[mrrgreene]

I’ve been out of school for 10 years and did not major in accounting. However, I have the credits to sit for the CPA exam. I’ve been thrust into a subject matter expert role on four accounting ERP projects and decided that having a CPA would be valuable since I work with accounting data on a daily basis.

Anyways, I sat for my first exam in January. The MCQs were easy then the difficulty increased significantly in the second part. I felt decent about them. Then the simulations came and dragged me down to Kevin Spacey’s basement. When I emerged from the testing center I was traumatized. I had studied so much and was sure I had failed. I received my score and much to my surprise I received a 75.

I decided to tackle FAR and took the exam on 3/2/18. The questions didn’t seem to increase in difficulty. I felt good on the MCQs. I think I did alright on the SIMs except for two. I walked out feeling ok.

So now I’m waiting until 3/20/18 to get my FAR score and it’s messing with my head. I didn’t study FAR as much as REG. I can’t concentrate on AUD. In college, I could pretty much guess what score I would receive on a test. Now, I’m not sure what to think. Is it normal to go through the first test receive a shock and then question your sanity while you wait for your next exam score? Maybe the first test was so soul crushing that a piece of me died.

[Skynet]

Did Kevin Spacey try to make a move on you in the basement that traumatized you?

[Anonymous]

mrrgreene,
Your feelings are perfectly normal. You are not alone. There are many participants in this forum who are returning scholars. I went back to school at age 55, after having earned two master's degrees in my twenties. The whole CPA exam experience is nothing like graduate school.

I passed BEC easily (due to my writing ability), but then I failed FAR with a 71. I was devastated. I started reading this forum to find some emotional support.

The fact that you passed your first exam is terrific. You should be encouraged by that. Do NOT let any “subsequent event” mess with your head. You have 18 months to pass all four, and if you have to re-take your first exam, you will have plenty of company.

Don't let this thing crush you. Many, many others have succeeded. You just have to keep on going. One of the forum participants says, “Don't give up, just don't ever give up.” Another one says something like, the only reason people don't succeed on the CPA exam is that they just stop trying.

You may not pass every exam on the first try. Most people don't. Revise your expectations. In the long run, it won't matter how long it took for you to succeed, as long as you kept going.

I wish you the best of luck as you await your score. I take AUD tomorrow myself, so wish me luck too!

[mrrgreene]

@Skynet #MeToo
@Cynthia Thanks for the moral support. Give AUD the beat down it deserves.

[Author]

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