[TommyTheCat]

Read many of the dated posts on here about the exam and agree with the sentiment, it’s HARD. Curious for those that have taken it recently, as most folks I know that took it did so in 2016 or prior…

– When you took it and got below the 90% required score did they email you anything? I read some folks in the past used to get some info on the questions they got wrong, but I haven’t seen anything since I took it on Saturday this past weekend and got a failing score of 80%. Before I jump right in to the re-take wanted to pool the crew here.

– How did you approach your retakes? I had the PDF open and did the CTRL+F search for my first pass, and wrote down a running list of which questions I felt confident versus iffy on so that I could do a final review once done. Obviously I was off by 5 questions in getting my 80 versus 90 I was shooting for but feel like my methodology is good on the whole. This time around I will be taking notes in excel file as I take the 2nd attempt, noting the page number I found the relevant info in the PDF that supported the answer I picked. Heard that was a good tip, any comments on using that approach?

– I didn’t realize til after the fact that the questions calling out the CA specific state in the question meant that I needed to go back to the CA section of the PDF. I realized that in reading old posts on here after I submitted the 1st attempt. I recall seeing between 4 and 6 CA questions so I bet I missed all of those since I was usually doing my search from front to back of the PDF.

– Before I submitted my first exam I printed it to PDF so I at least have a copy of the test i took with my answers I chose. Just dont know at this point which 10 questions I got wrong.

– Some of my coworkers were telling me they started seeing repeat questions, did you have any experience with seeing repeats?

Any thoughts are appreciated

[can’t wait for this to be over]

I have been having a horrible experience with CalCPA the last couple of days. I followed the tips on these forums, printed out my first exam, worked on it all Sunday. I waited to review it with a fresh mind on Monday before submitting it.

Came Monday, I couldn’t access my account, couldn’t even reset my password, it didn’t recognize my email address. I contacted customer service, they said my address is xyz@gmail.com. That was not my email address, they claimed that I had a duplicate account and they merged it together (to the wrong account). Now I have a different account number (not the same one on my exam payment receipt). My exam that I worked on all Sunday was gone. They couldn’t bring it back.

I had to take a brand new exam. I got 86% but got no email for it whatsoever. I contacted customer service again, They said I should have received an email instantly. They said they didn’t even show I took the test and needed time to research. My account shows I took it once and got 86%.

Still waiting for their response to start working on retaking

[Choco415]

Tommy,

I just took the PETH as well. I missed it by 3 questions the first time. I immediately received an email from ‘noreply@calcpa.org' telling me that I did not pass, listing the incorrect responses – check your junk folder!

I did not see any repeat questions on my second attempt.

I didn't change my ‘method' the second time around – I just went over the exam more slowly.

Hope this helps.

[TommyTheCat]

thank you both this is helpful. Plowing through attempt 2. You were right it was trapped in my junk folder I now know at least what questions I missed first go around.

[can’t wait for this to be over]

You are lucky, it was not in my junk folder the first time. I went ahead and took the exam again anyway because there was not even one repeat question, I did get an email in my inbox this time around.

[turo9992000]

I passed FAR yesterday and I'm taking the Peth exam today. I though people were lying about how hard it was. I hate this exam now, and don't know what I'm going to do.

[Drew]

I was 15 questions in on my first attempt and logged out. Logged back in and all the progress was gone. Contacted CalCPA and they couldn't do anything.

So I again took exam 1, which was a new exam (the previously question pattern was gone like it never existed) and I got an 88%, 1 question short.

Took exam 2 and got a 92%. It's not that hard if you take your time…I sent parts of 3 days doing it then I slept on it and reviewed it. I will say it seemed like the first exam had the super tricky questions that require some serious word by word review.

Anyways, if you fail all 3 they will provide you with more attempts, nothing to stress over!

[Riz]

Hi all – sorry for the stupid question but does CA require the PETCH ethics course in addition to the accounting ethics course? I just passed my last CPA section and I am currently taking the ethics for accountants course at Santa Monica College.

Also, does anyone know if the lowest grade accepted by the CA CBA for the ethics for accountants course is also 90%?

THanks!

[turo9992000]

Yeah, they are separate things. You have to meet the ethics requirements in both classes and in the PETH exam. You need to score 90% or greater on the Peth and you need to get a C or higher in the ethics course.

[Riz]

Got it! Thanks, turo9992000!

[AsianNinja]

I just took the exam and failed with 80%. Why do the questions have many words? and the worst part is I don't know which questions I got wrong. 🙁

[Anonymous]

Took me 3 tries and like 9 hours to get through this. Was legitimately harder than all 4 of the exams.

[TommyTheCat]

the PETH is the only exam ive failed in this process ha

[zet]

Will you eventually pass though? I just took the 3rd one and i got 6 mistakes!! Is there hope to pass this test?? Its harder than the 4 exams!!

[ML]

I passed on the first try with a 94. I think the biggest thing about the PETH Exam that a lot of people are missing is simply patience. And I totally get it, because most people are taking it shortly after they have finished passing the 4 exams and everyone is either burnt out, or celebrating, or both. They have the mentality of “wwhyyy is there even another exam? Other states don't have it as hard, hate you CA,” or “ain't nobody got time for this”, or “it's open book, how long and hard can it be? I'll just fly through it.” It took me 2 days of prep. to pass, here was my process:

– Printed out my exam so I had something to write on and track
– I split my questions 25/25 for each of the two days
– I printed out the entire PDF and stapled/assembled by CHAPTER
– I would have the PDF also open on my computer for CTRL+F, once I think I found the proper topic/answer, I would then turn to the physically printed copy, find the chapter, and read into detail from there. (would highlight & make notes)
– When I answered a question, I would note next to the answer the Chapter and Page # that supports it.
– Once I finished reviewing my answers, I logged back into my account, inputted the answers and done.

All of the answers I was able to find in the PDF study material alone that was provided. The exam wasn't that bad, just long. Do READ VERY VERY carefully the questions. Each word can easily change the outcome so pay attention to what is being asked.

FAR - 7/31/14
AUG - ???
REG - ???
BEC - ???

"These are the precincts of pain. A goddess lives here. Her name is victory." - Unknown

[Author]

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