[Last Chance CPA]

Got out of REG today, and I am certain now that the CPA exam really isn’t a test of intelligence or accounting knowledge. It is instead a test of how much you can cram and remember is a short period of time, and also how lucky you get on exam day with the MCQs/SIMs.

I know I am not an Elijah Watts Sells kind of guy, and accounting doesn’t come naturally to me, but these exams are not a measure of how I would practice as a CPA. Note: I am older and am not an accountant. I am looking to change careers or merge the CPA with my IT/business consulting experience.

I feel like I know law/tax at this point, but having taken this exam once again, I don’t feel like I passed. I understand that there has to be some sort of testable measure, but there has to be a better way to test accountants.

Maybe it is a perfectly valid exam, and I am just not cut out….sigh.

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Skynet]

Remember CPA Candidates don't fail exams, they just don't want to leave the A71 Family : )

[Rocky123]

You cannot pass these exams without intelligence.All of the hard work in the world will not enable an “‘average joe” to become a CPA.

It is a discredit to the professional to say that anyone can pass these exams. Clearly they cannot. Especially those that take these exams 10+ times.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Last Chance CPA]

@rocky123 – I hope you are right…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Rocky123]

If being a CPA was a piece of cake, every accounting major would be one.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Regarding your point about a standardized exam for mba students. There was actually one that never caught on. Certified MBA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_MBA

The problem was that top schools actually didn't want a standardized objective exam while less known schools would have liked it. A standardized objective exam would not do anything for top schools while allow individuals from less known schools to gain more prestige.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[y_u_no_pass]

I've always thought kind of the opposite. While the hours and the memorization is important, there are things on these exams that require a certain level of intelligence.

For example we covered some CPA questions in my cost accounting course. There was a question where you were given 3 different time value of money formulas, but none of them seemed to fit the question. I was the first one to realize you had to run the formula twice and subtract to get the correct answer.

I think the more difficult exam questions do require a higher level of thinking that does not come as naturally to some people. This is why some have to study so many more hours- if you cannot think your way through those problems, you need to study the technique for each variation the problem can present.

In conclusion- anyone can pass with enough hours, and even the smartest person will fail if they haven't covered enough of the material. But how in depth a person has to go seems to be (generally) correlated to their intelligence. Which has virtually zero bearing on success in the real world. Because it is an exam.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[Gabe]

@last chance sorry you had a disheartening experience with your REG take. Hope you are done with this exam…I took REG on Friday and it's going to be a long wait :). Good thoughts to you!

AUD: 84
BEC: 76
FAR: 81
REG: 4/3/15

OK Candidate

[Anonymous]

It is a test of intelligence, but more than that, it is a test of perseverance. As impressive as it is to pass all 4 exams on the first try (and I certainly hope I do), I am honestly just as impressed by the people who have taken FAR and REG 4 or 5 times. These exams are brutal, and to get punched in the mouth over and over again and keep coming back is very difficult. In some cases, repeated failures are the result of a lack of commitment, but in many cases, it's just a more difficult task for some than it is for others. And I think acknowledging your failures and trying again speaks to certain character traits that most people don't have. If you're willing to throw in the towel after failing an exam or two, then you shouldn't be a CPA.

[Last Chance CPA]

@ScarletKnightCPA – Very interesting. I think this should be implemented nation-wide. It would definitely help the lower ranking schools, and wouldn't hurt the top schools IMO. Harvard/Stanford only attract the smartest of the bunch, so they should be able to pass the comprehensive MBA exam. I know that networking is the bigger concern for MBA students, but then you might as well just go to happy hour every night.

@YUNOPASS – It is definitely a test of intelligence, I was just p'd off at the time. But rote memorization absolutely plays a part in these exams. I do think that it is a combination of skill/knowledge, intelligence, luck, and perseverance. It also could use a bit of modification. I think they should run focus groups.

@Gabe – Thanks. I hope I passed. I hope you did as well. I actually have felt like this about every exam I have ever sat for, so I may have actually passed. My point is this, if you cannot gauge even 10% how you may have done, that is an issue. We should be able to walk out of these exams and have some understanding of how we may have done. You all have been on this site enough to know how many major surprises go in both directions.

@CaseyTX – If I failed the exam 15+ times, then I would have to really question my accounting skills and how I would practice in the real world. Of course, my situation is different in that I have never been an accountant, took the classes a long, long time ago, and never really had the fundamentals down. I never even took an Audit or Tax class…

Let's see how it goes…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Martin]

So if it is a test intelligence then is it safe to say that the individuals who were able to pass all 4 parts in 4 to 6 months are also better accountants in the real world compared to the ones who took more than 18 months and lost credits? By the way, Im not bragging,I'm actually one of the students who might spend more than 14 months to pass. I just want to see if there is a correlation between passing these exams quickly and being a good accountant because if not, then this exam does not really test your intelligence.

My personal experience is that it does test your intelligence because the brighter you are the fastest you will finish,but this does not translate into being a successful Accountant. If you define success by how much you make per year, then the Accountants who are average book smart,but know how to read people well (street smart) tend to make more money than the nerdy book smart who has no street smarts. This is pretty much the norm in private accounting,Im a very average student (3.0 GPA), but very above average when it comes to reading people and playing the game. Im a sweet talker by blood, I also speak fluently 3 languages,so i might not be as dumb as I think. To put it into perspective, I was making around 105K on my last job and it has taken me 6 months just to pass FAR. How is that for street smarts? I guess the individuals who are both street smart and book smart are the CFOs of big companies.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Ganondorf]

What happens if you never pass the CPA exam? If you're working at a public accounting firm and you never pass the exam, will they fire you?

[Last Chance CPA]

@Martin – I make over $140K, and I am going on 2.5 years. Ha! I should have just stuck with management consulting, and never even explored the CPA. This is just painful…

@Ganondorf – Probably won't get fired. People just don't get promoted if they can't pass the CPA in a traditional accounting setting…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Martin]

Last Chance CPA, Im actually glad you make so much money. It proves my point that the candidates who struggle to pass this exam can be successful in their careers.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Missy]

No,I do not think the CPA is a measure of intelligence. If you search on this forum there have been multiple threads trying to correlate IQ to scores here and the bottom line is high IQ does not always translate to high scores. FWIW I have a well above average IQ but struggled with the exams.

That said, yes there are certain perks that translate from exam performance-time management, study skills, ability to retain information short term, that translate well to the workforce. But its a catch 22, plenty of people who struggle with the exams make better employees than EWS winners. There are far too many variables to draw a direct relationship.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

CAUTION RANT IN PROGRESS!!!!!

Nearly 5 years of my life dedicated to testing.

Roughly $10k in exam fees and review courses

Lost credit for 2 exams.

24 trips to the Prometric Hot Seat

Passing scores: BEC – 82 & 85; AUD – 83; REG- 84; FAR – 76 & 85

NONE OF THIS IS REFLECTED ON MY LICENSE! I have a number just like everyone else.

Passing on the first attempt does not make you a better CPA, it makes you a better test taker. This topic has been beaten to death. Bringing up this kind of nonsense does nothing but belittle those who are not good test takers and struggle, for one reason or another with the exam. We are here to support each other. Don't forget that.

[Author]

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