[Scared-cpa]

So my first exam ever is Monday at 9am. I’ve compiled a list on my phone to make sure I have everything I need for Monday. Is there anything else you seasoned test-takers suggest?

-NTS
-ID & second form of identification (credit card that is SIGNED)
-Fill up gas tank night before
-Headache medicine for afterward
-Pepto Bismol to drink beforehand
-Snack for a break (Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and chocolate chip mix)
-Water
-Eye drops

Question: Can I take a bottle of water in the testing center with me or do I have to leave it in my locker?
Is there anything else you can think of that I should do beforehand?

Also, the closest test center to me is 2 hours away, but with construction on the interstate there, I am leaving at 5:30 since I have to be there at 8:30 to sign in. Does anyone have suggestions on what I should do for breakfast? Should I eat right before I go in for my exam or an hour before? I’m just afraid if I eat too close to test time my stomach will act up out of nerves, and that would not be good! Are there any suggestions on what to eat? I thought about some skanky, greasy fast food sandwich that involves eggs, cheese, and bacon. I know it’s not healthy but I find that stuff like this usually keeps me full for a long time from the high fat content.

I’ve also been using Wiley Test Bank to review. I posted a different thread about that a week or so ago but thought it was fitting to bring up here since I’m in the very final stretch. I’m around 65% right now…is that awful? Wiley says 60 is good but I know most people say that is way too low. I’m hoping between today’s MCQs and tomorrows that I will be closer to 70%. How worried do I need to be about this? Although I will mention I feel more confident about most questions than I did when I started review with WTB.

Absolutely any and all comments/tips/suggestions are welcome as I’ve never done this before! Wish me luck! 🙂

[Scared-cpa]

@SuckItUp Lol, that's an interesting thread and is pretty much my concern as I have to drink coffee in the morning, otherwise I will get a headache. I will just drink it super early so I can give myself time to go to the bathroom before

@marti85 That's a good idea! I'm gonna drink lots of water today and limit most of my intake tomorrow to just a cup of coffee.

@Amor D I'm 23 so the drive usually doesn't bother me too much. I have to drive two hours to get to anything important, so I'm used to it lol. My plan is to get up, swipe on some mascara to not look dead, eat something and drink a cup of coffee, and give myself enough time to get there that I'm not rushing. I think listening to my favorite music will help with my nerves on the way there, then walk around a bit and review my notes that I took over review questions to get FAR juices flowing, and go in and hopefully kill the exam.

I will definitely try to get there early for them to take me in! I think waiting before causes worst nerves than the exam itself! Just sitting around and thinking about it is never a good idea for me.

Thank you for the tips, I truly appreciate them! Pray for me – I'll need it! 🙂

[Anonymous]

You're very old compared to my 3-month old grandchild, haha.

Drink a lot of water today (not alcohol). Good luck on your test tomorrow!

[almasy]

That's quite a drive! I know some people would advise using it to study more but I agree with your choice to blast your favorite songs and other music to get you pumped up.

Plan your outfit! Wear clothing with as few pockets as possible. No pockets is ideal. It will save you some time when you take breaks. Every time you enter/reenter the testing room they check all of your pockets. I would advise against a hoodie since they make you shake the hood out too but my neck tends to get cold so I bunch it up to use it as a pseudo scarf. You aren't allowed to actually wear the hood either, I was told to take it off.

In my experience, they always let you access your locker just NO cellphone and NO notes. Snacks and water are fine. Safer to ask beforehand just in case. You know your body best but I tend to get lightheaded when I try to skimp on drinking water. I also always eat during a break since I'm too nervous to eat before a test.

For FAR and AUD, I break down the clock with times starting at:
Testlet 1 – 4:00
Testlet 2 – 3:15
Testlet 3 – 2:30
Testlet 4 – 1:45
It allows for 15 minutes per simulation and is easy to remember. It goes down 4,3,2,1 then with the minutes at increasing 15 minute intervals. I always finish MCQs ahead of those times but it's a great way to stay on track.

Hope some of this helps and good luck on your test!!!

