3 fails in a row

  • Creator
    Topic
  • December 19, 2017 at 9:12 am #1680991
    I can and I will
    Participant

    Hi there- just opened up the board website to find I failed far with a worse score than the first time (65) and reg with a (66). This marks my third fail in a row and I’m heavily considering taking the holiday time off to regroup and consider a new plan. It’s so discouraging and makes me want to change my career path and give up all together. I battled a lot of problems such as Health and family problems and it seems all my efforts went out the window. Any advice ? I work for a big four firm and about to enter an intense busy season that I won’t be able to study during. I had BEC scheduled for jan 8, but it seems if I’ve learned anything, I need more study time than the average person. 🙁 I think I need to give up taking bec in 3 weeks, and not sure what to do? Cry for 3 weeks? Search for other jobs ?? Help

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)
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  • December 19, 2017 at 9:28 am #1681066
    emichelle2321
    Participant

    Don’t give up. You seem
    To have identified th issue and that’s that you need more study time than you’ve been giving yourself. I have myself pretty much 6-8 weeks on every section – seems overkill but what worked for me was getting through all material (Becker) and then hitting the review phase for 1-2 weeks nonstop. You can do it!

    December 19, 2017 at 9:37 am #1681108
    andjela
    Participant

    I would take BEC – a lot can be done in 3 weeks. I know it's hard but don't let the failing scores discourage you. Persistence and determination are the key for passing this exam. I failed REG twice before I finally passed. Each failure was very painful but I forced myself back into study mode. Make the most of the next 3 weeks, do as many MCQs as humanly possible. Don't give up, you and do this! Good luck!

    December 19, 2017 at 11:04 am #1681345
    turo9992000
    Participant

    BEC is crazy, I studied for 12 days and eeked by with a 75. How much time are you studying per week?

    December 19, 2017 at 2:16 pm #1681928
    carrbearr
    Participant

    For BEC, read and understanding COSO and IT materials inside out, focus on CVP calculations, production cost variance analysis, do some basic economics questions, memorize the JE in production costs, you’ll be fine. I did that and passed with 84 with 3 weeks of study. I did spend 50% of my time, overall 40 hours to read through COSO and IT, oh and I use Wiley. If you don’t have Wiley, sign up for their 2 week free trail for BEC to just use their COSO and IT, I was rated stronger in both COSO and IT in the exam results. Good luck.

    December 29, 2017 at 3:28 pm #1687922
    Go.For.Broke
    Participant

    @Jules Hang in there. You'll get it done. In my case, I came out of the gate firing and had a decent first few months of testing, and then I had FOUR fails in a row before passing another exam. Here was my experience, in order:

    FAR: 73 (fail)
    AUD: 77 (pass)
    FAR: 78 (pass)
    BEC: 68 (fail)
    REG: 66 (fail)
    BEC: 74 (fail)
    REG: 67 (fail)
    BEC: 75 (pass)
    REG: 70 (fail)
    REG: 77 (pass)

    After that 4th fail in a row, I just had to change things; I had to get back the determination I had in the beginning, when I only missed FAR (my first exam attempt) by 2 points, and then passed both FAR and AUD in the next window. I had become sloppy/lazy. I didn't care to become a CPA. Then I realized how much time and money I had put into it, and I just had to regroup and get back that drive I had in the beginning.

    You can do this. Just stand back, look at your study habits/methods and see what you need to tweak. It takes huge sacrifice, but if you figure out that you really want this, you will do whatever you have to to make it happen.

    I hope this is encouraging/helpful!

    December 29, 2017 at 3:56 pm #1687937
    jenpen
    Participant

    Oh man, I can completely relate @Go.For.Broke! I got serious in 2017 and finally began to see results. Here is my history:

    AUD 56 (fail)
    AUD 68 (fail)
    REG 75 (pass)
    AUD 61 (fail)
    FAR 69 (fail)
    FAR 69 (fail)
    AUD 69 (fail)
    BEC 70 (fail)
    AUD 85 (pass)
    FAR 82 (pass)
    REG 78 (pass)
    BEC 70 (fail)

    After my first pass, my husband and I had issues and separated. During that time, I couldn't find the motivation to study. Then I made the last-ditch effort last fall to try and pass all the exams before I lost the REG credit, to no avail. I took off the first half of 2017 to do busy season and re-aquire some motivation. In almost 3 years, I've never been as close to complete and I'm still struggling with motivation, but I know the effort and money I've put in will go to waste if I don't complete this thing.

