[JS867_5309]

I need to talk to other exam candidates about this because I can’t talk to my fiance or parents anymore. Even my best friend, who is in her final year of law school, just can’t really help. No one at my work is even my age, let alone interested in the CPA Exam or a candidate. I feel totally alone and without a network of people to talk about this to. I plead for help.

TL;DR – I have failed 3 sections 4 times (REG, BEC, and AUD) and am 100% discouraged from continuing. I don’t know what to do, how to change studying, or how I can fit more time in my schedule. Please please please help.

Sometime last summer/fall I started by studying for REG (the timeline is fuzzy because I had to take another stupid easy course to fill out the last semester hour of education). I used Kaplan – got it for free because I was their on-campus representative – and followed their study calendar. Read the chapters, watched the videos, did T/F and MCQ. I wasn’t sure what to expect, it was my first section, and I didn’t quite finish the material. Took the exam on 2/22/14 and got a 71.

I was already a week into studying for BEC, but I did some research (that’s actually how I found this website) that said since my score was so close to passing I should retake it ASAP while the knowledge was still “fresh” in my mind. I pushed back my BEC and AUD exams (which I’d already scheduled), and retook the REG exam on 4/3/14. I tried reviewing my notes, finishing the materials, and re-writing the CRAM notes in the back of the book. This probably wasn’t a good idea, as I got a 67.

On to BEC, since I’d already had the NTS. Still using Kaplan, I was afraid this was going to be my hardest exam because I am NOT good at cost accounting. Same study pattern. I finished the material, but didn’t have too much time to spare. I took that on 5/24/14 and got a 72.

I started to flip out at this point, and that’s when I bought the NINJA materials. I figured another source couldn’t hurt, and I was running out of time in my Kaplan software. Having never seen it before, I added it into my regular Kaplan routine until, about 2 weeks out, I realized NINJA notes had exactly the same thing as my Kaplan book only in a more concise and less confusing way (and SHORTER!). I ditched my Kaplan book and rewrote the NINJA notes, skipping the videos unless I needed clarification on a topic, and did about 400 MCQs. My average score was a 79%. I know I could have done more, but I came to this realization late and have a quirk about MCQs (more on that later). Took the AUD exam on 8/23/14 and got another 72.

My goal was to finish this exam within the year. Obviously that’s not happening. At some point I had convinced myself I was going to pass and applied for a Masters of Forensic Accounting program that starts in January. I got in right after I got my 2nd REG scores back. It’s a small program and only starts once a year so I feel pretty locked into it. Add in my full time job and my upcoming wedding and I pretty much feel like a crazy person.

My fiance thinks I need to put the CPA exam on hold and focus on the master’s program. I am wondering if I should reconsider my entire career path. I can’t tell what I’m doing wrong, and I so tired of telling people that I didn’t pass.

Full disclosure here – I never really learned how to study. At some point in my Junior/Senior year of high school one of my AP teachers taught me how to take notes out of the book, but that’s really as far as my studying has ever gone. I have a quirk about flashcards and MCQ study guides – if I review them too much I memorize the questions instead of learning the material. It becomes rote instead of analytical, and the photographic memory tendencies don’t help for the CPA exam since the wording is always so tricky.

I feel like I should quit, or even quit my job to study, and I need some advice from other people in this situation. How many of you who failed and failed finally passed? How long did it take? What changes helped you get through it? What made you feel better about tossing away all the money for each section? I really don’t know where to go from here 🙁

Exam:I'm done 🙂 🙂 🙂
REG - 71 (2/22/14); 67 (4/3/14); 74 (8/29/15); 83 (2/29/16)!!!
BEC - 72 (5/24/14); 85 (1/3/15)!!!!
AUD - 72 (8/23/14); 76 (10/15/14)!!!
FAR - 77 (5/26/15)!!!

Started in 2013 using Kaplan and failed REG, REG, BEC, AUD. Switched to NINJA suite in Sept 2014 and passed AUD...then BEC...then FAR!
REG took 2 tries but I finally got it in too!
I'm a hard convert - Using NINJA method with NINJA video/book/notes/MCQ

Education: Check
Experience: 3 months left! I hit 4 years on May 30 🙂

[MUCPA]

I can't identify with failing tests – however, I think everyone who has taken and/or passed the exam knows at least something about what you're going through.

If your back is truly against the wall (and since you mentioned quitting your job, I assume you are in fairly dire straights) I suggest buying the full Becker courses and starting over. I don't work for Becker, never repped for them, absolutely nothing except my experience talking here. Becker is the sole reason that I passed all 4 exams, no fails, within 12 months. There is a reason that people continue to be willing to spend outrageous cash on the courses, and there is a reason that the instructors are cult guru superstars. The best part about it is that it holds your hand like a parent – it doesn't throw a ton of books and practice quizzes at you and leave you to your own devices.

That's my suggestion. Bite the bullet, buy the courses, and have no life for the next 12 months.