[Scared-cpa]

@Amor D Lol, I'm just a wee bit older! Thanks again for all of your tips. I'm making a conscious effort to drink as much water as possible today. 🙂

@almasy I have to drive myself so I can't study notes, and I don't have NINJA audio, and I feel like it would be a waste to buy it just for 2 hours, so my next best option is Eminem haha.

My plan is to wear leggings and a comfy shirt. That way there's no pockets at all. Thanks for the tip about the hoodie, I was considering a shirt with a hood so I will know to not do that now. I don't know if Prometric centers are controlled individually or not, but do they tend to lean on the colder or hotter side? I have real difficulty studying if I'm hot, so I want to make sure I don't wear a heavy shirt of any kind.

That's a good schedule! I will definitely have to utilize it tomorrow because I want to pace myself!

I'm averaging about 67-68% on WTB now, so I'm hoping this is good enough!

[almasy]

I've tested in three different centers and they've all varied in temperature but I would say they tend to be on the cooler side. However, I'm the type to always be in a hoodie and with the weather cooling down too I can't say it'll still be that way. Safest choice would to be to dress in layers.

Something to note! In some test centers if you're wearing a jacket and want to remove it you have to inform the staff and they'll take it to hang it outside. In others they'll allow you to hang it over the back of your chair.

[Scared-cpa]

@almasy That's what I read somewhere – maybe on my NTS – that I'm allowed a light-weight jacket but I'd rather not have to deal with it if I don't have to. Hopefully, a long sleeved shirt will suffice!

[Scared-cpa]

I completed about 850 MCQs on WTB so far and was averaging about 68%. That is all new questions, none repeated.

However, now I am going back over the ones I missed the first time around and am averaging 80-90% on those questions, which is pulling my overall average percentage up quickly. Does this sound relatively prepared or am I screwed?

[Namstut]

I didn't read all of the replies so my apologies if I am repeating what has already been said.

My test center does not allow access to your locker during breaks. Water and snacks have to be left on the side table or on top of the locker so label your items. I did not take any breaks, I didn't want to waste my precious time. I finished every test with 30 seconds to spare! Rather than bringing seeds for a snack I would grab a granola bar. You will not want to waste a ton of time snacking.

You will not be allowed to take any personal items into the testing room. I couldn't even bring my lip balm.

I second ear plugs (not attached to a cord). I get my at Walmart, they are purple. They can be in the traveler or sleep aid section. Testing centers have noise blocking head phones but they are extremely uncomfortable to wear. BUT if you've never used ear plugs I would not do it on the test day, you have to be as comfortable as possible and ear plugs creep people out because you can literally hear your brain move. 🙂

Get to the testing center at least half an hour prior to your exam time, go to the bathroom as soon as you get in and then again before you have to go in.

Good luck!!!

AUD 7/6/16 Passed
BEC 9/3/16
FAR TBD
REG TBD

[AScott89]

Hi scared_cpa just checking in with you. Please let us know how your exam went. I hope you stayed calm and rocked it out!

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Scared-cpa]

@Namstut Hey! Thanks for your response! I read it right before I went in!

@AScott89 I think it went okay. I arrived early and used the restroom before I went into the testing room. I didn't take any breaks at all because I honestly didn't feel like I needed one. Adrenaline was running and I didn't want to stop it since I was afraid I may lose focus.

I think the MCQs actually went pretty well. I was surprised, honestly. Although it felt like all testlets were the same difficulty, I really didn't pay much attention. I think I probably got about 65-70% MCQs right. Whether my guess is right or not, we will soon find out. However, when it got to SIMS, it all went downhill. Those were the SIMS from hell!I know I cannot divulge information, but they were very lengthy and always needed more information than I felt they should have needed if that makes sense. The only thing I can ay is I should have studied JE more. I know, I know…everyone says study JE but I always thought I was pretty good at them so I paid no mind to this invaluable piece of advice. If I had studied them more, I probably feel like I would have passed. But, I don't know if I did or not. I guess we will see. Like I said, I think I did pretty well on MCQs and quite horrible on the SIMS.

