another74
I passed BEC this window with an 80.
I failed REG again with a 74.
I lost my FARE score.
I’ve had all day to think about this before I posted anything on it. I’ve run the natural gambit of emotions….shock/disbelief…pity…anger… and finally resolve… determination…motivation.
Ironically, less than 24 hours before receiving my score, I received an e-mail from someone who failed FARE back to back with 74s and I responded with this:
“First let me say that you are SO CLOSE! Don’t give up! When you have the letters CPA by your name those two 74s won’t even matter.”
Little did I know that I would be needing that very same advice.
I don’t blame anyone for my failure on the exam but myself. Truth be told, I spent 85% of my time studying for BEC because I was scared of failing it a fourth time. I didn’t even make it through Yaeger’s cram DVD. I watched the section on Partnerships and Corps and then skipped the rest to work BEC extra hard. I figured that I scored a 74 last time overall…scored a 93 in individual tax…my weakness was entity taxation, which I went over, so I thought I had done enough to pass with a 75.
I was wrong, apparently. Would I do anything different if I could have a mulligan? Not really…I had a month to prepare for an exam that I have never put much time into (BEC) and an exam that covered a lot of material (REG). My FARE score was going to expire in a month because when I passed FARE, I celebrated by taking a year off – which was a big mistake, obviously.
I’m going to start on REG again tonight instead of moping around like I’m tempted to. I’m going to work every question in the Wiley book and watch the Yaeger cram DVD the whole way through and spend the entire month of June doing it.
Then, after taking REG, I will devote July and August to FARE. I have ordered the complete Yaeger FARE package and will have two months to study for FARE again and I will take it at the end of August. I needed to brush up on FARE anyway. The prospect of being a “CPA” but knowing that I had forgotten a lot of the FARE material just didn’t seem right to me.
I’m going to do it right and learn the material – not just memorize stuff to regurgitate during a 4 hour exam.
This setback will be a blessing in disguise and victory will be that much sweeter when I achieve it.
Thank you for reading.
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I almost started crying when I read this. I am so, so, so sorry. I know this is rough, but your resolve is amazing, and an incredible inspiration to me. In the short time I’ve kept up with you, I’ve learned a lot about dedication and perseverance. you’ll have this thing finished in August. i can feel it!
Adri – if I could give you any one piece of advice, it would be to do it right the first time and to not be lazy in the early going. Then, you’ll pass and won’t have to deal with these setbacks.
Going the extra mile when you’d rather do ANYTHING but study will pay dividends on exam day.
At this point, it’s about finishing what I started. I have no aspirations to go back to public accounting…I just want be able to look myself in the mirror without regrets.
Sacrifice now so that a year from now you won’t still be messing around with this exam!
I said it on CPA net, but I’ll say it again here. Keep your head up, you will get through it soon. I knew a dude that took the paper exam 9 times before passing. You just gotta keep trying. I’m rooting for you.
Just keep going man…I was in the same position as you, I passed BEC (my first section) and then took a year off. I was fortunate enough to pass the rest of the exam with my remaining time but I felt much of the same emotions as you…primarily the fear of failure. Just keep going, if it isn’t rough, it isn’t right…
I can understand what you must be going through. I too had faced a similar situation when I received my FARE score and got 73 for the second time. I am giving FARE again now but that made me lose my AUD credit, the one on which I spent, 3 months toiling to get that coveted 79.
I think success achieved easily doesnt make us realize the value of it than success that comes with so much hard work.. Believe me one day we all will say it was woth it!
I can’t believe it! I was really pulling for you man.
It’s true that 85% of the exam candidates (supposedly) will have to retake at least one section…clearly not everyone can be in the top 15%. This is an exam that conquers many people, many people who have never been conquered by an exam before even.
However, don’t use this as a rationalization to excuse your shortcomings. You should just take that statistic off your page, because it probably hurts you more than it helps you.
The reality is (I took a lot of stats in college), your pass/fail rates put you in the bottom quintile of CPA exam candidates. My quick little calculation actually puts you at the bottom 15th %ile.
I’m not saying it to be mean. But you seem to rationalize your failures with the failures of other (never rationalize your behavior or outcomes with those of other people, especially for test-taking… you never want to rationalize a failure with anything). Also, don’t waste a bunch of time and money on gimmicky cram DVDs. If you just spent the appropriate level of time studying, you wouldn’t need it, and could save a lot of money.
I’m not trying to put you down, because I went to your site this morning hoping to see you’d pass. Your approach to this exam just needs a lot of fine-tuning. Good luck.
Congratulations on passing BEC! I am sorry to hear about REG…I am in the same boat. I took it for the 3rd time in April only to score a 68…ugh! But I’d like to ask you…how were you able to lift your BEC score? I am scheduled to take BEC in July (2nd attempt). I’m using Wiley 2008. Can you provide me with any guidance? I have yet to pass one part.
Thank you!!
Ocjec – people pass BEC everyday using a number of different courses. For me, Yaeger’s cram put me over the hump and improved my score 9 points.
I highly recommend it.
Are you going to try and appeal and get it regraded? It can’t hurt – you were so close!!
Don’t appeal to get it regraded man…it never works, just keep your head down and keep grinding
Dear anonymous stat master,
Thanks for the tips and letting me know I’m in the bottom 15% of CPA candidates, lol.
Thanks for reading.
Hi Jeff,
I have appeared and cleared REG and BEC so far. Had appeared for AUD in May 2009 but scored 66. I am taking FAR on 31st Aug 09.
also now I will have to take AUD in first week of Oct.
My credit for BEC will be lost in Nov.
Now I have a question.
What if I get AUD results in Dec instead of Nov? considering I pass the exam, will I still loose the credit for BEC?
Hi Jeff,
I have appeared and cleared REG and BEC so far. Had appeared for AUD in May 2009 but scored 66. I am taking FAR on 31st Aug 09.
also now I will have to take AUD in first week of Oct.
My credit for BEC will be lost in Nov.
Now I have a question.
What if I get AUD results in Dec instead of Nov? considering I pass the exam, will I still loose the credit for BEC?
*Deep sigh* Well, I just took REG for the 4th time. I passed all three other parts on the first try, and will now lose AUD if I didn’t pass REG this time. I am hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I definitely didn’t leave the exam feeling confident, but I’m not sure I ever have left a CPA exam feeling confident- even the ones I passed. However I have never decded to “do it right and learn the material not just memorize stuff to regurgitate during a 4 hour exam.” Haha!
Even though I don’t know my score yet, your blog is inspiration for me. As a type-A accountant, that has always done well in school with minimal effort, I have just been beating myself up over this REG exam that I just can’t seem to beat. And I am just dreading the day I open the website to see “no credit” again. Of course, I have a whole slew of excuses, from crazy work schedules, to running out of time on the exam, to unreasonable test questions, etc, but truth is I need to just buckle down and do it right. And then, what you say, “This setback will be a blessing in disguise and victory will be that much sweeter when I achieve it,” will be so true.
Of course, if I passed, I’ll be stoked I didn’t waste my time over-studying, and will throw myself a kick-ass party! Good thoughts and positive passing vibes this way are appreciated!