[Anonymous]

I am beginning to wonder if its really possible to pass this exam while working full time? I spend almost all my free time studying, before work, after work and on weekends (I dont take a lunch break so I cant study during the day). I don’t have a social life anymore. I rarely see my spouse and the only time I take for myself is to workout 3 times a week. Yet I have not passed one exam (I have taken 3). I graduated with a masters in accountancy with almost a 4.0 so I don’t think its an intelligence issue (although I’m beginning to wonder). And I listen to ninja audio daily and I take notes on the lectures.

I am feeling very discouraged after receiving a 74 on BEC today and a 73 on AUD. Can anyone who has passed while working full time at a firm let me know what you did? I take notes and I did over 1000 multiple choice questions for BEC. I just feel like there is so much info that by the time I go thru it all I have forgotten what I learned in the beginning.

[Jennifer241]

To pass audit, I did all of what you did while working full-time. Then I took the 2 weeks before the exam and did non-stop MCQ's, and read my NINJA notes everyday (with my little fact nuggets). The week before my exam I took off of work and pounded it out.

It is possible, and you are smart enough… this exam is just tricky. You are so close, if you just invest a week before the exam and put all the cards on the table I am sure that will push you over the 75 mark!

Don't give up.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[SeattleAccountant]

People pass not only working full time but also while being prego, raising a few kids, etc. It just takes careful approach and being objective with yourself when evaluating whether to take exam at time X or reschedule further.

bwt, I also got excellent grades in both graduate & undergrad accounting but those grades do not necessarily translate into better exam scores, imo. What does matter is the through and persistent preparation that includes viewing lectures (often twice), doing MCQ and Sims twice + additional online research to clarify certain subjects.

Don't give up and stop insulting yourself by doubting your intelligence! You can do it, and you will pass eventually even if not now. Your current grades show that you are there, just a few points short.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[Zaq]

Saw that someone passed while having a full-time job, having kids, being pregnant, and still doing things like driving kids around places where they need to be.

So a full-time job in itself is more than manageable.

If your issue is forgetting what you learned in the beginning, then I wonder if you're doing enough progress exams in between Chapters or if you're doing a thorough, long enough review at the end. Because a review at the end should show where your weak areas are and what you need to brush up on.

In my opinion, I would stop dancing around the exams and focus on passing one and only one first. For example, I'd take the last exam that you JUST took and get RIGHT back on the horse and focus on passing that in the beginning of October while all the information is fresh in your head.

Your scores are far from horrible. Very decent actually. I think if you went right back into one of those exams after finding out your failed them for a Round 2 while they were still fresh, you'll be much better off. Just look at me. Jumped from a 50 to a 76 on FAR. Jumped from 74 to 76 on REG. and Hopefully jumping from a 65 to a +75 on AUD.

Good luck!

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Anonymous]

I'm proof that its possible. There are LOTS of people that have a busier schedule than me but I work full time, have 2 kids (one which is 7 and has tons if activities and the other who is 14 months old and needs quite a bit of attention), am very active in the community and church and help my wife out quite a bit. You can do this!! All the above advice on study habits is wonderful!!! These guys are seasoned pros who have quite a bit to offer.

[Anonymous]

You mentioned barely seeing your spouse…that is the hardest part for me! Especially since my man is going through some tough stuff himself, and I want to be there for him more…but these exams take everything we can give them and then some. I haven't done enough to have tips yet…but you *can* do it. Even if it ‘most kills you, you can do it!

The only tip I would offer is very unconventional – that's the idea that you have to be able to relax sometimes in order to keep up the pace. Like, I try to take the week after an exam off from studying entirely. I know it's taking up precious time, but that time is needed to reconnect with spouse, yourself, everything. Besides, I don't know about the rest of you, but right after taking an exam, I'm so burnt-out that I can't do anything useful anyway! I also try to set aside some time each week – no matter how small – that is dedicated study-free time. Maybe that'd be Friday evening – that Friday evening is “date night”, and you don't study that night. Again, it's taking precise time, but I find it makes me more able to study hard during study-time if I have my free-time, too.

Also, if you're not able to take off the week before an exam (like my boss would never let me have off enough weeks for that – I'm lucky to get one 😉 ), if you can get any time of at all, that can still help. My first exam was the day after a holiday (I can't remember which one now lol), and my second one, I left work about 2 the day before the exam. Taking an exam Monday morning (or Sunday evening) might accomplish the same thing, since you've have the weekend to study…but I really think that final quick review makes a HUGE difference. I'm an MCQ person, so I use that time to do MCQs for a few hours, and I'm still waiting to see how that worked for FAR, but I'd swear by it. Even if it meant working longer hours earlier or later in the week to make up the time… Best part about doing that final review in a few hours the night before is that it allows you to have a long night of sleep and *not* have to drill too much morning of hte exam, so that your mind is still fresh when you get to the exam center! (I usually do a few MCQs that morning, but just enough to build confidence, not to really learn…)

[MBA MST CPA]

I'm 50 and passed while working full time and going to school for my MS in Taxation. It can be done. Granted, I had no life for ten months and am blessed with an extremely understanding wife.(CPA widow?)

