if you have failed cpa exams before, what were the reasons?

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  • #173404
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    hello there, i just took my first two exams last week and i am now awaiting results. i am just wondering what are some of the things that people think may have led to a failing score. i look forward to hearing your experiences!

Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
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  • #363883
    abacus
    Participant

    Time and study approach.

    Good luck with your scores!

    BEC 81
    AUD 76
    FAR 70, 76
    REG 58, 78! DONE!

    "I am not my intentions. I am my actions."

    #363884
    porschify
    Member

    I think test anxiety and focusing on the test while at the center would be high on alot of peoples lists.

    REG- 81
    BEC- 72,76
    AUD- 67,88
    FAR- 78

    Done!

    #363885
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have failed a few times different tests, I think what did it for me was i didnt know i was ADHD and would get bored in the testing room and start drawing on my tests booklet…also, other unrelated matters that effected my life that I couldn't help (death in family, loss of job, recovery from surgery).

    Also, not focusing on the bigger sections of the exam as opposed to the smaller percentage value items…ex: REG half the book is blaw and half is tax, but in reality if you look how the test is broken down only 16% of the entire test is blaw, better to just knock that out first and spend most time reviewing for tax…

    my order of passing BEC (84 2/2011; 12 days study 1st time pass); FAR (71 7/2011, 75 5/2012); REG (69 4/2011 g-ma died 6 days earlier; 71 8/2011 didnt recover from surgery quick enough; 70 01/2012 was let go from job 36 hrs prior; 83 05/2012, after i had been diagnosed ADHD); AUD (64 05/2011 working on final projects and classes to graduate and was working part time; 48 10/2011 didn't study…at all really; _________ 7/2012…hoping i passed and done)

    #363886
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The first set of attempts (1995 time frame): inadequate preparation, lack of effort, hoping that a half-hearted effort would result in a win. Essentially studying for a 75.

    This set of attempts, went two for two and then hit REG using an all out study to win philosophy. Honest assessment: was too tired, exhausted, had some extraordinary outside events affect my ability to study and concentrate. Mentally overwhelmed, despite putting in a solid 175+ hours studying for it. Brain went on vapor lock during the exam.

    We'll see how I bounce back next week.

    #363887
    mla1169
    Participant

    I spread myself way too thin, and really had no business even attempting the exams at the time I did. I had 2 jobs (one full time and one part time), was in school half time for my masters, 2 kids, 2 dogs, girl scout troop and cheer mom. Frankly I am still amazed I only failed 3 times.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #363888
    sarah210
    Member

    Inadequate study materials– I was using bisk books only. No lecture, not software. For me, that was not enough. I switched to the full Becker set (books, lectures, software) and have been much more successful.

    Unrealistic goals paired with not staying on schedule– I would say “you have to get through 250 problems today!” And then I wouldn't, and I'd get discouraged, and slack off. Becker online gives me deadlines, and I am a person who needs deadlines.

    School+job+buying a house– this spring I was finishing up the last of my 150 hours, working, and buying a house. There were not enough hours in the day.

    REG- 53, 91
    BEC- 88
    FAR- 62, 85
    AUD- 85

    Ethics- 93

    #363889

    They have all been my fault.

    On FAR, I had no idea what to expect and psyched myself out way too much before the exam. I know for sure my weak areas are that I did not go in depth enough on was IFRS and and some other topics. My thoughts, after hearing from friends, was that it's totally normal to not know everything so I didn't stress it enough. But in reality, you need to have an idea of EVERYTHING. I remember feeling like I guessed on half the exam, which turned out to be right lol. I spent two months studying and was heartbroken when I got my score. All that time and not even in the 60's at least, Meh. I am actually looking forward to dominating it now, I am sure it will be my beast.

    For Audit, I took too much time feeling beat up from my FAR exam and studied for a month. I never watched any lectures or opened the Becker book, just read Ninja Notes and did tons of MCQ. I felt pretty confident going in and coming out, I think if I would have put in more effort I could have gotten those additional 5 points.

