Normal to not remember anything?

  • This topic has 12 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by Anonymous.
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  • #192563
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I took FAR a while back and just took BEC a week ago. I’m getting ready to study for REG.. here’s the thing.. If you were to ask me to take the exam again, I don’t think I’d pass.. my far knowledge completely went out the door a month after I found I passed.

    How am I supposed to be a good CPA if I passed a section and can’t remember anything after I’ve taken the exam?

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #656192
    BEACPA
    Participant

    My friend,

    You will be a great CPA. The CPA exam is a test of intense discipline and the simple fact that you passed it shows that you have what it takes to be a great CPA. Our brains aren't wired to remember every minute fact. When you're working as a full time CPA, then you will acquire the knowledge and skill set for a particular expertise. Just like doctors, we have general physicians, brain surgeons, etc. You may be an expert in taxation, or forensic accounting, and the list goes on. You're not alone. There's a lot I don't remember either, but a quick refresher can do wonders. You definitely have proven that you have what it takes to be a good CPA – discipline! Keep your head high and shine!

    FAR - 2/28/14 PASS Praise be to God!
    AUD - 7/5/14 PASS Praise be to God!
    BEC - 11/29/14PASS Praise be to God!
    REG - 2/28/14 PASS Praise be to God!

    #656193
    s2sylvir
    Member

    Pretty sure we study for the CPA because we want to pass the exam and get our license, not because it measures our merit or expertise… At least that's my thought xD Maybe it's the wrong way to approach the CPA exam, but yeah, I'm only taking it because it's a requirement in our profession. The content on the exam is just like any other college class — it's how things are done by the “textbook”, not real life applications.

    BEC - PASS (79)
    AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
    REG - PASS (88)
    FAR - PASS (58, 89)

    Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

    #656194
    Sleep Optional
    Participant

    That would only be a problem if everyone else retained all the information they learned and you didn't. Since people forget a good portion of the stuff they previously learned, the playing field is even! To paraphrase Roger, you only need to know the stuff for a 3-4 hour sitting. Of the 3 parts I passed, I'm fairly certain I'd fail all 3 sections if I took them now. >.< My outlook may be wrong, but that's just how I see things.

    BEC x1 - Passed
    REG x2 - Passed
    Audit x1 - Passed
    FAR x2 - Passed

    BEC: ☑ x1 attempt(s)
    REG: ☑ x2 ''
    AUD: ☑ x1 ''
    FAR: ☑ x2 ''

    Done!

    #656195
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yes, Its completely normal to feel that you don't remember a thing .

    Frankly speaking , You know more then what you think you know . I will also bet you that u will score not less then 10-20 points less if you write the exam again with out any reference .

    The idea is when you are exposed to a practical situation , you won't feel blank . You will re collect atleast pieces of what you learnt to start solving . So You are not the only one .

    #656196
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    “The idea is when you are exposed to a practical situation , you won't feel blank . You will re collect atleast pieces of what you learnt to start solving .”

    Yes, exactly. An old boss of mine said that the goal of learning is to know enough to know the questions to ask. For example, think about REG. There's gift tax (or at least a gift tax form to fill out) if gifts to an individual exceed a certain figure in a year, and that figure changes every year. The goal of gift tax questions on the exam isn't to ensure you know the exact number and presume you will always know the exact number; the goal is to make sure that you know gift tax exists and know enough about it to answer the question(s) about it. Let's say you get a job working in taxation, but with low-income customers who rarely if ever have enough money to give away to hit the income tax threshold. But then, 10 years into practice, your client says her son got married and she and her husband gave them the old family house as a wedding gift. In 10 years (or even 10 months or weeks after the exams 🙂 ), you might not know off-hand what the threshold is for non-reportable gifts, and you might not remember that from a couple to a couple has a total of 4 exclusions…but, you remember enough to know that there's a gift tax for bigger gifts and you better look into it. That's the goal of the studying for the exams – to know what questions to ask and know when you don't know something.

    I'm pretty sure that a week after each exam, if I had re-taken it, I would've gotten a lower score. But I'm also pretty sure that if I switched industry lines or had a reason to re-study, it would all come back to me. I might not remember details enough to pass a test, but I've got enough of the groundwork laid to have it all come back to me quickly if needed…and I'm sure you're the same way.

    #656197
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The old joke is that CPA stands for Couldn't Pass Again.

    You're completely normal.

    #656198
    taxgeek83
    Participant

    I'm echoing everyone here. My opinion is that the Exam is more a test of discipline, not intelligence. The retention will come as you are working in your chosen field day after day, year after year. Hence the experience requirement. 🙂

    #656199
    y_u_no_pass
    Participant

    Yeah I think you need to be aware of the general issues. Also I have trouble just recalling the specific info from the exam, but that doesn't mean I forgot all of it. It is much harder to spew out the information rotely than to have a question in front of you and be able to answer it.

    Florida CPA!
    Took final exam 2/25/15.
    Sent in Application 3/12/15.
    Issued License 3/20/15.
    Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

    #656200
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I barely remember which study material I used….

    Just kidding. But really, it's totally normal. However, at work I find myself understanding more of the complexities because of what I learned in the exam. We're thinking of doing a bond issuance and when our financial advisers start talking I understand better what they're saying. I think the CPA has simply helped me catch on faster.

    #656201
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It's not just a test of discipline. The purpose of the exam is to test the following:

    1. Endurance

    2. Determination

    3. Sleep deprivation point

    4. Relationships

    5. Breaking point

    #656202
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks you everyone. It's nice to know that I am not alone in this!

    #656203
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    “The old joke is that CPA stands for Couldn't Pass Again”

    ^ hahahahaha amen!

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