Has anyone taken the CAMS exam recently (i.e., March - present)? If so, how was it? I understand the exam was rewritten so wondering if the exam is more/less difficult now?

Our BSA guy took the CAMs 2 yrs ago, then he took his CFE, he said the CFE was a lot harder and longer.

I just took it in April. They said the beta testing period for the new version would continue until they have a large enough sample. There were 162 and you have 3.5 hours. Did you get to attend the live chat on the exam rewrite? I still have the slides if you want them. They said we should get our scores early- to mid-summer. So hard to wait! Anyway, I don't have any coworkers that took the previous version so I have nothing to compare it to. I didn't feel like it was too difficult but I did have to think on several. Some of the questions were not well written in my opinion, so I hope those get thrown out. I had been studying the fourth edition study guide for most of my time, but then worked with the fifth edition too when they sent that out.

My colleague took it last month and was quite upset. CAMS did not tell him that the test was in beta, nor about the delay in getting his results. He was quite pissed and was considering demanding a refund. I guess since he didn't actually pay for it, he decided to wait it out. He maid similar remarks about the test that Juby did in that the questions were poorly written.

This is not the first time I have heard about ACAMS operating in less than honorable fashion.

Now that I think about it, your colleague is right. There was no direct notification about the beta testing. The only mention was in an email listing a bunch of training opportunities, including the exam rewrite chat. I registered to see what it was. That was where I learned the details. The later email with the new edition of the study guide didn't say anything about the beta testing. I can imagine what a bad surprise it was to go into the exam without knowing.

Whether if it was a beta test or not - what difference does it really make? If you pass - you pass. The reason for the delay in grading is that they are probably analyzing the results of each question and if a share of the testers got it wrong, they are determining whether they should throw the question out of the grading scale if it was unclear or misleading. As far as I am aware, no two test sessions are ever exactly the same anyway for any of these certifications.

I really don't see waht the issue might be.

The issue is quite simple Randy. When he paid for membership, the ability to take the exam and whatever else comes with the purchase, he was told he would get his results at the end of the test. He paid for membership, study material, to take the exam and to know on the same day if he passed. He didn't pay to be part of the beta process. At the least, ACAMS should have been upfront about it, which they were not. At the end of the day, you pay for A, you should get A.

I won't go into other stories I have been told about ACAMS, as I don't want this to turn into a thread about their business practices.

ACB - Well, maybe that's also why you don't see a bunch of initials behind my name on my business cards

You are wise man Sir.

Wow. Glad I took it last year...have to admit, the instant feedback and congratulatory email from John Byrne that was already on my BlackBerry by the time I got back to the car was a lot better than waiting for my CRCM results to come in the mail.

That said, I learned a lot more in studying for the CAMS certification that I learned studying for the CRCM and I've been in both BSA and Compliance for a very long time.

Juby, I would love to have a copy of the slides since I wasn't able to attend. Would you be willing to share them with me?

Well, I particippated in the CAMS Rewrite webinar that was held in January 2011. The Beta testing was to begin in March 2011 and I registered for the exam in late March with a test date in April.

When I contacted ACAMS in April to make sure all my "ducks were in a row", I inquired about the beta testing and was told it ended in March. Therefore when I take the exam, I would know my score immediately. GO FIGURE!!

BTW - My "ducks were not in a row" (my error but ACAMS Certification dept was very accomodating); hence, I will be taking the exam this month. Just wondering how many questions were "thrown out" during the beta environment.

Nu2BSA - I just emailed you the slides.

AnnRoy - The beta testing definitely did not end in March. I took my exam in mid-April and had the beta version. I requested something to provide to my employer, and received a letter just a little over a week ago that said "we expect the beta period to last until the beginning of this summer." Maybe it ended early, but not in March. I understand what Randy says about if you pass you pass. However, I think it helps to know whether you are taking a shorter or longer exam just so you can prepare mentally and not be caught off guard. Good luck!

I'm taking my test tommorw, can anyone tell me what i should concentrate on beside reading the 400+ guideline that I read and took the practice test many times just to keep things fresh.
any feedback will be appreciated.

After all that you've done - just relax and have a good sleep. If 19,000 people could do it, you will pass, too.

Good luck!

thank you so much! I needed to hear that! I'll come back and let you know how I did :-)

So I just took my CAMS exam...I did all the proper studying, took the prep exams multiple times, even bought the 120 question practice exam from AML-Assassin and took it twice. Felt pretty prepared and STILL didn't pass!! I came extremely close, but no cigar. Any advice about how I should prep this time around, additional materials, or a good live prep course? I cannot fail a second time around...thanks!!!!

Don't change anything. You were very close so just use the same material and keep working on it. Don't confuse yourself with getting more material to stress over. You can do this thing so just relax and get it done.

Hello! I'm going to start preparing to take the CAMS Exam in the next year or so. Would anyone be willing to share some tips/experiences that you went through? Any tips on preparation? Thanks in advance!

Prepare a weekly schedule on what you want to accomplish as far as how many pages or chapters to read. Get knowledgeable with the different organizations (FATF, Basel Committee, etc.) and their rules. For the practice exam in the guide make sure to have someone grade it for you and tell you number you got wrong but not which ones. I set up an excel sheet to take the practice exam. One page was for my answers, 2nd page was correct answers (had someone else enter them for me), and third page was formulas set up to tell me number write or wrong. I wouldn't look at ones I got wrong until week before exam to see what to study up on.

And Good Luck!!!

There are always a few people studying to take the exam, post in the ACAMS forums and see if you can put a study group together. We did and it was always held over the phone.

Awesome - thanks for the advice everyone. Just out of curiosity, do you have to continue to be an ACAMS member in order to stay certified once the test is passed?

Yes

Is this a multiple choice test like the study guide's examples?