Post Exam Thoughts

I had a pretty relaxing weekend.  I got caught up on a ton of house stuff I've been neglecting for months as well as saw friends and relaxed.

Thinking back on the exam is getting fuzzy already.  It was brutal overall.  I think I did alright on the MC portions of it.  I am hopefully at least 50% on the simulations.  The more I think on my written the responses the worse I feel.  I doubt there is any good way to be comfortable with this section of the exam.  Overall I still think I passed.  Assuming I did decent on the MC portion that should be enough to carry me through.  There is always the possibility that I'll have to retake this one, but I'll leave that stress for the week results get released.

FAR was the worst section of the four by a wide margin.  The amount of material and complexity of it is astronomical.  You could prepared for this section for a year and still end up with stuff you have no idea about.  I really am glad I saved this one for last.  If I didn't already have 3 sections behind me I would have been completely flustered during the test itself which would have been detrimental given the time constraints.  For those looking for reassurance on this section I don't know what I can offer.  Expect to go in nervous and come out feeling like crap.  The trick is to understand that ahead of time and not let it trip you up during the test itself.  Focus for the 4 hours and then feel free to stress after the exam.  You have to remain calm and focused during it though.

Good luck to those I've spoken to in the past week that are testing this week.  I'll be thinking of you on your respective test days.

FAR Exam Taken

It was brutal.  The simulations were a complete killer.  The written were not on topics I was strong in.  I couldn't tell a difference in difficulty in the MC testlets.  The only saving grace I have on the MC testlets are that the 2nd and 3rd testlets took longer to get through, so I'm hoping they were actually harder.  I couldn't tell a difference like I was able to in REG or AUD though.  I'm pooped and a bit cranky at the moment so I'll try a more detailed good post after I relax and settle down.  It may be tomorrow.  For now I can rest at least.

BEC Score Released

33 days remaining (aka 27 days)
Mood - Woot!
Study Time – 0.0 hours (328.0 total - FAR: 46.0 - BEC: 74.5 - REG: 118.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Scores:  AUD-94, REG-97, BEC-93

I passed BEC with a 93.  It was my lowest score so far and I am still happy as a pig in mud. This means I've got 3 of the 4 sections behind me now.  I've still got a lot of work ahead of me, but it is almost over now.

Test Confirmation

It finally showed up on the Texas State Board website:

On 3/15/2010 the Board received notification that you tested on 2/26/2010 in Austin.

Now for scores this week I hope.

REG Score Released Finally

49 days remaining
Mood - Fantastic
Study Time – 0 hours (281.0 total - BEC - 74.5 - REG: 118.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Scores:  AUD-94, REG-97, BEC-??

 Holy Cow!  How in the world did I pull off a 97?  I performed like crap on the two simulations.  I am in shock right now over this one.  That means I've passed two of the four sections, have taken the third, and am down to only one section to go. 

The Waiting Continues

52 days remaining
Mood - Good
Study Time – 0 hours (281.0 total - BEC - 74.5 - REG: 118.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Scores:  AUD-94, REG-??, BEC-??

I am just back from taking the BEC exam.  It was easier than the Becker Final Exams by far.  Overall I was doing so-so until I hit the third testlet.  I flew through the third testlet and felt awesome about it.  There were a few things in the exam that I know I should have known but either blanked or didn't know them.  The good news is I checked my Becker book after the exam and on the two I could remember I now know I got them right.  There were two questions that I noticed in the exam that were not covered in my materials.  One was relating to IT and the other to costing.  I'll have to look them up later, although the specifics of the questions escape me now.  Overall I think I passed.  Others have felt like they nailed this section only to fail and those that swore they failed have passed.  I guess I'll find out in several weeks.  I am just glad it is over.  I've got the rest of the afternoon to clean the house for company tomorrow and get down to the DMV to wait in horrid lines to register my car.  In my studying I forgot to get it done and now it is the last day.

Test Day

52 days remaining
Mood - Ok
Study Time – 1.0 hours (281.0 total - BEC - 74.5 - REG: 118.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Scores:  AUD-94, REG-??

The REG scores got released yesterday to the State Boards.  I am not in a NASBA state, so I didn't get scores this morning.  If I am very lucky I'll get them tomorrow but more likely Tuesday.  I did very little last night in the way of studying per my normal night before the test routine.  I am up earlier than normal this morning so I hope I don't get anxious between now and the time I leave for my test.  I'll probably post something later today after the test.

REG Test Taken

76 days remaining
Mood –Down
Study Time – 1.5 hours (208.0 total - BEC - 1.5 - REG: 118.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Scores:  AUD-94, REG-??

Anyhow, I took the test today.  They moved the testing center from where it was when I took the AUD test.  Parking wasn't as horrid an experience as it was at their other place.  I had my test scheduled at noon.  Once again I showed up way early and I got in when I showed up. I was at the computer within 5 minutes of walking in the door.  I got started around 10:20.  I did take almost the full time (10-ish minutes left).  

The test itself was bad.  I got through the first section more or less OK.  The second testlet made me want to slash my wrists right there at the computer.  The third testlet was almost as bad as the second.  I'd say as bad, but I think I was going numb at that point.  The simulations were hard to figure out what they were asking for.  What I did in the homework simulations really didn't apply well to what I got.  The written oddly enough came out almost just like my AUD written.  One of my written I didn't feel had anything to do with REG while the other obviously did.  Once again I hope they grade the non-REG one as I felt better about my response on that one vs the REG-related one. 

I am going to try avoiding making any full review of my thoughts on the Becker class until I get my score.  I especially wouldn't want to do a review right after walking out of the test since I feel like I just got beat up.  However, I will say that there was a specific item that was the topic of 3 MC questions on something that I do not recall even a mention in the Becker class.  I'll double check that in the next couple of days, but I do find it odd that 4% of the questions on a single thing wouldn't even have a mention.

