[bigcore20]

So we’ve all seen the pass rates for each quarter. I simply cannot believe that pass rates drop an entire 5% from Q3 to Q4 without some kind of adjustment. The current logical theory that’s been going around is that they have to adjust pass rates in Q4 to keep a consistent rate for the year. I’ve asked a family friend who has worked with the AICPA before, and he said he can’t reveal anything like that, but he wasn’t going to deny it either. There’s meetings to discuss pass rates and how they have to keep them at a certain level. Essentially, you could have taken the same exact exam in Q3 and Q4 with the same answers, but you would pass in Q3 and fail in Q4.

Bottom line: take exams in Q2 and Q3

[garnerr2]

I am stunned by some of the comments on this thread. People really believe it is ‘rigged' and they claim that anyone that doesn't think that way is unintelligent? Just reading that comment gives me a little insight on why you are not passing the exam.

The AICPA has explained the MCQ's. There are medium and hard testlets. Obviously if you get a hard testlet, the tougher questions will be worth more than easier ones.

For the Simulations, I really believe everyone in a testing window gets very similar questions. If they turn out to be extremely hard, the AICPA will adjust scores to make sure they pass in the 40%-50% range. If this didn't happen, we would most likely see spikes in passing rates both ways.

I studied with just CPAexcel and passed all 4 on the first try. I realized a couple things while doing this. The MCQ's on the actual exam were easier than my review course's questions and the CPA Exam also tests basic test taking skills. Most of the MCQ's can be narrowed down to 2 answers with a basic understanding of the material.

Overall, I think it is great that they adjust scores. We don't want everyone passing this exam or it devalues CPA designation.

AUD - 76
REG - 78
FAR - Aug 2016
BEC - 79

[komatk2]

Honestly, if you can't pass after a couple attempts, you should really question whether you're wasting your money or not. None of the content is mind blowlingly difficult. If you study the right way you should be able to pass all 4 first or second try… There is no grand conspiracy trying to keep you from being a CPA…

[Son]

So let me restate the argument here.

There's a private organization that tells you they'll admit you to a pseudo-elite club if you pass their subjective exam. 100 people take the exam. Organization says top 45 have passed, everyone else can re-take the test whenever they are ready. People are outraged and claim that the organization is abusing its power by determining a threshold for passage on their subjective exam and demand the organization lowers the standard to let them in.

Absurd? Apparently not according to so many people on Another71. What is your recommendation for the threshold then? 65%? 95%? Everyone who buys Becker's books and submits an affidavit saying they “studied hard”?

I'll say this again: for as long as there are people who pass the exam every quarter, AICPA owns you nada. Zero. Nothing. Study hard enough and you'll make it into the top 40-somthing percent that pass it every quarter.

And lastly. I passed all the exams on the first try, zero accounting education apart from 3 classes on US tax I took as part of my masters (the only education I've received in this country). English is my third language. Took the exams while working full-time in public accounting. And that's not even a difficult situation, there are people with small kids, problems in their families, health etc. that pass the exam. Honestly, just put on your big girls/boys pants and own it for once, will you?

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[benboccio]

Excuses never helped anyone pass the exams.

[bucknell39]

So is the point of this thread to question why the test is not standardized? That everyone should get the same questions and the scoring should be based on how many you answered correctly? I can understand why people get upset because the scoring is not black and white but I don't think standardizing the test would be the solution. I was able to pass 3 out of 4 sections in the 4th quarter. I honestly don't believe they are singling out test takers and adjusting their scores because they have not taken the exams enough times. The two tests I failed were because I was not prepared and I knew that going into the exams. My theory is people just bomb 4th quarter testing. People are rushing to get their certificate before busy season starts and don't prepare well enough.

[hasy]

Preach, @Son!!! Or Sing IT! (If you're not religious or anything)

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

[aaronmo]

Any more excuses Brando?

[Stilgoin]

If you have no respect for the CPA exams and they mean nothing, don’t bother taking them. 😉

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[aaronmo]

It's not fair! I'm taking my pocket protector and GOING HOME!

If it were up to me, the test would change. I doubt some would like those changes…it would take less time to prep but be more of an intelligence test. It's not up to me…

This is called a profession. It means there is a professional society that develops standards, including admission. It's their game. It's their ball. No one forces you to play. The scores are pretty consistent.

If the test was only based on target rates, the spread between sections wouldn't be over 10 points. There is SOME curve and there is also a hard standard the curve overlays.

