[tessann19]

Believe me this word is NOT in my vocabulary, but I am a true loss. How do I have a 4.0 in my MSA, but I received the following scores:

BEC 69, 64

REG 38 – yes a 38

FAR 50

AUD – taking 02/25/12

I used MDS as my review course and completed all the homework as instructed. After just receiving my BEC score for the second time this morning, I am feeling severly hopeless. I have worked in the accounting field for 15 years – yes I am 36 years old. Am I too old to learn this??? Any insight or direction would be greatly appreciated.

[mla1169]

Too old? I hope not, I was 40 when I started this.

Quits? NEVER! It doesn't matter how many times you try, all that matters is that you finish!

Whatever course you use, always supplement. I used Wiley but it wasn't enough to just do the required questions/homework. You need to seek out additional test banks, questions on cpareviewforfree.com, google the AICPA released questions from previous years………oh and Jeff's Ninja notes saved my backside on AUD.

Good luck, you CAN do it!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I'm 41 and have a wife and two kids, a brand new–very demanding career, and a home and a thankless dog. Oh and a partidge in a pear tree.

This test is doable but you have to find what works for you. I am not sure what MDS is….perhaps try another course. In all honesty, I bought CPAExcel and Wiley and for both Audting (score of 87) and BEC (testing next Monday), I ended up using Wiley. I've treated it like a job….I have had no social life and watch little TV and my butt and legs and back hurt from sitting so much. I have to get up frequently just to keep from implanting to the chair. It has become my life.

The first time I took the test, I put the time in for the sake of putting the time in. Expecting that I had just graduated college and could srape by. It didn't work.

Now I am fueled by the fact that one person told me I couldn't do it and I see my peers with their license.

Good luck!

[porschify]

You may have not passed those exams, but if you quit you have truly failed. These are not aptitude tests, it doesnt matter what your GPA was. You are strictly studying for the test and the test alone, no “outside the box” thinking is required. The examiners ask you a question and based on the facts they provide and you must provide the best answer.

REG- 81
BEC- 72,76
AUD- 67,88
FAR- 78

Done!

[Anonymous]

It's time to call it quits when you pass all 4 parts….

If you had a 4.0 in college, then study just the way you did in college and you should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Try changing your review course. You could try Becker which is a little expensive but is a good investment.

[Anonymous]

Sorry this wont be a “Never give up” or “the sun will come out tomorrow” reply…..what do you want your CPA for? I dont mean that in a snarky way but what is the hope? A better/different job? You’ve taken parts of this exam 4 times and unfortunately have done very poorly. Also, just curious where is your MSA from? Perhaps, could your efforts be better spent advancing your career in other ways? Networking? Putting the hours studying into work instead and trying to add responsibilities? Im NOT saying you should quit, Im saying you should seriously and honestly consider all your options and your reasons and hopes for chosing a particular option. I hope whatever path you take ends up being good for you and is deserving of the effort taken.

[katiekanton]

Tess, I believe it is absolutely possible for everyone to pass this exam eventually. The question you have to ask yourself is, If I spend three years of my life on it and feel the perpetual stress that comes with that, and I spend many thousands of dollars on materials and retakes, will it be worth it? For me, the answer to that would be no, but everybody's different and only you can make that call. If it's something you really want, the answer probably lies in changing your review material and cutting out everything else in your life but studying until you pass. It CAN be done. Good luck!

Oh, and also, no you're not too old. Lots of us on here in our 30s and 40s, there's even some 50s. Also, if you decide to continue, you should concentrate on one section until you pass, and my opinion is that it should be FAR. FAR information appears on the other sections.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[Anonymous]

I'm not going to be one of those “never give up” people either. The main thing is…. if you're not going to put your heart and soul into this, then don't bother with this exam. I don't even believe in this “just take the exam, maybe you'll pass” nonsense. If you don't study as hard as you can, you WILL fail. You literally have to stress yourself out to the point where you are going to collapse in order to pass this exam. You need to put all the effort in the world. If you're willing to do all that, then don't quit. If you're thinking of slacking off the slightest bit, then don't bother.

A score of 38 and 50 indicates that you need to put in A LOT more effort into this if you want to make it. I know because I've had similar scores like that before.

[Anonymous]

Change your exam prep.