    For REG, I was focused and think I had a good grasp on B-law, but forgot a lot of stuff on Tax, so the SIMS dominated me. I spent too much time on one of them and had a guess at a couple.

    I am kind of looking forward to going my second round. I'm tired of the feeling of seeing a score in the 60's and just shrugging. I am coming at these exams with a vengeance.

    It took me a while to get a good study process. I've started waking up two hours before work (coffee is my bff) to study, going to an empty space during lunch to study so I can focus, and realizing that hungover me = not focused me.

    I am young and it has been hard to give up my social life, but it is possible to work around it. It's as simple as this…if you feel like you aren't studying hard enough, you probably aren't and will fail.

    B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
    A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
    R 65 - 48 - 45
    F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

    Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

    "The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

    Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
    Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

    #363890
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I recd a 67 on FAR today after leaving 4 sims blank :/ Poos time management that it..andd I was weak on IFRS and there were probably at least 10 questions ( or less) from IFRS :/

    #363891
    leafs43
    Member

    Bad study habits, test nerves and a wee bit of bad luck on question selection.

    #363892
    forever4
    Member

    No one would believe me but the reason for me was NOT memorizing the final reviews of Becker

    FAR 5/14 88 PASSED!
    REG 7/13 74 :((((((((....! I cant believe it!!!! I studied so hard...
    REG retake 11/29 -> 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BEC 10/11/12 -> 84!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    AUD 10/25/12 -> 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'm DONE! OMG 8 months of hard work.

    I SHALL PASS. BECAUSE IT'S ME, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!

    #363893
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thinking I could spend a few weeks watching TV with my laptop open, answering the occasional becker question and still pass. Oh and planning a beach trip departure for 30 mins after the test was supposed to end.

    However, after such an embarassment on the first exam, I'm highly motivated moving forward. It's on.

    #363894
    missjones513
    Member

    I didn't give myself enough time to review and make sure I really understood everything. That had to do with slacking off 🙁

    REG - 5/29/12 (64), 10/1/12 (74), 5/20/13 (75, expires 12/31/14)
    FAR - 8/14/12 (64), 8/5/14 (75)
    BEC - 11/19/12 (70), 2/25/13 (72), 11/21/13 (73), 1/21/14 (73), 8/30/14 (72), 11/24/14 (75)
    AUD - 4/22/13 (65), 10/12/13 (79)

    I'm done!!!

    Ethics - Pass

    #363895
    OnMyWayToCPA
    Member

    I have had 5 failed attempts.

    1st attempts at AUD, REG, and FAR – I vastly underestimated the exam. I passed BEC with very little study effort on my first shot so I figured that none of the other exams would be much harder than that. To quote CPAPending “inadequate preparation, lack of effort, hoping that a half-hearted effort would result in a win. Essentially studying for a 75”. Pretty much sums it up.

    2nd attempt at AUD – I got a 74 and my weakness was the SIMS. I can honestly say, I did not adequatly prepare for the SIMS. I also gave up at the end and just fill in SIM answers because I was exhausted and frustrated. I left the exam with over an hour left… =(

    2nd attempt at FAR – I got a 66 but was comparable and stronger in all but one MCQ category. My weakness again was the SIMS. And again, I admit that I did not adequatly prepare for them. But I still feel like my performance on this exam should have gotten me a higher score. This is the only exam I feel that way about.

    I'd also like to say that I am still not exactly sure how to prepare for the SIMS. Since I have taken both AUD and FAR twice, I can tell you that the simulations vary widely from exam to exam.

    The AUD SIMS on my second attempt were sooooo FAR heavy, it was ridiculous. The AUD SIMS on my third attempt were a piece of cake and very much related to what was covered in my AUD material.

    The FAR SIMS on my second attempt were about topics that were only glossed over in my materials. The FAR SIMS in my third attempt stuck very close to the major topics, but somehow I still bombed them. Still confused about that one…

    B - 79 PASSED (1/4 there!)
    A - 77 PASSED (1/2 there!)
    F - 79 PASSED (3/4 there!)
    R - 83 PASSED (DONE!!!!!!)
    Review Course: Lambers , Wiley and Ninja

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