[Ajaz0810]

66, 55, 74, 72, 70, and now a 66. I’m at a loss for words. I’ve used Gleim, Ninja McQ, ninja notes, watched and took notes on roger cram. I just can’t seem to get it. I’m not really sure what to do again and if this is even for me. I would appreciate any suggestions. I’ve still got Reg and Aud to pass by April 30th or I loose far. I’ve already spent so much money it is starting to become too expensive. I’ve racked up so much credit card debt. Any suggestions??

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[mommyof3texans]

This is one of those times where I might suggest putting AUD aside for awhile and start on REG. You likely need to come back to AUD with fresh eyes. When you do come back to it, i'd probably start off with ninja mcq and find your weak areas and spend time on those until the concepts really make sense. There are a lot of topics in audit that seem backwards until you figure out how to make it makes sense in YOUR head.

BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
REG - 11/14/15 - 80

All done!!!

[Anonymous]

What are your personal road blocks? How long are you studying ? Are you doing a lot of MCQ's? I had to do over 3,000 MCQ's in about 5 weeks to pass AUD. I have kids , married and work full time. I thought this was the most difficult exam. Can you hammer REG and take it this month ?

[Missy]

Have you tried copying the ninja notes? I couldn't get AUD either and when I committed to copy 10 pages of ninja notes per day for 30 days it ended up my 84.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[B2RAD]

i am not there yet but i have got two 69s now and am trying to figure out if i should re take or come back to it. got a 73 on BEC too. i second the expensive part as i sold my motorcycle to pay for the Wiley course and the first 3 sections. stay positive, we can get through this, i am in your shoes and am just going to keep trying every section until i am done and by then probably will get an offer at one of my dream companies and not even be at a firm anymore hahahahahah

Brad

AUD - 69 (1/6/16) 69 (10-4-15)
FAR - Spring 2016
BEC - 73 (11-23-15) Retake plan Spring 2016
REG - Summer 2016

[red_rose]

@B2RAD & Ajaz0810: My suggestion is to move on to another section. that's just me. I took a coworker's advice and started out with BEC 1st. I passed that on the 1st try….it gave me the confidence to know i can pass a CPA exam. That one just puts everything into 1 (ratios, cost accounting, biz law, etc). The essays arent too hard, i didnt even finish all and still passed. I took FAR next, failed with a 64. I was PISSED lol. But since it was fresh on the brain, i took it again in the next window and squeaked by with a 75. If i had failed FAR a 2nd time, I think i would have moved on. I just took audit last week & that test was ridiculous. But if I fail, i'll sit in the next window since its still pretty fresh on the brain. Sometimes when you study the same questions over and over you memorize them instead of understand the concepts. The exam is testing concepts so another suggestion is to make your own flash cards on areas you know you're struggling with. It's helped me on BEC, FAR & now hopefully AUD. I made about 100+ per section and reviewed them constantly. Good luck to you & dont give up. I'm going broke myself tryna pass this freaking exam! It will be worth it in the long run 🙂

[cbecken]

I love Another71! It is great to know I am not alone! The struggle is REAL!

Had the brutal reality of not passing another exam section today. I got a 58 In Audit. The low grade only makes it worse. I thought I passed. Have To Pass Something by June 2016 or I have to reapply to sit!!!

So much $. 2 yrs of night school after my Bach and MBA. I feel your pain! I am moving onto BEC

FAR 51 and 53
REG 61
AUD 58

FAR 51, 53
REG 61
AUD 58
BEC 62

[Texan_176]

OP, you passed FAR so you obviously have the capability to retain a LOT of information. I am convinced you can pass AUD if you can pass FAR. Vice versa, is what I need but I digress.

With AUD there are judgement calls and it is not in black and white as much as in the other sections. You have to think like an auditor does which is why people who work in audit ace it and the rest of us struggle. I

For me the NINJA MCQs helped big time. Whatever test bank you are using now try and use a different one to get another approach on things. NINJA gives a great explanation so what you get wrong write a short note about it and glance at it to absorb the information.

On the exam itself a huge mistake most people make in AUD is to not use the AL to look up answers. Some simulations will ask questions that are word for word in the AL but people (me on my first try) freak out and try to remember the answers from study time.

On the day before your test don't work any problems because it will freak you out to get things wrong. Quick read parts of your book you are weak on and read your notes. Pay attention to stuff like what is and what is not in the various parts of the audit reports and things like that which will be on the test always.

Not to hijack your thread but what did you do to pass FAR?

I did what I did to pass everything except it failed by a point on FAR. They repeatedly tested an obscure detail I did not know and it sealed my fate.

