[ZenMaster]

Hi all,

So I just joined the Another71 team. I’ve been reading the forum for years and I think its a great forum. I feel so awful today that I felt compelled to sign up and share my feeling to this family b/c I know there are probably a few of you that understand.

This is my story.

I’ve been studying the exam off and on for the last 8 years, really i’ve only have taken it a total of 4X (3X Reg & 1X Aug). Last time i took an exam was almost exactly a year ago. Which you all know I failed. Every time its like someone punched me in the stomach! Each time I failed, I let the dream go. So much time that I’ve put into it, all the sacrifice away from family/friends, all the hobbies i’ve put aside seem to creep up so when i fail it made me realize that I choose life over this exam. This is why this has dragged out for so many years, which is really embarrassing to admit. Good thing you just see my screen name. Then something comes up at work or just in my thoughts and I get haunted with the fact that I need to get this beast of an exam done so I can move on with life. My dream is to have my own practice, I don’t want to work for anyone, I don’t want the bureaucracy that comes with working for someone, I want my freedom. I love accounting and can read about for hours without having to. I work side by side CPA’s and we do the same tasks they’re just getting paid more. Today I had a big blow at work, I’m being bumped on a position b/c I don’t have the right experience. When all along i’ve been doing 95% of the exact same tasks! Can’t say I was surprised, we unfortunately live in a very competitive workforce and they have lots of CPAs to choose from.

So this brings me back to exam. I need to get this exam done because this is going to haunt me forever. Im over 40 and the competitiveness is not going away and I know the older I get it will be just that much harder. Im a person with an entrepreneurial spirit and love business. Love to talk to people, I love to sell things to people, most importantly I love to help people. These are few reasons why I’ve dreamed of having an accounting business of my own.

I guess i’m asking for words of encouragement from the Another71 family – I feel like it now or never for this exam and I need help from those of you that understand…….

[Anonymous]

You can do this, just need to lock in and get it done, stay focused.

What review materials are you using? Have you heard about the Ninja MCQ? What's your work schedule like, tough to find time to study?

Welcome to the A71 community, there's nothing like it.

Good luck!

[CPA soon]

It's not easy, and you need to give the exam the time it needs. And be determined and able to accept failure, and to not give up and to get up and move on. I started this process in January 2013 and my first pass was on the 7th try. My scores tell the story. If you get stubborn you will make it!

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[ZenMaster]

Thank you both for your words.

4 Corners – Im using CPAexcel. Yes I have a demanding job, i do find it hard to find time to study, i think that's everyone's challenge. The Ninja MCQ's i've heard on this forum but never have used it. Do you use it? What do you think of it?

CPA soon – the accepting failure i guess would be one hardest things for me but one that i agree i must let go. “giving the exam the time it needs” is also very true.

I know that i have to buckle down and do it, now i just gotta do it…..

Thank you both again and I'll see you online:)

[Anonymous]

I also use CPAExcel. As for the Ninja MCQ, I like to hammer them out about a week or two before exam date.

I believe, as well as as many others, that practicing the mcqs are key to passing this exam. The cool thing about the Ninja MCQ is that they give you the answer right after you take the question, among other options. I def recommend them.

I was able to pass AUD & REG without really practicing the Sims, so I really think the MCQs are key.

[johnny_debt]

@ZenMaster,

It sucks that you were passed on the position due to CPA requirements. You are in no less qualified than those that have the CPA since you do the same work. I find myself often mocking HR, and how they can determine the worthiness of a candidate for a position when they probably don't know much about accounting. The world's not a fair place. Hopefully when you get over this hurdle, you'll start your practice and fill positions in your practice based on your ideals.

It's not pretty out there, and its sad that a piece of paper determines your worth. I'm in no way mocking the CPA (I'm also studying for it now), its just one of those hurdles you have to get over.

Strap yourself in and get this behind you! What section are you studying now? We can be part of the same study group!

AUD - 91
BEC - 84
FAR - 91
REG - 91

[mla1169]

When I did the exam, I was 41 years old and my kids were 11 and 17 years old. Not only was I working full time but taking 2 classes per semester for my masters (and at Christmas, working weekends at Kohl's too!) If I can get through the exams, ANYBODY can.

Its hard, very hard. You have to be tougher and be willing to get back on the horse just one more time than you get knocked off.

Because if all else is held equal between yourself and your peers (work performed, quantity and quality of work, etc) the person with just one advantage will get the promotion. YOU should be the one with the advantage of having a CPA.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

If you really want it bad enough you can do it. It just takes the time to study the materials. I believe a lot of success on the exam comes down to being a good test taker.

Use strict time management on each testlet. Once you're at the two minute mark and you're not done with a testlet you just start marking B or C (or the letter you like best).

You can usually eliminate 2 of the 4 answers per question thus giving you a coin flip if you're unsure.

Know which questions might have key words that make them an easy score if you know what to look for.

Don't freak on the SIMS. Get the research correct and do your best on the rest.

Focus your study time on MCQ. That's where you'll make your money.

Go in confident. If you go in defeated it is already done.

Study a little each day. Don't cram 8 hrs a weekend and think that will do it. Absorb the big picture over time.

I'm no accounting whiz, I'm just in it for the steady paycheck. I have no prior work experience in accounting, and my courses were at the community college level and I've been successful thus far so it can be done. My prior education was a BA in History at a liberal arts school.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[Texan_Stuck_In_OK]

It can be done! I am 41, work as a controller, have a 7 year old son and two teenage step-daughters. Hubs is in the army and leaves tomorrow for a one year deployment. I understand hard and life getting in the way.

You can do this. I used CPAexcel and Ninja audio and just added MCQ for Reg. Just have to make the time. Have you seen the ELL (early, lunch, late) plan? Good luck!!

A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

Licensed in OK

[ZenMaster]

Thank you all. I have digested my issues overnight and I feel better, especially reading all of everyone's support. I agree with everything you all are saying, i just have to commit to this until its done. Someone told me once that if I can do 20 years in the military then I can do anything! She's right:)

Thanks for all the tips and the encouragement.

Johnny Debt – I'll take you up on the study group. I'm working on Reg

[golfball7773]

@zenmaster – I use CPA Excel and NINJA MCQ. I like cpaexcel for the videos and then ninja mcqs as it allows me to do study mode on all the questions. CPAexcel only lets you do study mode for a particular section then you have to use test mode to acess the entire test bank

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[lexisavannah]

With a two year old son, a husband and a full time job I can attest to feeling like your life is being sucked away. I just took a short break from studying and am waiting on a score to decide what to study for next (either FAR or REG if I didn't pass) and it is so discouraging for me to enjoy being with my family so much now, knowing I'll have to go back. However, it is something that we can accomplish, and then once we're done, no one can take it away. It'll be great 🙂

Something a co-worker (she just passed all four parts!) always says is “it's not a matter of if you'll finish, it's just a matter of when.” I run that through my head all the time 🙂

BEC 7/3/14 - 79
FAR 8/30/14 - 64, 85 (used Becker and Ninja MCQ)
AUD 10/3/14 - 82
REG 11/25/14 - 85

[Anonymous]

if you can read accounting for fun, then you can do this, it sounds like you will regret it if you do not get it done,

just take one part at a time and stay with it until you pass it

[Author]

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