I should find out next Tuesday (22nd) what I scored. If I fail, what do you guys think would be an appropriate plan of action? I have the entire month of December to study full-time as I'm out of class. Should I start all over or just hone in on my weak areas and keep pounding MCQs to keep everything else fresh?

I can honestly say Wiley CPAexcel prepared me well. If I fail, it is totally my fault, so I don't feel too bad. It's not like I put my absolute all into it and still failed (if I did fail). The tests aren't as intimidating as I anticipated, either. After taking it today, I feel like the licensure is definitely an achievable goal which makes me feel good. And the fact the pass rate for the CPA exam is less than the bar, I feel less stupid, too! 🙂

I wanted to thank all of you for your help with me on this. You all don't know how much I really do appreciate it. I'm the only college graduate in my family and I don't know any accountants, so I have no one to talk to about this exam. All my friends and family say are, “Oh you'll do fine” and brush it off like it's no big deal, so it's really nice to have people in the same situation as me to talk to, gather guidance, and develop a support system with.

[livealittle]

If you did fail – let's pray you didn't – but if you did, I would pound MCQ's and sims. redo all the sims from scratch. relearn any concept you aren't clear on. retest quickly if you score is close, retest a little later if your score was really low.

If you only need 3 points, hammer it and retest. If you need 15 points, take longer to study, because you probably have more material to cover.

fingers crossed!

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[Scared-cpa]

@livealittle Thanks! Since I have a fresh brain after a good night's sleep, my thinking is clearer and that's probably what I will do. The one area I definitely know I need to focus on is JE. I shall right all the JE I can find! Since you've taken a few exams and passed exactly with a 75 on BEC, what would you say the performance needed to get a 75 is? Would you say 75% right, or 60% right or what? What was your personal experience? I like hearing other stories now that I've taken an exam myself 🙂

I honestly kind of enjoyed the exam…is that weird? Like, it wouldn't bother me that much if I had to retake it because the testing center and the test itself was a nice experience. I feel like I was pretty prepared for it (except with JE) so it gives me more hope and like I know more than I thought I did. Although, all of this confidence and happiness could be false if I find out an awful score Tuesday!

Also, I have a question about checking my score…I'm also gonna post on the Nov 22nd party, but I thought one of you may be able to help me. I'm in Kentucky and it seems that they release our scores on their own website as opposed to NASBA. Does anyone know how this works? Will I check it at the same time a I would on NASBA's site or is there a delay? Any help is appreciated!

[almasy]

Glad to hear the test went well for the most part! I don't think enjoying the test is weird. It's the everything else that sucks: time spent studying, costs, the waiting for your scores.

If you don't mind saying, did you test in Louisville? As for scores, I'm not sure if it's the same for Kentucky but in California they release scores through their own website too. My scores have always been released on the same date as NASBA but at 3am EST.

To chime in about performance, I have never been able to gauge correctly. Last time I took FAR I guessed on so much and I thought I did horribly on SIMs but I passed with a 78. Other times I thought I did well only to find out I failed.

[Scared-cpa]

@almasy Everything else sucks, indeed. But I think I will have more “spring in my step” when studying from now on since I have an idea of the testing conditions, wording, etc. instead of just wondering what it will be like which often creates a lot of anxiety in me.

I texted in Lexington. Hopefully, they release at the same time! Does anyone have any idea as to why it takes so long to get your score? I can understand it taking a little while in case real people look over the SIMS (and written responses for BEC), but I feel like that shouldn't take more than a couple days. When I took the GMAT, it didn't take nearly as long and there are written sections to that exam.

That's scary to think! I guess I won't know how right or wrong my gut is at gauging these until I get my score. I'm probably going to be really depressed if I did absolutely awful on the MCQs because I honestly thought I did good. But I know a lot of people say the way you think you performed is usually opposite of your actual performance.

[Scared-cpa]

Tested, not texted. I can't write today, guys. My brain is still recovering ha.

[Author]

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