[Mary 2496]

Hi, all. New here. I am so frustrated and more than that, so TIRED!

I passed BEC in January after four tries. (Go on, it’s okay … you can laugh!) I know that many people find BEC easy but for me, it was really challenging. I was never good at cost accounting, economics, or many of the other topics they test in BEC.

Anyway, I finally passed it this January. I just took auditing for the THIRD time yesterday. I got a 71 the 1st time and a 72 the second time. I then took FAR although I really knew deep down that I wasn’t ready. I took it in August and got a 63. I am now studying for my second REG retest. I took it in August also, and got a 73.

I am sooo tired. To top things off, I had been going through the exam and had my friend by my side. She passed FAR and then failed AUD so she quit. I feel like I am so alone in this. My mom ran our company and suddenly had to retire because my grandma had some horrible, sudden health issues. I was supposed to take over as CEO in a year or two but we had to move it way up because of it.

I am so, so, so tired of hearing people say, “well, you’ve been an accountant for umpteen years, why can’t you just pass these?” I so much feel like walking away from it all. The only thing that’s currently stopping me is how much I love accounting and what I do. Way too stressed.

Anyway, this has been really hard since my friend quit. Thanks for listening. It’s a great place you’ve got here.

[Sir Study Alot]

You are coming close and that means that you are only putting in about 80 percent of the effort that you need to put in. If you studied 80 hours for Audit you should of studied 100 hours. My formula for success was to put in at least 1.2 times the amount of recommended hours before each exam.

Recommended hours are usually something like this:

FAR 140 hours

REG 120 hours

BEC 80 hours

AUD 90 hours

I studied “about”:

FAR 168 hours

REG 144 hours

BEC 96 hours

AUD 108 hours

My scores were not great but I never failed an exam. This is because I got my aptitude multiplier right. The average cpa candidate's aptitude multiplier is 1 and should just put in the required hours. I am below average and need the at least an extra 20% of effort aka 1.2 aptitude multiplier. The secret to passing these exams on your first try is to find your aptitude multiplier and then proceed to put in the time. While I just made this concept up, currently giggling to myself about it, the lesson behind it does have substance.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[Mary 2496]

That's great but like I mentioned above, I have been running our accounting firm that has 4,350 clients since May. I am pretty busy during the day. 🙂

My study time is limited to 4 a.m. (before work) until I arrive at work and then again in the evening. (I'm also a wife and mom). I am definitely not putting in only 80 percent, trust me.

[Sir Study Alot]

Well congratulations on your professional success. Just know that I was in retail for the last 5 years with no recent education and I was able to get through them. However these exams are dependent on hours of effort put in and I had time. Some people just don't have enough available hours to make it happen in the first 18 months. There was a post recently where a couple of Big 4 employees were stating that they just didn't have enough time in the day; perhaps you are in a similar circumstance. If you can't put in the time it won't happen, but you should definitely make sure that you looked all possible solutions before quitting.

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[mla1169]

Yes, its hectic to balance a full time plus job, plus kids. (I worked full time but was also in school at night for my masters, my kids were 10 and 16 so not babies but still needed rides, homework checked, etc.)

Splurge on the ninja notes for yourself. I rewrote them 10 pages per day so I got through the entire AUD ninja packet 3 times. It just explained things in a way that “clicked” for me. I also did mcq whenever and wherever I could fit them in (waiting room at dentist office, at a football game that my daughter was cheering for, whenever!)

The other thing that helps with your schedule is the audio. I listened while I was folding laundry, driving to work, weeding the garden. Any second I could indulge a concept was what I had to do. You'll get there, I know how exhausting it is but it is worth it!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Mary 2496]

Thanks mla1169, awesome tips!

[Maaneet]

I understand how frustrating failing scores can be! May be you will have better luck with AUD this time around.

Your REG is scheduled on 10/12? Will you have enough time to review? What review courses are you using? Also, if you don't mind me asking, where are you located?

FAR - 81 (2/13), Expired. 🙁 Retake 79 (11/14)
AUD - 63 (10/13), 71 (2/14), 69 (7/14), 81 (10/14) Finally!!!
BEC - 77 (2/14)
REG - 78 (5/14)

[Mary 2496]

I will have enough time to review (I hope!) I got my score sheet and it showed that I was comparable in everything except for simulations (weaker) and in one specific area. I have been brushing up big-time on that area. In fact, I can even pinpoint the two simulations that caused the score that I received. Two of the sims were in the area where I scored weak and I struggled with both of them.

I have been using Becker. I was using Wiley but didn't pass the section I was trying for (BEC) so I switched to Becker (passed BEC with it!)

I am in Ohio.

[Maaneet]

AUD sims are the worst… I've always been weak in AUD Sims… I just can't get the hang of it. I seem to do fine with MCQs and not too well on the SIMs for the same topic. :(( Anyways, good luck to you. 🙂

FAR - 81 (2/13), Expired. 🙁 Retake 79 (11/14)
AUD - 63 (10/13), 71 (2/14), 69 (7/14), 81 (10/14) Finally!!!
BEC - 77 (2/14)
REG - 78 (5/14)

[Kimboroni]

I'm definitely not laughing about trouble passing BEC. I take it on Sunday, and for me it's pretty close to FAR as being the hardest test, and FAR only wins because it has so much more material. I'm working really hard on BEC to hopefully pass.

But it does sound like you might not be spending enough time on each section since, for example, you took 2 tests in August, and you only have 6 weeks scheduled between REG and FAR. So I think that's what Sir Study Alot was trying to get at– you might not feel like you're putting in only 80%, but the results are giving feedback that says what you're doing just isn't enough for you (and it wouldn't be enough for me, either). I hope that makes sense.

Don't give up. You can do this. It's just a matter of figuring out the right strategy.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Mary 2496]

The last few days before my AUD exam, I really tried to drill down on the sims hard. I hope it helped!

[Rocky123]

When do you get your score for AUD?

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Mary 2496]

Me? Not until something like November 3rd.

[Rocky123]

Waiting is the hardest part of the whole process in my opinion. Best of luck!

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Kimboroni]

Is this right– you just took AUD yesterday, and you're taking REG in 10 days? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. At least give yourself a fighting chance by giving yourself adequate time!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Mary 2496]

@ Rocky – Right?! … and to top it off, patience has always been an issue for me, in everything. I hate waiting!!

[Author]

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