major exaggeration to make a point) that the entire score could be based strictly on one question for all we know? There is no way to know what the difference between passing and failing is and plenty of people fail who put in MORE than sufficient hours to pass, and if those same people were poor at standardized testing they wouldn't eventually pass.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mariamb]

mla I would have to whole-heartedly agree with you. I have put in so much time and effort into every class that I have ever taken. However, when I look at the first page (or testlet) for that matter I get that glazed over look as if I had never seen the material before in my life. Even though I know it inside and out, I panic. I hate to make excuses and I refuse to say it is test anxiety. I honestly do not know.

What I do know is that I am a proven success in what I have accomplished professionally and personally.

I cannot and will not believe that my life's accomplishment is defined by this exam or any exam for that matter.

All the Best to Everyone.

[See Pee A]

@Cannotpassagain: That is true to an extent. You do need to be a good student (as you mentioned, study hard, identify weaknesses, etc.), but it makes things infinitely easier if you're also a decent test taker (SAT 1170 would easily fall in this category). By decent test taker, I mean one who does not panic easily during exams, reads carefully (or learns to do this), and can recall information and apply it when asked in different ways. The CPA does require a significant amount of memorization, however, it is helpful if you can actually understand at least some of it.

You have begun this process, an expensive one, and I doubt you will quit if you are truly dedicated to passing. FYI each of these exams is a semester/multiple semesters worth of accounting courses summarized and crammed into a few weeks of hard studying. Be prepared for some of the toughest studying you have ever done. If you can get through these things, you will successful.

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[Author]

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