[Tony]

this makes it 3 times on FAR….49,64,71……..

Audit two times 60, 60

REG 3 times 68,68,73

BEC 2 times 74, 78 (going to loose it next month).

Has anyone had the though that they just suck at this cpa crap? Im about throw in the towel, I went 10 rounds and got my ass handed to me every round.

BEC: 73,78 79
AUD: 60, 60, 70, 80
FAR: 49, 64, 71, 82
REG: 68, 68, 73, 78

DONE.... OMGFG DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well 2 ethics tests to take.

[Tony]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I sit for Audit at the end of this month.

In response to infernoOmni's questions:

– How many hours are you putting into studying a day?

Before I was putting in a few hours a day after work, I work at a big 4 firm, and on the weekends I would try to get 6 hours or so of studying done. I am not sure what the hours of “quality” studying was, maybe 1-2 hours on the weekday and 3-4 hours on the weekend? Too many distractions

– Are you waking up early morning to study before work? Do you have notecards for while you're at work? Are you isolating yourself when you study after work?

Im waking up early to go to the gym and then get into work 1 hour before work, and get some studying in.

– Are you spending time with friends or families? Going on dates? Going “out”? Because none of these are allowed.

I was…. Now NO for AUDIT

– Are you absorbing the information as you listen to lecture and read the Chapters? Or are you skimming? If you do understand a topic, do you understand it enough to teach someone else?

I read the chapters, and just skimming them. What do you guys do when you dont understand a topic?

– Are you watching TV?

I canceled Cable 🙂

Lets try this 110% involvement. Im going to get all of this before 9/1/2014. MARK MY FREAKIN' WORDS

BEC: 73,78 79
AUD: 60, 60, 70, 80
FAR: 49, 64, 71, 82
REG: 68, 68, 73, 78

DONE.... OMGFG DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well 2 ethics tests to take.

[pjypjy8520]

As Peter Olinto would say…there's an INVERSE relationship between your social life and your score. Less social life you have, higher your chances of obtaining a passing score.

I suppose it's easier for me to say though because I was studying during summer before I started (started September 2012). Studied 8 hours a day (4 hour lecture, 4 hours of homework) the first time through and then after I finished all 4 sections with homework the first time, I went back and started studying at LEAST 4 hours a day on each chapter of the sections. Re-working MCQ's at least 3 times helped me pass FAR.

By doing it like that, I managed to pass 3 of 4. I failed Reg because? Well I was working and I slacked off and I thought I had it but I missed it by 2 points. I had to REALLY push myself during busy season to pass. I never worked more than 58 hours my first busy season so that's not even considered a busy season if you are working at Big 4, but I spent 4 hours every night studying REG. I've seen people take time off to study before the exam. Maybe that's the only way to do it at Big 4. My mentor did it that way. He's failed/lapsed REG, FAR and BEC 3 times each while he was at a Big 4 firm. But he's a CPA now so keep at it, you can do it!!!

[pjypjy8520]

As Peter Olinto would say…there's an INVERSE relationship between your social life and your score. Less social life you have, higher your chances of obtaining a passing score.

I suppose it's easier for me to say though because I was studying during summer before I started (started September 2012). Studied 8 hours a day (4 hour lecture, 4 hours of homework) the first time through and then after I finished all 4 sections with homework the first time, I went back and started studying at LEAST 4 hours a day on each chapter of the sections. Re-working MCQ's at least 3 times helped me pass FAR.

By doing it like that, I managed to pass 3 of 4. I failed Reg because? Well I was working and I slacked off and I thought I had it but I missed it by 2 points. I had to REALLY push myself during busy season to pass. I never worked more than 58 hours my first busy season so that's not even considered a busy season if you are working at Big 4, but I spent 4 hours every night studying REG. I've seen people take time off to study before the exam. Maybe that's the only way to do it at Big 4. My mentor did it that way. He's failed/lapsed REG, FAR and BEC 3 times each while he was at a Big 4 firm. But he's a CPA now so keep at it, you can do it!!!

[Anonymous]

So many good suggestions by others. When I was burned out, using ELL really helped me. Committing to one super focused hour was better for learning that trying to keep my attention span for 4 or 5 hours in a row.

Having firm but realistic study deadlines for myself helped. Instead of saying, “I need to get these 3 chapters done this week.” It was, “I need to listen and take notes for 2 hours of video each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.” (which for me was usually about 4 hours of study time after pausing the video multiple times.)

