[swimgirl2005]

Hi Everyone,

I have been trying to take the CPA exam since May of 2013. After failing both audit and reg the summer after I graduated, I gave up and told myself I needed a “mental break.” I started working in September and started my CPA journey again in May 2014. I took Audit and failed with a 73. I retook Audit in July and just found out I failed with a 73. I was too ashamed to tell my coworkers and now I am starting to feel discouraged with 4 exams left to take and it seems I still haven’t found a study schedule that is effective. Does anyone have any advice. As of right now, here is my plan:

BEC: 8/28/14

REG: 73, Redo 10/11/14

FAR: 11/26/14

AUD: 71, 73, 73, Redo 1/05/15

To make matters worse, I live in another state from my parents…they aren’t even calling me anymore because they are so disappointed. Exact quote, “we are in disbelief that you have not been able to pass a single exam. Are you even trying?”

I honestly haven’t been able to sleep, eat or concentrate (which I know is only making matters worse…but I can’t get out of this slump). I am so upset with myself for not being able to pass an exam. All of my other CPA candidate friends passed on their first try and are about to become CPAs. I CANT EVEN PASS ONE EXAM.

I have been using Becker’s self-study materials. What I did for my last exam was:

1. watch the video lecture

2. read the chapter

3. do the MCQ until I knew the answer to each question

4. Try to get 2 sections done a week (repeating above)

I could really use some advice and encouragement so that I can achieve my goal of becoming a CPA. 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

B: 8/28/14
A:71,73,73 RETAKE 1/5/15
R: 10/11/14
F: 11/26/14

[mla1169]

You're consistently scoring in the 70's. So it sounds like a very small change will get you that magic 75. Honestly get the Ninja notes. I got them for AUD and copied them word for word three times while pumping out 100 MCQ a day from multiple test banks. Got me from a 71 to an 84!

Plenty of people fail multiple times before passing all 4, you're in good company.

And avoid discussing the exams with your parents when you do talk to them. It's none of their business and I would never say such a thing to my kids.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[UNC MAcc]

What Asian country are your parents from?

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[Anonymous]

In shock that your parents said that, and I'm sorry you have to deal with that. No one deserves that.

In regards to the test, keep going. You're so close.

[swimgirl2005]

thank you mla1169.

Do you have any advice on how to study while working full time? I see you passed all 4 exams (CONGRATS). I am so exhausted after work each day but I know that I need to do some sort of studying each night.

B: 8/28/14
A:71,73,73 RETAKE 1/5/15
R: 10/11/14
F: 11/26/14

[mla1169]

Not only was I working full time, I was taking 2 classes a semester online, had a 10 and 16 year old, ran a Girl Scout troop and worked weekends at kohls. It was a hot mess at casa MLA.

I studied CPA from 10-midnight every night and 8a-noon on the weekend. Listened to audio at work while everybody else listened to music. Fell asleep at night listening to audio (hoping for subliminal learning). Listened while I was cooking or doing laundry. Spent many a cold fall weekend night at a football game with a Wiley book. Basically any minute I could squeeze something in I did. Studying doesn't have to be a marathon session for hours. Often in the time it took to fold one load of laundry I'd have an “a-ha!” moment listening to the audio. It all adds up.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[krokofilen]

Hey swimgirl

What do work with? First thing I would ask myself, is whether or not you WANT to work with accounting/auditing/tax (or whatever field you would get use of a CPA). I mean, are you doing this whole CPA thing because you want to, or because you want to please your parents and everyone else by doing “the right thing” or “what is being expected”. Not every perfect human being in this world is a CPA, so if you don't want to be one, then just drop the whole thing and do something else with your pretious time. Like go swimming, or something else. That would be OK, because it would be your choice based on your preferences and interests.

First figure out if you want to do this. Then tell your parents next time they tell you something like that, that it is NONE of their business. You're a grownup, right? Third, if you decide to continue on the CPA journey, figure out how to study.

How did you study during university? Everyone is different, so don't listen to much to others in this matter. Obviously your current strategy has not worked, so try to find a new one, based on how you actually learn.

This is what I do (all though it might not be applicable to your learning pattern at all):

FIRST 50% of my study time

– Reading one Becker chapter at a time, making sure I fully UNDERSTAND the concepts – WHY and HOW

– Doing the Becker MCQs for that particular chapter the day after or so, without trying to memorize the questions, but rather focusing on understanding

– Taking notes from both study steps above (I do this on the computer to save time, and then print it out when I am through all chapters)

SECOND 50% of my study time

– Running through all the NINJA MCQs 1-2 times and all NINJA sims 1 time, making sure I understand the correct answers (even where I answered correctly, if I have any remote doubt in answering the question), and constantly looking back on my own notes

– Taking notes on what type of questions I fail on – topic, and whether it falls under “language” (not reading the question well enough), “conceptual” (not knowing the concept at all), “theory”, “math” and “impossible” (being questions I would not be able to study for)

– Making sure I do a fair number of MCQs and sims every study day, and saving some time after each session to go through my notes in detail where I fail on “conceptual”, “theory” or “math” (I try to improve in general if I have lots of “language” fails, and leave all “impossible” ones behind, I allow myself failing those)

Now, this is a concept that works for ME. I do not watch any lessons, listen to any audio, or run the MCQs like 3 times over. That just doesn't work for me. Even though I have not passes more than one exam so far, I know what my learning methods are, and I know what works for me. If I stick to that, I will pass all of them, on my first try. You need to figure out your technique to this.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[swimgirl2005]

Thank you for the advice mla1169 and krokofilen

I know it's not my parents business – I am doing this for myself. I truly want to become a CPA. It would just be nice if I had my parent's support.

