[Anonymous]

I have seen a few other posts on the topic of telling people if you failed or not, but I have a specific issue. I am set to start a public accounting job soon. It is not a B4, but a local firm with around 100 employees. When I was hired they knew I was sitting, and I was able to tell them I passed the FAR section. I have since taken AUD and failed. How should I answer if I get asked how the exam went. I want to tell the truth, however I don’t want to come off like I’m stupid or a person who makes excuses.

Just curious how anyone handles telling (or not telling) their employer after they fail a section.

[krschneids]

An overwhelming majority of people fail one or more sections. Just tell the truth. Chances are whoever you tell has been there, done that.

I don't know if this is true, but I heard somewhere once that something like 9% of candidates pass all 4 on the first try.

AUD 79 (7/14)
FAR 78 (7/14)
REG 78 (8/14)
BEC 81 (10/14)

[soyanks]

Back when I was at Big 4, they only used to ask us once a year (usually during the annual review process).

Basically, they just want to know how your CPA studying is going and when you expect to pass them all. There's a big pressure to pass the CPA exams by your third year (and definitely before your promotion to a Manager as you may not get promoted without it).

But I don't think you have to report to your firm every time you pass a section or not. That's an overkill

FAR - 86
REG - 85
BEC - 90
AUD - 84

[MrCPA511]

I'm still waiting for my score, but in the event I failed I probably wouldn't bring it up unless they asked. If they did, I would just be straight up about it and be straight to the point. I would say something like “Unfortunately, I didn't pass and I am planning to retake it in January.” Keep it simple and avoid giving excuses. I'm sure they don't expect everyone to pass all exams on their first try.

FAR - 86 7/2014
AUD - 95 10/2014
REG - 87 1/22/15
BEC - 84 7/2015

[Anonymous]

Just say it didn't go as good as you expected. And you are determined to pass the CPA exam. Have a positive attitude and its very common to fail a section. Not many people pass all the sections on the first shot. Anyone who has taken the exam understands it isn't easy. Those are the people that should be the most understanding-the ones who have been through it. Goodluck 🙂

[northernlights]

When people ask, I just tell them I've passed REG and BEC, and my timeline to retake FAR is such-in-such. I also don't tell people what my scores are, just that I passed or failed.

You will not be the only person working there that has failed a section. Don't stress too much.

FAR: 55, 52, 66
REG: 84*
AUD: 54, 70, 73, 72, 79!!!
BEC: 75*

*expired

[Tripp11]

If asked point blank, I would tell the truth. It's happened to almost all of us – failing a section or sections. Just be honest. No need to go into great details, but just tell them you didn't pass but you are working twice as hard this time to ensure you pass.

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[Anonymous]

Don't sweat it. I'm at a similarly sized firm and the only guy I know who passed all parts without failing talks to himself in the shitter. At least I hope it's talking… No BS.

The guy has raging and I mean RAGING Aspergers, but guys like that have their place in our profession. I can tell him to do something REALLY redundant and boring that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole and this guy will knock the boring stuff out for like 20 hrs straight and you won't ever hear a peep put of him.

Anyways, I digress, most people fail an exam. Your bosses will sympathize with you. I'm sure each of them has failed one at one time or another. Just be prepared to listen to at least one of them (there's always one), talk about how hard it was back in the pencil and paper days.

Take it again and pass it. You can fail plenty of exams. The only way to REALLY fail is to give up.

[EverybodyswaitingfortheCPA]

I agree with most of the other posts as well.

Go ahead and be honest. If you're not, you'll run yourself into a whole other mess and put even more pressure on yourself. I don't think it's anyone else's business, unless you feel okay telling them. With that said, my firm does provide the study material and does ask for updates every once in a while.

Just remember, everyone before you started out in the same boat – from square one. Chances are, even the almighty partners may have failed in their testing experience. Sure it's about the journey, but in the CPA case, it's about the end result; who cares how you get there!

BEC - ✔ REG - ✔ AUD - ✔ FAR - ✔

Becker + NINJA MQCs for FAR

Licensed January 2015

[Anonymous]

I was honest when asked. You guys were right. It was no big deal.

[marti1nd]

A lot of people pass all four parts on their first try…other people struggle with the exam. It's really not a big deal where you fall on that spectrum just so long as you get the exam done.

I had people in my start group that studied each section for two weeks while it took me over a year. Everyone is different and you shouldn't apologize for the path that you fall on in IMO.

BEC: 10/2013 71
AUD: 12/2013 75
BEC: 02/2014 89
REG: 05/2014 86
FAR: 11/2014 81

[win2bet]

I had an interview on tuesday the 9th and told them i just found out i failed, they were very sympathetic and extremely understanding.

just make sure you don't give any impression that you may give up

,

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[Anonymous]

I was honest with my boss when I failed AUD, which was kind of hard to admit, since I work as a tax auditor. She told me it was better than when she tried to take it, she had such bad test anxiety that she walked up to the door and turned around. Anyone else at work that found out I failed had nothing but encouragement for me, and several of them had stories of their own failed tests.

[Texan_176]

I just started the exam process in Nov having taken my first exam. I was honest with my boss and co-workers as to what I was doing to prep because I would be up until 1-2 am at times doing problem and show up to work with red eyes and half asleep the next day. They seemed to appreciate that I was so dedicated to it. Yeah there was pressure to pass (which by the mercy of God I did) that section but even if I had failed I think the encouragement and support from them would have motivated me to push on and go again.

If I had kept it secret and went to work for weeks with red eyes and exhausted they would think I was up to shady activity at night or on drugs.

I guess it depends where you work. I work in a finance department of a real estate company so only my boss is the other CPA here. There is zero competition from other people because we do not have the same education, job tasks, or places to promote to.

AUD - 83
BEC - 77
FAR - 83
REG - 78

Licensed TX CPA

BEC 11/29/14 77 (Roger)
AUD 2/23/15 60 (Roger) 4/13/2015 83 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
REG 5/30/2015 66 (Roger & Ninja MCQ(7 hours only)) 8/23/2015 78 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
FAR 11/23/2015 60 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 2/24/2016 74 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 5/25/2016 83 (Roger+Roger CRAM & NINJA MCQ/NOTES)
Texas Ethics Exam 92%

Licensed TX CPA Aug 2016

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you are not their very first employee who failed a subject. Just tell them the truth if they ask. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[taxgeek83]

I walked into my boss's office and told her I failed before anyone even asked me about it. It's a small office and it would have gotten around anyway. That and I knew I was going to fail it (not like knowing and then passing, but really knowing), so it wasn't a huge deal.

Like ajones, I work as a tax auditor Had I failed REG, that would have been an entirely different story….

[Author]

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