During that time we went away for a long ski weekend and a week in the Cayman Islands and my laptop came with me. I was the only geek in the Caymans studying on the beach but it paid off.

I think that, for me, the key to passing was spending every free waking minute doing MCQ's over and over and over again. I learned more from doing that than I did from any other study materials.

REG - 11/5/2012 - 80
BEC - 1/17/2013 - 76
AUD - 2/22/2013 - 70 4/5/2013 - 75
FAR - 5/28/2013 - 75 - Done!!!

Question: What do you call someone who only gets 75's and 76's on the four parts of the CPA exam?

Answer: A CPA

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement. It is discouraging to see a 73 and 74 back to back, so it helps to know I am not alone. I am going to do more progress tests along the way to see if I can retain the knowledge better as I go. Also I think I will take the week off before this next exam so I can cram. I haven't done that in the past. I think part of my problem is that I am burnt out from being in grad school for the last year and a half while working, then I jumped right into the exams. But I am going to retake FAR (the first test I failed) and then go back to retake the two I almost passed. I am already half way through redoing the material for FAR so it makes the most sense.

I have taken the enrolled agent exams, series 7, series 66 and insurance licensing exam and passed them all on the first try (with a margin of the effort I put into this). This exam is in a league of its own.

[Spur]

CPAHopeful, the main thing that helped me was to stay positive and to keep telling myself that I will pass it. Am telling myself that with AUD now.

FAR - Bad Fail '11, Fail '12, Fail '13, PASS It's a miracle!
AUD - Fail, PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC - PASS!!!!!!!!
REG - PASS!!!!!!!! And I'm done!

[evesocal]

It is absolutely possible to pass while working full time. I work at a firm that is very heavy in tax, so in tax season I work 6 days per week and as extensions come up (like now, for Sep. 15) I work 6 days per week.

I took one test per window. I took the Becker live courses on weekends. I never get home from work before 7 PM and usually it's later, so I couldn't study during the week, just too tired. Sometimes I could manage half an hour or so but usually not. So I had the weekend.

A coworker was studying with me and when possible we got together for a couple of hours on the weekend. This helped.

I did not do all the Becker questions, just didn't have time. I had a strategy of doing enough questions per section to where I got ten right, then I'd move onto another section. I took notes on the computer and listened to the lectures on subjects that were harder. I took a couple of days off during the week of each exam and kept doing questions and SIMS and writing notes.

Your grades are so close and that is discouraging! But in all honesty I attribute grades *that* close to luck. Especially BEC.

Don't give up! You're very close. You'll get there. Best of luck to you!

B: 75

A: 77

R: 80

F: 81

Ethics: 84, 92 and done!

Licenses in California

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Anonymous]

I started with one of the big 4 in NYC in September having passed zero parts. I just recently found out I passed my last test. It wasn't easy, lots of weekends spent doing nothing but studying but it 100% can be done.

[Tncincy]

@challock,

Thank you for the confirmation….I am not working full time and I was wondering what else can I do. I have given up my life for this test….so I thought. I guess I need to give it up more…I mean until I am quoting each chapter or something.

I know many have passed, and seemed with little to no effort.

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

[mla1169]

The first step is to change your thinking from “is it possible” to “of course I can”. Honestly I think people who aren't working full time struggle every bit as much with the exams as those of us who work full time. You're not so far off it's just a matter of tweaking your studying. Are you rewriting your notes? It really does make a difference as you can see by my 3rd AUD score. I listened to audio while I was folding laundry, weeding the garden, even in bed! It's not at all a matter of having more time to study, more like finding the study method that clicks best for you.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jlg2010]

Cpa hopeful did you take two tests in the first 20 days of July? If so that is problematic. But yes it is doable 2 hours after work and 6 or so hours on Saturday and Sunday. It sucks but it will end.

FAR Aug 12 84
Aud Feb 13 99
BEC Apr 13 86
Reg May 13 87 Done!!!

[wannabeCPA123]

I work full-time and i rotate between graveyard, swing and morning shifts. My current job is physcially demanding and very stressful (retail management). I passed FAR! You can do it!!!

FAR 78
REG 87
BEC 78
AUD 78
Passed all exams on first try! Good luck to everyone!

[Anonymous]

It's definitely possible. I work at a Big 4 and while I haven't been working crazy hours since busy season ended, I do work 9-6 and study afterwards when I get home. It's not fun, pretty much the only time that I can relax and enjoy my time is Friday and Saturday nights (I can't really study at night, my brain doesn't function past 9 PM), but I've been sucking it up these past months and now have only one more test left.

In regards to remembering things, I would say keep doing MCQs from prior chapters as you move through the course material. I always do a progress test with 25-30 MCQs per each lecture that I've done at least once a week, in order to keep the material fresh. And then in the days leading up to the exam, I do MCQs on ALL the material covered so that I don't forget anything that I learned when I first started. So far it's worked well.

[Author]

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