[Wannafree]

Do you use calculator given by Promteric or use the calculator on desktop for MCQ ? For SIMs ,what do you do ? Do you use calculator or Spreadsheet ?Just trying to see which is faster.

[Anthony]

I use the built in calculator on the exam software for both mcq and sims. I've gotten so good at it I remember I barely wrote anything down on my FAR retake and REG laminated paper. The best thing about it is you can see all your pass calculation.

Until they bring over the new spreadsheet updates for next year, I would personally avoid it at all cost. Clunky mess that I rarely hear anybody uses.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Hi @WannaFree,
Did you get this email from NASBA?
…
“There’s still time to register for the AICPA’s month-long user experience preview that gives candidates an exclusive look at the next generation of CPA Exam software launching in 2018. Testing will be offered October 4-25. Don’t miss your chance to try out simulations and experience the Exam’s soon-to-be updated functionality and integration of Microsoft Excel in a live test environment.

The user experience preview will be held October 4 – 25 at the following select Prometric test centers:
Alabama
Birmingham – 601 Beacon Parkway West

California
Alameda – 1411 Harbor Bay Parkway
Culver City – 5601 West Slauson Avenue
Diamond Bar – 1241 South Grand Avenue
Gardena – 1045 W. Redondo Beach Boulevard
San Francisco – 100 California Street

District of Columbia – 1629 K Street NW

Illinois
Chicago – One North LaSalle Street
Deerfield – 770 Lake Cook Road
Joliet – 3033 West Jefferson

Massachusetts
Boston – 239 Causeway Street
Lowell – 650 Suffolk Street

New York
New York City – One Penn Plaza
New York City – 1250 Broadway

New Jersey
Hamilton Township – 1 AAA Drive

Ohio
Akron – 1000 S. Cleveland Massillon Road

Pennsylvania
Conshohocken – 100 W. Elm Street
Philadelphia – 601 Walnut Street

Virginia
Falls Church – 800 W. Broad Street

Participation in the preview requires a 90-minute time commitment. Candidates will complete simulations in the modernized format and experience the Exam’s new functionality and integration Microsoft Excel. Additionally, candidates will receive a “items correct report”* a few weeks following the preview.
To register, or if you have questions, submit your name and contact information by clicking the button below.
REGISTER NOW

Note: This user experience preview does not include live or operational CPA Exam content.
*Performance on the preview is not indicative, or a predictor, of future performance on the CPA Exam.”

As to your question, I prefer handheld calculator. It is best during time of ‘panic' and time-constraint.

I am writing 3 sections in Q4. So looking forward for these exams. My 2017 Q3 marks are very much alike with my Q1 marks. Would like to pass all them, if I could.

Good luck with your next FAR exam, as well.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Oh, don't be surprised if I am taking 3-4 sections within the range of 6-10 days.

I am from the old days. We sat 4 sections in two days, 2 sections per day. Last time I sat was test centre at NFL field in Seattle.

So, don't be surprised if I am writing 3-4 exams per seating, especially now that my AUD is on the line for the 18 months threshold. I am a Canadian. I have to at least take all exams each time I cross the US/Canadian border.

I lost my AUD/REG credits in the past, because I wasn't crossing the border more often.

[JRM]

Built in calculator for sure!

[PNS2CLT]

Interesting – Promteric doesn't give a calculator here; you have to use the built-in one.

[M123]

Those diabolical prometric people should learn about thousand separators in both the calc and spreadsheet and number formatting in the spreadsheet. It's ridiculous to take an exam and have to count digits.

[Wannafree]

Thanks Anthony ,you said you are good in using that.I have only problem with that ,when I click multiply and then try to click add ,it gives long values which I can see is wrong.Then I cancel that and again type multiply and save in memory or write down the result.Sometimes it waste my 20 seconds and now I am trying to squeeze time from anywhere.Do I make sense ? in spreadsheet typing the number and then formula takes longer unless you are doing PV. Worst spreadsheet AICPA has given and it seems they know now hence changing to excel next year.