- 2.5 years experience in Public Accounting (Audit)
- 2.0 years experience in corporate accounting
- All 4 CPA Exam sections passed first time
- Currently CPA & Controller at a small manufacturing company

[Anonymous]

You mentioned that for one section of the test, you didn't even finish the material prior to sitting for the exam?

Huge red flag for me.

One, I used Becker (again, not a Sales Rep, just a Big 4 new hire), and I would suggest it if you can afford it. There is a reason the Big 4 pay for it.

Two, I routinely go through the material MULTIPLE times before sitting for an exam. It sucks. I know it's easier for me seeing as I just graduated from college, have no dependents/spouse and study all day.

Regardless, if there is a will, there is a way. Plenty of people have passed the CPA without Becker, and if you can't afford/don't want to spend that kind of money, CPAExcel, Wiley, Yaeger supplemented with NINJA MCQ should do the trick.

[LIZZ]

Hello Friend,

I know exactly how you feel. I started taking the exams in 2008 yes 6 years ago and the Exam still sucks. I KNOW everything your talking about.

Here are a few things I discovered along the way.

*You have to take the time and learn what works for you.

*Pick as study method and then commit to it 100%.

*If you want to put the exam on hold. That is fine to this is your journey no one can tell you whats right for you.

*I really feel you have to be in a healthy place with Everything else in your life before you can start with the CPA exam. *Learn how to manage stress and take naps.

*Your not alone this exam sucks for everyone !

FAR - 05/2015
AUD - 75,11/2014
REG - 07/2015
BEC - 09/2015

[Anonymous]

I passed the 3 parts that I needed to pass with Roger's Cram course within 6 months; the cram books are excellent at getting at the need to know material in a summarized way and Roger has an excellent lecture style. My method was to watch the lectures and take notes in the book, then I would go back and study the book while working all MCQ's in the book as I went. When I felt I had a solid foundation for the material as a whole, I would break open the testbank (I suggest you get the Ninja testbank) and work all the questions, taking more notes as I went.

Everyone studies differently so you may need to tinker around until you find what works for you – there is a study framework on this website that you can also look at for some input into study methods.

Before you do anything, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself about why you want to pass this exam – once your objectives are clearly defined and you have set goals, you will find the extra motivation to carry on, but it is very important that you know why you are going to these great lengths; if you don't, it would be easy to quit after a few failures.

[JS867_5309]

Thanks everyone. I wanted to clarify a couple of things:

– I have a full-time job and a 2 hour round trip commute. That usually leaves me 3 hours a night I can study, and that's assuming the chores in my house are mostly taken care of and I don't have to help make dinner. I usually don't, but I do live with my fiance and that's just the way life goes. That's 15 hours during the week and as many hours as I can cram in on the weekends. Honestly, without quitting my job, I have no idea how I can fit more time in than that. I have fought hard to get an extra hour in during my lunch break, but I usually only get a real one of those once a month or less. This leaves no time for overtime work, which occasionally gets me mean words from my boss.

– I really do want to pass this test. I want the certification like nobody's business, but everything that could go wrong with this process has. I don't wan to give up, or put it on hold, but I also can't see how I'm going to be able to fit in the time needed for the next 18 months. I don't want to keep paying for the exam if I'm not going to have time to study, but I don't want to lose what little momentum I have. And I don't want to “postpone” until…until…until….I have plans for my life after October of 2015, and they don't include another 12 months of studying. I want this done and over with – I wanted it done and over with this year.

– Yes, the first time through with REG I wasn't as prepared as I could have been. There are plenty of excuses, but the real reason is that I had no idea what to expect and I've always been a good tester. I listened to my family and friends reassure me with my history of scoring obscenely high on standardized tests, and still studied 2x as much as I had for anything else in my life. This last time through AUD, I finished the exam in 2 hours. I knew that was fast, but I felt pretty confident and was done – plus the fast-tester history and the extra preparation I'd hoped it was a good sign I'd passed. Clearly I was wrong.

Thank you all for the recommendations about Becker – I'll look into seeing if I can afford it. Other than the material itself, it sounds like the biggest difference between what you all are saying and what I've been doing is going through the material that 2nd time. I know from my analysis sheets that the MCQs are where I struggle – I routinely rate above average on the SIMS – but maybe multiple test banks and reviews will help avoid the memorization issue.

So if you were facing the same next year that I am facing: a Master's program, a full time job, a wedding, plus the usual day-to-day life; how would you approach the exam? Would you put it off? Would you keep trying to pass 1 section at a time? Would you try to do it all in 6 months or a year?

Exam:I'm done 🙂 🙂 🙂
REG - 71 (2/22/14); 67 (4/3/14); 74 (8/29/15); 83 (2/29/16)!!!
BEC - 72 (5/24/14); 85 (1/3/15)!!!!
AUD - 72 (8/23/14); 76 (10/15/14)!!!
FAR - 77 (5/26/15)!!!

