[barnold]

I can’t believe I didn’t know this until my third time taking FAR about a month ago, but you can ask the testing center for a calculator and they will give it to you! Honestly I think that thing saved me like 10 minutes over the course of the exam, which may not sound like much, but it matters when you’re trying to crank through your last SIM and the clock is winding down.

BEC - 69, 77, 83
AUD - 63, 68, 70, 79
REG - 69, 63, 70
FAR - 60

[CPAwannab]

Oh, I sorry you didn't know that before. In my testing center I don't even have to ask for calculator, they just give it to me. Also, you can request pencil and paper instead of their not-so-great marker and sheets (for that you need to email NASBA though)
Good luck

[TommyTheCat]

maybe it depends on the testing center. I test in San Jose, CA and they wont accomodate any requests in person. You need to petition NASBA ahead of time and they'll contact prometric themselves and arrange any accomodations. And I found out the hard way that they dont usually do a good job of actually contacting prometric.

I submitted a request for paper and pencil for my far exam that i took last week. submitted it probably 2 months ago, well within the timeline they request. When I got to prometric and was getting signed in they said they had no record of me being granted my request. They called NASBA on the spot and the knucklehead at nasba said they had no record of my request either. I was bummed, I had an email from NASBA confirming they had received my request, but never received a “we granted your request” email.

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

That sucks. And it's not like you can argue with them. You're pretty much at their mercy.

Like you said, it's probably a matter of location. When I took my exams in Long Island, NY, they gave me everything without having to ask for it: paper, pencils, calculator, and noise blocking headphones like the one jackhammer operators use. The headphones actually blocked out so much noise it became awkward and I wound up not using them. Made me feel like I was in another world.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[jenpen]

Oh man, I’m sorry we have failed you if you didn’t know that! I always ask for a calculator.

I also don’t like the noise cancelling headphones because they hurt my head so I bring some of the soft ear plugs. I have to throw them away after, but they help me concentrate.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Stilgoin]

I asked for a calculator once- they told me no, so I never tried again.

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."

[barnold]

So interesting it varies by location like that. Gotta at least ask huh?!

BEC - 69, 77, 83
AUD - 63, 68, 70, 79
REG - 69, 63, 70
FAR - 60

[Recked]

I asked for a calculator but ended up using the on screen calculator.
I am so much faster with a 10key vs the small solar powered handheld with squishy rubber keys.
You can also copy and paste with the onscreen calculator.
I ended up not requesting the handheld for AUD.

To each their own.

[TommyTheCat]

good call, i always bring ear plugs. when i took FAR back on 12/4 there was this dude next to me that kept clearing his throat and coughing about every minute so I doubled down on the plugs with the noise cancelling headphones they provide at your test station. That made it so i literally could not hear a thing. Was very peaceful.

[jenpen]

@TommyTheCat ugh that would drive me crazy! I had a lady sitting next to me one time that kept talking…”Hmm.” “Oh, I know that.” “Interesting.” I have no idea what test she was taking but I wonder how prepared she was. She also kept tapping her fingers on the desk. This was before I knew about the ear plugs.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Starved_Wolf]

Whats up with them giving us two markers and two writing pads instead of giving us paper and pencil. I hate the markers, theyre dull and dry most of the time and when i ask for another they give me another dry and dull one. Plus its so much easier to write on a piece of paper..you cant accidentally wipe away your answers.

[scattershot]

allegedly the reasoning is you could tear up paper and smuggle out your notes/written exam questions…although that doens't make much sense either, since Prometric could just check if you handed back 2 complete untorn sheets back at the end.

[BoyNextDoor]

Do we have to email NASBA ahead of time to request them or show up to the exam and ask Prometric staff on the spot if they will provide a calculator?

This policy should really should be standardized across testing centers.

All should allow for requests on site or all should require requests for NASBA. We shouldn't have to figure it out by trial and error.

[alloverit]

The testing centers do try to choose which rules they want to implement.

One thing I would add is that you can also take unscheduled breaks. I'm not sure it's a good idea unless it's an absolute emergency, but it can be done. The administrators have to make a special note of it so could be a real time waster.

While I never needed one I did correct one of the Prometric ladies who said I couldn't and she admitted that that's just what she was told and didn't really know.

Point being, know your rights! Check to make sure that the manual calculator works and when they give you markers check the tips to make sure both are solid and not overused.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind the onscreen one at all-it's what I use at home when I practice and those calculators they give you are so shitty it takes longer to use them…I used it for my first FAR exam, didn't even bother asking for the second one.

[aaronmo]

Is this by state law? I never knew you could request a calculator. The pen/pencil thing…ok, it's nice, but who really cares. A calculator?!? That would be huge.

[Author]

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