FIRST and most importantly: Find out what method of learning works great for you. Test taking? Visual? Lectures? Reading? Highlighting notes? Find out how you learn best.

I am the type who takes a test and learns from mistakes on the test. So the WIley Online Test bank works best for me. Passed 3 sections, and I'm 41 with zero accounting experience. I got REG tomorrow and I feel ready.

I recommend the Ninja Notes. They cover what's on the CSO's and do a great job of distilling everything to the essentials. But use them in combination with something else.

If money were not a problem, I'd also recommend Roger. He is fun to watch.

[Anonymous]

Becker review is great! passed on my first attempt.. Put 80-90 hours in for audit

[Anonymous]

Please don't take this harshly but I want to be as honest and constructive as possible:

1) The 4.0 in your MSA program means virtually nothing. Many MSA programs are paper mills and even the ones that are not still will not adequately prepare you to take this test. Biggest mistake early candidates make is they equate this test to what they are taught in school and it's far more in depth in my opinion than that.

2) You're clearly using a trash prep course if you did all the homework and pulled a 38. I know people who didn't even use a prep course who failed with much better scores than that. You need to spend a few bucks and get a course that will actually teach you something.

3) I obviously don't know you but I'd bet the house your not trying hard enough. It's not like studying for a pop quiz or something. If you get a decent course, put 80-100 hours into studying, do all the homework and lectures and make the effort to understand the topics you'll pass. It's that simple.

4) Whatever accounting field you've been in for 15 years maybe you should start with that course as a confidence booster. SOME of the topics you should be able to manage just from work experience and you might be more comfortable with it cause it's familiar to you. Seriously, 36 is a little young to be throwing in the age towel…

5) Your taking AUD in 3 days??? Don't waste your time if your the same techniques to study for this test as you did the other 3 cause I'll tell you right now it's not going to work. Push it out to the next window if you can, take my advice in point #3 and do it the right way…

Your biggest obstical is yourself. Your either giving 100% or don't waste the money on the exams until your ready to give it 100%.

[tessann19]

I want to thank everyone for being a sounding board… Direct honesty is a great thing!

[Anonymous]

@tessann19

You should focus one test per one testing window or take one exam on the first day of testing window and the 2nd on the last day of testing window. Everyone is learning differently. You have to change your study strategy every time you fail. Before I started this CPA exam journey, I truely believe that if I use some products as they advertised “you can pass all four parts in four months” type of bull s and I would pass. Of course I didn't pass that easy… That made me wonder what's wrong with me cuz I didn't pass them all in four months. You have to take time to build up your momentum. If you fail one exam, try to study right away when your memory is still fresh and take it soon (within one or two months).

[Anonymous]

Please don't give up. I took my first exam in November or December 2006 and over 5 years later, I'm still at it. In that time, I've made many concerted efforts to pass and other times, not so much and of course failed miserably. I just found out yesterday that I passed Audit and now only have REG left to pass, yahoooo!

So my persistence on never giving up has paid off. I have had people tell me to just give up. But I never did as this is a goal I set out for myself 6 years ago and I'm never giving up.

As others have said, find better prep material. I have used Becker, Bisk and Wiley book. Most recently I passed my three exams using Wiley book and Ninja notes. You need to find what materials work best for you. All I can say is reivew the Ninja notes everyday and do all the multiple choice questions for each section. Going through MCQs are really what drill the information in. Re-writing notes is very helpful too, but if you have limited time to study, I would say go through MCQs. And let me say it again – NINJA NOTES ROCK!

[Anonymous]

Like I said before, I don't believe in that “don't give up” cliche. When I started taking this exam in 2009, I failed several times with pitiful scores. So, I decided to give up. After about 3-4 months, I decided to give it another shot and work harder than I did before. After my hiatus, I cracked open the books again and was more motivated than ever. Hence my drastic increase in my FAR and AUD scores. I don't regret giving up and taking a three month break because I honestly think I wouldn't have made it this far if I didn't. I needed that break to think things through and knock some sense into me.

My point is…. you can tell someone “don't give up” several times and it may convince them not to give up, but what's the point of telling someone not to give up if they're not truly determined to study as hard as they possibly could? Let the person give up. If their heart truly desires to become a CPA, they will come back later on in life with the proper motivation that they need. Sometimes we need a break. It's not a bad thing because sometimes, your battery needs to be recharged.

[Author]

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