[Kls238]

How how do you find the motivation after failing multiple times? I started in August and I’m 0-3 (FAR: 70, 71 AUD: 70). I take BEC tomorrow, but I’m not confident. I studied a lot when I started 5 or so weeks ago, but I had emergency surgery 1 1/2 weeks ago so I was barely able to finish the last chapter.

I don’t want to make excuses, but life events keep happening right before my exams (family members passing and 2 relatively sudden surgeries). To make matters worse this time, I can’t even reschedule because my NTS expires Thursday. I don’t want to quit, but I’m burned out from studying. I’ve giving up time with friends and family sometime, but with nothing to show. With my REG NTS expiring 4/22, does anyone have any tips on how to regroup and get motivated again after so many failures?

Passed all sections.

[Anonymous]

Well since you're taking the exam either way tomorrow try to refresh your memory with what you deem as the most important set of notes (NINJA, etc.) before you start it. You have nothing to lose by trying your best for three hours. As far as regrouping to pass these exams? Are you determined to pass the CPA Exams? If so, your chances of actually passing each test grow significantly by hunkering down and committing to a full-scale attack on your studies. If you have any remaining uncertainty about this recipe for success just read the contributions by the individuals on this site who've failed a section but eventually passed. Most of us have to sacrifice a lot to pass these, you are not alone. The only thing left to determine is how serious you are about doing it. Like the Wiley book says, ‘Now is the time to make your commitment'.

[Anonymous]

Well since you're taking the exam either way tomorrow try to refresh your memory with what you deem as the most important set of notes (NINJA, etc.) before you start it. You have nothing to lose by trying your best for three hours. As far as regrouping to pass these exams? Are you determined to pass the CPA Exams? If so, your chances of actually passing each test grow significantly by hunkering down and committing to a full-scale attack on your studies. If you have any remaining uncertainty about this recipe for success just read the contributions by the individuals on this site who've failed a section but eventually passed. Most of us have to sacrifice a lot to pass these, you are not alone. The only thing left to determine is how serious you are about doing it. Like the Wiley book says, ‘Now is the time to make your commitment'.

[megasaurus]

You have to make the decision to do it, and do it. My first attempt at FAR was in 1/12. I started studying in November of 2011. Took the exam in Jan and got a 65. I took it again the following May (I didn't study during busy season) and got a 70. My 3rd attempt was in November 2012. I studied from Sept – Nov. (tax busy season is July-Sept, so I skipped those months) and I finally passed with a 77. I lost a year of my life before I passed a single exam. All I have done since November 2011 is study for this stupid exam or work ridiculous hours. Every vacation day I've taken has been devoted to studying for these exams. I've lost touch with friends, I only attend mandatory holidays and extended family get togethers. I hate it. I miss my life. It SUCKS. But it will be worth it.

I took audit in Jan '13 and failed, thankfully I passed it the following May. I've been battling BEC since then (one attempt at REG in 7/13). I finally beat BEC this past January (3 attempts). So this is my long-winded way of saying that this will take some time. For some it is a journey, but you will never finish or pass if you don't fully commit to it. There was a mental shift while I studied for FAR and when I finally passed it was a game changer. I'm take REG in a couple of weeks and I really really really hope it is my final test, but if it isn't I'll dust myself off and take it again in May. I can do this, you can too. You just have to decide to do it.

One thing that has helped me is that I've taken the discussion of my journey off the table. I don't talk about it at work, w/ friends or even extended family. They will find out when my license arrives :).

You can do this!

[megasaurus]

You have to make the decision to do it, and do it. My first attempt at FAR was in 1/12. I started studying in November of 2011. Took the exam in Jan and got a 65. I took it again the following May (I didn't study during busy season) and got a 70. My 3rd attempt was in November 2012. I studied from Sept – Nov. (tax busy season is July-Sept, so I skipped those months) and I finally passed with a 77. I lost a year of my life before I passed a single exam. All I have done since November 2011 is study for this stupid exam or work ridiculous hours. Every vacation day I've taken has been devoted to studying for these exams. I've lost touch with friends, I only attend mandatory holidays and extended family get togethers. I hate it. I miss my life. It SUCKS. But it will be worth it.

