Last exam and second guessing if I should reschedule or take it on 1/17

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    Topic
  • #1426079
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    So now that I’m about a week and a half out from my exam, I’m starting to play the second guessing game. I’ve been doing well with Ninja since I switched back from Gleim, averaging 84% after getting through all the tax sections, with just ethics and blaw left. Gleim mcq’s are really hard and were hurting my confidence. I was only averaging 69% after about 2000 mcq’s, mostly new ones with a few repeats. I’ve done over 150 sims, mainly Gleim, and feel more comfortable with them now than I was for my first attempt.

    My first exam I was stronger on all mcq sections, except ethics and blaw which were comparable. For the sims I literally put 0’s on all of them and couldn’t find the research, but that’s a whole other story.

    I’ve been studying straight through since the beginning of October. Took my exam on 11/26, that I knew I wasn’t ready for but had to take because NTS was expiring, and started studying again a few days after. There’s always that doubt that you’re not ready and need more time, but I don’t know if pushing my exam back to the first week of February would help or do more harm than good. I really want to pass this time and want to be done forever. God forbid I fail and have to retake, I won’t even know my results until August!

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 30 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #1426194
    Finally_a_CPA
    Participant

    If it were up to me, I would honestly reschedule it and take it towards the end of this testing window. I mean this is the last section after all so you should study a few extra weeks just to be even better prepared. Of course that depends on your work load. Not sure if you're in public accounting. I just think that studying more, even if it is only a couple of hours per week will increase you chances of passing and therefore not have to taken any exams in Q2 and go through months of torture wondering whether you passed or not.
    I honestly wish I was in your shoes. I plan on taking AUD on the week of the 16th but I don't really feel prepared. I wish I could reschedule but I want to study and take REG (which I scheduled for the 10th of March).

    AUD - 75
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 81
    REG - 92
    "If you study, you will pass" - Roger
    #1426247
    mckan514w
    Participant

    GOOD LUCK Re2pect!!! I second GSD512- I would push it back as well– but maybe that's because I just pushed mine back today :-). Honestly the way I am looking at things is that its my LAST FREAKING EXAM- I will do anything and everything possible to pass and I would rather be over prepared than under- and it doesn't matter if I test now or wait- either way I am looking at either never having to study again or being done- its not like I am trying to push out another exam before the end of the quarter and even if I fail early then I still have to wait until Q2…. so those were my reasonings. I vote for give yourself every chance to pass- but no matter what you decide GOOD LUCK!!!

    And they ask me why I drink

    BEC 71, 82
    AUD 75
    REG 75
    FAR 61, 69, 83

    and they ask me why I drink...

    FAR- 61-next time I'll ask for lube instead of a calculator
    REG-75- Never been so happy to see such a low grade
    BEC- 8/11
    AUD- 9/2

    #1426265
    hasy
    Participant

    Okay, I can safely say I was around you for your first take but I also agree to move it. HOWEVER, you should know what you're weak from the first take. You did well on the MCQs and were weak on SIMs. Keep practicing them. Even though, I truly feel that no amount of practice would prepare you for the SIMs on the exam.

    Keep studying until you understand the concepts. That's as simple as it is. Though to me, you can ONLY push it so far. I would suggest pushing it to the END of this month or early Feb. PUT all you have into the next few weeks and buy yourself some time to REALLY HONE down those concepts. Go back to Gleim and dissect all the questions you keep getting wrong. If I had failed REG, I would have literally bit my tongue and gotten Gleim. You paid for it, so use it well. Honestly, I did NINJA enough but I still GOT a LOT wrong. But what I made sure is that I didn't get it wrong AGAIN. Good luck!!

    AUD - 83
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 83
    REG - 78
    BEC - 80 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

    FAR - 72; 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

    AUD - 83 (Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB)

    REG - 52; 78 (Roger + NINJA MCQ)

    Ethics - 68, 96 (how I dislike you)
    -
    This forum is more addictive than drugs. Still returning after licensure.

    Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

    -

    BEC 80 (10/23/15)
    FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
    REG 52 (4/28/15)
    AUD (9/9/16)

    Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

    #1426287
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    Thanks for the advice everyone. I can push it back to Feb 2nd if I wanted. I feel like pushing it back further won't really help much and I'll run the risk of burning myself out or forgetting things.

    @mckan514w- When were you scheduled to retake FAR and when did you reschedule for? It's so nerve racking trying to decide when to take it that I'm driving myself crazy over it. Just want this to be over with!

    @hasy- There are definitely some important areas I need to improve in. A few more weeks definitely wouldn't hurt making sure I understand them better.

    I just think that rescheduling would give me more peace of mind. If I didn't reschedule and end up failing I would be kicking myself for not giving myself more time to prepare.

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

    #1426436
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    @Re2pect push that sucker back as far as you can. This is your last exam bro, make it count!

    CPA (2017)

    REG:  75

    BEC:  76

    FAR:  77

    AUD: 78

     

    CMA (2019)

    P1: 380

    P2: 360

    AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
    REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
    BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
    FAR - (8/16)

    #1426542
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I agree with the rest, push FAR back as FAR as you can. Bring that huge confidence in!
    It's your last test, tell FAR who's the boss.
    Tell FAR, you're NO better than me.

    #1426725
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    What's good mtaylo24?! Haven't seen you around in a while. When's your next exam?

