[Kesecker87]

I knew I failed- and I failed by alot! 61! Man, talk about total wipeout! I know it was from the SIMS- I used Yaeger + cram and studied hard! should I just give up? what should I do!

FAR 61, 82! ( 11/9/12)
AUD 67, (4/19/13) WAITING!!

[Minimorty]

Yikes. First, stop convincing yourself that you knew the material “like the back of your hand.” You clearly did not have a grasp of the concepts. You didn't study too much, either. Picking the right study materials is trial and error for some people. Perhaps a change of pace would be better. Do you learn better from reading or do you feel like the lectures helped?

Btw – what do you do for a living? Perhaps you should move on to a section that is more comfortable. Perhaps a win is what you need. I usually recommend taking your toughest first because of the 18 month window, but you seem a little too fragile for that. A win might be the best thing for you.

[mdrobbin]

Kesecker… How was your time management during the exam? Did you finish? The golden rule I took away from Yaeger was 50 mins per testlet for MCQ which leaves 90 min for SIMs. I would have failed without this. If I was falling behind on time I would skip a question. In total, I probably skipped 3-4 MCQ total that looked lengthy when I was behind schedule.

90 mins for SIMs left me plenty of time. I had about 10 minutes left to spare after I nailed research.

Other than that, what are you scoring on Wiley sample tests? I went over anything I got wrong three or so times.

At the end of the day, attitude is probably most important. If quitting is even on your radar, it sounds like this journey isn't for you. If I don't pass an exam, I'm gonna find some way to dig deeper and come back stronger. But I decided I was 100% certain I would never give up before I bought any material. Doesn't sound like you are 100% certain and that's not a good sign when this requires full commitment.

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[Anonymous]

@Kesecker87…here is my study plan, which still allows me some free time for other things in life…I work full time and have a side business an antique dealer….I usually spent 2.5 months to prepare each exam, and I devided my studying plan into three phrases. First phrase, my studying mode is very relaxing…yes, relaxing, I still buy/sell antiques, going out for dinners, and have the tv on, etc…during this phrase, I was just reading from chapter to chapter, trying to understand what the book trying to say without really memorize anything. not MCQs or exercise at this time yet. I still take a day or two off or a weekend trip. It usually takes a month to finish the book. I attended Becker Live, so my goal was to finish reading the majority of the book before the live class begins. Once the live class began, I entered phrase two, which is the most intense and important part of my studying. I re-read the book after the live class and work on the MCQs. Because I have read the book once, it doesn't take me long to digest the knowledge. I don't rush from chapter to chapter. I keep a very steady path to move to next chapter only after I understand the whole concepts. I also do MCQs to ensure I am on the right track. Once I finished phrase two study, there are usually 2 weeks left before the exam, I adjust my study plan and intensity according to how comfortable I am with the material. After reading the material twice and MCQs, I can review a chapter a day and focus on the important topics and my weakness, my last phrase is not as intense as my second phrase, which allows me time for family and anything else befoer the exam…I don't bother to do SIMS, which save me lots of time too…hope this helps.

[kmcg4k]

As FAR – LOL- as i can tell people on another71.com don't give up so that is not an option. -It is possible I may have given up before I found this forum but now I cannot. I only logged on tonight to see if @keeptrying got good news early. That girl is my hero, I want to be just like her when I grow up. BTW i am probably much older than she is. Having said all that, my best reason for not giving up is the battle with old timers disease -right? I figure if you pass the Auditing section of the CPA exam with a 79 when you are 54 (with 4 kids and a HUSBAND) – you IS pretty damn sharp. I would like to prove that to myself in the next year.

REG 79 - LOST IT
BEC 74 74 73
AUD 71 79!!! LOST IT
FAR

[Anonymous]

Kesecker87~

It's good to see you keep coming back because you are not sure you want to give up. The best advice I can give – which is the same advice of some of the others on the forum – is to do QUALITY studying, not quantity. Doing MCQs 'til you “puke” may make you feel confident, but if you don't understand the “why” and “what for” behind the question (instead you just memorized the answer), you probably won't be able to answer the questions on the exam.

I took REG once, AUD and BEC twice and FAR three times. I used mostly Becker and after I failed FAR the second time I decided I needed a change – so I switched to CPAExcel and supplemented with the WIley test bank during the final two weeks for additional MCQs and SIMS. I shut off my phone, got rid of voice mail, rarely checked my email, worked as little as possible, and my husband did all the grocery shopping and cooking (during while I studied FAR for the final time). I couldn't get over a 60% on any of the practice tests but ended up with a passing score on the exam.

I'm a “why” and “what for” person so CPAExcel really helped on FAR. With the other sections, I was more fresh out of school so I didn't need the additional explanations. CPAExcel FAR has nearly 5,000 MCQ and T/F questions and 100 (+/-) SIMS, access to professors for questions, videos for nearly every section, 1,000+ pages of study materials, and (I believe) it doesn't expire until a year after you pass (versus Becker which expires in 18 months – although they will give you an extension just for the asking to take you through the end of your current testing window). As a bonus, it's cheaper than Becker.

To reiterate, my ability to finally conquer FAR was based solely on my ability to FOCUS my studies to the material at hand – and everything else around me be damned! The questions on the exam need to be answered as they are asked – not answered how we might answer them in the “real” world.

