[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

[fiona87]

Impska's advice was exactly what I was going to say. Don't do the MCQs until you know the answer – do the MCQs until you understand the question and the answers they provided. (Why was answer A wrong? What change to the question would make A correct? And things like that.)

You can get this. I also second (or third or fourth) the recommendation to get NINJA Audio and Notes. I used them for all of my exams, and it was well worth it. I could listen to audio while commuting to work or out for a run, I could look over notes while sitting at my son's dance class… Really helped to fill up every minute with just a little bit of studying. Exposure to the material is HUGE.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[005]

you need to block everybody out; including your parents. you're RIGHT THERE, it's not like you're scoring in the 30's. Keep at it, you got this.

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[Anonymous]

Try not to be disappointed. Like others have said, if your scoring in the 70s, then your very well capable.

Also, keep in mind that the 18 month clock hasn't started ticking yet. So, you have time to adjust your studies accordingly.

EDIT: By the way, it seems like your exams are all over the place. If it seems overwhelming, you should focus in on an exam or two at a time… not all four.

[lsutigers03]

It took me 5 tries to pass AUD and I'm taking BEC this month for the 6th time. Trust me you aren't the only one to take an exam multiple times. I've seen people here who took each exam 6 or 7 times and others who sat for double digit exams before getting their first pass. You're very close to passing. I'm shocked that your parents are saying things like that and not being supportive. Don't let people get you down keep studying and stay positive and you will pass.

REG - 78
BEC - 74, 67, 69, 69, 70, 79
FAR - 76
AUD - 69, 69, 69, 74, 85

Licensed Louisiana CPA

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein

[How many letters do you need]

That's horrible of your parents. During exams I only keep in touch with people who are supportive. Obviously they are your parents so you aren't going to disown them but I would try to keep contact to a minimum. And just don't share with them your progress. They don't deserve it.

As to whether you are too stupid…no of course not! You are very close. As most have said, usually people that close just need a small tweak in the study process. I also back the Ninja Notes. Good luck.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Kimboroni]

In addition to some of the very good study advice given above, I'm wondering if maybe you're not giving yourself enough weeks to cover all the material *and* have a solid review period. For instance, with REG on 10/11 and FAR on 11/26, I don't think you've given yourself enough time for FAR when you work full-time. While some people may be able to do it in that time, it doesn't mean it will work for YOU. 2 chapters a week may just be too quickly for you to effectively absorb the concepts. Maybe you need 8 weeks, for example.

I work full time and study 1-3 hours each weekday and 4-8 hours each weekend day. I also listen to Ninja Audio every time I drive. I don't have a long commute, but my driving time adds up, and I love that I can make that time in the car useful as well. Jeff has a great way of boiling down things to little factoids that help you remember them, and the repetition helps drive it home.

If you're a morning person, try Jeff's ELL plan, which is a free download on this site, or it comes for free with any of his products.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

It took me 15 tries between the four exams before I passed them all (lost credit for one of them which really hurt). You aren't stupid, you just need to change the game up a bit. For me going Ninja was the thing that I think put me over the top, ninja notes and audio. I You can do this if you really want it. Don't let anyone, even your parents, make you feel like you can't!

[Anonymous]

Advice from someone who passed their first exam on the 7th attempt and got licensed after 25 trips to the hot seat:

1. Cut out all of the toxic confidence stealing crap out of your life. Its tough with parents but you need to focus on YOU not what they or anyone else thinks of you. Their opinions mean NOTHING!

2. Get mad! Ask yourself how much more of your life are you going to let this exam steal. The only way to get your life back is to take it back.

3. Learn to STAND!

Study like your life depends on it.

Take control of your life.

Accept that you wont know everything.

Never give the bully a free shot.

Discipline yourself to the point of obsession.

Your scores are respectable which leads me to believe that you are more than capable, you just need to have some faith in yourself. You are in the right place to get the support you need to help you get through this!

