[ExhaustedCPA]

I’ve taken 3 exams so far and I have had 3 different feelings walking out of the testing center. For Auditing, I breezed in and out of there in 2 hours and knew for certain that I passed. For FAR, I immediately wanted to curl up in the fetal position and never see anybody again. I was 75-80% sure I bombed the test. And more recently, for BEC, I came out thinking that it was harder than I thought. I’m 50/50 on whether I passed or failed.

So it got me thinking, what were your experiences?

1. Any exams you were 51-100% sure you failed but actually passed?

2. Any exams you were 51-100% sure you failed and were proved right?

3. Any exams you were 50/50 on and passed?

4. Any exams you were 50/50 on and failed?

5. Any exams you were 51-100% sure you passed and did?

6. Any exams you were 51-100% sure you passed but didn’t?

Aud 4/2/11 - 86
Far 5/27/11 - 83
Bec 7/1/11 - 82
Reg 8/13/11 - 86! It's over!!!!

[mnCPAwannabe]

So far I've taken three exams.

FAR: Category 3. Walked out saying, “Yep about what people on Another 71 said it'd be. If I pass I'll be right around the 75 mark. Ended up with an 84.”

AUD: Category 5. I don't know if its my internship experience in Big 4 or if this topic just came easy to me but I thought it was pretty easy. Went into the test confident, came our confident. Figured if I didn't pass that exam I would never pass any of them.

REG: Category 1: I took this one 3rd in the window and walked out saying, “So that's what failing an exam feels like.” It gave me confidence for FAR and AUD since I knew I had performed significantly better. Ended up passing it with a couple points to spare.

BEC: To be decided… Hoping for Category 5!

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

[Anonymous]

FAR: First exam so I was 95% sure I failed. I had never seen an exam like that in my life and was used to aceing exams in college so this one was just brutal. Ended up with an 80 and was shocked, but suddenly felt confident about the other 3 sections.

AUD: Went in well prepared and was getting 90s on my review quizzes–came out feeling doubtful. I'd say close to 50/50, maybe more like 55/45. When I passed I wasn't shocked but I was thrilled nonetheless.

BEC: Again went in well prepared and felt almost betrayed afterward. Way harder than I expected and I was pretty sure I hadn't passed, but was hopeful based on my FAR feeling. Sure enough I was again surprised to see my 81.

REG: Hard to say here….I walked out feeling terrible, if this had been my first trip to prometric I wouldve thought I failed—but knowing that I felt the same about FAR and BEC and felt somewhat bad about AUD, I was still hopeful. I actually talked myself up to 50/50 by the time scores came out, only to find out I didnt pass.

So thats 2 I thought I failed and passed, 1 I thought I failed and failed, and 1 I thought I passed and passed.

Good survey, I find this part of the exam to be the most interesting—the fact that it beats you down so much that most walk out thinking they failed.

[kb24]

FAR – thought I'd done well but not perfectly. Was expecting score in high 80's or low 90's – got an 89 – pretty much on target

AUD – thought I'd aced it. Was sure I'd gotten a score at least in the mid 90's – got an 85 – a great score but not nearly as good as I expected

REG – thought it was 50/50 as to whether I passed or failed. Expected score somewhere in 70's – got an 80 – better than expected

BEC – thought I'd passed but that I could have done better if I hadn't been so tired. Expected score in mid 80's – got an 85 – right on target.

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

[Anonymous]

FAR – 50/50 pass/fail. It was the first exam I'd taken and so I really had no idea what to expect from the exam or my grade. I felt like I knew most of the topics tested but wasn't sure if I knew the calculation required. Walked out thinking, maybe I had passed, maybe I hadn't. Passed but can't remember my grade (it's in my signature).

AUD – 51-100% thought I'd passed. This test was much more manageable for me: both the content and the time were such that I was able to really process each question and think through the answers. I was pretty darn sure I nailed it walking out of the exam. Passed (grade below).

BEC – 51-100% thought I'd passed. This test was difficult for me because so many people I work with struggled with the topics, and so I thought I would too, and psyched myself out to that effect. In the end the questions I was tested on were all pretty managable and i was grateful for having the writing on this exam.

REG – 99% sure I failed walking out of it the first time. I've never felt so blind-sided after an exam, as after my Q1 2011 REG experience. It totally took me off guard and I knew I had failed…1% of me had this prayer for a miracle, which didn't pan out. This grade I know all too well…70.

[WhyEvenTry]

I took 8 exams in total. After my first attempt for each exam, I thought, “what am I getting myself into!” For my next four attempts I thought, “what am I getting myself into!” My responses to my friends, family, and peers when they ask me “What did you think about the exam?” was, “I don't know, it's too hard to tell.”

From my experience, I have heard from people whom thought they nailed it, and walked out with a score in the 60s. On the other hand, some cry their way out the prometric door because they “know” the failed the exam, just to find out a month (or so) later that they scored in the 80s. The exam will confuse you, that is what it is supposed to do. Try not to get caught up in the feelings right after you leave. Wait for the score and evaluate your preparation and knowledge of the material then. JUST DON”T RUN OUT OF TIME!!!! You paid for the entire 4 hours for each exam, so take every minute to review review review if you have extra to spare at the end. But….make sure to save extra time for the sims. It's okay to guess on a MCQ if you don't know it, you will appreciate the time in the end!

BEC - 71, 74, 77 (Feb - 2011)
FAR - 73, 78 (Feb - 2011)
REG - 83 (Nov 2010)
AUD - 71, 84 (May 2011) - Done!! CPA licensed in TX (July 2011)

[Anonymous]

I have a nice story….

