[Blackweth1445]

I’m a 32 year old accountant with a 2 year old son and wife. I’m into my 7th year as an accountant. Worked in public for 2.5 years between two firms and was unable to pass the exam at that time (2011-2013). Got my first industry job and was burned out from studying.

Play forward to 2016 and I began studying again, using Ninja. Passed BEC on the first try in April 2016. Continued to try to take REG/FAR/AUD with complete failures on each (meaning 50s-60s).
I just took REG on Saturday, December 9th, as my final attempt and failed. I determined I guessed on 90% of the questions after doing close to 150 hours of studying. I’ve ran through the Ninja MCQs about 5 times over the course of 6 REG attempts. I scored well on the Ninja SIMS only to get stomped on the exam. I’ve read all the chapters, taken notes, using Roger CPA cram videos, and used his flash cards. Slept with the Ninja notes prior to the exam, cramming more in days before the exam and leading up to the attempt.

I don’t think my study schedule is an issue:
2 hours for lunch studying M-F
1 Hour studying at night by reviewing MCQs or reading chapters
Reading flash cards every night before bed
Reading flash cards or notes while working out three times a week in my garage
Weekends are harder to fit in time because of trying to spend time with the family. I can usually get 1-4 hours in during nap times or afternoons.

At this point, I now will lose BEC. FAR is scheduled for January 21st and I haven’t even started studying after feeling crushed by REG. I feel like it is time to throw in the towel.
What am I doing wrong? Do I need a full review course? Videos are probably the worst thing for me because I’d much rather read the material and take notes.

The questions I came across on REG were way off based and left field. I can honestly tell you that what I was asked was nowhere addressed in the Ninja book, MCQs, or Roger book. How am I supposed to be tested on something that I have never seen?
I am tempted to give up and go for the CMA, since I passed BEC on the first try, and finance/budgeting/forecasting is what interests me more.

What should I do?

[My Cousin Vinny]

Hey Man, sorry to hear this and I can relate a lot as I tend to naturally struggle with grasping with the material. If I were you, I would invest in a full review course like Becker or Wiley. If you are this committed to passing the CPA exam, which it sounds like you truly are, then you owe it to yourself. This is an investment in YOURSELF, the most important thing you can invest in besides your family. It will also repay itself over the years. I would also stop using the Ninja test bank for now as it sounds you may just be memorizing the questions at this point. Maybe try another review courses test bank in addition to the full review course you purchase. (Ie buy full version of Becker, but review using Wiley's MC test bank when you are crunching in the last few weeks before your test)

Good luck!

[shawn in VA]

Hey man,

your definitely putting the time in (more than most) and owe it to yourself to finish up. BEC is not easy and use that as a confidence booster to pass the other 3.

With scores in the 50/60s and guessing on 90% of the questions on REG indicates a significant hole in your knowledge of material. Please try a tutor OR have your wife quiz you on stuff with notecards. If you can say it out loud then you know the material.

Best of luck

[Blackweth1445]

So I scored 66 on the last REG attempt before this last Saturday, and I was comparable with all other candidates except on entity tax and SIMS. I then focused on SIMS and Entity tax and got crushed by business law (or so it felt). I was burned out by the middle of the exam.

I am tempted to ask my employer if they will pay for the Becker and let me sign an agreement. Anyone else successful with this?

[shawn in VA]

becker is like 3,500. if its a small firm you better pass. THey will hound you on a “progress report” monthly. Just think about it if you want them in your business like that. If you can eat the cost I know its hard with 2 kids I have 2 kids as well, I would just eat the cost.

[Blackweth1445]

I went with Becker during the first part of my career and hated it. Ended up paying back the accounting firm $2,500 when I quit for industry.

I am really thinking of doing the full Roger course. I just need MCQs/SIMs…any suggestions?

[Dro]

@Blackweth1445 Have you looked into Gleim? I started out with solely Ninja 2 years ago. It worked for me on REG and BEC eventually but it was not enough for FAR and AUD. So I switched to Gleim. Videos/Lectures don't do well for me. I often find myself daydreaming listening to someone talk about ratios, cash flow statements, etc. I sampled with Becker too and it was not helpful for my learning style. Gleim's test bank is tough! It can actually be so tough that it kills your confidence in the process but keep chugging. It's better to be overprepared.

I find out my results for AUD and FAR 12/19. Also, even though you think you failed, there is a chance you passed. We don't have to master all the material. I feel for those who struggle with this as much, if not more than me, because it shows true resilience. It is so hard to be knocked down over and over again year after year.

Best of luck!

REG: 69, 73, 80!
FAR: 62
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD

[Blackweth1445]

No chance I passed. I walked out of the exam after the MCQs. I knew I was toast.

[Blackweth1445]

I think to pass this exam we do have to master all the material. I felt like I had sufficient knowledge of blaw, and mastered individual tax, entity tax, and property transactions. I got to the end of the second set of MCQs and easily 50% of what I saw was business law. The other 50% were questions on topics I had never encountered. I walked out prior to the sims because again, I had guessed on 90% of the MCQs.

[Defo]

Sorry you had such a bad experience. This process is hard!! I think anyone who can get a college degree can pass this test though, it just takes the right amount of directed effort. Judging by some of your posts it might be your attitude about the test that needs adjusting.

Walking out prior to the sims is silly to me. You put in all this time studying and don't even attempt to put your best effort? ALOT of people leave the test thinking they for sure failed, only to find out they passed. Leaving early only makes it 100% certain that you failed, and makes it harder to know how much further you need to go to improve.

Even if you scored a 0 on multiple choice, there is still a lot of benefit to seeing the sims and knowing what to expect next time.

Some people pass it no problem, but a lot of good accountants struggle with this test. If you want to be a CPA don't let this stop you. Learn from your mistakes and change your game plan.

[My Cousin Vinny]

Would absolutely never recommend just walking out of the test like that, in my opinion of course. I would also highly recommend you don't go with Roger. From what I have heard, his material does not go in depth enough at times, which is something you may need. Obviously if you are fresh out of college, it is not as necessary. I agree Becker isn't great, but they are very thorough, which has helped me countless times when I get a very specific question on these tests.

[Tncincy]

Well, many of us have experienced the sting of failure. But what we all had to do is learn from our mistakes.
1. I've learned to STOP RUSHING. This is not a contest. Make a plan or schedule and follow it.
2. Get a good review course, if you realize how you learn this process of elimination will help to even greater progress. I didn't want to change because I spent the money, but that course was not doing it for me.
3. Study, I thought I would pass because I could memorize the questions but I did not know the concepts. So if I was asked
a different way as the exam does, I couldn't answer. Skimming, glancing, and cramming is a big mistake if you don't
know the concepts.
4. Don't give up. If you don't pass so what, that means there is more work to do.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Author]

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