[alinute]

Anybody else feeling helpless? I feel like every exam I take, I fail. I work full time and study 20-25 hours a week, I go through lectures, take notes, do a ton of MCQ. I spend hours, weeks and months studying and I still fail (I’ve been studying like a crazy person since September 2013). How do other people pass tests so easily??? I only passed BEC after taking it 3 times. I took AUD end of May and just found out I failed with a 61!!! I felt like I did pretty good on the MCQs and ok on SIMS, so I thought I passed. I took FAR and I got a 57 (for that though, I did feel a little underprepared, my NTS was about to expire, so I didn’t expect too much). I am just really down on myself, I have never faced so much failure and disappointments in my life. Can someone help me get me motivated again? and maybe give me some tips on what to do??

BEC:74,71,80
FAR:57
AUD:61
REG:

Switched from Becker to Roger in April.

[Anonymous]

You struggle with it because it's an extremely difficult exam that will push you to the brink of insanity. Don't feel bad about your scores. Almost everyone fails at least one exam. I don't know the percentage of people who pass all 4 first try, but I'd bet it's no higher than 15%.

Luckily, you already have a passing score under your belt. That is a HUGE accomplishment, so congratulations. Your clock has barely started ticking. And you already have a strong foundation in FAR and AUD since you've taken them already.

Register for FAR and AUD again, and you have until the end of the year to take them. That should be enough time to review them again. After that, worry about REG. You're 25% of the way there, so don't feel like you're at square one. Good luck!

[HeartsMimiCPA]

As my mom tells me,”run your own race.” There are going to be people on this board that can study for a week and pass or finish the tests in a few months on their first go. That's great for them. There are also people here who will have way more failures than you will. You can't worry about these things. When you get your license it doesn't mention how long it took you or even what score you got.

Maybe you can change things up? For my two failing scores I watched lectures, for my passing scores I ditched the lectures and read the book, everything else remained the same.

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[Michael]

Just need to find asystem that works for you. The beginning I did not take serious at all thought I could go through the lectures and MCQ's and do some reviews and bang out the test…WRONG….my system that has worked for me is lectures, MCQ's, outline the book, MCQ's (All becker), then I do all the Gliem questions all while listening to NINJA Audio. that seems to work for me.

My roommate likes to print out the questions, make flash cards, and she literally beautiful minds her room with papers of formulas and numonics to help remember everyone learns different. but don't give up!

REG - 63,74,70,81!!!
FAR - 44,73, 81!!!!
AUD - 51,81!
BEC - 73,77!!

3 years later and I'm officially done. Never give up no matter what!

[Anonymous]

You have to find out for yourself what test prep strategies work for you. I used to be able to cram for exams the last minute in high school/college and pass, but that doesn't fly with this exam.

My method:

1) Go through all video lectures (I use Yaeger).

2) Take intense notes

3) After all lectures are over, start with the first chapter and write those notes into note cards. (It's tedious, but it works. I made 600 flash cards for FAR alone)

4) Master the MCQ's for that chapter. (Make more note cards about questions you got wrong)

5) Move on to the next chapter and repeat…note cards…MCQ's

The crux of this study method is to not necessarily memorize the material, but UNDERSTAND it. Because you will get asked the same question in a different manner. So UNDERSTAND the material, not just memorize it.

[Guti]

alinute, I have never faced so much failure and disappointments in my life either. After 6 months of studying for FAR, I get a 67 and a 71 (May 31). I dont want to study for other sections until I pass FAR.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Kimboroni]

Please don't be discouraged. These are such hard tests. They have to be. It's not you– it's the tests!

Like others said, you have to find out what works for you. Here is what I do, in case that gives you new ideas to try:

-Read the chapter, and do a few MCQs for each mini area in that chapter.

-Move on to next chapter.

-Every few chapters, go back and review past chapters by doing a few more MCQs.

-Listen to Ninja Audio a lot throughout study time.

-Review at the end (2 weeks or so) by doing lots more MCQs.

-Start taking notes on what you are having trouble remembering.

-Do more MCQs.

