[Ajcreamer]

Hey fellow Ninjas,

I was wondering if I could get some advice? I recently failed all four sections of the CPA exam and just had a re- match with BEC. I’m using a review course which utilizes the Wiley test bank in which I was scoring pretty well on the practice exams. When it comes time for the real exam, it’s almost as if everything is foreign to me. Am I overthinking the exam? Not studying enough? Focusing on the wrong criteria? Is anyone else having this same issue?

Thanks

[JamesBJames]

Are the fails close? Are you getting in the low 70s with areas you know are weak, or are you in the 60s (or lower)?

IMO, what you do next depends a lot on that. If you're close to passing, then go through the material again with increased emphasis on the weak topics. Don't only study the weak area, or else you're likely to do worse on the re-take. It might help to add a supplementary product, such as the NINJA MCQ / Audio / Blitz. I know a lot of people here will swear by them, and it definitely helps to get a different approach to the material.

If you're not so close, then you really need to step back and evaluate why. Are you not studying enough? Do you not understand some of the homework questions after going through them once? How are you allocating your time between MCQs and SIMs on the actual exam? You might also want to consider completely switching review courses. I started with Wiley books before my firm paid for Becker. Wiley is cheap and the books are good, but they're not exactly captivating.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[Mamabear]

You also need to think about the fact that every time you take a new test you're learning mostly new material. I think you should stick with one until you pass it. How quickly did you take all 4 tests? Did you give yourself adequate time to prepare for each one? Did you put in enough “efficient” study hours? If you share a little more about how you study you'll probably get more detailed advice that could help you. Also, I second the Ninja materials. I've been using them since my AUD retake and they're great!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[LongShot]

It's hard to say specifically based on your post. Personally, I think Wiley is absolutely fantastic for everything except REG (too much business law, not enough tax). I would recommend studying your notes (e.g., for BEC, write EVERY ratio formula down and absolutely memorize it) before testing. I basically quit taking practice questions for a couple days right before my last couple exams and focused on memorizing notes. Can't say that would work for everyone, but it has for me (so far!).

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[Tux]

Like Mamabear says – stick with one section until you pass. I believe jumping around to all the different sections is too much info to keep in your brain. It's probably confusing you. It would confuse me!

Pass one section, then move on.

Dive in 1000% into one section – eat, sleep, and breathe the information. Go over and over and over the info again and again. Do practice questions over and over and over again.

Know why you get each question right or wrong. So, know which rule you're applying to the question.

You'll get it. Just pick a section, stay focused, and get through it before moving on.

I recommend focusing on FAR first because of the volume of information. I wouldn't want to fit that section into my 18 month window.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Tux]

P.S. – It may help to get an additional test bank just to get exposed to some other questions. Try the new Ninja MCQ – they price seems worth a try.

I've heard good things about Gleim as a secondary course because of the test bank. It may be kinda pricey.

Since you already have a review course, I'd get Ninja test bank to supplement.

I, personally, am working with two test banks – Becker and Wiley, and I like having the different sources.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Author]

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