    Just keep moving forward. Figure out what works and you'll see results. It can be hard, but it'll be worth it in the end.

    AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
    REG - 75
    FAR - 7/15/16
    BEC - TBD

    Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

    December 29, 2017 at 4:26 pm #1687954
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    See my scores below. Took me 1 year and 7 fails (4 in the 70s and a 69) to get my second pass and trust me, I'm not proud of it. Keep on fighting the good fight and things should turn around!

    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)

    December 29, 2017 at 7:30 pm #1688006
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Jules – you are in verrrrrry good company. I'm in almost the same situations as you are.
    I failed FAR, AUD, and BEC with scores in the 60s. I'm no slouch either. But, after the third fail, I decided that to keep going was not probably in my best interests, as I would have just been floundering. I had to have a good length of time away from studying and just let the fog lift. Which it has, over the past 4 months. Actually, that is one of many factors in the process – it's not just knowing the materials, it's having a clear enough head to be able to go into Prometric, sit down, and be ready to fight with everything you've got. And if you have some other issues that keep you from being able to do that….then you have to get rid of that stuff first.

    I know of a guy on here who failed FAR 9 times before passing it. Nine. I don't know if he ever finished – I think he did, and he didn't have so many fails on the other sections. But he was persistent. The fact that you're in B4 means you have a decent brain in your head. So, all you can really do is keep going. Take whatever time off you need to and then perhaps go back to it. I'm not in B4 or public but if you are, and on the track to a position as a manager/senior, CPA is just something that has to be done, like eating, drinking, sleeping, etc 😉

    December 30, 2017 at 10:35 am #1688065
    vans001
    Participant

    I have never been this miserable in my life. I have failed these exams so many times and I can't seem to find the motivation anymore. I am retaking FAR for the third time and this will be my last exam, but every time I look at the material I just want to give up and not care. I have come so far, but I feel like I have nothing left in me anymore to complete this. So drained from everything.

    December 30, 2017 at 6:07 pm #1688171
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @vans001 – absolutely keep going, you are incredibly close to the finish line. Take FAR for a fourth time if needed. Some people on here sit four or more times for each one before passing!!

    December 30, 2017 at 9:44 pm #1688242
    Stilgoin
    Participant

    I suggest sticking to the same exam until you pass before studying another subject. And 3 weeks should be enough for BEC.

    B | 62, 78
    A | 73, 67, 79
    R | 82
    F | 59, 59, Waiting

    Ethics | 93

    "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
    ~Winston Churchill

    “In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

    December 30, 2017 at 10:14 pm #1688245
    lizardh7
    Participant

    don't give up! I am embarrassed to say I failed FAR about 5 times before finally just passing. Here is my journey below. I worked in a big 4 as well, and i put so much pressure on myself to pass like most the people at the firm as well as do a good job with work! It was mentally and physically draining. It was so bad I had to go on anti anxiety medications – sadly enough…I totally know where you are coming from!! Here is my journey and I am not done yet..

    BEC – 67
    FAR – 62
    BEC – 80 (lost credit)
    FAR – 71
    FAR – 67
    AUD – 69
    FAR – 70
    FAR – 70
    BEC – 70
    FAR – 73
    REG – 69
    BEC – 79
    FAR – 79
    AUD – Feb
    Reg – April

    YOU GOT THIS!!!!!

    December 30, 2017 at 11:38 pm #1688258
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Failing multiple times is a real bummer. I failed Reg in the 3rd and 4th Quarters. Lost and confused I’m going for it again in Q1 2018. You are not alone my friend. I have sat 5 times in 2017. It is as follows:

    BEC- 66(3/10/17), 80(5/28/17 notified on 8/22/17)
    REG – 71(9/10/17), 71(10/22/17),??? (1/14/18)
    AUD – 80 (12/3/17)
    FAR- ??? (3/10/18)

    January 1, 2018 at 7:59 pm #1688587
    cpac
    Participant

    My friend studied for REG for two weeks and passed with a 76. I studied for 6 weeks and failed. I think passing is partially due to the exam hitting your sweet spots!

    January 3, 2018 at 10:34 pm #1689490
    I can and I will
    Participant

    Thank you all for the thoughtful insight. It helps more than you know. I’m actually on a leave because of medical reasons so I’ve decided to take time of studying for the time being. Going to go back at it guns blazing in another month or so. This time BEC during busy season

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