FAR attempt #1- Took the test and felt like I didn’t study a thing. Guessed my way through 90% of the test. Deep down inside, I was 100% sure I failed. Got a 52!

FAR attempt #2- A little better experience, but still encountered so many foreign questions. I knew I did better than last time, but was 99% sure I still didn’t make it. Got a 66!

FAR attempt #3- Test was much better than the previous two times I took it. I knew most of the stuff, but there were still a lot of questions I didn’t know. I was about 75-80% sure I failed. Got a 73!! So close!!

FAR attempt #4- This test was a lot worse than the last time. There were a lot of questions I did not recognize and I was 100% sure I failed. I ended up with a 66! Worse than last time.

AUD attempt #1- I didn’t study much because I didn’t know much about Auditing. I barely learned anything in college and was confused on how to go about studying a subject that I knew nothing about. I took the exam and practically guessed my way through the whole thing. If you were to ask me what topics I got questions on, I wouldn’t be able to answer. That’s how lost I was. I was 100% sure I bombed this one badly. It would have to take one heck of a miracle for me to pass this one. Sure enough, I got a 47!!!

I got so demoralized and gave up! I went 4 months without worry about these crazy exams, but then in January, I felt I needed to give these exams one last shot. I decided to change everything. I decided to start all over again, change my study methods and give up my life for 10 months to study like I never studied before. I went ahead and began preparing for FAR and then AUD….

FAR attempt #5- This test was a lot better than my previous 4 attempts. I recognized a lot of the questions, but still found them very tedious and difficult even though I studied like crazy this time around. There were still a few foreign questions that hit me, but it wasn’t nearly as much as the previous tests. I walked out of the exam thinking that I probably made it. If I did, I probably got in the high 70s/low 80s. I was about 70% sure I made it. Sure enough, my real score was an 89!!! I finally passed!!

AUD attempt #2- I thought the multiple choice questions were a breeze. They were almost exactly the same questions as I practiced at home, except they’re just worded differently. The Simulations, on the other hand, were nightmares. I wasn’t sure if I earned enough points on the Sims to pass. I was about 60% sure I passed, but if I was lucky enough to pass, it would probably be no higher than an 82 because I was just so lost on the Sims. I ended up with an 87, to my surprise!

Anyways, what an adventure I had just taking two parts. Let’s hope REG and BEC will each be only one attempt!!

[SoonToBeCPAChick]

The only exam I thought I completely failed was FAR. I was close to 100% sure I failed and I got a 90 ( I probably felt so bad coming out of it because I didn't even finish the sims – so that was probably the only thing I was thinking). I was 100% sure I passed AUD and got a 92. The other two I felt could have gone either way.

FAR 10/1/2010 =====> 90
BEC 10/28/2010 ====> 81
REG 2/2/2011 ======> 82
AUD 5/28/2011 =====> 92 ===========>DONE!!!!

[IHATeMyBoss]

@soontobecpachick: What review material you used and any studying tips for me? What test bank you recommend for practicing questions?

BEC - 72 May2011, Aug 70
AUD
REG
FAR

[Anonymous]

FAR: – walked out of prometrics and was ready to start crying…then I had a drink. I was 99% sure I failed!!!! Got a 79!!

AUD: – that was 50/50, felt kinda OK about it (except the research part).. Got a 79!!

REG: – I was 100% SURE I FAILED!! I finished an hr early, the sims were ridic, my head was exploading. I felt miserable and went shoe shopping right after :p.. got a 76!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEC: taking this Saturday!!

[kperrucci]

FAR- This was my first exam and I was almost positive I failed. It was all I could do to hold back my tears while in the testing center. I sobbed ridiculously the entire ride home and a good half hour after being home. Ended up getting an 88 on the exam. I was completely shocked.

AUD- my second exam. I felt 50/50 on the multiple choice. I didn't think I did horribly, but the questios were so wordy and I had to guess on a good number of them so that was a toss up for me. However, I felt I completely aced the sims. I had so much time I was able to find the entire correct answer for at least 3 sims word for word in the research tab. I felt very confident that I would pass and ended up getting an 88 on this exam as well. I was surprised to get the exact same score as FAR considering that my feelings after each exam were polar opposites.

REG- my third exam. haven't gotten the score yet. But, I went into this terrified. In fact I cried the night BEFORE the exam because I was so scared and felt so unprepared. Leaving the exam, I honestly think that this one is 50/50. I think I may have felt the same way as FAR had this been my first exam. But, considering my feelings and results on my first two exams I realized that how I feel after isn't always the best indicator of how well I did. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I failed and I wouldn't be surprised if I passed. I'll keep you updated.

Currently studying for BEC.

FAR 4/9/2011: 88 (Becker)
AUD 5/16/2011: 88 (Becker)
REG 7/1/2011: 82 (Becker)
BEC 8/3/2011: 91 (Becker and Ninja)

[kandisjoy]

I've taken the exam 8 times (soon to be 9 times).

FAR: 1st time, 50/50, failed with a 71

2nd time, was sure that I had failed (was crying as I walked out), passed with a 77

BEC: 1st time, 50/50, failed with a 70

2nd time, was pretty sure that I had passed, passed with an 82

AUD: 1st time, didn't even study so was sure that I had failed, failed with a 62

2nd time, was sure that I had passed, passed with a 78 (still kind of surprised I didn't score higher)

REG: 1st time, 50/50, failed with a 71 (another 71!!)

2nd time, I felt great about the MCQs but bad about the Sims (which turned out to be accurate), failed with a 68

3rd time, we'll see!

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Author]

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