[Anonymous]

I have been at this for a year now and have not passed any section yet. I just got my score for my AUD retake and did worse the last time. i’ve spent most the night crying and trying to figure out what i did wrong, what i can change and well i have no answers. I’m too embarrassed to call my mum and tell her i didnt pass yet again and i can feel myself slowly getting depressed. Below are my scores….

AUD – 48, 58, 50,72,68

BEC – 51

REG – 52, 47

The first two times with AUD i read most of the wiley book and didnt really drill the MCQs, took my own notes, watched videos, i really dont remember what i did the 3rd time around, the 4th time i added NINJA MCQ and Audio and notes and drilled the questions until i was in the review phase, this last time around, i focused on MCQ and listening to the audio – only have a 5 min commute to work so i don’t get to listen to it much, but then i would always listen to it during my 1hr lunch break. I just want to give up because i don’t know what else i can do and can’t afford to keep throwing money away. Furthermore, i dont need my CPA for work, but it is the one thing that i want to accomplish in life and unfortunately i have just lost steam.

I have about 2 weeks off from work and would like to make use of this time, but i just don’t know where to start or who to turn to at the moment. This probably sounds so incoherent and i do apologize, but there’s so many thoughts going my head. Any advice is welcome.

[Gabe]

I took 4 exams before I passed a section, so I know the feeling. A few things helped me:

1. I added Ninja MCQ (which you stated you did)…however, don't just blow through the MCQs, really take the time to read the explanation. If you have trouble, ask the forum for advice, google topics you don't understand. AUD is tricky. I am an auditor and it took me two times to pass it!

2. At night, I would explain topics to my wife. If I could explain it to her (a non-accountant) than I really understood it. I would explain materiality and she would ask follow up questions. If I didn't know the answers, I knew I didn't fully understand the topic.

3. How long are you studying? I know for my first shot at FAR I studied entirely too long…maybe that's the case?

I hope this helps a little! Good luck and keep at it!

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[jcan9703]

Hi Chez,

I was also using Wiley in the beginning. I used it for REG and scored a 55 on my first attempt. Maybe a different review course will work for you. Personally, I hated the small font and thought wiley was information overload. I saved and bought becker. It was expensive as hell but the way Becker is structured really clicked with me.

I also think the difference between a pass/fail is the way you spend the final two weeks. I usually hammer out around 1500 mcq in those weeks covering the entire book.

AUD - 89 07/02/14 (Becker practice exam: 74, 83)
REG - 92 08/18/14 (Becker practice exam: 75, 84)
BEC - 83 10/03/14 (Becker practice exam: 83, 70)
FAR - 91 11/24/14 (Becker practice exams: 64, 77)
*also utilized Becker Final Review after seeing practice scores for FAR*

[Anonymous]

Thanks Gabe and Jcan9703.

I tried not to go more than 5 weeks because i start forgetting stuff. The last 2 weeks i usually hammer MCQs, but this time around i was in the adaptive learning phase and when i got a 72 i was in the review phase, with no questions left unseen. Should i go back and just hammer MCQs over these 2 weeks? should i re-read the book? Should i leave AUD and come back to it later? Unfortunately i can't afford any expensive review material and credit cards are a big no no, so i have to make use of what i have or find something else close to Wiley

[Gabe]

I'd say hammer out MCQs and write down EVERY question you get wrong. Might be tedious, but it might work. You'll start to see a pattern and can really focus on weak areas.

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[MOcpa2015]

Hi Chez,

What MCQ test bank are you using? Is it the Wiley Test Bank? I'm asking because I've also been using Wiley books as well as the rest of the Wiley materials that came with CPA Excel. I too find the book to be WAY more information than is actually covered on the exam. That's why I go through the book ONCE just to get a big overview of everything and then I hit the Wiley MCQ over and over again until I feel proficient. Have you heard of the WIley CPAexcel exam review focus notes? These notes are the most important part of my studying. They go hand in hand with the topic breakdown of the WIley MCQ and cover everything that is on the exam in just the right amount of detail.

Using CPAExcel + Wiley Test Bank

FAR - 76 8/5/2014
AUD - 84 10/11/2014
REG - 83 01/02/2015 failed once on 11/26/15 w/ a 72
BEC - 79 05/30/15

[jcan9703]

I agree 100% with Gabe. Hammer out those mcq's over the next two weeks and write down the explanation when you get the question wrong

AUD - 89 07/02/14 (Becker practice exam: 74, 83)
REG - 92 08/18/14 (Becker practice exam: 75, 84)
BEC - 83 10/03/14 (Becker practice exam: 83, 70)
FAR - 91 11/24/14 (Becker practice exams: 64, 77)
*also utilized Becker Final Review after seeing practice scores for FAR*

[Anonymous]

Hey Mocpa – I am using Ninja Mcq. My Wiley Test bank expired, but i had them open it up for 24 hours to work on SIMS. I don't like their MCQs but i like their SIMs. I'll try adding the focus notes and beat those darn MCQs to death.

Is there any correlation between the MCQs and the kind of SIMS one gets? The last time i couldn't tell whether the MCQ were getting harder, but when i got to the SIMS they were all difficult with the exception of one. However this time around the MCQs got wordy, but the SIMS were VERY manageable, mainly fill in the blank and all answers were in the AL besides 2.

Thank you all for the input. i'm just having a much harder time wrapping my head around this fail because its the only exam that i walked out feeling confident.

[MOcpa2015]

I'm not familiar with the Ninja MCQ but I hear they have Ninja notes that go with them like the notes that I have for the WTB. They really make all the difference in the world for me. For example, my Wiley REG book is 577 pages of very fine print material and my Wiley Focus Notes are only 274 pages, with just a couple of sentences on each page that cover the most important things to know. It's nice that I can read 15 short pages of notes and then drill MCQ over that topic directly afterward so that the info sinks in.

Also, I don't believe there is a correlation between the MCQ and Sims. From what I understand the sims are pre-determined when you start the exam.

Using CPAExcel + Wiley Test Bank

FAR - 76 8/5/2014
AUD - 84 10/11/2014
REG - 83 01/02/2015 failed once on 11/26/15 w/ a 72
BEC - 79 05/30/15

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm going to take tonight off to wallow in my sorrows and then figure out a study plan. my score report on MCQs was comparable and stronger and SIMS weaker. I might start with SIMS and work my way back to MCQs.

[Kemi22]

Hi cheZheAd, do you study by yourself? I am in MD too and it's near impossible to find someone or people to study with. Maybe studying with others might help?

2010:
BEC: 74, 71, 74, 75
AUD: 71, 74, 83
REG: 71, 76
FAR: (I quit) 34, 45

2015:
BEC: 79
AUD: 78
REG: 67, 76
FAR: 56 (trial run), 74, 74, 74, 80!
Thank God. Your prayers are always answered! Do not give up. Thank you St. Joseph Cupertino.

[wr8280]

Honestly, you need Yaeger CPA Review. Before I was just reviewing on my own with the Wiley book, but I have to say I was going nowhere. The price of admission is reasonable and you will save money in the long run not having to pay for multiple exam failures. Plus you can actually call Dr. Yaeger if you need some motivation. Honestly the program works, I passes all 4 sections the first try.

FAR- 82
REG- 93
AUD- 89
BEC- 88

You are smarter, more focused, and more brilliant than you give yourself credit for. Believe in yourself and truly know in your heart that you can do it.

[Anonymous]

@Kemi22 – Yes i study by myself. Who knows i'll try anything at this point to pass this darn thing. Are you just starting out?

@wr8280 – I actually used Yaeger video for my 1st attempt at AUD and he bored me to death,

[Author]

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