[SomedayCPA2015]

Aaaaaaah this post has been so helpful to me. Thank you everyone! I took BEC for my second time last month, only to find out that I did not pass. 72. Up two measly points from my first attempt and twice the effort in studying for the second attempt. I felt so confident in the material I almost moved my test up a week! It was such a disappointment to see my score on Friday, and has been such an emotional few days. I've gone from disbelief, to sadness, to anger, to disappointment; you name it. If I can't even pass the “easy” test, how in the heck am I supposed to pass any others?

Swimgirl we can do this! Thank you for putting yourself out there on here so those of us in similar situations can see that we are not alone!

UNC you must be a genius. 24 hours for BEC? I think I spent 24 hours alone trying to master variances, which clearly didn't help me as I didn't pass again. Lol

REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - Passed!!!! I have my life back.

[Gonzo30]

From what I know, people have NO CLUE how hard and time-consuming these tests are. I am the king of test-taking and I had a near-perfect GPA in graduate school and this is HARD. It's the hardest thing I've ever tried to do, and it makes everything outside of accounting look stupid easy.

[Anonymous]

@Gonzo — I completely agree. I finished grad school in one year with a perfect GPA in taking 5 classes in my final semester while working full-time (some of them were 7 weeks) and this test makes me feel dumb. I have been in public accounting for over 12 years and I have never seen some of this material as I work for a smaller, independent firm.

Swim you can do this — just get rid of the negative energy (I am telling myself this as I try to master the variances in BEC)……

[Anonymous]

I love all these study tips. I am at the very beginning of my testing process (studying for my first one that I haven't even scheduled yet). Definitely lack of support is an issue, although I find I just don't talk about it much. I also listen to the audio in the commute. Don't tune it out…talk to it. 🙂

Similarly I actually don't mind doing MC over and over again as a learning tool, but to keep myself from learning the answer rather the concept I do talk to myself a lot too. I also simply haven't done enough yet to see a lot of repeats.

Love the ideas and the support here!

[wannabeCPA123]

Guys. Studying for this exam is straight-forward. Do as many MCQs as possible and flashcard what you get wrong. Carry the flash cards with you at all times and test your knowledge whenever you get a chance during the day.

Don't worry about memorizing answers. By memorizing answers, you will begin to understand the concepts.

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[Skynet]

@swimgirl2005 – I was working retail a few months ago. Many of the of the managers and supervisors are incompetent and about as dumb a a box of rocks. They can barely perform their own job as managers and supervisors let alone lead. Many of the department supervisors that have been with the company for manys years did not even go to college and barely graduated highschool. Not only that but they also have kids and are unmarried. Yet, they come to work complaining about how it sucks sometimes being there or they complain that it's tough with kids. Then there a few that think it is the $hit being a supervisor because they think that having a title of supervisor and a slight increase in pay is very prestigious. I remember a few months back where two supervisors thay have been with the company 10 years were joking about how they never went to college. I wouldn't be joking about it if i never went to college let alone tell anybody because it would be embarassing. Then there was my own department supervisor. This person never went to college, been at the company for over 6 years and barely makes over $11 an hour. When asked why she didn't want to apply for a higher management position, she responded by saying she was happy where she was. Yet she complains all the time about how the job sucks and on and on and on.

So swimgirl, when you are reading some of the stories, I just told you, keep in mind though you are not stupid. The people I just described complaining about how their job suck and who never went to college and still work in retail are the TRUE MORONS. You graduated college with an accounting degree and close to passing the cpa exams. You are working and studying to advance in your career. I am doing the same. I have an EA license and working to passed the cpa exams as well too. I have yet to pass one section yet but I will continue to perservere. Does it mean that I am stupid because I have not passed a section yet? HELL NO! it is just a setback, and I will get it done and you will too. You look at some of the members of A71. Some had to take it multiple times before they eventually pass.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Anonymous]

The only way to fail is to quit!!!

[Author]

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