Started in 2013 using Kaplan and failed REG, REG, BEC, AUD. Switched to NINJA suite in Sept 2014 and passed AUD...then BEC...then FAR!
REG took 2 tries but I finally got it in too!
I'm a hard convert - Using NINJA method with NINJA video/book/notes/MCQ

Education: Check
Experience: 3 months left! I hit 4 years on May 30 🙂

[playonwards]

Use Becker. I haven't met anyone (in real life) that completed the software and didn't pass the exams. I actually know several people who only do like 50-75% of what's in Becker and end up passing.

FAR- 92 (7/25/2014)
AUD- 93 (8/30/2014)
REG- 93 (10/10/2014)
BEC- 91 (11/10/2014)

Using Becker self-study only. Working full-time.

[klmc]

It sounds like you have alot on your plate, If I was you I would not try to do a Master's program and the CPA all in shot. In my opinion, you should priorotize all your responsibilities and figure out what is more important to you. Obviously you should NOT quit your job. I wanted to get my Master's too while working full time, but I decided to focus more on the CPA at this time.

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[shankysays]

I don't have any suggestions for how to fit more study time in, because without a fiance and a 2 hour round trip commute, I can't relate. But I can tell you that you don't need to reconsider your career path, that you can do this. Your scores are not far off from a passing score – within 3 points at times. You know what constitutes 3 points on the CPA exam? Luck. Maybe two or 3 multiple choice questions. That's it. Don't give up!

BEC - 72, 82! ✓
FAR - 80! ✓
AUD - 70, 92! ✓
REG - 74, 78! ✓

Licensed CPA 5/2015

[FlCPAHopeful1]

It took me 3x to pass my first exam (Reg) and then 3 for Audit and BEC. I was working full time in public accounting (tax) and had so much trouble doing it! I stopped working after busy season in April of this year after my Reg expired and the only other exam I had passed was Audit. I was in the exact same position I was in a year earlier (1 down 3 to go) and couldn't stay in the cycle any longer. Since I stopped working and have focused on my exam 100% I passed BEC in May and now FAR (on my first try!) in August. Now I need to pass Reg again since it expired.

If you can afford it, my recommendation would be to discuss with your fiancé whether you taking a few months off of work to focus on studying is at all possible. I felt like this was the only way I would be able to pass all of my exams and get them finished. While working full time in public there were 5 months out of the year I could not study due to busy season and extension season and I just could not get the exams completed in the 18 month window working in public and doing the other things that were important to me. I am 27 so a lot of my friends have gotten married recently. I know some people skip important events when they are studying but to me it was extremely important to go to the out of town weddings of my college friends. I am getting married in January so it is my goal to finish these exams before the wedding! My fiancé and I talked this past busy season once my Reg expired and realized I would not be able to pass BEC and FAR before my Audit expired, and we decided the best thing would be for me to focus on the exam. I am extremely fortunate that this was a possibility for me as I know not everyone has the option of taking a few months off of work.

I tried using Becker and personally was not a fan. The first 2 times I took Reg I had multiple questions that Becker considered ancillary material. I switched to Gleim and have mixed feelings on it. Gleim covers everything as if all material has an equal chance of getting tested and does not try to predict what you are most likely to see on the exam. It takes me a really long time to get through the material because it is so dense. For my last few exams I have gone through Gleim in great detail the way they recommend and then spent my last few days of studying writing out NINJA notes. NINJA notes are such a great final review of consolidated material and I feel it really summarizes what I need to know for the exam. Gleim MC questions are much more difficult than the questions on the CPA exam (in my opinion.)

As you can see from my scores below you are starting off much higher than I did on my first exam scores! Do not give up! I would push back the masters program if I were you as it seems that you have so much on your plate. Best of luck!

B-68,73,82
A-52,61,77
R-69,68,82(expired)retake 11/15
F-75

[yolo]

Don't spend $3000 on becker. You have three failing scores in the 70s… That is extremely close. Honestly the tests may have focused on info you were weaker in. Spend money on cheaper packages like the ninja notes/audio for the car ride, and do more MCQ. You are very close.

[Kimboroni]

I decided to see if I could pass without plunking down a bunch of money for Becker, and it has worked fine so far, and you are close, so I'm thinking along the same lines as those above me who suggest not getting Becker.

I have about the same amount of study time every week as you do, so I don't think it's about finding more time to study, but studying more effectively. I'm not clear what you're doing exactly– just reading and doing a few MCQs? I'm also not sure how long you are studying– meaning over how many weeks. I used 7-8 weeks for FAR and exactly 7 weeks for REG, to give you an idea.

You need to do a lot more MCQs. I do about 1000 per section (the most was 1300 for FAR), and a lot of people do way more than that. Practicing MCQs is where you learn how they ask the questions and where your personal pitfalls are. I pretty much focus on new questions only, and that would help your accidental memorization issues.

Don't give up. There are tons of people who failed several times and then passed. It's all about learning how you learn best, plus a little bit of luck in getting the right test.

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. 🙂

[Author]

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