I came home after a long 3 hour test and did what any sane person would.  I read the material for my next class that starts Wednesday.....ok, maybe sane is the opposite of what I mean.  The scary thing is I found the answer to something in my REG exam discussed in detail.  I also think I found in the table of contents the answer to one of my AUD questions. 

I am beginning to move from the random "I hate anything that makes me study" to a specific hatred of this test.  I know this is mostly exhaustion, but I can feel myself moving from a general dislike to a crazed hatred.  Which is kindof funny in one sense that I can see it and know it for what it is and yet do nothing to change the feeling.

Anyhow, I've added tags for BEC and started the hour count into that section now on my study tracking.  I get the rest of the day to feel down, sulk, drink heavily (kidding), etc.  Tomorrow I start in on BEC and I've got that test in 3.5 weeks.

AUD Score Finally Here!

I checked to see if the scores were released this morning and they were.  I did not score like I thought I did.  I was expecting a 72-78.  My jaw hit the floor when I saw the score.  I got a 94!  Wow!  I scored stronger than other passing people in all but one area, which I got an average in.  I did stronger in the MC and Simulations than other passing tests and average in the written.

I'll do a write-up of my review of the Becker AUD class/materials once I settle down and can type straight.

AUD Test Taken

151 days remaining
Mood – Hmmm
Study Time – 0 hours (89.5 total - REG: 0.0 - AUD: 89.5)
Sections Taken/Passed:  AUD/none

I took the AUD section of the CPA exam today.  The test still sucks as it did 8 years ago.  The one benefit is the chair was more comfy and my wrist doesn't hurt from writing this time.  I got to the testing center an hour and a half early.  I was expecting it to take longer to get there than it took.  The good news is they had room in the testing center (wish the parking lot could say the same thing) so I got started over an hour before I was scheduled.  The exam and interface was just like the practice tests in the Becker software except that the mouse scroll wheel worked better in the actual test.  The testing center was decent.  The chair was comfy and it didn't take long from the time I walked in before I was into the exam.  The room was pretty full when I got seated but was empty by time I left (including people that showed up hours after me).  The room was freezing by time I left.

The exam itself was exhausting.  I took just over 4 hours to take it.  I had to really slow myself down during the multiple choice.  I forced myself to take much longer than I felt I needed to.  As it stands, I still finished the multiple choice questions in just over an hour and a half (1 minute per question).  I could have done the MC parts in half of that time.  I felt really good about the first testlet.  The second testlet was pretty tough (good sign).  I am pretty sure my second testlet was one of the hard ones.  The thrird testlet was tough, but not as bad as the second.  I'm pretty sure my third testlet was also the hard level.  The simulations ended up being pretty spiffy.  The first simulation I blew through the first parts.  I had trouble tracking down the research question, but I think I finally found it.  The written part on that one struck me as really odd, but I think I did well on it.  The second simulation had fewer items and had the type that was in the review that I knew the concepts but had trouble nailing down the specific answer.  All in I still think I did alright on it.  The research question here was less problematic, but I'm less confident in that answer than on Sim 1.  The written portion of Sim 2 struck me as typical yet kindof kicked my butt.  I finally got something 90% finished and then basically reworked it.  I think my final product was much, much better than my first go, but still weak.

So, did I pass?  I kept track of the multiple choice progression.  If I missed every single question I wasn't 100% positive about I'd miss 19 (79%).  Many of those that I wasn't 100% on I had a really good feeling about my answer (half of those).  Most of the rest I had down to 2 answers.  There were only a couple of questions where I didn't have it down to 2 answers.  I could have done as well as 94% or as bad as 79%.  I imagine I'll end up in the mid-80s like I did during my studies.  This gives me between 55 and 65 points on the multiple choice section on a raw numerical basis.  I'm pretty sure I nailed almost all of simulation 1 (90-95%).  Simulation 2 I got between 75-85%.  Using a low end overall of say 15 points out of the 20 for the simulations (not counting written).  That puts my low end around 70 and my high end at 80 before the written.  That means I might not need any points on the written to 50% of the 10 points.

Overall I think I passed.  If I didn't pass it is going to be close.  There isn't much I can do about it other than wait.  It will be a month to month and a half before I know anything for sure.  I am actually fairly non-freaked about the score thing.  I can't do anything to make it get here faster and I haven't begun to worry about it yet.  I don't feel the compulsive need to go crazy trying to refresh the online page yet (I might though).  My co-workers would probably kill me if I start obsessing over the scores anyways.  Even if I didn't pass I can't really schedule another go at the AUD section until after I get through the next three classes anyhow.

I've got the REG book and lectures in my bag and my AUD materials put up.  I think I'm going to try and work on the REG lectures on Saturday/Sundays.  Saturday morning I can watch the lecture and Sunday morning take a look at the questions.  This would be one lecture a week.  If I do that I'll do 6 of the 7 lectures before the class starts.  That means the actual classes will be a portion of my review and hopefully I can get the test in the small window between the REG class ending and the BEC class starting.

My next post probably will not be until Saturday.  For tonight though, I'm pooped.  Bed and much needed sleep awaits.

Day Before AUD

152 days remaining
Mood – Good
Study Time – 2.0 hours (89.5 total)
Sections Taken/Passed:  none/none

I didn't do much today besides skim through the book.  I looked at most of the highlighted material again as well as a couple of the areas I've missed questions in the simulations on.  I also created a two page sheet with several of the more important mnemonics.   I've put in a lot of time into my studying in areas I think will best help me pass this section.  I've done good on the practice tests and improved my written portions lately as well.  If the test follows the material in the class and/or practice tests I should be in good shape.