[MM]

I have been given an ultimatum at work, I either pass it or pretty much I can’t work there anymore. I know I need it, I am studying and trying it, I just can’t seem to pass it. I feel so stupid. I have used Becker, I didn’t like it. I got Yaeger, their materials are better, but I still can’t seem to get it. I also got the Ninja Notes, they are a lot of help. Have anybody tried anythign else? Any other places I can get MCQs? I just really don’t know else to do.

[Anonymous]

You can pass. Have they given you a time frame?

There are other programs. Roger, Gleim, CPA Excel, NINJA. How are you studying, and what are you scoring? What exams have you tried taking?

[MM]

Yes, I am trying to pass. About a year.

I watched the videos for Yaegar. Re-wrote the ninja notes and took MCQs. I got a 63 the first time and the second time I did the same thing, except the videos. I did worst. In the 50s. I like Yaeger, I just don't know if I am going at it the wrong way.

[MM]

I am stuck on Audit. I have tried other part before and failed them pretty bad.

[Kimboroni]

It sounds like you may have jumped from exam to exam instead of sticking with one until you pass.

How many weeks are you studying for one exam, and how many hours per week? Are you studying every day? Doing 1,000+ MCQs?

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[MM]

Well, right now I have been sticking with audit. This will be my third time taking it. Weekdays i study about 2 hours and weekends i do about 4 hrs. I don't know if that is enough.

Thanks!

[lude4life13]

It must not be enough if you aren't retaining the information. You just have to put in the time, simple as that. The trick is finding the time in life..

[Lindrobe]

How many hours are you studying per section? I also agree with Kimboroni that you need to stick with one section and not jump around.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[stoleway]

OP, Is your employer forcing the CPA designation down your throat or is it your inner desire to have it ?

I'm asking this because it usually doesn't work if someone else is forcing you to have it.

It only works if you have that determination and that dream to get it no matter what.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Anonymous]

Just an opinion of mine.

Is the added Stress of your work places ultimatum hindering you when you are studying ?

One of the things about Audit is reading the question and also reading the answers. You need to develop a habit of looking for key works – Must / Maybe / Should / should Not etc as those are the “type” of words that can change the meaning of the answer.

I used Rogers because I needed someone that was hyper and really good at giving real life examples when teaching the material.

The review course will give you just the tools or knowledge but its up to you to really study it until your brain feels saturated with it. Weekdays I would say study time should be 3 hours and weekends should almost be the whole day.

This is what I did

1. Watch Rogers lectures. then make my own notes based on his book and it was in my own words. Very time consuming but by doing this I was able to make sense of things better. My notes weren't very long or very wordy. I make it simple for myself to understand the concept I am learning.

Then I would do practice questions on what I have learnt to see if I really got it. For every question i got wrong, I would make scrap notes on why and what the key words in the Qs where that I missed when I picked the wrong answer.

2. I would also youtube videos to see if there was someone that had a better explanation on a area I just didn't get understand. Some times hearing it from a different person helps.

3. I made sure I did the whole of the Wiley test bank and also I did repeated at a later day the ones I got wrong to see did I learn from my mistakes.

I had Jeff's ninja audio that helped me keep studying on my way to work, anywhere i could have my ipod plugged into my ears. I would listen to him over and over again.

Lastly – I had flashcards and I had my husband interact with me. Normally did this before bed.

My life was just revolving around the CPA exams and i was working full time too. It was tough not to watch TV or go out and socialise etc. But I personally choose to be isolated and just get it over with.

Now that I am done “freedom” is so sweet !

[hvansaders]

MM – I don’t usually comment and post, but you kind of sound like me 4 years ago. It's not that you aren't studying and putting in time, but you probably just aren't putting in enough time or enough quality time to get a passing score. In short my first try at the exam was in 2010 and I was more or less an inactive studier. I would go through the material and put some time into studying, but I would try to do the bare minimum to get by. I “tried” for two years with no luck. I took a year off and then I decided to give it another try. This time I can honestly say I am an active studier. I study 2-3 hours a night and 6-10 hours on a Saturday AND Sunday each. For me, the weekend is when I can truly focus and put the time in so that is what I do. I have passed 3 parts in the last year and am working on my 4th now, taking it July 14th.

The ultimatum does not help, but if you want to keep your job you need to get serious about the exam. You didn’t provide a lot of detail related to the ultimatum given, but hopefully you have a timeframe to start passing and once your boss sees you are becoming successful hopefully they will be supportive. To be honest, if your boss isn’t supporting you and only adding stress then maybe the ultimatum is an opportunity to look for a new job. Do you like your job, your boss, etc? If my bosses weren’t some of my biggest supporters during this process I couldn’t imagine being successful with this exam.

Anyway to me it sounds like you need to put in a lot more quality hours of studying and you will see a difference. The materials you are using are the same as mine, Yeager, Wiley test bank, NINJA notes – I added the NINJA flashcards as well and I think they are great because you can do them anywhere and they force you to answer the material in a different way which just reinforces the material. For this last part (REG) I am thinking of adding the NINJA MCQ because based off of all the comments and threads they seem to be harder and provide different questions then the Wiley test bank. Good luck with your job/boss and the exam!

[MM]

I want yo have it, I just don't do well with stress and it makes it more difficult for me. I am going to start implementing some of the techniques you all have suggested. I also have a hard time believing in myself when I don't do well.

I do like my job and I would like to keep it. I just want to be a CPA , really do.

Thank you all who have reaponded, you all have definitely lifted me up. I really needed the encouragement.

I know it is a learning process, figuring out what works best. I just hope I fined mine soon.

[Kimboroni]

Keep the ultimatum out of your mind. That really does not help! Nor does thinking you are stupid. These are hard tests, but it is easy to accidentally underestimate the amount of work that it takes to pass. I expect this is the problem.

It sounds like you are studying a little too casually– just 2 hours per weeknight can work if you put in a lot more time on the weekends.

I didn't see how many weeks you are studying for, but try studying AUD for 25+ hours per week for, say, 6-7 weeks. FAR and REG need a couple more weeks than that.

You can do this. Get obsessed with the material and put everything you have into learning it.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Personally, for me the hardest part is putting aside time with my husband or really any personal time at all. I go to work, I study at lunch, I come home from work at 5 and go straight to the office and study with a short break for dinner and then go to bed around 10. I probably get 5 hours of studying in on the weekdays and 7-8 per day on the weekends. My husband helps out a lot with dinner and taking care of the pets and whatnot and we hired a cleaning service to make sure the house is clean (I just can't focus with a dirty house…not possible), so I really don't have any responsibilities at home right now. It really helps if your significant other is on board and helping you out. I make up for it on Friday and Saturday evening because I don't study during those nights and my husband and I spend time together. Find a schedule and study plan that works for you and stick with it.

[MM]

Amanda_88. What materials are you usimg?

[Anonymous]

@MM Hang in there. I started my CPA exam journey in 2010. I took an exam every testing window for one year before I passed a part. You can and will do this. I agree with the others that you need to stick with one part instead of jumping from one to another.

Best wishes to you!

[Author]

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