[Anonymous]

By now we all know that the new CPA exam has arrived. The previous version of the exam had 3 testlets, and the first was always medium difficulty.

Now that we only have 2 MCQ testlets, are the MCQ still adaptive? That is, the first is medium, and the second (and last) can be medium or difficult?

In this case, it would mean the second testlet is even more important when it comes to making sure we pass.

Anyone have any references? I’m curious about this part.

[Anonymous]

That's a good question. Perhaps if you do well on the 1st MCQ testlet you'll get a hard 2nd one. As to how the SIM difficulty will be assessed, I'm not sure. Maybe if you do well on your MCQs, they will give you harder SIMs. I know I had 3 medium testlets on FAR the last time around. But, except for the research question (which I did find challenging, I had to really dig before I got it) and one other question, my SIMs were pretty darned challenging.

We need to get some feedback from a good number of people on here who take the tests this quarter. Then we'll have a better idea of what to expect in the future.

[benboccio]

Does it say somewhere that it's only 2? That's an interesting change if so.

[almasy]

According to Wiley CPAexcel, the first testlet will always be medium while the second can be medium or difficult depending on how well you do on the first. All the TBS testlets are randomly assigned and therefore are not adaptive.

[Author]

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