I am going to try the following study technique. If anyone thinks this is a terrible idea. PLEASE TELL ME NOW because I am about to committ feet first for my BEC exam on 8/28/14. This weekend is a wash because my SUPPORTIVE boyfriend and I are celebrating his birthday out of town.

This week, I will try to get a section of BEC read, MCQ complete and write down the types of questions I get wrong.

Saturday: Read B2, go through questions, take notes over questions I get wrong so that I understand why they are wrong.

Sunday: Repeat for B3

Week of 8/11-8/15: Review B1-B3

Saturday: Repeat of what I did for B2 but for B5

Sunday: Repeat what I did for B2 but for B5

Week of 8/18-8/22: Review B1-5

Saturday: Repeat of what I did for B2 but for B6

Sunday-Wednesday: Review B1-B6

Thursday: EXAM!

B: 8/28/14
A:71,73,73 RETAKE 1/5/15
R: 10/11/14
F: 11/26/14

[Anonymous]

@swim girl 2005 don't be discouraged. I took AUD in April and got a 72 studying with CPAExcel which consists of notes and questions.

Bought the test bank and went through of the questions once and listened to the audio like 3 times. Sat July 1 got a 74 :((((. I also used cpareviewforfree.com for a day or so leading up to my exam.

My downfall was not using flashcards to track my wrong questions. Like writing the questions on the front and the answers on the back. This would have allowed me to really understand which areas I was weak and to hone in on those.

Don't let your parents get the best of you. They just want to see you do well. STAY MOTIVATED!! That's all we can do!

I've passed BEC and it took me 5 times :(((!!

We are going to do this!!

[fjabay]

First, you need to tell yourself that you are smart and you are determined. The process of self-affirmation does wonders to your outlook.

In college, I have never been the smartest but I was very driven. It took me three books to understand concepts that some of my classmates think is chicken feed.

You just need to work thrice as hard but you will get there. Don't let this get you down.

AUD - 07/14/14 - 88

[UNC MAcc]

@krokofilen

you are way over-killing it and probably intimidating the crap out of young people. 260 hours for FAR? 150 hours for BEC? LOL I did BEC in 24 hours and FAR in 50.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[impska]

Change your approach to MCQs. Don't do them until you know the answer to the specific question. That sounds like you're memorizing specific answers, not concepts.

When you don't know the answer, don't guess.Go find the answer.

Make flashcards from your notes (you should make notes when you read the chapter) and memorize those. Add a flashcard whenever you encounter a question that involves memorizing some list or rule.

Don't take a second run at MCQs until you feel that you have mastered your flashcards and reviewed your notes. Then use that second run to flush out your weaknesses.

You're making the mistake of mastering the MCQs instead of mastering concepts so that you can apply them to any MCQ.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[krokofilen]

swimgirl2005: I think that sounds like a good plan. You are running a little short on time but do your best. And have a great weekend now.

UNC MAcc: Very few do BEC in 24 hours and FAR in 50, so you must be a genius. If that's the signal you want to send to others here, then go ahead. I am just expecting 260 hours for FAR and 150 for BEC, it might be less if it turns out to be as easy as you seem to claim – my expectations are in line with Becker's recommendations, and if you consider it to be over the top then do also take into considerations that a) I am doing those exams in a language which is not my native (try doing a Spanish CPA exam yourself, smart guy), b) I am investing about 2,500 dollars on every exam due to overseas travel, hotel, food expenses etc. (which my employers pays for, but still money which I need to report to my boss, right) and c) I am one ambitious son of a bitch and I just cannot accept failing on any these exams.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[mla1169]

Krok are you going back and forth between exams or staying here for the duration? My utmost respect to those who are doing this in another language. But as the saying goes if you speak two languages you're bilingual, if you speak one language, you're American!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[krokofilen]

mla1169: Going back and forth… It would probably have been easier (and cheaper for the company) to send me there for an 8 week study period and do all 4 exams in one go. If I had know better when I launched this whole thing back in April 2014, I would have suggested that instead. All though, I don't mind going back and forth either (I take a new city every time).

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Tarheelgirl]

I texted my mom yesterday… I passed my first exam! Her response – Yeah.

I haven't had any support from my mom either. Doesn't even ask how my studying is going or anything while also trying to get me to do things on the weekend when I have to study. I simply reply, I can't studying all weekend.

Use the non-support as an advantage to show them that you can do it. That is defiantly what I have done. If anything it should be motivation to say, I am smart and can pass the CPA exam!

I also work full-time. I study during my hour lunch, at least 2 hours every week night. 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Sunday.

You can do this! Keep your head up and knock out the exam!

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Author]

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