[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

Just got out of my REG re-test from the BS 74 I got last time. I don’t feel too good about this, which sucks. I studied twice as hard this time around. Woke up at 4:30 am and studied for 2 hours in silence before work, studied during every lunch break, and studied at night.

I applied NINJA 100% of the way and spent the entire past week re-writing everything – nearly 100 pages. Yet still, I walked out of the test feeling defeated once again.

I planned to take AUD at the end of February. However, with busy season about to go into full swing and after 9 straight months of studying I feel I owe it to myself to take a month off to play my guitar, do P90X and perhaps even spend some quality time with family.

I have 3 to go (if I indeed failed REG) and BEC credit expires next February (in one year). Is it a good idea to take a month off to recharge? Especially during this time of year when I’m going to be beaten down each day? Has anyone else taken a break and came back full swing to take these on?

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[I should be studying]

Taking a break can be dangerous; it's easy to get used to not studying. Normally I would tell you not to stop, but busy seasons are tough and it's hard enough to get through a section in 4 weeks working normal hours. On the other hand, AUD is one of the shortest sections, and if you've been working in public accounting then you probably have some experience with the compilations/reviews/audits and the language they use so you could probably tackle it even during busy season. If I were you I'd half-ass my studying and take it at the end of February, because even if you fail you'll at least get a basic understanding of what you need to know and you can hit it hard for the beginning of April.

On the other other hand, it's like $300 to take/fail a test, which you probably don't want to throw away.

Sorry, I got nothin. It all really just depends on how much motivation you have left in you!

REG - 80 (2/28/13)
AUD - 68 (5/24/13), 84 (7/11/13)
BEC - 83 (8/29/13)
FAR - 70 (12/04/13) 80 (2/10/14)

[I should be studying]

Taking a break can be dangerous; it's easy to get used to not studying. Normally I would tell you not to stop, but busy seasons are tough and it's hard enough to get through a section in 4 weeks working normal hours. On the other hand, AUD is one of the shortest sections, and if you've been working in public accounting then you probably have some experience with the compilations/reviews/audits and the language they use so you could probably tackle it even during busy season. If I were you I'd half-ass my studying and take it at the end of February, because even if you fail you'll at least get a basic understanding of what you need to know and you can hit it hard for the beginning of April.

On the other other hand, it's like $300 to take/fail a test, which you probably don't want to throw away.

Sorry, I got nothin. It all really just depends on how much motivation you have left in you!

REG - 80 (2/28/13)
AUD - 68 (5/24/13), 84 (7/11/13)
BEC - 83 (8/29/13)
FAR - 70 (12/04/13) 80 (2/10/14)

[Study Monk]

Why not cut your study time in half during busy season? Maybe just study an hour or two at night while laying in bed. Try to take audit in the next window. The guy above me with the long name is right that losing the study habit is dangerous.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Why not cut your study time in half during busy season? Maybe just study an hour or two at night while laying in bed. Try to take audit in the next window. The guy above me with the long name is right that losing the study habit is dangerous.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Anonymous]

If you work in audit and have for awhile…then I'd say take busy season off and cram for audit in a week when it's over. I studied 3 days for it and got a 93, if you do it for a living there is very little to master in audit, just nailing down what we normally get from templates (reports) or software programs (sampling) . If you're fairly new to audit or do tax…but are feeling burned out take the month off from the full on cram, just get some audio lectures, listen when you can (working out/driving etc.) then pick it up full force as soon as busy season is over and you'll be further along than if you had just taken off completely. Hope you hear surprisingly good news on REG!

[Anonymous]

If you work in audit and have for awhile…then I'd say take busy season off and cram for audit in a week when it's over. I studied 3 days for it and got a 93, if you do it for a living there is very little to master in audit, just nailing down what we normally get from templates (reports) or software programs (sampling) . If you're fairly new to audit or do tax…but are feeling burned out take the month off from the full on cram, just get some audio lectures, listen when you can (working out/driving etc.) then pick it up full force as soon as busy season is over and you'll be further along than if you had just taken off completely. Hope you hear surprisingly good news on REG!

[Author]

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