DISQUS

CPA Exam Blog: CPA Exam Changes in 2010 – What You Need to Know

  • Baba · 4 months ago
    Written communication on the BEC to equal 20% of the total grade? That means BEC is definitely getting easier with regards to how many MCQ one has to answer correctly. But with all the IFRS material also being introduced, that could potentially increase the difficulty level of the exam and thus reduce the impact that the communication section could have.

    Conclusively, the other three sections look like they will be getting harder. What without the almost free 10% available from the communication sections being taken away.

    I will definitely complete this exam before all these maddening changes take place. Thanks for the updates Jeff.
  • Baba · 4 months ago
    Written communication on the BEC to equal 20% of the total grade? That means BEC is definitely getting easier with regards to how many MCQ one has to answer correctly. But with all the IFRS material also being introduced, that could potentially increase the difficulty level of the exam and thus reduce the impact that the communication section could have.

    Conclusively, the other three sections look like they will be getting harder. What without the almost free 10% available from the communication sections being taken away.

    I will definitely complete this exam before all these maddening changes take place. Thanks for the updates Jeff.
  • Jason Harris · 4 months ago
    If I'm still taking the exam in 2012, I should just quit being an accountant. I hope I passed FAR last month, and have AUD left on the 29th.
  • brandon · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the update Jeff. Its kind of disappointing they didn't lay more out on the table than that since most of that info is available through the cpa exam website and the newsletters that they publish. In any case, it seems like IFRS is going to become a pain in the you know what for future test takers. I'll be glad when that section is out of the way.
  • Jason Harris · 4 months ago
    If I'm still taking the exam in 2012, I should just quit being an accountant. I hope I passed FAR last month, and have AUD left on the 29th.
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    oh come on...there's nothing wrong with the "Three Year Plan" :)

    Here's to you being done!
  • another71 · 4 months ago
    oh come on...there's nothing wrong with the "Three Year Plan" :)

    Here's to you being done!
  • brandon · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the update Jeff. Its kind of disappointing they didn't lay more out on the table than that since most of that info is available through the cpa exam website and the newsletters that they publish. In any case, it seems like IFRS is going to become a pain in the you know what for future test takers. I'll be glad when that section is out of the way.
  • Taylor · 4 months ago
    I took FAR on July 15th and definitely already had the "task-based" simulations in which nothing was related.
  • Taylor · 4 months ago
    I took FAR on July 15th and definitely already had the "task-based" simulations in which nothing was related.
  • brandon · 4 months ago
    I'm in the same boat, Taylor. I've yet to have a simulation with a common theme (4 simulations, total). I hope that's not too much information Jeff, I don't think it is but feel free to delete.
  • brandon · 4 months ago
    Im in the same boat, Taylor. I've yet to have a simulation with a common theme (4 simulations, total). I hope that's not too much information Jeff, I don't think it is but feel free to delete.
  • JDA · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the update :)
  • JDA · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the update :)
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    I may not be understood correctly but BEC topics also include ones from AUD/FARE/REG? or purely BEC topics? Your anwers would be greatly appreciated.

    Brian
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    I may not be understood correctly but BEC written communication topics also include(or may be related to) ones from AUD/FARE/REG? or purely , totally BEC topics only (no relation to AUD/FARE/REG whatsoever)? Your anwers would be greatly appreciated.

    Brian
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    They said that the BEC written communications would only pertain to BEC
    topics. So, you won't be addressing a client about an audit issue in theory.
    I can envision some sort of scenario where they want you to explain to their
    old school CEO what exactly the company's disaster recovery IT plan entails,
    or to explain what cost variance means or something like that. However,
    there is some crossover between the topics, so keep that in mind.
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    edited...something is messed up when you repluy via e-mail Brian...
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    well...BEC won't have any written communications for awhile...no need to
    even think about it until the AICPA releases the updated CSO timetable in
    September.
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    edited - format was all jacked up...
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    yep - we will know more in September
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the fast reply.

    So I won't have to spend any extra time by reviewing AUD/FARE/REG in preparation of new SEC written communication questions as BEC written communications you said only pertain BEC topics. That's a great relief for me. One more question for you is that when referring to "some crossover between the topics", do topics include AUD/FARE/REG or topics within the BEC subjects-ECON, COST, Planning, IT, Business Structure or all four subject matters?

    Looking forward to your answer

    Thanks million
    Brianwow
  • another71 · 4 months ago
    They said that the BEC written communications would only pertain to BEC
    topics. So, you won't be addressing a client about an audit issue in theory.
    I can envision some sort of scenario where they want you to explain to their
    old school CEO what exactly the company's disaster recovery IT plan entails,
    or to explain what cost variance means or something like that. However,
    there is some crossover between the topics, so keep that in mind.
  • another71 · 4 months ago
    well...BEC won't have any written communications for awhile...no need to
    even think about it until the AICPA releases the updated CSO timetable in
    September.
  • brianwow · 4 months ago
    Thanks for the fast reply.

    So I won't have to spend any extra time by reviewing AUD/FARE/REG in preparation of new SEC written communication questions as BEC written communications you said only pertain BEC topics. That's a great relief for me. One more question for you is that when referring to "some crossover between the topics", do topics include AUD/FARE/REG or topics within the BEC subjects-ECON, COST, Planning, IT, Business Structure or all four subject matters?

    Looking forward to your answer

    Thanks million
    Brianwow
  • another71 · 4 months ago
    yep - we will know more in September
  • NUM83R · 4 months ago
    Jeff, I sit for BEC the first week of January. Should I expect to see a written communications tab?
  • another71 · 4 months ago
    We'll know in September.....
  • NUM83R · 4 months ago
    Jeff,

    I sit for BEC the first week of January. Should I expect to see a written communications tab?
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    We'll know in September.....
  • karateman · 4 months ago
    I just found out this past Saturday I passed Audit...So now I have four of the five requried exams, however, at the end of the week I loose credit for BEC (again). I took it originally in July 2004 and had a change of job responsibilities so never got any further than that. However, I regrouped and started testing again last year and passed it again. I'm glad to hear the changes won't happen for a while so I can keep my same notes and cut the review down to a minimum. I just have to get thru FAR now...

    So, it sounds like IFRS definitely won't be tested in 2010, BEC is going to inherit the communications away from the other three exams but didn't say definitely when it would begin or did I miss that? When in September will the additional information be released?
  • karateman · 4 months ago
    I just found out this past Saturday I passed Audit...So now I have four of the five requried exams, however, at the end of the week I loose credit for BEC (again). I'm glad to hear the changes won't happen for a while so I can keep my same notes and cut the review down to a minimum. I just have to get thru FAR now...

    It sounds like IFRS definitely won't be tested in 2010, BEC is going to inherit the communications away from the other three exams but didn't say definitely when it would begin or did I miss that? When in September will the additional information be released?
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    Mid-September, I believe. It will be a pretty important announcement.
  • karateman · 4 months ago
    I can just imagine the thousands of candidates awaiting nervously for this coming report....myself included....
  • jeff @ another71.com · 4 months ago
    Mid-September, I believe. It will be a pretty important announcement.
  • karateman · 4 months ago
    I can just imagine the thousands of candidates awaiting nervously for this coming report....myself included....
  • karateman · 4 months ago
    I can just imagine the thousands of candidates awaiting nervously for this coming report....myself included....
  • Melissa · 3 months ago
    Is there any update in giving CPA exam outside US?