Tips for not messing up the exam…

  • This topic has 18 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by Anonymous.
  • Creator
    Topic
  • #199168
    Biff-1955-Tannen
    Participant

    I’ll be taking my first exam on the 4th, what are things to be sure to do, not to do before taking the actual exam? I don’t want to mess this up over something stupid.

    For instance, don’t go over the 10 minutes to read the instructions or you have to retake the exam. Don’t forget to bring the correct NTS. Don’t forget to bring two forms of ID.

    Are there any other subtle rules I should know about, like the 10 minutes?

    AUD 93 Jan 16
    BEC 83 Feb 16
    FAR 83 Apr 16
    REG 84 May 16

    99% Ninja MCQ only

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #752785
    monikernc
    Participant

    Take the AICPA practice exam to get the look and feel of navigation, calculator and sims with their awful layout and screwy instrctions.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #752786
    dess213
    Participant

    See this thread:

    https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/the-rules-of-the-cpa-exam

    FAR-83
    AUD-90
    BEC-83
    REG-80

    I'M DONE!!

    #752787
    Biff-1955-Tannen
    Participant

    I tried but I can't since I have a mac -_-

    AUD 93 Jan 16
    BEC 83 Feb 16
    FAR 83 Apr 16
    REG 84 May 16

    99% Ninja MCQ only

    #752788
    Biff-1955-Tannen
    Participant

    Good link, thanks

    AUD 93 Jan 16
    BEC 83 Feb 16
    FAR 83 Apr 16
    REG 84 May 16

    99% Ninja MCQ only

    #752789
    Fat Bunny
    Member

    If you are a slow test taker or super scared of running out of time, try not to drink a lot of water before, so you don't have to go to the bathroom.

    REG - 77, 10/18/2014
    BEC- 84, 2/26/2015
    FAR - 78, 7/16/2015
    AUD - 86, 8/27/2015 (Yes!!! I am officially done )

    #752790
    hasy
    Participant

    Don't take breaks!

    Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

    -

    BEC 80 (10/23/15)
    FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
    REG 52 (4/28/15)
    AUD (9/9/16)

    Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

    #752791
    dess213
    Participant

    I disagree with @hasy. For FAR & AUD I took a 5 minute break between the MCQs and the Sims. It's refreshing to get up, walk around, pee if necessary, and just clear your head. Sitting for 4 hours straight is just absolutely brutal.

    FAR-83
    AUD-90
    BEC-83
    REG-80

    I'M DONE!!

    #752792
    Jdn9201
    Participant

    I also disagree on taking breaks. I took a break between every testlet for BEC and I took a break between testlet 3 and the SIMS for REG. You do have to consider how you are doing on time – I still finished BEC with 30 minutes to spare and REG with 45 minutes left. The breaks help you to relax and pace yourself.

    I highly reccommend the AICPA practice exam as well. Their software is very old school and takes some getting used to. Besides what's already been stated, make sure you thoroughly read the question before answering. I always tell myself to read the question (MCQ or SIM) twice before I answer. I think this minimizes the time I take to go back to flagged questions, or getting questions wrong because of something I missed in the explanation. Another tip I have is don't study or look at your materials at all the day of the exam. I always schedule 1pm exam times which allows me to stay up late (I'm a night-owl) and still get a good night sleep and breakfast before the test. Good luck I'm sure you'll do great.

    BEC - 88 8/29/15
    REG - 82 11/14/15
    AUD - 83 1/8/16
    FAR - 80 2/29/16

    #752793
    Vanessachy
    Participant

    I am taking far on 1/4 as well.

    Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
    Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
    Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
    Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

    #752794
    monikernc
    Participant

    go early. processing takes time to get you in and they will start processing you as soon they can. i always plan on taking the full amount of time for exam and don't take breaks. keep an eye on the clock and leave plenty of time for sims – toggling back and forth between AL and the question takes time. you will be tired but just ride it out. focus on the question in front of you and don't worry about how you are doing overall. save that for after. answer every question – don't leave any blank. if you get the urge to leave do not go. stay and finish. and i can't stress this enough – BREATHE!

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #752795
    dess213
    Participant

    Also, I am very much a morning person. I always schedule my tests for the 8:30am time slot. Since I am paranoid about traffic (good ol' Chicago suburbs), I leave at about 6:30, but my testing center lets me in to test as soon as I get there at about 7:45. I want to get my test started as soon as possible because the longer I wait, the more I start to stress.

    FAR-83
    AUD-90
    BEC-83
    REG-80

    I'M DONE!!

    #752796
    mystical guy
    Member

    Don't drink too much water an hour before the exam, and use the bathroom before the exam. FAR was the only exam I took a bathroom break, just because I got through it very quickly. Every other exam, I needed all the time for the exam and review of flagged questions. The palm scan device Prometric used was messed up, so my 2 minutes in the bathroom ended up being 15 minutes waiting for that thing to work and scan my palm. And guess what, they don't give extra time if they mess up!

    Finally, avoid flagging too many questions. Try to settle on an answer the first time. That said, never spend too much time on any one question. Stick to your budget.

    CPA - Since 2015
    CISA - Smashed 2012
    CIA - Passed 2015

    #752797
    Biff-1955-Tannen
    Participant

    When you're doing a research sim does it give an example of the format it wants? I ask because I just did a sim that referenced to an illustration and I got it wrong because I didn't put a comma before “Illustration 2”. If there is not an example format, I fear I will forget about the comma again…

    AUD 93 Jan 16
    BEC 83 Feb 16
    FAR 83 Apr 16
    REG 84 May 16

    99% Ninja MCQ only

    #752798
    monikernc
    Participant

    i dont recall commas at all but if memory serves it does tell you it is formatted right as you fill in. it would be great if you could use a windows pc to do the practice exam.

    FAR 7/25/15 76!
    AUD 10/30/15 93
    BEC 2/27/16 82
    REG 5/23/16 88!
    Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
    and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
    if you want things to change, you have to do something different

    #752799
    Biff-1955-Tannen
    Participant

    Thanks, and yea I wish I could do the practice exam :-/

    AUD 93 Jan 16
    BEC 83 Feb 16
    FAR 83 Apr 16
    REG 84 May 16

    99% Ninja MCQ only

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
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