[Anonymous]

Sorry – but this is stupid and many people will have expired credits as a result of it.

Suppose you took the exam on the very first day of Q2 (April 1st) – you won’t get your CPA exam score back until August 14th! There won’t be enough time to re-take it in Q3 if needed. So many people will have expired credits due to this. They’ll also forget what they learned 4 months ago.

Source: Page 7
https://www.boa.virginia.gov/Resources/Newsletters/NewsletterSummer2016.pdf

[JesseD]

Oh wow….

If thats the case Ill just study for two sections and wait for Q3

[Finally_a_CPA]

Yeah, I know, I think it's ridiculous! I'm hoping to be done in Q1 but if I need to retake a section in Q2, can't believe I will have to wait that long. My FAR credit doesn't expire until beg of 2018 but it's just not fair. As you said, it would be nearly impossible to retake a section in Q3 as we would run out of time. Especially given the fact that everyone who fails in Q2 will be reapplying at the same time. A friend of mine looses her credit at the end of July. (that's before the score release date). So if she doesn't pass her exam in Q2, she's screwed!

[Anonymous]

Those are the people I think are getting so cheated. Exclusively due to the exam change they lose the ability to re-take their parts in time. It really doesn't matter, however, as we are all getting pushed back. We all take a hit.

I have been rocking and rolling on this exam. Took care of FAR on 9/5/16, ought to get a passing score on REG Thursday, I have BEC on 1/3/17, and am halfway through that now. Problem is – even with such a fast pace. I have busy season during Q1.

That'll mean if I passed everything and just failed AUD – let's say on 5/30/17 – I will have only Q4 to retake and pass AUD or else I'll lose FAR on 3/5/18 in my next busy season.

One fail and you're on the line because of this change. I'm doing pretty well even – but that's bullshit.

We have 50% pass rates per part – with constructively only 3 quarters per year given our profession. If we have 6 quarters wrap this up, and the AICPA/NASBA burns 2, what in their minds do they expect to happen? Hell your Becker accounts will start to expire before some cue up for a re-test.

This is a great example of how detached they are from the actual industry of public accounting. Unequivocally stupid. Curve the test – dump the scores 2 weeks out – and adjust it as you go.

[Nessie]

I haven’t been paying attention to this since hopefully I passed today, but this sounds like it wont allow people to take exams over and over again. You used to be able to take and exam on Dec. 10th and then again beginning of Jan. – just enough time to figure out where you went wrong. Even without the extensions, you’d have a month blackout and then you could write again.

I think they (NASBA) are sending a message. Don't take the exam uses you expect to pass. In other areas of the world if you fail more than twice you can’t be licensed, so this isn’t that bad. Write, pass and study for the next one…then get your 1st score.

Yup, sounds like studying strategy is about to change.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Over_It]

I agree, it is ridiculous. People are going to need to start studying during busy season. I did REG last busy season so AUD or BEC is more than doable during that time.
I had to wait 5 weeks for a score once and it was agonizing. Hopefully I get a passing AUD score tomorrow night so I don't have to worry about all that nonsense.

[thebigguy1992]

so say if you take a test april 1….you won't find out until August 14th. Do you think you can take that test twice to make sure you pass? or only once?

[thebigguy1992]

so say if you take a test april 1….you won't find out until August 14th. Do you think you can take that test twice (another test in July/August timeframe) to make sure you pass? or only once?

[CPA788]

While I agree with @Nessie and the message NASBA is trying to send, this doesn't sound like it's always going to be the score release timeline. They just have long lags for the first few quarters of a new test release. Say maybe 2018 when they've assessed the roll out and things look however NASBA wants things to look, they'll probably return to the usual(ish) release time. That's how I read that VA BOA article anyway.

Regardless, I'm effed if I don't pass both my sections Q1.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[RE2PECT]

They're making too much money off of retakes for this to be the new norm. Man I really need to pass REG before all this bs starts.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Anonymous]

Per the NASBA website, only the first score release will be delayed. See the link below for explanation. So April/May will approximately be August 14. July/August will approximately be September 22. NASBA is taking 10 weeks to release the first one then 10 days after that similar to how it is now.

https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/examfaq/

[Anonymous]

The 10 days things is not similar to how it is now if I'm interpreting this correctly:

“Consistent with Exam launches in the past, there will be a delay in the release of scores following the close of the initial testing window (second quarter of 2017). Scores will be released once, approximately 10 weeks after the close of the testing window. For the third and fourth quarters of 2017, scores for all candidates will be released once, approximately 10 days after the close of each testing window. The delay in score releases for the Q2, Q3 and Q4 testing windows provides sufficient time to statistically validate candidate performance on the next Exam. In the first quarter of 2018, it is expected that the existing average 20-day rolling score release timeline will resume.”

https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/nextexam/pages/next-cpa-exam-faqs-2016.aspx#scores

[Missy]

No the 10 day thing is more like score releases back around 2010-2011 not the way it is now. One score release per window for everybody who tested during that window.

The 10 week thing I don't get, hoping they're giving worst case scenario and will pleasantly surprise everyone by the end of June.

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

[mikedurelli]

“Candidates testing in the 2Q 2017 launch window may be impacted by the 10-week delay in score reporting. For example, candidates who have passed three parts and have credits due to expire in 3Q 2017 who test in 2Q 2017 and fail, would not receive their scores until August 14, 2017, making it unlikely they would be able to prepare for, or schedule to test in the remaining 3Q window. The board of accountancy is the only entity with the authority to grant extensions of conditional credit.

NASBA will provide reports to boards of accountancy, identifying all candidates who test in the second quarter of 2017 who have credit expiring and who could be impacted by the delay in score reporting. The determination to extend conditional credit will be determined on a case basis by the appropriate board of accountancy.”

I emailed NASBA earlier this week and received that response.

[thebigguy1992]

If you receive a score August 14th, you can get your NTS about three days after that, giving you roughly 13 days to take a test in Q3 assuming there will still be spots open. I think the best planning for this would be to take your last test in Q2, and then keep studying up until you receive your score, so if you fail you are still prepared to take a test from August 14th- August 31t and have one last chance.

[aaronmo]

It's totally out of our control…best we can do is our best. Study hard, pass, take it out of their hands. This process isn't designed for our convenience and we have no say other than the level of work we put forth.

Yes…it sucks. The entire concept of an entire exam revamp seems ridiculous to me…it's something that should evolve over time. All we can do is try and make sure it doesn't impact us.

[Author]

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