[Anonymous]

I have taken the CPA Exam 5 times(Aud,Far,Reg,Reg,Bec) and I have failed every time. The the highest score I got on any of the exams was Reg the second time(45! first time was 30). I was studying 15 hours a week for three months for each exam.

What should I be doing?

[mla1169]

I'd definately change what you're using to study with (what are you using currently?), supplement with the Ninja notes for sure.

How many MCQ's are you working? Are you writing and re-writing your notes? Are you actually using that 15 hours per week effectively?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I was using Becker. I would go to every class, do all the HW. I never got better 40 and 50 on the HW.. what is Ninja notes?

[musicamor]

I do not believe that 15 hours a week is enough study time–I would say double that. You should do 3 hours a day, M-F and on Saturday's and Sunday's do at 7 hours. You should be averaging at least 30 hours per week when preparing for these exams.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[mla1169]

https://www.another71.com/products-page/ninja-cpa-review-study-guides/

And I agree with musicamor, 15 hours a week is plenty for some people but it should be apparent that you need to increase that at this point.

Even so, with 15 hours a week of quality studying I'd think you'd be seeing scores in the 60's and 70's. How would you honestly evaluate your study methods? Its definately not enough to just go to class and do the homework, this is much more intense than your typical college course. I was doing a minimum of 50 multiple choice questions per day when I was studying, rewriting 9 pages of notes per day, and listening to audio lectures whenever possible. At the time I was working full time, raising 2 kids and in my last year of my masters program, so theres always a way to squeeze more studying in even if you're exceptionally busy.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all of your support! I am going to give one more try at this?

[Steven K.]

Those scores seem really low, even if you aren't studying enough. I would completely change your game plan if I were you.

I think studying 3 months for one exam is probably too long. I know with me I tend to start forgetting things when the study period is that drawn out. I would say shorten it to 2 months and study 20-25 hours a week instead. Also, make sure you do every single MC question at least twice. And the one's you got wrong at least 3 times. It is such a pain in the butt but unfortunately you probably won't pass unless you do at least that. The CPA is probably the hardest thing most accountants will have to deal with in their life (unless you're a whiz or something). You can't really cheat the exam… you HAVE to do all the tedious things to pass. Trust me, I failed enough times now to know that you can't take shortcuts and get away with it

[Anonymous]

@OP

Staying motivated is the biggest challenge and I'm glad to see your doing your best to stick it out. That said, while I have no reason to doubt that you're putting in 15 hours a week for 3 months, it's kind of shocking that after 180 hours of effort you can't break a 45. Even on accident you should of posted more than that by now. This leads me to believe that you're either not using your time wisely and/or you're just going through the motions.

Are you STUDYING the material or are you letting Pete and Tim just read a bunch of stuff to you? If your scoring a 40-50 on the homework then you should KEEP doing the homewrok till you get in the 80-90 range. If you take a practice exam and can't break a 50 then you might as well reschedule the exam and keep studying because your just wasting your time and money. The 18 month window doesn't start until AFTER you pass your first exam so what's the rush to go bomb all these tests?

You don't need anything other then Becker to pass. Maybe supplementing with Wiley testbank or Ninja isn't a bad idea but I think your problem is implimentation of the study strategy. If I were you I'd start over like it was day 1, I'd watch every lecture twice, read every section of the book that where your struggling to grasp the concept and not only do every MCQ but don't stop doing the MCQs until you score no less than an 85 consistantly on every chapter.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I would never have passed FAR studying 15 hours a week. I averaged around 25 and studied for 6 months. I have to write all of my notes out in order to retain anything. It was my first one so the clock wasn't ticking yet and I took my time and really tried to understand everything. Everyone is different. You can't compare yourself with what everyone else does to pass. The amount of time I took wouldn't be even close to necessary for a lot of people – but I passed the first time around, my way – doing what I needed to do for me. You CAN pass this exam – you just need to find what works for you and be willing to committ the time and effort into whatever it takes. Good luck. This isn't easy.

[Whatdidyou]

Yeah 15 hours a week is not good. AND 15 hours a week for 3 months per exam sounds terrible!

“The CPA is probably the hardest thing most accountants will have to deal with in their life (unless you're a whiz or something). You can't really cheat the exam… you HAVE to do all the tedious things to pass.”

lol did you cheat in school? I tend to disagree with theste types of statements. School is more difficult. I am much prouder of my degree.

If instead of getting a masters & going to school for 10 months I just studied for the CPA exam full time, passing the exams would (relatively) be a piece of cake AND take less than 10 months. What makes the CPA exam so difficult for most people is that they are too busy with work/family and/or there is no real set schedule.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Author]

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