[seju52179]

i live in cali and am taking ethics exam from calcpa website.
i started taking ethics exam yesterday failed my first try with 80%.
i am currently on my second attempt and it’s so difficult finding answers from the book.
any tips would be appreciated.

thx!

[Superdude3000]

Can't speak on that but if it makes you feel better I failed the Washington Ethics exam twice yesterday before finally passing today. The AICPA one was easy though.

[seju52179]

@Superdude3000 congrats! btw do we need to pass AICPA ethics exam as well?

[Superdude3000]

As far as I know you guys only have the one but I'd check your state board. Washington requires the state one and AICPA one. Thank you!

[mtaylo24]

Just passed the AICPA one with a 91% but it took me all damn day. I heard the Cali one is a beast, glad I don't have to take that one.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[NA474]

seju52179 don't give up. I was in your exact shoes a couple of months ago.. thought that this ethics exam was going to be the death of me. I passed the second time after implementing these tips I was able to go from an 86% to a 96%

What I did based off the advice of others on this forum:

1. Make an excel spreadsheet. Right your answer and what page/chapter you got your answer from. I also would rank my answers anywhere from very comfortable to check again to educated guess
2. Use Ctrl F function and look up key words. A lot of times you can find the direct answer in the book
3. Do around 10 questions at a time. I would do around 10 questions at a time during my lunch break at work.
4. If you can't find a straightforward answer use professional skepticism.
5. This is the most important tip. Make sure you recheck your answers. Before I NEVER did this, in school or even the cpa exam. However, with this it is imperative because you can only get 5 wrong. I rechecked 10 answers at a time per day just like when I initially did the test. I caught 1 question where I made a stupid mistake in the process. The whole process took 10 days for me but to me it was worth it
6. Pay close attention to the CA questions. Anything with California in it is in the California section. Or if they mention specific organizations/bodies reference those. If is specifically mentioned look there.
7. Remember that most people “fail” this test the first time so you shouldn't get discouraged. Good luck!

FAR-5/31 -PASS
REG-7/29 (TBD)
AUD TBD
BEC TBD

[Mike]

@ NA474 Thanks for great tips.

[CPA788]

This exam is such a… pain. Got an 86% a few months ago, got busy with online classes and finally retried it this week, spent lots of time and got a 76%! Copied my questions and answers but the questions on my 3rd exam – completely new. Not one single repeat. So tracking questions at this point doesn't do me any good minus the fact there could be similar situations. I'm going to try the 10 question at a time approach @NA474 suggested – thanks!

This exam is just ridic. And I just finished the accounting ethics class via UCSD. I learned the AICPA code inside and out and these questions on the PETH exam are just out to get you.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[ZPassedCPA]

Thank you for your great advices! Those are really helpful.

[Author]

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