[ora23]

Hello Another 71..

I’ve been following the blog for quite sometime now and I am in desparate need of advice.

I left public accounting after 2 years not too long ago and I am now working privately but still seeking my CPA. I’ve taken BEC 3 times, REG and Audit once and I am striking out miserably! I started with CPA excel, but it wasn’t for me – failed BEC twice and REG… now I’m with Becker and I feel as if it’s keeping me intrigued, but I’ve failed 2 exams with it now. This has all been within the past two years and I can honestly say it has taken over my life in more ways than I’d like to admit.

With Becker and my CPA excel questions, I thought I had a new strategy… I sat for Audit in the beginning of the month. New exam, new stragedy, along with studying my life away for 5 weeks should count as the silver lining for this journey! I felt really good about the exam walking out… not AS good about the sims but thought it very well could be enough….turns out, it wasn’t. I’m 0 for 5 and I need something to help keep me going… I don’t want to give up, but I only have a year left with my Becker subscription and I want this weight to be gone. Any advice out there?

[gooderest]

ora23,

This is what worked for me:

The best advice I could give you is to answer questions over and over again. Every time you get a question incorrect (or even if you got it correct but didn't understand it), jot down a note to help you remember the concept. Go through the questions topic by topic once. Then go through them again until you get a passing score for each topic. About a week or two before test day, do tests with random topics over and over until you are consistently scoring 85+ every time… continue to take notes on questions you've missed or are unsure of. If you find yourself memorizing the questions (it does happen!!), slow down, read the question (RTQ!), and think about why the other choices are incorrect. I think understanding why the other choices are incorrect gave me my extra boost in points! I did not re-read my notes – I kept the material fresh in my mind by doing the random topic quizzes. You may want to re-read your notes if you think it will help you.

As for study materials, I decided I was not paying $100's – $1,000's for review materials this go round. I did that when I got out of college back in '05. I also paid for updates when I tried again in '07. I started again in '10 and looked for something less expensive and discovered cpareviewforfree.com. I saw the website was started by Professor Joe Hoyle. I knew the material would be quality information because he was one of my favorite video lecturers from Kaplan cpa review (from '05 and '07). Now, on my fourth re-start, in '13, I am using just cpareviewforfree.com and supplementing with Jeff's audio when I know I need that extra boost.

I have finally passed the only exam I've never passed in all my attempts (REG is DEFEATED!) and now am on my way FOR REAL to becoming a CPA!! I am doing it only using CPARFF and NINJA! Put in the time, study even when you don't want to, and you can do it!!! Go for it!!!

B - 11/14 83! DONE!!!!
A - 8/13 90!
R - 11/13 86!
F - 4/14 78! Almost there...

[gooderest]

ora23,

This is what worked for me:

The best advice I could give you is to answer questions over and over again. Every time you get a question incorrect (or even if you got it correct but didn't understand it), jot down a note to help you remember the concept. Go through the questions topic by topic once. Then go through them again until you get a passing score for each topic. About a week or two before test day, do tests with random topics over and over until you are consistently scoring 85+ every time… continue to take notes on questions you've missed or are unsure of. If you find yourself memorizing the questions (it does happen!!), slow down, read the question (RTQ!), and think about why the other choices are incorrect. I think understanding why the other choices are incorrect gave me my extra boost in points! I did not re-read my notes – I kept the material fresh in my mind by doing the random topic quizzes. You may want to re-read your notes if you think it will help you.

As for study materials, I decided I was not paying $100's – $1,000's for review materials this go round. I did that when I got out of college back in '05. I also paid for updates when I tried again in '07. I started again in '10 and looked for something less expensive and discovered cpareviewforfree.com. I saw the website was started by Professor Joe Hoyle. I knew the material would be quality information because he was one of my favorite video lecturers from Kaplan cpa review (from '05 and '07). Now, on my fourth re-start, in '13, I am using just cpareviewforfree.com and supplementing with Jeff's audio when I know I need that extra boost.

I have finally passed the only exam I've never passed in all my attempts (REG is DEFEATED!) and now am on my way FOR REAL to becoming a CPA!! I am doing it only using CPARFF and NINJA! Put in the time, study even when you don't want to, and you can do it!!! Go for it!!!

B - 11/14 83! DONE!!!!
A - 8/13 90!
R - 11/13 86!
F - 4/14 78! Almost there...

[vanadium3]

Always RTMFQ (read the question).

Choose the BEST answer. Not the right answer.

Make sure you can score in the mid to upper 80s using Wiley test bank (say, set of 30 multiple choices consistently).

And please, understand those concepts. At least know the very basics of each area.

Finally it's just a matter of time. If I do it again, I'd over study and focus 1 part at a time in this order REG/FAR, BEC, AUD.

“If you don't have the time to do it right, when are you going to have time to do it over?”

Don't give up! But do relax at times 🙂

CPA

[vanadium3]

Always RTMFQ (read the question).

Choose the BEST answer. Not the right answer.

Make sure you can score in the mid to upper 80s using Wiley test bank (say, set of 30 multiple choices consistently).

And please, understand those concepts. At least know the very basics of each area.

Finally it's just a matter of time. If I do it again, I'd over study and focus 1 part at a time in this order REG/FAR, BEC, AUD.

“If you don't have the time to do it right, when are you going to have time to do it over?”

Don't give up! But do relax at times 🙂

CPA

[ora23]

Thank you @gooderest & @vanadium3!

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond to my post. I definitely thought I did all I could do with Audit this last go around, but I will just have to keep my head up and try again! Good luck to you as well @gooderest!

And to other readers, any advice will help!

[ora23]

Thank you @gooderest & @vanadium3!

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond to my post. I definitely thought I did all I could do with Audit this last go around, but I will just have to keep my head up and try again! Good luck to you as well @gooderest!

And to other readers, any advice will help!

[Author]

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