AUD - 83
BEC - 77
FAR - 83
REG - 78

Licensed TX CPA

BEC 11/29/14 77 (Roger)
AUD 2/23/15 60 (Roger) 4/13/2015 83 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
REG 5/30/2015 66 (Roger & Ninja MCQ(7 hours only)) 8/23/2015 78 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
FAR 11/23/2015 60 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 2/24/2016 74 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 5/25/2016 83 (Roger+Roger CRAM & NINJA MCQ/NOTES)
Texas Ethics Exam 92%

Licensed TX CPA Aug 2016

[If I can, u can too!]

i feel the same way about Ninja MCQ, it didn't seem to do wonders for me as it did for REG & BEC. i took Audit twice using Ninja MCQ solving little over 1000 problems. 1000 were enough for me for REG & BEC but not for AUD.

before i ended up passing, i solved all Ninja MCQ questions, was trending 100% but ended up with only 80 (while my total average was 89). what i did extra this time was reading the entire sections on my weak areas (of the Wiley) and doing all questions in the Wiley. i even listened to some FAR lectures on my way to work. also when you're solving Ninja MCQ's, read every single explanation given at the bottom of the question, this will help you broaden your understanding regarding a specific topic asked in the question. i also took ton of notes and was reading them at times (like when i'm waiting at various places like the grocery store etc)

for some stats on my effort: i ended up with 70 pages of notes (excluding formulas). for this time, i put in 190 hours. last exam, i put in 150 hours. so basically, change your study strategy, dig in deeper. gl and don't give up!

If I can do it, you can do it too!

Certified CPA, 2016

Licensed CPA since Apr 16
Order in sequence of passing
FAR-71,71,79
BEC-80
REG-72,77
AUD-56,72,72,72,80! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!
FAR/BEC/AUD: Becker & Yaeger lectures (Wiley & Ninja MCQs). REG: Becker lectures (Ninja MCQs).

[EuroAddict]

What's your study habit? I do believe there is such a thing as over studying. At one point during my studying for AUD I started doing worse than I did the previous week or two. I decided to cut down on amount of Q's I would do a day and started taking more time to read the Q. I then started doing much better.

It's so easy to over think AUD questions as well.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[neko]

You had a 72 and 74, so you are not far off, unless your guessing skills were OP those days.

I failed AUD six times before passing it last month. I scored between 70 and 74 on five of those attempts. Use the performance report to gauge how you are doing compared to other candidates for each topic area and also whether you are stronger, comparable or weaker in MCQ or Sims. Then focus on those areas, especially Sims, as its worth 40% of the overall score. If you were doing a day of overall review, make it a week of review, know the basics and you will do much better, many candidates lose points for lack of memorizing the basics and its the easiest way to get those few points you need. My toughest areas were Sims and JEs. I focused a lot on those and finally was successful with an 86 in February, after three 74s in a row. The worst part of the 74s was knowing which Sim question I got wrong and could have passed, if I had recalled, memorized or studied just a bit more.

Don't regret giving up, the effort will be worthwhile. I thought many times of giving up (I've now passed all four exams after 16 attempts), but no point when you are so close. Your motivation is the better career and money you will have after you pass and you can pay those credit card bills off. At least that's what is was for me.

Good luck.

[Ib]

I am in the same boat. Failed AUD in FEB16 with 72. I am planning to resit for this exam in May16. I did not practice enough Ninja MCQs first time. I hope to nail this exam this time.

AUD - 87
BEC - 78
FAR - 79
REG - 81

Licensed CPA in MA, OCT 2016

FAR 79
AUD 87
BEC 78
REG 08/31/2016

[Anonymous]

@Neko “My toughest areas were Sims and JEs. I focused a lot on those and finally was successful with an 86 in February, after three 74s in a row”

How did you improve that section of the exam? From my score report i performed stronger on MCQ and weaker on sims. I'm doing something right, but I haven't' taken FAR yet and JE skills/financial basic are sub-par.

[Anonymous]

I m full time working professional. Took far in aug15 got 73. Then I changed approach. Now I first do MCQ of each chapter and then read chapter. This gives me idea as to what kind of questions are asked mostly and while reading I focus on those concepts more. I passed far and bec so far. Going for audit now. I use Becker though. For aud I m also taking 10-k of some companies and reading the actual audit reports etc this gives conceptual understanding. It doesn't take much time. For far I was pissed off with govt, I read gasb 34 and it gave me a basis to develop concept around it, then I went to book. Sometimes book just want you to remember or memorize which does not give confidence.

[Author]

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