I took audit in Jan '13 and failed, thankfully I passed it the following May. I've been battling BEC since then (one attempt at REG in 7/13). I finally beat BEC this past January (3 attempts). So this is my long-winded way of saying that this will take some time. For some it is a journey, but you will never finish or pass if you don't fully commit to it. There was a mental shift while I studied for FAR and when I finally passed it was a game changer. I'm take REG in a couple of weeks and I really really really hope it is my final test, but if it isn't I'll dust myself off and take it again in May. I can do this, you can too. You just have to decide to do it.

One thing that has helped me is that I've taken the discussion of my journey off the table. I don't talk about it at work, w/ friends or even extended family. They will find out when my license arrives :).

You can do this!

[Thirteenth]

Took me one year to pass that audit

And this month i'm taking my last(hopefully) exam and it's my 13th time sitting (including all fail or pass) basically it took me (or taking me) 3 years all together

AUD 7/3/12 82
REG 5/30/13 79
BEC 8/29/13 78
FAR 2/28/14 79

Becker 2013 + Ninja
Done.

[Thirteenth]

Took me one year to pass that audit

And this month i'm taking my last(hopefully) exam and it's my 13th time sitting (including all fail or pass) basically it took me (or taking me) 3 years all together

AUD 7/3/12 82
REG 5/30/13 79
BEC 8/29/13 78
FAR 2/28/14 79

Becker 2013 + Ninja
Done.

[funtiks]

passed far on first try and failed BEC twice now…

waiting on 3rd attempt scores

i dont think i can handle another fail on BEC

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[funtiks]

passed far on first try and failed BEC twice now…

waiting on 3rd attempt scores

i dont think i can handle another fail on BEC

FAR - 76*, 73, 85
BEC - 69, 72, 78*, 80
AUD - 72, 71, 90
REG - 71, 74, 85

AFTER 3 YEARS I'M DONE!!!

[mla1169]

I'm going to be honest. You're not likely to find “motivation” after what you've been through. So you need to find something deeper, more primal. You need to get angry at this exam and say you will NOT let it defeat you. You need to get in the mindset that so many things that have happened in your life were out of your control but THIS, these 4 silly exams, you can and WILL control.

Motivation comes and goes like the weather. Determination is the key. Even when you'd rather have a root canal performed by a blind chimpanzee hopped up on espresso, you just DO it.

And you will!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I'm going to be honest. You're not likely to find “motivation” after what you've been through. So you need to find something deeper, more primal. You need to get angry at this exam and say you will NOT let it defeat you. You need to get in the mindset that so many things that have happened in your life were out of your control but THIS, these 4 silly exams, you can and WILL control.

Motivation comes and goes like the weather. Determination is the key. Even when you'd rather have a root canal performed by a blind chimpanzee hopped up on espresso, you just DO it.

And you will!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Herbieherb]

I had multiple failures before my first pass…but after the first pass I passed the rest of the exams consecutively. I attribute that hot streak to motivation and confidence gained by the first pass. I was like damn I am smart enough to do this…SO…pick a lighter exam like AUD or BEC stick with it till you pass. Try new strategies. Key for my first pass in AUD was practicing MCQ on WTB. AUD was easy for me to study for…hardly any calculations, can zip thru 200 MCQs in a short time. For me I needed to win a short battle first to win the War. Starting with FAR would've been a long hard battle and futile and I wouldn't be licesensed today.

Looking back in my previous failures I just read the Wiley Book 2 weeks before the exam date no practice of MCQ, then got 42-64 on the actual exam…felt like a loser took a break, tried again repeated over 10 years with longer breaks everytime, enjoying life but with a monkey on my Back

NEW YORK- DONE

[Herbieherb]

I had multiple failures before my first pass…but after the first pass I passed the rest of the exams consecutively. I attribute that hot streak to motivation and confidence gained by the first pass. I was like damn I am smart enough to do this…SO…pick a lighter exam like AUD or BEC stick with it till you pass. Try new strategies. Key for my first pass in AUD was practicing MCQ on WTB. AUD was easy for me to study for…hardly any calculations, can zip thru 200 MCQs in a short time. For me I needed to win a short battle first to win the War. Starting with FAR would've been a long hard battle and futile and I wouldn't be licesensed today.