Keep with one exam until you pass. Don't jump around. It wastes energy.

If you don't understand something. Reread the book and look at MCP answer explanations. If you still don't understand, hit the forums. I started doing better when I got more involved with the forums. You will be more likely to remember a concept when you post a question to the forum and have a discussion, than if you stare at words on a page for an hour. Also, try answering other's questions on the forum. You will remember those concepts better as well. Disclaimer, the forums can be a time suck so be careful. I often would only hit the forum at the end of the night when my brain was too tired to do one more MCP. I also, would be more apt hit the forum on days when I was doing primarily MCPs and came across issues, rather than on video/note taking days.

The CPA exams are not about being smart. They are about being focused. Get some good nutrition and sleep. I am a horrible test taker, even in college. I had to figure out how I learned and what methods helped me best.

[Anonymous]

So many good suggestions by others. When I was burned out, using ELL really helped me. Committing to one super focused hour was better for learning that trying to keep my attention span for 4 or 5 hours in a row.

Having firm but realistic study deadlines for myself helped. Instead of saying, “I need to get these 3 chapters done this week.” It was, “I need to listen and take notes for 2 hours of video each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.” (which for me was usually about 4 hours of study time after pausing the video multiple times.)

Keep with one exam until you pass. Don't jump around. It wastes energy.

If you don't understand something. Reread the book and look at MCP answer explanations. If you still don't understand, hit the forums. I started doing better when I got more involved with the forums. You will be more likely to remember a concept when you post a question to the forum and have a discussion, than if you stare at words on a page for an hour. Also, try answering other's questions on the forum. You will remember those concepts better as well. Disclaimer, the forums can be a time suck so be careful. I often would only hit the forum at the end of the night when my brain was too tired to do one more MCP. I also, would be more apt hit the forum on days when I was doing primarily MCPs and came across issues, rather than on video/note taking days.

The CPA exams are not about being smart. They are about being focused. Get some good nutrition and sleep. I am a horrible test taker, even in college. I had to figure out how I learned and what methods helped me best.

[Zaq]

“Before I was putting in a few hours a day after work, I work at a big 4 firm, and on the weekends I would try to get 6 hours or so of studying done. I am not sure what the hours of “quality” studying was, maybe 1-2 hours on the weekday and 3-4 hours on the weekend? Too many distractions.”

Try to eliminate as many distractions as humanly possible. If you’re not working, eating, or sleeping you should be studying (and even then you could have NINJA Audios or your own flashcards at your desk).

“I’m waking up early to go to the gym and then get into work 1 hour before work, and get some studying in.”

That’s what I did as well.

“I was…. Now NO for AUDIT.”

NO for everything! Your friends don’t exist and your family has disbanded you.

“I read the chapters, and just skimming them. What do you guys do when you dont understand a topic?”

Take notes. If you get an answer wrong, write out the proper explanation. Don’t just know which answers are right in a MCQ. You should be able to comprehend why the other 3 questions are incorrect as well. ESPECIALLY for AUDIT where calculations are smaller.

“I canceled Cable :)”

Good!

You know what you need to do, sir. Commit yourself to this exam 100% and you will pass.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Zaq]

“Before I was putting in a few hours a day after work, I work at a big 4 firm, and on the weekends I would try to get 6 hours or so of studying done. I am not sure what the hours of “quality” studying was, maybe 1-2 hours on the weekday and 3-4 hours on the weekend? Too many distractions.”

Try to eliminate as many distractions as humanly possible. If you’re not working, eating, or sleeping you should be studying (and even then you could have NINJA Audios or your own flashcards at your desk).

“I’m waking up early to go to the gym and then get into work 1 hour before work, and get some studying in.”

That’s what I did as well.

“I was…. Now NO for AUDIT.”

NO for everything! Your friends don’t exist and your family has disbanded you.

“I read the chapters, and just skimming them. What do you guys do when you dont understand a topic?”

Take notes. If you get an answer wrong, write out the proper explanation. Don’t just know which answers are right in a MCQ. You should be able to comprehend why the other 3 questions are incorrect as well. ESPECIALLY for AUDIT where calculations are smaller.

“I canceled Cable :)”

Good!

You know what you need to do, sir. Commit yourself to this exam 100% and you will pass.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[Author]

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