[ThunderFan0]

So I took the exam on May 25th and have since started to restudy for FAR(which I failed in October with a 74). Then today I get my REG results(I live in Oregon aka Snail mail…dont even get me started on that BS)…and I failed with a 71.

I am seriously starting to want to quit these stupid exams…I got hired by an accounting firm in February which has taken alot of pressure off of me to pass them which helps…but my wife and I have a newborn baby(4 months old) and I wish I was just done with these exams so I could have more time to play with my son…but it seems like the end is nowhere in sight(I only have BEC out of the way, it expires 5/24/12)

The more I fail these exams the more I am starting to realize how much of a money making machine the exam process is for everyone involved(NASBA/state boards, etc). If they fail over 50% of the candidates then they will have a constant money stream with people having to retake each window.

I got the following results back:

Ethics & Legal Responsibilities(15-19%) = Stronger

Business Law(17-21%) = Stronger

Federal Tax Process(11-15%) = Weaker

Taxation on Property Transactions(12-16%) = Weaker

Taxation on Individuals(13-19%) = Comparable

Taxation on Entities(18-24%) = Stronger

Sims = Weaker

I must have REALLY blown the simulations…it might have been the fact that I had two tabs on Installment sales and how to classify the gains and losses on the installments between the various property sections. I think which had about a page of coverage in the study materials(Roger Cram and CPA Excel).

I always love it when i get hit with sims that my study materials dont help me with effectively.

This whole thing has gotten me really down…I feel like I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to pass these stupid exams.

Being a CPA has nothing to do with your performance in an accounting firm…it has everything to do with your ability to take a test. And in my opinion…that isn’t the way it should be

Sorry to ramble on but I feel so depressed by this result that I have to vent

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[kb24]

@Thunder

REG is absolutely brutal, especially the SIMS. Given what you've been thru, it's easy to understand why you're thinking about giving up on the exam. Before you do that, though, sit down and think it through. You have a job now, but would being a CPA help you professionally in the future? Would it make it more difficult to find a new job if you lose your current job? Do you really want to give up on something that you've already put a lot of effort into? Read through some of other posts, especially those by keeptrying. She's really inspiring. If you still want to give up or take a break for a while, that's fine, but really think about it first. If you want to continue and have questions as to how best to proceed, just post a question. They're of lots of people on this forum who are happy to help.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[hilaryh_88]

Hi Thunder0 – I completely agree with your assessment of becoming a CPA being all about taking these crazy tests and the AICPA/NASBA making lots of money off of us. I recently found some motivation that I wanted to share with you. Go dust off your BEC book you used to pass that crazy test and take about five minutes to flip through it. That's all it took for me to realize how serious this is and how I in no way want to have to RETAKE any exams I have passed.

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/12
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

[Zizoty]

@thunder

Look around this forum and you'll see how many people fail before they pass the first section. Some folks here have been out of school for years, full time worker, newborn, children,…. etc. Take a break and enjoy the holiday with your family and come back stronger. We are all here to help and support you. GL

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[ThunderFan0]

I appreciate all the support so far….this is my usual routine….get my result saying i failed…spend that day wanting to jump off a bridge…then the next day picking myself back up and going back at it.

It's just hard when you keep getting knocked down to keep picking yourself back up.

Thank god for these forums…my wife can offer comfort to me…but it really helps when reading feedback from people going through the same struggle I am.

I have just had a run of fail results coming back…I am in need of seeing a pass result to boost my spirits in regards to this exam.

Maybe you all can offer some advice on the dilemma I am now facing:

Starting May 27th I started restudying for FAR….and it hasn't been going great since it's been about 7 months since I really dove into the material. Should which of the 3 should I do(feel free to suggest an unlisted option):

1. Stop studying FAR…spend a few weeks reviewing and taking practice questions on REG…and retake REG in mid July

2. Keep studying FAR and postpone REG and continue my plan on taking FAR in August.

3. Try to do both simultaneously…study FAR for July and review for REG and take mid July

I feel like 3 isn't a good option for me. I feel that I need to focus 100% on what I am going to tackle.

My choice at this point is #1….being pretty close with REG and being somewhat fresh out of tax season…I should just hit the books hard for a couple weeks and then put up a passing score. I would really like to see some suggestions though from people that have gone through the same thing.