    I haven't done it yet, but plan on pushing REG back at least a couple weeks. The main reason I wanted to take it on 1/17 is because I'd be in the first score release where I'm 2/2 with AUD & BEC. I remember someone posting about how your chances are better in the first release and it's worked for me so far lol.

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

    #1426814
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    ^^^Yeah, for me its taking it in the middle of November LOL, that's where I'm 2/2 (in two different years) haha. I've been hiding in the study groups, juggling BEC and FAR. Just got my payment coupon for FAR, but I'm not scheduling it until I feel decent. Also trying to hopefully wrap things up this window as well. I don't plan on sitting until late FEB early March….I do feel decent about BEC, but I'm trying to nail it this time, not just get a 75.

    I told you that Gleim TB was a beast for REG. The key to feel decent about it is to do random sets of 20 for a given SU over and over until you do decent. At least that's how I have been approaching it this window. It starts to click as the questions repeat.

    CPA (2017)

    REG:  75

    BEC:  76

    FAR:  77

    AUD: 78

     

    CMA (2019)

    P1: 380

    P2: 360

    AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
    REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
    BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
    FAR - (8/16)

    #1427105
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    I'm sure you'll take care of BEC this time. I'd schedule FAR as close to 3/10 as you can. Give yourself as much time as possible to get ready for it.

    Gleim's mcq's are no joke! Some of them are overkill, but I guess it's good to see them now and not be surprised on exam day. I'm sticking with Ninja till I get through them all and might switch back to Gleim after. I've been doing better on the sims the second time around. Did you think their sims were as hard as the one's you had on your exam?

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

    #1427141
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    ^^^HAHA, that's the plan. I really suck at FAR, I'm trying to push it back as far as I can.

    For Reg when I finally passed, I may have seen 2 or 3 similar to the tax Gleim sims and then research I found easily. Seriously, keep hammering Ninja though, Reg is probably the best Ninja MCQ sectiom imho. The Gleim MCQs do come in handy if you get a hard testlet. I do remember alternating sets between both TBs during my final review whenever I sat. 20 random w/ Gleim, then 20 random w/ Ninja.

    CPA (2017)

    REG:  75

    BEC:  76

    FAR:  77

    AUD: 78

     

    CMA (2019)

    P1: 380

    P2: 360

    AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
    REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
    BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
    FAR - (8/16)

    #1427186
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    Yea I think Ninja is closer to what the exam questions are like. Good luck with your exams. Let's get it done this quarter!

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

    #1427570
    passthisthing
    Participant

    @RE2PECT – I'm second guessing myself with an AUD retake(my last exam). Call me crazy (or talk me out of it), but I'm thinking about pushing UP my a few days earlier.

    Having said that, a part of me wants to extend till end of Feb, but I feel like I'll be too bored of the material or just burnt out (and tough to managing working full-time with a kid at home). I was thinking about taking in end of next week and just hammering out MCQs and reviewing notes till then and finally be done with it. If I take it on the 20th I'll get my score sooner, but I guess that is a mute point since I wouldn't be able to retake (sooo hope not) till april anyway.

    Right now I'm averaging and trending in the mid 80s, but that does not mean much to me, since that's what I was averaging/trending when i first took it. I feel a bit more confident about the material but I feel I start to loose the confidence leading up to exam day.

    Am I being foolish by rushing or just a risk-taker hoping for the best?

    #1427600
    oldercandidate21
    Participant

    To all on this board: I have adopted the approach that if you are ready, and feel like postponing will just result in burnout, then take it… But if you aren’t ready, then push it back as far as you can until you are ready.

    I’m in a similar spot with REG. I took it on 12/5 and put it down for two weeks (thought I passed). When I got my failing score I decided that I would study for the next 3 weeks. If I felt ready at the end of 3 weeks, I would take it. If I thought I needed a bit more time, then I was going to push it back.

    Well I thought I could use a bit more time, but I don’t have it with busy season for the next 3-4 weeks (10-11 hour days, 7 days a week). So I’m going to review my notes during the busy season to keep it somewhat fresh, then hit it again hard at the end of January. When I feel ready, I’ll reschedule (maybe end of Feb, maybe March 10th). So what I’m saying is take it when you’re ready. If you need more time, then take it.

    FAR 75
    BEC 81
    AUD 71, 84
    REG 69, 71, 83

    FAR - 75 November 2015
    REG - 69 April 2016 (WTH? Test I got isn't what I studied for)
    BEC - 81 June 2016
    AUD - TBD

    #1427664
    passthisthing
    Participant

    @oldercandidate21 – I understand. For me, and I suspect for other candidates, it's tough to gauge readiness. I felt like I was ready to rock AUD the first time. I did not feel ready for the others, but still managed to pass. Such is the CPA exam I guess.

    Good luck with REG!

    #1427804
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    passthisthing- I wouldn't rush it unless you feel like your'e not getting much out of studying anymore. If you still have some weak areas, then try and improve them. I also have a family and work full time, but want to give myself the best possible chance of passing. If that means studying an extra month, then so be it. I don't want to be the guinea pig for the new exam and have to wait until August for my results.

    @oldercandidate21- I agree with what you're saying, but sometimes it's tough to tell if you're actually ready. When it's your last exam, the second guessing really kicks in and you start doubting yourself.

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 30 total)
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