[NeedsA75]

TBH I feel the scoring of the exam is fair. I don't like the ambiguity but my score generally seems to reflect the level of effort I put in and understanding of the material

[Anonymous]

I failed REG in Q4 with a score of 72. This is my last section.I didn't had time to review BL and some taxation. I think everyone prepares very well and also the competition is really high.I saw someone posted that they did 3100 MCQ questions in REG and still failed with a score of 74.Definitely I know it is becoming harder and harder in my opinion.

[Andrew]

Two of my passes were in Q4. I've had three fails that were in other quarters.

Definitely not rigged.

[Missy]

Let me give the cliff notes version of what *I* understand to be going on with exams and scoring.

Say your examm is ten questions long. You are fairly sure you got 8 correct and assume you should get an 80. But the questions are weighted as follows:

1. 15 pts
2. 20 pts
3. 0 pts
4. 10 pts
5. 2 pts
6. 8 pts
7.20 pts
8. 5 pts
9. 5 pts
10.15 pts

Here's the thing, you can get 8 right and get a 60 if the ones you got right were 1, 3, 4,5,6, 8, 9, and 10. You can get 8 right and get a 98 if the ones you got right were 1,2,4,6,7,8,9 and 10.

So to anyone scoring in the 90's on practices who calls bs on their actual score, realize the actual score is NOT a raw percent.

Everyone who gets #7 right gets 20 points. Everyone.

But do they manipulate it and make questions 1-9 worth zero points and question 10 counts for 75?I guess its possible if they establish via pre test questions that only ~ 50% of people will ever get #10 correct.

So if you WANT to call it rigging or curved or whatever simply because its not spelled out for you, ok.

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

[bigcore20]

Again, having connections with family friends who work with the AICPA, I can tell you with high confidence that they are adjusting pass rates to suit their needs. To those saying it isn't rigged because they passed – your score was probably higher than what you were given. I passed FAR this quarter, yet it's still obvious the pass rates are adjusted. They will take a borderline score (75-79) and adjust it downward depending on their needs for the year to keep the pass rate in the 40 percentile range. If you got a 74 on your exam, there's a high probability you actually passed on a raw score basis.

@wakingbrando77 – Your logic is flawed. I am not agreeing with what you are saying, and we're definitely on a different page here. Your theory is that your score was rigged based on the fact that you got “consolidation and foreign currency sims” and other obscure questions, and that Q4 is a harder exam than say Q2-Q3. That's not what I'm arguing here at all. Obscure questions appear on every exam. And foreign currency sims have an equal weight – you either know it or you don't. Just because you didn't understand foreign currency and consolidations enough doesn't mean someone else didn't. They are in study materials, as is inventory recs (if it's the sim I'm thinking of, that was a pretty easy sim tbh). You also complain about getting weaker on COSO – that's probably because you actually got weaker on COSO. Just because you can nail roger mcq (75-80 isn't even nailing it btw, that's borderline) doesn't mean you got actual exam questions right, because they tend to be a lot different. You may have rushed questions or just legitimately gotten them wrong – they can be tricky.

Also, why would you study FAR for 10 months 8 hours a day? How do you even have time to do that? I'm very much calling bs on your story here. FAR should take 5-8 weeks if working full time. 10 months is absurd and is a major factor in why you failed – spreading out that much is not a good idea. No need to call people low IQ just because they don't believe in the rigging. This is meant for open discussion, not to call other people stupid for not believing it. It's also ironic you call people below average intelligence yet you are the one who supposedly studied 2400 hours and failed an otherwise straightforward exam and blamed it on getting a harder exam.

My point on adjusting pass rates stands. They are NOT giving harder exams in Q1 and Q4 vs Q2 and Q3, that's outright bs. Instead, they take borderline scores and adjust to suit their needs. It would be obvious if they were giving easier exams in different quarters, and quite frankly it's a stupid thing to even suggest because there are MUCH better ways of rigging an exam than that.

[bucknell39]

@bigcore20 – I agree with your idea of adjusting but not that is fraudulent. I think anyone who “scores” under 80 has a potential to be adjusted out of passing depending on how other people fared during that testing period. I do believe those people adjusted out would receive a 74. Now that does not mean everyone that gets a 74 gets adjusted out but some people who get a 74 may have been adjusted out because other students performed better that testing period. If you received a score less than 74 I don't believe they would have been adjusted out.

[Author]

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