I really wish I would've passed FAR instead of getting a 74….studying for the retake makes me ill.

It is very difficult to put so much time and effort into something and then not succeed at it.

I was talking to a friend today who was giving me the “you should've passed and you will next time” routine….and he actually made a point I thought was pretty decent:

My result sheet shows that I did very well on the MCQ's…and if you think about it…that is testing the breadth of the material…the SIMS seem to like to throw obscure topics at you to try to lower the score(and possibly keep that 50% pass rate in tact). I feel like I did pass by doing well on the MCQ's….the SIMS seem to be a bit unfair at times and I feel like they should've stayed at 30% weight or even less would've been good in my opinion.

I guess I just suck at the SIMS and the obscureness they throw at you…which is why I probably passed BEC in Nov when there was ONLY MCQ's.

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[Zizoty]

Since you are retaking both exams, I would pick option 3. The material shouldn't b e that hard this time around since you took it already. Schedule to take far at the end of July and reg at the end of Aug. Can you imagine what you would feel like if you pass both sections this window? Imo, one month is plenty of time to restudy. Also, your bec is expiring in may, time will fly by you if you don't make a big push.good luck and congrat on your new baby.

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[Laura]

@kb24–you have to be one of my biggest cheerleaders!! 🙂 I'm glad I can inspire you and you keep me motivated because I know you will be looking for my scores at the end of Q3.

@thunder–my honest opinion is take FAR…focus on it REG will be there at the end of this window so you can focus on it for a full month or month in a half and take it in the middle of October. Then you could take AUD at the end of November….you can get this done!! Sit up straighter, pull your shoulders back, and remind yourself that in 12 years when your son starts playing in band or gets into a new sport, or has to take a standardized test for school that you can pull from this and tell him you got over the toughest battle of your life and you won!! You will be teaching him that when the times get tough you get TOUGHER!! Yes he is a baby right now but your wife will know the strength that her husband has and will also teach this to your child.

Also I am absolutely shocked the accounting firm isn't pushing you to get your CPA. Honestly I work at a very small firm and this is very important for me to get my CPA for them as well as for me. My husband works at a Big 4 and it's pushed upon them to get their CPA. The CPA isn't only about earning potential but it also shows the determination and the ambition that someone who gets it has. You won't necessarily work for that company for the rest of your life so think past your current employment. I enventually am going to be a stay at home mom, to which most people go “then why get your CPA”. I respond with, well when I go back into the work place I won't have the same problem finding a job as someone without that credential. Think past the present and dream of your future as a CPA!!! You got this…failure to plan is to plan to fail and as my dad says “only easy day was yesterday”. Good luck and if you need inspiration come a calling I can look for the positive for you….we all need each other on this journey.

REG-80, 77, 77
BEC-67, 68, 71, 67, 71, 74, 71, 74, 72, 77
FAR- 72, 65,67, 53, 75 (truth be known the 53 was with 4 hours of studying)
AUD-58, 62, 72, 74, 74, 75
took 5 years but I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mnCPAwannabe]

Hey @ThunderFan0,

I know this is a daunting process. I'd like to offer a couple suggestions from personal experience that you may take as you wish.

1. Get your spirits up before you start studying again. I think you need to give yourself a “clean slate” feeling. I'm not saying you are doing anything wrong, I think that this exam has worn you down and you need to believe you can do it. Forget about your past results on this exam. Forget about your feelings towards it. Start fresh. Attack it fresh. Pass your next three, no ifs, ands, or buts. Excuse my french, but make this exam your b-.

2. Consider a change in study tactics. I suggest this to a lot of people, but especially those with consistently barely below passing scores. One different way of looking at the material or a new perspective on multiple choice questions might be the difference in passing scores.

3. Don't blame the simulations. Based on your score report (weakness in some MC areas) there is definitely room for improvement there. I agree the simulations are nuts, so why not get the best score you can on multiple choice and let that compensate for the simulations. I would guess, regardless of simulations, if you could have hit 5 more MC questions you'd take that 71 to a 75.

This exam is rough, but it does a good job of making sure adequate candidates are coming into the profession. However, that doesn't mean you won't or shouldn't make it. You will. Good luck!

FAR: 84
AUD: 95
REG: 78
BEC: 88
ETHICS: 100

[Author]

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