Here is what I do on practice MCQs (and I learned later that Roger recommends part of this– I find it very effective):

-Don't do a bunch of questions and then look at how you did– do them one at a time, and look up the correct answer on each one right away. Learn what you did wrong, and work through it yourself. Or if you got it right, look at why you got it right. This reinforces the material.

-Don't guess on MCQs– if you don't know how to do it, look it up.

-Don't pay attention to % scores. Just focus on learning the material.

If you are a visual learner, make something with colors and boxes to help you remember key points. Or maybe you need to repeat Jeff out loud during Audio or Blitz.

You can do this. It takes being obsessed with the material and studying effectively for YOU.

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]

This might not be the kind of advice you're looking for but when studying for Audit (& on exam day) I started taking Fish Oil Pills & Gingko Baloba and I'd like to think they helped contribute to my (high) score. I don't do well under pressure but I think they helped my brain function better than usual during the exam. I also took short breaks after each testlet (about 5 min) and I think that helped too. Lol

[Kimboroni]

Good point– nutrition, as well as exercise and sleep, plays a role for sure! I haven't tried gingko, but fish oil is a great supplement for many reasons.

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. 🙂

[alinute]

You guys are amazing!!!! It's so hard to find people who are going through the same thing as me. I think I might tend to rush to get through the material and then take the test too fast without feeling 100% ready. I probably should slow down and make sure I am comfortable with the material before taking it. I will definitely try fish oil and gingko.

So I have roger and becker materials, should I switch to becker or stay with roger and read the book and do a bunch of mcq??

BEC:74,71,80
FAR:57
AUD:61
REG:

Switched from Becker to Roger in April.

[alinute]

For those of you who work full time, do you guys make the time to exercise also?? I used to work out 6days a week and since I started studying I have barely been working out because I feel guilty not stydying, how do you guys find that balance, because I'm really starting to feel bad about sitting on my butt all the time and not working out my body.

BEC:74,71,80
FAR:57
AUD:61
REG:

Switched from Becker to Roger in April.

[Anonymous]

Definitely utilize some time on the weekends to go to the gym. You're not going to study the entire day, so might as well take a break. Plus listen to Ninja Audio if you have it. That will be passive learning while you're working out.

You can also do mini exercises in between lecture videos like I do. After every video (5-20 min) I do some jumping jacks, crunches, and push ups. Anything to keep my body moving!

[SlickRick]

I would stay with Becker, and try to take notes on the text. I filled out 2 full notebooks for REG and FAR. Before your exam date, you should feel that there literally is nothing else you could go over more in depth.

AUD- 86
FAR- 79
BEC- 83
REG- 87

[Anonymous]

Some form of exercise will definitely keep the stress levels down. I try to find time to run 2-3 times a week.

[Anonymous]

The CPA exam is no joke, a lot of people including myself stuggle with it and many of us were stellar students in college or in our line of work. The exam more than anything is a test of determination and grit in which you have to battle adversity among yourself to find what works best for you and sticking with it. I would say to never give up on this exam, its built to challenge us to become stronger people and stronger leaders in this line of business. Through time you will appreciate the struggle you have with this exam once you complete it and you will see the backbone you grew during the struggle.

Take care and happy studying.

[Uhartsoccer21]

Alinute– You have to build a strategy and stick to it. My strategy from the beginning was to take each test no matter if I passed or failed and take the one's I failed at the very last. As you can see my first score was a 65 and then I hit a 90. The main difference in my approach was my focus, I forced myself to have tunnel vision. I started approaching these tests like a professional athlete would approach a championship!! Find whatever gives you motivation, and chase the glorification that you will feel when you pass all four exams. As a result of the focus, my studying was more efficient and more importantly my confidence was up.. Don't underestimate the mental aspect of these exams.

As for the gym.. I gave up on trying to find time to go a couple months ago. I jog or bike b/c that only takes like 20 mins and do lots of pushups/situps.

A - 89 10/23/2014
R - 90 2/27/2014
F - 75 5/25/2014
B - 83 8/28/2014

[Author]

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