[thechallenger]

Hi everyone! I am about to start taking the CPA exams and am getting pretty anxious. I read posts about how anyone can pass with a lot of effort and the reason people fail is because they had life get in the way or they didn’t study enough. If any smart person can pass with a lot of effort, then how come the pass rate is so low? All candidates seem highly educated and smart.

[nicole2035]

i think it all depends because i know for me i never truly learned how to study in college. However i passed university just fine. The people who do well on the CPA, i find are great planners, studiers, and they were always people who performed well in university. They understand the test for what it is, basically a comprehensive accounting exam. Because they understand what learning and studying is but also they know their are constraints based on test format, time limits etc. I see so many people overwhelm themselves, me included with the exam because we try to take everything in, but it's not very smart thinking. So that's what i say, i think someone passing or not passing, doesn't say anything about you or them. If someone i know to be ‘smart' fails, that doesn't mean i can't pass. One of my bosses has been in the industry for over 20 years, know accounting in our industry inside and out, has her accounting degree, yet has attempted the cpa exam numerous times and still hasn't passed. If i compare myself to her then of course i'd never get the courage to pass. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. I'm not the best at getting key points right away, but my best asset is time. I have more tie than others to dedicate, so i should use that to my advantage.

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