[SallyCPA]

As we wait on our results, I’d be interested to hear everyones’ thoughts about how they thought the new exam was. Went into FAR feeling somewhat prepared and walked out not confident about anything…

[Jj]

Terrible.

[SallyCPA]

@Beantown23 considering we got the same sims..I feel your pain

[Jj]

Haha just wanted to give you an update.

[Anonymous]

this was my 3rd attempt at FAR after 73 in MAR (2X OUCH). I FELT this exam was much much more difficult. I walked out with my face in bits and my ego bruised. Those sims were intense and crazy. Got one about a casino, really silly. A cash flows, inventory one, 3-5 DRS, 1 research. And the MCQ's were long and tough

[Anonymous]

I didn't like the format of MCQ-MCQ-SIM-SIM-SIM/WC. But, thank the heavens that my research question was on the last SIM testlet (it was the 1st of the 3 questions) because I realized that I did it wrong and had a chance to go back and fix it. The test questions, particularly the SIMs, were much more friendly than those I'd encountered on FAR in Q1, on the old format.
The problem was that I just wasn't all that prepared for it (I took AUD in Q2). But, I know what to expect next time around. I'm doing BEC next.

[Anonymous]

1st exam was far q2, went in feeling confident, came out feeling terrible. But the more ive thought about it the better I think I did. Mcq's werent too bad, those sims though….
Had my 2 longest ones in testlet 3 and sent me into a panic.

[Anonymous]

@Canpassattitude – you passed FAR. If you didn't, I'd be very surprised. See my signature line below.

[Chelsea26]

MCQs: Spent a considerable amount of time on the first testlet to ensure I get a “difficult” second testlet, and I did. The second testlet consisted of lengthier questions and therefore a lot of guesses since I couldn't afford to devote too much time on it.
SIMs: Got the Research question fairly quickly. Apart from one manageable DRS, rest of the SIMs were brutal. I'm just hoping I did enough to squeeze through with a 75 🙁

BEC - July 2016 → 78
AUD - Sep 2016
REG - Nov 2016
FAR - Feb 2017

[Iceman6]

1st SIMS testlet was medium, only flagged about 5-6. 2nd was a lot wordier and a couple topics from left field. Got super lucky with the first 5 SIMS since they were topics I knew pretty well, and my research I found right away. Got a tough equity SIM and one DRS I have no clue how I did on. Spent the most time on the last three SIMS of my exam, finished with about 10 mins left.

Praying I did enough on it to pass, last time I got stronger on SIMS and now its worth 50% of the exam so hopefully that puts me over the edge.

[Wannafree]

Went into FAR feeling well prepared and walked out with black eyes ,broken arm and leg plastered ,cut marks on heart and brain.

[SallyCPA]

@wannafree FAR seems like it was a total shit show for everyone. I honestly felt the MCQ were fair but I don't even know what to say about the sims…there was maybe one sim that was even remotely similar to review material and the amount of time to complete them IS INSANE..On top of that you have the nice CPA exam software that seems like it was from the 1980s.

[CPAIN2K17]

If you are worried that you didn’t do well on MCQ because your second testlet didn’t seem more difficult, don’t freak out. The AICPA released “difficult” questions include some very straightforward questions that I wouldn’t really think would be considered difficult.

For example, these are released “difficult” questions for FAR:

1.
General purpose external financial reporting of a corporation focuses primarily on the needs of which of
the following users?
Regulatory and taxing authorities.
Investors and creditors and their advisors.
The board of directors of the corporation.
The management of the corporation.
2.
When the direct method of preparing a statement of cash flows is used, an enterprise should provide a
reconciliation of net income to net cash flows from which activity?
Investing.
Financing.
Operating.
No reconciliation should be provided.

[Wannafree]

Agree SallyCPA.I have appeared many times and failed multiple times before this window but somehow able to look inside and blamed myself that I should have studied more or practiced more etc etc but this time “what else I could have done ” feeling came.
I was told that AICPA reads this forum posts so I can say AICPA is laughing and getting sadistic pleasure that all of us got caught off guard.

[SallyCPA]

@CPAIN2k17 Very interesting…I feel like the 2nd window was a test run for the future of the test so really anything is possible. I do think that there is going to be more emphasis on the MCQ for the 2nd window than 50% only because the testers are still trying to figure out how to weigh the sims… I also have a conspiracy that the new sims are adaptive even though the AICPA says they're not…

[Wannafree]

My house is near NASA so going to visit NASA center and ask the best brains how to pass CPA.Oh forgot ,that they study Physics and Math not FAR.

[Author]

Replies