[jimboace88]

I think I have finally cracked. I always joke and say I am going to snap but it feels like it is truly happening right now. My exam is so close and my stress level could not possibly be any higher. I feel like all of the work I’ve put in (and I have put in a lot) is going to be for nothing and I will be that unlucky person who gets an exam from outer space.

I don’t want to sound like I’m whining, but it’s at the point where I feel like it’s difficult to breathe and I am disoriented from the stress of it. I just CAN’T know everything, no matter how hard I try, and I’m worried that my weaknesses are going to be exploited and put me on the receiving end of a score below 75.

Didn’t know where else to turn but here since I can’t seem to rely on anyone at the moment, nor do I want to bother them with what I’m sure is perceived as complaining. I just need encouragement right now…this is my last FULL day that I can devote to studying and nothing else, and I am at a loss for what to do. I’m looking through all of my note cards and intend to drill questions all day, but a very big part of me feels like nothing will ever be enough to make me feel prepared.

Of all the exams, I never expected this to be the one that drove me to feeling like this.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[Anonymous]

YOU CAN PASS THIS EXAM!

I know, to a degree, how you feel. I am also taking BEC (for the 2nd time) and was feeling quite frustrated and apprehensive last week. You've got to shake these feelings off, because YOU CAN PASS THIS!

I don't know what kind of studying you've been putting in, but from the looks of your grades on FAR and AUD it seems like you've been studying well. You don't have to get 100, you just have to pass. And you can definitely pass!! You can't let the difficulty get you down or let negative feelings get the best of you, especially now.

So many people get nervous before the exam, don't have enough time to study what they wanted to, begin to get lower grades before the exam…but they end up passing! Some of this is often just part of pre-exam jitters.

All the work you have put in will cause you to pass!! You have to believe that you can pass!

We all have weaker areas and stronger areas. No one is perfect in everything. You just have to put in what you can and try your best! That is all you can do and all anyone expects you to do!

Did you check out the Motivational Video of the Day thread? – There are some very good videos on there. I'm posting one or two more on there now…

You can do this!! Good luck studying!! Go get 'em!!

[jomarie]

Acct couldn't put it any better. You can do this, good luck studying, and let's go get it!! You are probably one of most prepared candidate sitting for the exam. Just go in there and knock it out.

Good Luck!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[jimboace88]

Thanks guys. I am pretty much inconsolable right now, but it's great to have people that can relate. Jomarie, if you're not an inspiration than I don't know who is. I WILL get through this thing!

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[jomarie]

Thank you jim…..you will get through this!!! All of us will!!! 🙂

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Anonymous]

Jimbo, you're preaching to the choir, my friend! I'm well acquainted with the feeling that you're experiencing; I'd bet my bottom dollar that 90% of the people on this forum have smacked “rock bottom” at some point during their studies. These tests have a happy knack of ripping your sanity right out of your noggin and tossing it straight in the garbage. In fact, the rigors of the CPA have led me to commence my anti-anxiety drug regiment again. I hadn't taken any medicine for a couple years, and then BAM, I was back to being a monumental ball of stress! It can seem like too much to handle at times, but you need to do some soul searching every now and then and really reflect on why you began this journey. If you have a family, think about the positive impact it could have on them down the road– the financial stability to send your kids through college, treating your spouse to a nice vacation, etc. If you're a young/single person like myself, think about something that you really want (in my case, I'm saving up for a down payment on a fun car) and make plans to reward yourself one you get through the remaining tests. You've earned it. It has given me tons of motivation–I really want that car and the bonus for passing all four parts will certainly help! Take a page out of Happy Gilmore and search for your “happy place” whenever the anxiety starts building.

As far as BEC goes, I'm in the same boat. I was under the impression that it was the “easy one”. I've come to realize that even the “easy ones” will seriously test your patience. One thing I would suggest that you should mentally block out is the comment, “…I will be that unlucky person who gets an exam from outer space.” Stop! Don't think about it! Don't pay attention to horror stories that pop up on this forum. Nothing positive ever comes from stressing out about what may or may not happen on exam day. Who knows, maybe you'll get a straight forward test! The key for exam day success is confidence and mental clarity. Stress and anxiety is the CPA Anti-Christ! And no, there's no way that you can know everything, but you don't have to. BEC is only 72 MCQ, remember that. On both REG and FAR I was fahhh-reaking out about certain topics that I wasn't strong at. In hindsight, did I see anything on them? Maybe one or two questions here and there, but nothing that would seriously jeopardize my ability to pass. I've gotten tips from other BEC passers that basically said to be proficient with Ch. 1/3/5 (in Becker–basically financial management/managerial accounting/COSO) and you should be in decent shape. And judging by your post, you're a competent writer. The W/C is as close to “free points” as you'll get taking these exams.

Take a step back, relax, and trust yourself. You did really well on your first two tests, there's no reason BEC will be any different. Best of luck!

[jimboace88]

@DM–wow. Thank you for the amazing post. I need to remember that this is the place to come for quality support!

At the moment, I think my only *glaring* weakness that I positively could fall apart on is overhead variance analysis. Still not feeling very confident about everything else as a whole, but at least I have pinpointed my absolute weakest point.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[letsfixthis]

Hang in there jimbo. If it helps, I feel the exact same way about REG right now. BEC is annoying, but (from my experience) if you've put in the kind of effort that you've described, I really think you'll be OK with everything. Good luck, in the end you are going to get through it just fine.

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[Author]

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