Good luck on your next attempt!

[jokami]

Kesecker87…

Everything is pretty much said… Although I think something is missing; you have OUR support!!!! (jeff i'm sorry, i needed to stress that one word out) Consider us as your extended cyber family. But you have to do your part as well. First of all, decide what is it that you are going (not want: going) to do. Are you going to continue or not? You already invested time and money, now invest your will and desire to go through with this. No one said it was going to be easy.

So you got a 61… So? Is it the first time you flunk a test? Is this the only reason why you are quitting?

In regards to your husband, give him the instructions on how to do the things at the house on a day by day basis… Don't feel guilty nor let him put you down in your journey. If you decide to continue pursuing this, don't let anything stop you, not even your family! I can't really identify myself with that scenario because my husband is A+. But I do have to give him directions on how to work around the house and with our daughter. There are two adults in that house, and one of them needs to step up his part so that the other one can accomplish her “short term” goal!

My take on this journey; if I fail. It is not the first time I flunk a test…. Deal with it and move one!

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[jokami]

Hey Kesecker87

Check out this post from keeptrying:

“Heck yes!! 24 tests taken…. and the results as follows….

REG-80, 77, 77

BEC-67, 68, 71, 67, 71, 74, 71, 74, 72, 77

FAR- 72, 65,67, 53, 75 (truth be known the 53 was with 4 hours of studying)

AUD-58, 62, 72, 74, 74, 75

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it…don't let anyone make this journey seem pointless. Don't give up on yourself. Don't fear failure…because with each of those failing scores I learned something about myself. You have to want this as much as you want to breathe. I watched this video before I went in on test day…and I repeated to myself throughout the exam “I'm going to show you how great I am!!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OSYtQy9EqTA“

Now, are you going to still quit?

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Laura]

true story above…that's me…and I can say now…I will be more proud of my license than anything else…because I fought hard for it.

REG-80, 77, 77
BEC-67, 68, 71, 67, 71, 74, 71, 74, 72, 77
FAR- 72, 65,67, 53, 75 (truth be known the 53 was with 4 hours of studying)
AUD-58, 62, 72, 74, 74, 75
took 5 years but I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jokami]

I really hope you reconsider your attitude towards this test. Because this is not about who finishes first, this is about those who actually finish it.

You may fInd some bumps in the road; but don't ever let them stop you!

Rethink your study habits and analyze what you did wrong, correct it and retake the test! Who know? Maybe you'll see a passing score next time!

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Anonymous]

A lot of people think failing = continue studying. That’s wrong. A failing grade means you need to change your study method. Do not say that you do not know what else to do. There’s ALWAYS something else you can do. Start taking notes, start reading your review books, start practicing more MCQs, practice more Sims, practice lots of textbook problems, invest in a different review course, etc…. You need to be creative and develop your own study technique that works for you. You can complain and say you put in months of studying and got a 61, but the quality of study hours is more important than the quantity. I know this is not what you want to hear, but a 61 means that the study hours your put in were of poor quality. But don’t be discouraged. Learn from it.

I studied over a year for FAR and failed 4 times. And I failed 4 times because all I did was continue studying without changing my ways of studying. It wasn’t until 2011 where I got a wakeup call and forced myself to change my study technique. And that’s how I was able to boost my score to an 89.

The CPA exam is a very detailed exam. You need to make a schedule for yourself and make sure you allocate enough time to study EVERY topic in your review book and you need to allot enough time to go over them again and again so it finally sticks. So, it’s very important that you’re determined enough to go through this painstaking process. Review and then practice questions. Then later, rinse, and repeat. Make sure you're understanding the concept. Do not memorize!!

[Anonymous]

CPAMan speaks the truth. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

I took REG and failed miserably. I walked out thinking I had done well and that it would be a close score. I studied more than I had for the other 2 sections I had passed. When I found out how aweful I did, first I cried, then I got on here and the the whole “This test is stupid, I knew that material so well” blah blah blah. A few days of recovery later I realized I was being an idiot. I didn't know the material that well or I would have passed. Now I have changed my plan. I am going to write and rewrite my notes and I got an additional study bank. Hopefully it will do the trick. If not then I will try something else.

[Anonymous]

I failed REG twice before finally passing on a third try!! I cried after my failing score as well, and thought I would never be able to pass. However, after looking closely at my study habits…it was my fault, I deserve the failing score. Though I studied for a long time, it wasn't quality studying. Third time, I read all the chapters x3 and understood EVERY topic (maybe was weak on one or two), and did all the MCQs in Becker at least 3-4 times. I took bunch of notes and even bought Wiley test bank and did tax portions of MCQs and SIMS from there. I studied for good two months and I passed with a high score.

This exam isn't impossible, but it requires lot of discipline (something I lack, but still continue to work towards it). Anyone can do this, but it requires lot of work, and dedications. We all can do this, if we just keep at it!!

[RedRage00]

You need to re-evaluate your study methods. 6 months for FAR? That is overkill! I passed all 4 sections in 6 months. I'm not bragging, but I was ready to burn my FAR materials after 8 weeks of studying. I don't know how you did that for 6 months.

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[Author]

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