[Anonymous]

How many attempts should a person take at passing before they give up?

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

Give up when you pass…or when you decide to become a quitter.

[pacific1]

If this is something you really want…you don't give up, you keep at it until you get it!

[Anonymous]

Is it easier the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, try, etc.? Is a lot forgotten, that needs to relearned with each attempt (between the time for testing windows)?

[Laura]

I gave up after 24 tries…you know…when i passed!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pacific1]

I think it is a little easier, you still have to put in some serious time but some parts should be familiar and they might not take as much of your time. But yes, stuff certainly is forgotten but like I said, some stays and you won't have to focus on that as much.

[Anonymous]

@pacific1

That's the attitude I think I'm going to take from now on.

@keeptrying

Does it get easier with each attempt? Are there parts from prior studies you remember 2 months later in a new exam window?

[Anonymous]

Okay, thank you.

[Laura]

@Aaron55–ALL the exam are different. Yes there is stuff that I can say was definitely on every one of my BEC exams…but it was never the same. If you prepare yourself for this exam as if your life depended on it, as if it's the one thing that keeps you from being able to breathe…then you will pass it. How far along in the process are you?

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I took AUD last week. Then I realized, “Wow this is freakin' hard”. I'm taking FAR next month and am studying all day, every day now. I studied a lot for AUD, but not like now. I guess getting practice questions wrong makes me question whether I can do it.

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

I actually prefer to get practice questions wrong. If I get them wrong that means I'll read the answers and learn WHY I was wrong and WHY the correct answer is correct. So the next time I see that question (or a similar one) I remember back to WHY I got it wrong the first time. Just look at it from that perspective and I think you'll find getting the answers wrong the first time around to be less discouraging!

[moniquiux80]

@ Aaron55…

Good question. I was also thinking about this. I just took FAR for the 4th time and it seems that I didn't pass again! I seem to do well in the testlets but the sims have been an issue for me!!!! So, sometimes I do wonder when is enough or when should one stop trying!

@ Keeptrying: how do you keep yourself motivated? I have taken FAR 4 times now and it seems that I might not pass despite the fact that I am so close… Every time i take FAR, it seems that this will the one, but then when I get the result I get a 67,71 or a 73…

[Anonymous]

I guess you're right. I always get more right the 2nd try (different Q's, but same topics). I just wonder if I get like 40% wrong on the first set of 30 MCQ's after reading the text is like really bad and means I won't understand it well enough to pass. I usually get like 70% or higher on the 2nd set of 30 MCQ's of the same topic.

[MrNormalGuy]

If you study year around without any breaks 75 percent of the first tier material should stick – most of the multiple choice, 30 percent of the second tier should stick simulations, and maybe 10 percent of the third tier should stick – simulations or multiple choice questions only freaks get right…

Seriously…I've been studying for regulation for one year now just to pass because i never learned regulation in college and it feels like every day I'm stashing nuts away for my future. It's in your subconscious…trust it, and keep chugging away. Don't give up. You may be the type of learner who needs to see everything once before they can retain much information, if so, you are one of those people able to master things with a deeper understanding of the material……rather than a quick learner who has a good short term memory, you may be a long term learner who has to understand in order to learn…not everyone has to understand, some people are gifted with amazing memories.

far:
aud:
reg:
bec:

[sbarkerACPA]

This is a good question. I was just questioning in after only taking BEC the second time today. It is alot that goes into studying and while I would love the perfect designation behind my name I am second guessing myself. Each test is $250-300 and that doesn't take into account if you fail a section. So I definetly understand second guessing it!!!

However as oneFREAKINGpoint says “give up when you pass or become a quitter” although this sounds like something my dad would tell me.

BEC: 74;81
AUD: 77
REG: 71; 80
FAR: 78
License for CPA----APPROVED
CPA Class of 2013

[Anonymous]

The CPA that does my taxes said this: “It's not about how smart you are, it's learning how to take the test.” I couldn't agree with her more. Lord knows I'm not the smartest bulb in the pack, but I focused on HOW they ask the question and EXACTLY WHAT INFORMATION THEY WERE ASKING FOR. When I would whiz through the practice questions, I'd often get them wrong because I ignored my own advice. However, at test time I took my own advice and passed. I took two tests twice, one test three times, and one test once. I made up my mind that not only could I not afford to take any test multiple times but my brain couldn't take it either.

[Author]

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