Exams & Admissions
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Sample Questions in CBT Format for CAS Exams 5–9 to be Available in September

The CAS will release a set of nine sample questions and responses for Exams 5 – 9 through the Pearson VUE/CAS website in early-mid September. The question set will allow candidates to:

  • practice and become familiar with Pearson VUE’s computer-based testing functionality and interface.
  • understand how to work in the spreadsheet format and respond to questions, and navigate between questions.
  • understand how full-credit answers could be presented, as sample answers will be included for each question.

The question set will include problems that generally represent a cross-section of question styles from CAS Exams 5 – 9 and will not be exam specific.

While the CBT environment can allow for more sophisticated test questions and the use of larger datasets in the future, those changes will not be implemented for the Fall 2020 exam. The CAS is focused solely on the transition from paper and pencil to a computer-based delivery format at this time. The questions on Exams 5 – 9 will be the same as those that would have been asked if the exam had remained a paper and pencil exam; in other words, the questions will be similar in format and style to previous offerings of the same exam. Therefore, the sample questions have been pulled from prior CAS exams.

There will be no changes to the way exam questions are graded, except that graders will now be able to consider formulas entered in the Pearson VUE spreadsheets. Candidates should compose responses in the same way as before and show all work and reasoning to maximize credit. Partial credit will be given for candidates who are able to demonstrate some understanding of the question. Candidates should note that the sample answers provided with the question set are one possible way to answer the questions but are not the only solution that would be awarded credit.

Prior communications had indicated that the sample question set would be available by the end of August. The CAS apologizes for the delay in providing this resource. Candidates sitting for Exams 5 – 9 who wish to begin familiarizing themselves with the Pearson VUE system can access sample questions for the multiple choice MAS exams through the Pearson VUE/CAS website. The sample MAS exam questions include a scratchwork spreadsheet, which offers the same functionality that will be included for Exams 5-9.

The CAS will make an announcement on the website and email all 5-9 candidates when the sample questions are available.

Sincerely,
CAS Office