[Anthony]

Do you click the numbers on the screen? I don't click the numbers with my mouse button. I just use the number pad with the number lock on. Works so much better than clicking the numbers on the calculator. Only time I use the on screen calculator is to clear something.

[Wannafree]

@Earla ,I have tried doing same in Last year Dec and failed AUD for 5 marks but cleared REG .In March I tried AUD and FAR and passed AUD .I feel its good idea to spend 2 weeks solely to one section unless you are genius ,probably that's what you meant by saying You are a Canadian. There are people on this forum who have cleared 4 sections in one window but I feel they are very young fresh out from college not Canadians.Try to keep a gap of 1 month for each sections for best results.It's my suggestion based on my own experience ,I am neither a genius nor Canadian.

[Wannafree]

thanks @Anthony ,I was using Mouse click to type the numbers .Let me try what you suggested .I will try on AICPA site just now.

[Wannafree]

@Anthony ,Thanks a lot yes it works much better , I just used stop watch and did the same calcualtions and it saved me around 10.66 seconds.What a discovery man.Any tips for using Memory save ,recall etc or any other tips for using calculator ?

[Wannafree]

@Anthony ,I have done some practice using Num lock on and I can see significant difference.God bless you.

[QueenCPA]

Also @wannafree, you can call your prometric and find out if they provide hand held calculators.

I personally refuse to mess with the inbuilt ones and I feel it is more time consuming. So for all my exams, I utilize the calculator provided.

At the prometric the other day, i had to advice another candidate – she didn't know that option was available.

[Wannafree]

@QueenCPA ,recently I had asked that and they given me smallest calculator of the planet hence after some time I returned them.Inbuilt calculator also has a good feature ,running tape ,so you don't have to store it in memory or write down.Actually I never thought typing instead of mouse will make big difference so far hence never considered it as big issue.Today I thought why not seek opinion of others and may save some minutes here.After Anthony's suggestion I tried with stop watch and amazed at the difference.It may be non issue for others but for me it's big saving of time.Feeling so good tonight.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Hi @WannaFree,
As to:
“@Earla ,I have tried doing same in Last year Dec and failed AUD for 5 marks but cleared REG .In March I tried AUD and FAR and passed AUD .I feel its good idea to spend 2 weeks solely to one section unless you are genius ,probably that's what you meant by saying You are a Canadian. There are people on this forum who have cleared 4 sections in one window but I feel they are very young fresh out from college not Canadians.Try to keep a gap of 1 month for each sections for best results.It's my suggestion based on my own experience ,I am neither a genius nor Canadian.”

When I wrote ‘I am a Canadian', what I meant was, I cannot just cross the border, every two weeks, or a month to write an exam, unlike Americans. It's too expensive crossing the border. I am trying to be practical and at the same time, getting my CPA before the 18 months threshold.

Also, I am neither genius. Only my husband says that. I can be living any place in the world, and still help my family paying mortgages & other investments. That's what he calls ‘genius'.

Glad you like the computer built-in calculator. I am not sure about Washington State or Oregon as to calculators. But, I had calculator when I took my exams in Las Vegas. Surprised, but they said, it was a new thing that AICPA has added during the new exam format in April 2017. At one time, they didn't give me one, voluntarily. So I asked for it, and I was given a calculator. I asked why, he said, ‘you have to ask for it'.

As always, it was never my attention to offend you. Just trying to help, and making comments, just like everybody else here. I believe this is the second second time we have miscommunications. Sorry not my intention. When you said you're from India, just trying to have a friendly conversation like anybody else. I know more East Indians in accounting industry than my native land Philippines. Also, I live in the neighborhood that 60%+ are Indo-Canadians.

Don't worry, I won't be bothering you. Good luck with the rest of your sections.

[Author]

Replies