Looking back in my previous failures I just read the Wiley Book 2 weeks before the exam date no practice of MCQ, then got 42-64 on the actual exam…felt like a loser took a break, tried again repeated over 10 years with longer breaks everytime, enjoying life but with a monkey on my Back

NEW YORK- DONE

[jpowell31]

Give it your ALL one time. Just once. Know in your heart you did everything that you could to pass one exam and you'll be surprised by the outcome. Remember your clock doesn't start ticking until you pass the first exam so focus on that one exam first. If you can honestly say you gave it everything, then rethink your decision to become a CPA but I have a feeling you'll pass and it will give you determination and give you further insight as to what was wrong with your study schedule/practices before. This includes doing all questions in your study software. Those problem areas over and over, re-reading those chapters and re-writing those notes. Doing at least 3 practice exams (without peeking) and being comfortable with those scores before sitting the real thing. Confidence is key going in. I panicked in two separate exams and didn't finish because I froze and doubted myself. Confidence and time-management goes a long way. Do know that every exam is different. I sat AUD 3 times and each time was weighted heavier on different topics/style in questions so get comfortable with everything. If there's that one area you keep avoiding because it's eating up your study time, you just can't grasp it and you figure you'll just have to guess a couple of questions, no big deal if it does come up on your exam – it'll end up dominating your exam and your confidence and youll regret not devoting one day to the problem area.

I failed AUD twice before passing then failed REG. after that I said if I failed REG again I was over the experience. It is very difficult and not many people understand. I really tried hard that second attempt and passed with a fairly decent mark. At that point…I was halfway to becoming a CPA and couldn't give up then! This forum helps a lot. You can't be embarassed by failing multiple times. You can't let that be the reason you quit. It's more common than not and hearing it from several candidates definitely helps. But only you can know if you're really prepared, if you're really cut out for the torture and if the CPA is really going to benefit you when it's all said and done!

-__-

[jpowell31]

Give it your ALL one time. Just once. Know in your heart you did everything that you could to pass one exam and you'll be surprised by the outcome. Remember your clock doesn't start ticking until you pass the first exam so focus on that one exam first. If you can honestly say you gave it everything, then rethink your decision to become a CPA but I have a feeling you'll pass and it will give you determination and give you further insight as to what was wrong with your study schedule/practices before. This includes doing all questions in your study software. Those problem areas over and over, re-reading those chapters and re-writing those notes. Doing at least 3 practice exams (without peeking) and being comfortable with those scores before sitting the real thing. Confidence is key going in. I panicked in two separate exams and didn't finish because I froze and doubted myself. Confidence and time-management goes a long way. Do know that every exam is different. I sat AUD 3 times and each time was weighted heavier on different topics/style in questions so get comfortable with everything. If there's that one area you keep avoiding because it's eating up your study time, you just can't grasp it and you figure you'll just have to guess a couple of questions, no big deal if it does come up on your exam – it'll end up dominating your exam and your confidence and youll regret not devoting one day to the problem area.

I failed AUD twice before passing then failed REG. after that I said if I failed REG again I was over the experience. It is very difficult and not many people understand. I really tried hard that second attempt and passed with a fairly decent mark. At that point…I was halfway to becoming a CPA and couldn't give up then! This forum helps a lot. You can't be embarassed by failing multiple times. You can't let that be the reason you quit. It's more common than not and hearing it from several candidates definitely helps. But only you can know if you're really prepared, if you're really cut out for the torture and if the CPA is really going to benefit you when it's all said and done!

-__-

[Kls238]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It does help to hear about others experiences. I ran into a former college classmate the other day and gave me the “the exams aren't bad at all, the last one was easy” spiel. You can probably guess how at felt.

I felt I gave my all to FAR, so that's where my frustration comes in. I know my mistake on the retake was not doing the entire program over – rewatch all videos, retake all notes and do MCQs. I mainly focused on old notes, NINJA notes, and MCQs. I took a determined approach starting BEC, but this surgery knocked me out for several days. I flew through my exam today though, so I hope that's a good sign. Up next is REG, which I plan to give everything.

Good luck to everyone on your exams coming up!

Passed all sections.

[Author]

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