[jeff]

This is for people taking their exams in the April/May 2010 testing window.

Recommended prep time for REG is 5-6 weeks @ 20 hours a week.

Study Notes: https://www.another71.com/cpa-review-store/

Study Videos: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam/cpa-exam-review-video/

[Anonymous]

one3,

No one can really help you on the specifics of the exam, as that would be breaching the confidentiality that you agree to when you take the exam. However, the CPA is a mix of really random questions, so I'd suggest you be at least familiar with ALL of the concepts in your study materials (you'd be surprised what they might ask you!!). I would definitely put an emphasis on those topics that the AICPA says are worth more (look at their official outline), but it's important to know everything, as all is fair game for them to ask you! I'm really sorry I can't help more, but I don't want to get into trouble!!

[Anonymous]

one3 & bakagal:

I agree with bakagal above. It's unethical not only to give hints like that but to solicit also. So, to stay out of trouble, it's wise to refrain from asking. Good call bakagal!

[Zaara]

There is nothing wrong with asking as to what you think to focus on …its not like One3 is asking for specific questions on the CPA exam….just asking for pointers to study on from the review courses as we all may be using different review courses and sometimes those review courses do mention areas to focus on. So I think you, Determined2bCPA are mistaken as to what has been asked….

If you havent noticed all the forums posts include suggestions for other candidates as to what to focus on a broad view…an One3 did exactly that…by asking broad topics..

[Kelley]

One3, I just took a cram with Accounting Institute Seminar and let me pass on the information that they gave us about the simulations. There currently are no simulations on law so the simulations are all on tax. They generally have a tax form on one or both of them. They generally include some type of computation that would be requred on a tax form. You are not required to know the forms since they are given as part of the simulation.

I can confirm this information since I just took the REG section on May 4th and this is exactly what I encountered.

Good Luck

[Anonymous]

When people say they did well on the mc, what do they mean? Does the “well” standard mean that they knew four out of five questions or that they estimate that they got 3 out of every 4 or 6 out of every 7 right? Also, I think that u don't need to do very well on the sims to get a passing score on the sim section. I failed reg with a 73 and I didn't know ANY of the sims. My score breakdown said that I was comparable to passing canidates in the sim section and above average in communication. That means no one or the average person really bombs the sim. I just took reg for the second time n this was the first time (out of four exams) that I knew what was goin on in the sims. I got an 89 on FAR and left huge chunks of the sim black. The exam is super curved. You just got to beat out 65 percent of the other ppl taking the exam ( 45 percent pass rate avg). If u want to pass the exam, take when the largest num of stupid ppl take!

[FARbehind]

The CPA exam is NOT curved and the official site explains that. You passed because you did well on mcq and did some on the simulations. You only need 75 to pass. The fact that you don't know how you did coming out of the exam makes you think it is curved but it is NOT curved. Jeff, please confirm that. Also, 20 % o f the exam doesn't count (testing questions) and this is adding more uncertainty for you regarding your grade.

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[jeff]

It's not curved, but the use of psychometrics could be construed as a way of curving the exam.

Here is more on the topic: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam/cpa-exam-resources/myths-aicpa-interview/

[Anonymous]

Maybe “curved” is not the right word but getting a 75 without a doubt does not mean that u got 75 points out of a 100 (with consideration being given to the fact that a portion of each exam is not graded). The bottom lineis that approximately 45 percent of exam takers pass each window n that essentially u could have got a raw score of 50 n passed the exam. So I would say its fair to say that ur raw score IS curved! I left more than half of the sim blank, if I was perfecton the piece that I guessed on, I could have got maybe 8 out of the 20 points the sim is worth (strictly a raw score calculation). Now that mean I lost 12 raw point n would leave me with a max score of 88 if I was perfect on the rest of exam questions which counted. I got an 89 on the exam. All I'm saying is that evryone should be confident and have hope even if they think they bombed their test and even if they know they are missing questions.

[Anonymous]

The link that Jeff has generously provided says that the exam is entirely independent of the performance of other canadiates. It exclaims that your score is measured against established standards. Now.. if these standards are formed based on the performance of canadiates on these questions in previous exams (for example, those test questions which dont count) than in essence, your score is based on the performance of other people.

[Anonymous]

I think he meant you only need to beat 55 pecent of people… probably just a typo.

[Anonymous]

Actual I meant ur raw score could have been LOW like a 50, or a 40 and this would still translate into a passing grade of 75 plus.

[FARbehind]

I get what you mean. I think the general effort is to make it independent. They don't want it to be a matter of luck but matter of preparation because this is just fair. They want to be able to say to the world: every 75 score ensures that the candidate has enough preparation to protect the public. And yes, I agree they may remove items from the grading if the majority didn't get them and things of that nature but in general they try to apply independent standards. But you're right it can not be completely objective.

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[Anonymous]

Yeah we know what you mean. It's just that you said you need to perform better than 65% of people which is misleading since this would mean only 35% of people would pass. Since the passing rate is roughly 45%, this would mean you need to perform better than only 55% of exam candidates. I was simply trying to correct the typo. All good points though.

[Anonymous]

CouldntPassAgain , I noticed what you were correcting after i posted a response.

[Anonymous]

So I just took Reg this afternoon, and I have never left an exam more ENRAGED than today. Beyond the point of wanting to cry over failing – I just wanted to hit something!

MCQ – I feel like I did really well. I studied Becker hardcore to prep for these, and I think my testlets got harder throughout. So good sign, let's hope.

But the SIMS? SO FAR out of LEFT field! Without violating the rules and disclosing what was on them – I feel like the topics were either NEVER covered in Becker (I pulled out my book to confirm), or some things were hardly even mentioned! And an ENTIRE simulation on them! ARGH!!!

Are the sims graduated, like the rest of the exam? And are they more likely to be excluded from your score if you did well on MCQ?

I'm so incredibly frustrated right now …

[Author]

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