[cpafour_]

Hi all!

So last week, I got my grade back for AUD. This was supposed to be my last CPA exam. However, I failed it with a 70. I am honestly still in shock that I did not pass. This was supposed to be my last exam, so I am still in disbelief that I failed. I passed the other three (on my first attempt) with scores in the mid-80s. I honestly thought that I 100% passed AUD. That was the one exam that I actually felt good about and was not on the verge of tears. So seeing that failing score really shocked me because I don’t know how much more I can study. All I used for the other three exams was Becker, and I really liked it since it helped me pass the other three, but maybe it wasn’t enough for AUD. Any advice on how I should study for this re-take and how to boost my confidence/motivation?

P.S. I just started my first busy season at one of the Big Fours and so I will be quite busy till the end of March. So I honestly don’t know how and when I am going to be able to restudy.

[Jay]

You have 1 exam left and you already have a firm grasp of the material considering you got a 70. Study a couple hours a night until April and pass the exam and walk into work like a boss cause you will be walking as a CPA. Supplement your studies with Ninja Audio or Ninja MCQ. You will pass as long as you continue to study.

The CPA journey is truly a nightmare.

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[CPA2BEE]

Don't get discouraged now, you're so close! I know it hurts very badly to fail and your AUD exam experience sounds a lot like my first one. If I could give any advice – get good and mad, buy NINJA MCQs, work them like a madman until April while still using Becker too, and crush your retake. If you've passed all of the other parts already, you should breeze through this retake. Keep your head up.

CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[taejeen]

You got this! Add Ninja MCQ to the mix, and you should be good.

FAR 76 (8/1/2015)
AUD 83 (10/17/2015)
REG 85 (1/9/2016)
BEC 83 (2/27/2016) DONE!

[Mehow]

Don't feel discouraged, you passed 3/4, which is really great. A 70 isn't even all that bad, you knew so much on the exam. You just need to take some time when you can to keep going over the work. You're so close, you can do it.

FAR = 86 4/22/16
BEC = 80 6/01/16
REG = 07/26/16
AUD = ?

[TNCPA16]

I know the feeling all too well! REG was my last exam, and I first took it back in Oct. I thought for sure I had passed, and even threw away all of my notes and went ahead and took the ethics exam.

I got a 72.

I thought I wouldn't be able to study again, especially at year end (my busy season) and during the holidays (with 2 out of town trips) and after I had thought I was DONE after 8 loooooong years of this hanging over my head. Give yourself a few days, then you get back on it! Study like you are taking it for the first time, and then study some more. I went through the entire Becker program again, and also used the Ninja 10-point combo. I kept a notebook with me and every time I got a question wrong or had a question that I didn't know 100%, I would write it down. I read through my notebook countless times. I also created flashcards for topics that I struggled on. After I was done with the lectures, I went back through and read the books (both Becker and Ninja) and took my own notes. A few days before my exam, I signed up for a free trial with Roger and watched through all of the individual tax lectures. I also would do random sets of Ninja MCQs to gauge where my weaker areas were, then went back and re-watched the Becker lectures over that area and watched the Ninja Blitz videos and even some Youtube videos. SIMs were what killed me my first exam, so I worked every single Becker and Ninja SIM at least once.

I was going to lose my AUD score if I failed again, so there was a lot of pressure. I tried not to dwell on that and mentally prepared myself for losing credit and having to retake both exams. Luckily, that wasn't necessary and I pulled an 83 on my retake.

You absolutely can do this! Come up with a game plan and stick to it…and always come back here if you need a little encouragement 🙂

[Jdn9201]

Ditto what others have said – a 70 is very close and you should be able to get 5 more points without having to put that much time into it. Audit was very difficult for me to study. One thing that helped was remembering the audit cycle and how each question fell into the big picture. Another thing that helped was reviewing the explanations to the MCQ's so I wasn't just memorizing answers. Also, spend some time becoming more familiar with the AL because you can pick up points in SIMS by using it, even on non-research questions. I'm very surprised I actually passed the first attempt because I did not spend as much time as I should have looking at the AL, and know I left some points on the table with SIMS because of it. Good luck! Just make sure you do a few MCQ's each day to keep the material fresh in your memory.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Martin]

If you combine Roger's cram with Ninja MC, you will kill Audit next window. I could bet anyone 1,000 that you will pass Audit with the mentioned combination. Becker helps you to memorize Audit principles and definitions, but Roget shows you how to become an Auditor.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Tncincy]

You're so close. Get up, dust off and start all over again. Now you know how I feel, and probably others as well, I don't want to face a fail, so I keep shying away or rescheduling the test. I need to go on but just too terrified.
You can do it, Take the time to cry it out and go at it again.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[cpafour_]

Thank you so much everyone, for the words of encouragement! I just have to accept it and give it my all, so I kick butt next time around. Just wondering, are many of the Ninja MC questions, similar to Becker questions? Or much different?

Thank you again!!

[Josh1216]

It's not like you need to re-study. More like you need to brush up. After all, you need 5 more points. They'll tell you your weak spots that you can fix. As someone who failed their first test, I can tell you the 2nd time around was SO much easier. It was like a walk in the park. Plus it gives you a fresh perspective on the material. You'll notice things you didn't before and you will actually enjoy it!

As for busy season, don't overwork yourself…unless you might have a test expiring…

FAR- 69, 81
REG- 78
BEC- 78
AUD- 82

[Author]

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