Before I started studying, it felt like this day would never come, but I’ve now taken my first exam.
To sum up how I feel: I didn’t do great, but I didn’t completely bomb it either. I think the result will just reflect how much I studied. I have a score estimate in mind, but I’ll keep that to myself for now.
The exam was scheduled for 8:30 AM, but the testing center was 50 miles away, so I woke up just after 6, got ready quickly, and left home around 6:40. I needed caffeine, so I grabbed a coffee and hit the road.
After driving for about an hour, I arrived at the test center about 50 minutes before the start time. I brought my notes, so I skimmed through the main topics for about 20 minutes in the car before heading inside.
Once you enter the testing center, you check in by showing your NTS (Notice to Schedule) and ID. After that, you’re given a locker key where you must leave all personal items except your NTS and ID. The lockers are small, so you can’t bring a lot with you—no bags or books allowed.
You wait in the lobby until they call your name and escort you to the exam room. Before entering, they take a photo of you, scan your fingerprints, and perform a body search—much stricter than I expected! Then, they guide you to the computer room. The room had about 40-50 people taking various exams, not just AICPA, but other computer-based tests too. It seems like the testing center is outsourced, with each exam provider publishing their tests there (AICPA exams are all computerized).
Here’s what I brought with me for the exam:
[Must have = Allowed inside the exam room]
- NTS (Notice to Schedule)
- ID
[Optional = Stored in the locker]
- Water
- Snacks
The total exam time was 4 hours, and the procedure went as follows:
Teslet 1 (25 MCQs) → Break (time continues) → Teslet 2 (25 MCQs) → Break (time continues) → Teslet 3 (2 SIMs) → Break (time stops) → Teslet 4 (3 SIMs) → Break (time continues) → Teslet 5 (2 SIMs)
I went straight through Teslet 1 to 3 without taking any breaks. Teslet 1 and 2 each took me about 45 minutes, and Teslet 3 took about 30 minutes, so it took around 2 hours to complete the first part. The time it took was similar to my practice tests. In class, they said to solve MCQs in about 1 minute each and leave more time for SIMs, but I just couldn’t manage 1 minute per question.
After Teslet 3, I took a 15-minute break, which doesn’t count against the exam time. I stepped outside to get some fresh air and refresh myself before heading back. When re-entering, they didn’t re-scan my photo or fingerprints, but they still performed a body search and checked my ID again.
The first half of the exam went well, but I struggled with the SIMs in Teslet 4 and 5. I was running out of time, which stressed me out, but I managed to finish everything, with about 2 minutes to spare.
Overall, the MCQs felt pretty straightforward compared to the Becker practice questions, but the SIMs were either average or slightly more difficult. I never expected to see an adjustment for upstream unrealized profits on a consolidated financial statement! When that happens, I just focus on answering what I know well. The exam seemed to test more on whether you fully understand concepts rather than dealing with overly complicated questions.
Since the test center was in Mission Viejo, I took the opportunity to visit Dana Point and Laguna Beach afterward before heading home.
I took the rest of the day off.
I even celebrated by cooking a steak. I seasoned it with salt the day before and left it in the fridge to dry out. Before cooking, I added pepper, then finished it with garlic, thyme, and butter. I was too lazy to make sides, so I just threw together a basil-free Caprese salad.
That’s it for my exam experience.
Starting tomorrow, it’s on to studying for the BAR exam.
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