Mastering Multiple-Choice Questions on the CPA

Exam
September 19, 2017
Introductions

• Denise Probert
CPA, CGMA
Wiley Director of Curriculum,
Accounting Test Prep

• Julie Snow
Wiley CPAexcel Product Support
Webinar Agenda

• Section-by-section highlights
• Multiple-choice question (MCQ) techniques
• How to best prepare
• Tips, tricks, and pitfalls to avoid
• Raffle!
• Ask the Expert
 MCQs on the CPA Exam

• CPA Exam MCQ fast facts:

– Four possible answer choices
– Account for 50% of your total score
– Appear in the first two testlets only

• Multi-stage testing:

Multiple  choice  question  testlets Simulation  testlets  (and  written  response  

testlet  BEC  only)
Stronger  performance
Testlet 2a
difficult
Testlet  1
medium Testlet  3 Testlet  4 Testlet  5
Testlet  2b
medium
Weaker  performance
Section Highlights

Source:  www.aicpa.org
CPA Exam Skills Level

Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org

Source:  www.aicpa.org
MCQ Techniques

• Read the question

– Entirely and carefully
– Identifying the keywords of the question
• Read all of the four possible answer choices before selecting the
correct answer
– Narrow down the answers based on the keywords of the
question
– When in doubt, knowledgeable process of elimination
– If all else fails, make an educated guess
• Flag a question for review if you are spinning your wheels –
return with a sharpened mindset prior to submitting the testlet
• Prior to submitting testlet, ensure you have answered all provided
MCQs
MCQ Techniques

REG
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
MCQ Techniques

AUD
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
Source:  Wiley  CPAexcel
MCQ Techniques

FAR
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
MCQ Techniques

BEC
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Source:  www.aicpa.org
Prepare with Practice

MCQs
How to Prepare

• Read your review course material physical/online study text and

watch the lectures – highlighting essential information for your
final review
• Work as many MCQs in your Wiley CPAexcel course as possible
– challenging yourself to work each question to full
comprehension
• Repeat all of the MCQs in your Wiley CPAexcel course (will
require less time this go-around given your advancement)
• Work through the Wiley CPAexcel MCQs three times for the
areas in which you struggle
• Read to comprehension, the explanations/rationale for both the
correct and incorrect answers – even if you answered correctly
(study mode)
• Have a solid time management plan
• Study! Plan to study a few hours everyday with a few scattered
days off
Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls to Avoid

• Read carefully on the exam

• Stay on pace – this is not a race but you are being timed…
• Keep an eye on the clock
• Proceed confidently
• Try to not get stuck on any one question for too long
• Flag for review questions you are hung up on at the time (within a
testlet)
• Time management (approx. 1.5 minutes per MCQ)
• Answer ALL questions; leave nothing blank
• Relax
• Focus
• Use the headphones provided to block out noise
• Read all of the answer choices before selecting the correct answer
• Select the single best answer. Go with your gut!
Raffle!
Ask the Expert