[Anonymous]

I haven’t posted on here in awhile but thought I might run this update by anyone who can possibly give me some advice. I finished Roger’s FAR course a month or so ago. It took me 2 months to do about 80% of the course, and then another month to finish it up because I took a job in September. By the time I was done with it, I had pretty much forgotten a lot of the smaller details that I studied earlier. Over the past month, I have gone back and reviewed about half of the 31 Roger FAR chapters. I worked all 1,750’ish MCQs and TBS’s. I was going to take FAR on December 8th – the last possible day to test this year. I cancelled it because I can not afford to take another day off work, and pushed it to January 7th.

I am absolutely burned out before I’ve even taken one test. I am sick and tired of reading and re-reading the FAR material. Much as I do like Roger’s course and his lectures, his textbook (and MCQ explanations) are way too wordy and not neatly summarized like they should be. In frustration, and because I know that the new version of BEC is going to be harder, I have stopped studying FAR and moved on to BEC. I may take BEC before I do FAR because it’s not as much material and is easier. Although, BEC starts off with a review of macroeconomics, and the last time I took an economics course was in my college days 15 years ago. Looks like it gets easier and stays easy after that though. Why supply and demand curves and all that useless economic theory crap are covered on the exam is beyond me. Just another way to torture us even more, I imagine.

My question is, does anyone else move on to other sections like this? Or, after failing one exam, do you move on to another section or go back and re-study? I just have this awful feeling that I’m going to have a ton of failed scores before I pass any. I can’t do most of the questions quickly. I take far longer than 1.5 minutes to do most calculation questions. I don’t have a pile of money to drop on failed exams. I’ve already paid for all 4 exams and there is no way that, with my 9-to-5 job, that I will be able to take all 4 in 2017 before the payment expires.

I’m just really freaking pissed off at this whole thing and wonder why I even got into it sometimes. I am not 26 years old anymore. I just wonder if I need it or if it’s even worth doing. The *only* reason why I’m still working on it is because I’m too far into it to turn back I think. I have a coworker at my new job who has an MS in Accounting. He’s a whiz. He said to me last week, “I will not be taking the CPA exam. I couldn’t handle it. I’ve done too much school already and am not up for going through a review of all that stuff and trying to pass those four exams.” Which is weird, because I think he could pass all 4 even without reviewing. But I also talk to CPAs who say “I could never pass that exam now. When I took it, with a pencil and paper, it was actually do-able.”

I think my biggest mistake was starting with FAR. I can see why many people leave it for last.

[Missy]

Sounds like you're looking for a reason to quit and there are hundreds of them but since the point of this forum is to encourage people to push through regardless you're not likely to find a lot of that here.

Not sure how you'd know a job candidate walked away from the exam after many attempts people aren't exactly forthcoming with their defeats during the interview process. There are so many misconceptions about the hiring process, resumes have to be retained it's the law (EEO compliance and all that stuff).

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

Well I can't quit until I've taken all 4 parts. I've paid the money and may as well study for them before quitting.
With any luck, I will pass some or all and won't have to quit. I've heard of people who pass one or more and then stop, or can't pass the fourth one before the rest expired and don't have the time to start the process all over again or spend more money on it. I don't know of any other professional exams that have such a terrible reputation. It seems like the BAR exam, to name just one, has much less controversy and fewer people complaining or considering quitting, or bitching about how hard it is. I talked to two lawyers a couple years ago (helping them sue a former workplace of mine who was frauding their customers). Both have Accounting degrees but opted for the BAR because they knew they could actually pass it. I'd do that too only I don't have as much interest in law.

I'd probably ask job candidates if they'd tried the CPA exam. I'd have no problem admitting to someone that I didn't pass, or that I found it impossible. Yeah I don't know why that is either about the retention of resumes/applications…I worked in HR for awhile and I remember that. And…when someone vacates a job or gets terminated, apparently the employer has to advertise the opening. Even if they choose not to interview anyone or fill the vacancy, the Dept of Labor forces them to advertise it.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

@crazyleon your attitude is all wrong! I know because i was you until May of this year. I grunted, snarled, screamed, bitched, and complained about the difficulties of FAR. My FAR attempts break down like this: 10/2013 got 60, 5/2014 70, 7/2014 67, 5/2015 67,10/2015 73, 10/2016 75.

My breakthrough came when I CHANGED MY ATTITUDE. This process is difficult because its meant for a certain number of ppl to wash out. What you need to understand is anger works against you in a test of will. Anger is toxic and draining. Anger takes your focus, energy,and strength. Yes this test has intentional stumbling blocks but none are surprises. Passing this test is about planning, commitment, and perseverance in the face of great adversity.

My advice to you is take a min to get yourself together and resolve yourself to control what you can. You control your demeanor and your preparation. I cant help with attitude, but i have ideas for preparatio if you would like to listen

[Anonymous]

@Wannabe !! I don't know if I'd call myself really *angry*. Frustrated is the more appropriate word. Although, I am sure my posts come off like I want to punch out a window. Anyhow, yes I'm interested to hear your ideas so feel free to share.
As I say, I'm in this for the long haul – at least until I take all four exams.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

Frustrated, angry all the same you have to see these emotions as the real barriers to you passing.
I have not used Roger so Im unsure of how the material is organized, but Id say for each major section of FAR you have to identify the major takeaways. High level ideas like Govt- Flow of each major fund type; FS of each fund type, and journal entries. Stockholders Equity- EPS, Diluted EPS, Par value method vs cost method. Bonds/leases setting amoritization tables, recording vs reporting, etc, etc. For each chapter create a 1pg doc with all the main ideas that arent sticking. Find someone thats not an accountant that you can try and explain the problem topics to that then try and explain to you what you just told them. I had to do this with SHE after i was able to get my wife to explain what i just “taught” her i could better see my mistakes. In explaning the topics try not to use a bunch of jargon. Use layterms to make it easier when you can. The point is you have to but these concepts in language you understand.
Also when reading questions identify the action verbs like: record, report, recognize. With interest, depreciation, SHE,bonds,leases pay attention to dates. Make a list of the attention to detail mistakes you make vs lack of knowledge mistakes you make.
I think the real issue people have when the dont pass is the lack of process in identifiying the breakdowns in their preparation.
These are things that helped me pass 3 exams in a row AUD 4/2016 76; BEC 5/2016 76, FAR 10/2016 75. Let me know what you think ofmy method if you have more questions

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you have an effective method worked out and you're gonna be done very soon since you are on a winning streak and will no doubt pass REG. Like you, I'm only looking for scores approximately what you've been getting (75-80, as opposed to 85 or 90+). I'm a decent student, I got As in all but one Accounting course. But, memorizing this much info has been extremely taxing and while memorizing for a midterm/final was not hard, memorizing 30+ chapters is definitely hard. I've taken extensive notes while working the problems. I will try your strategy about making 1 page document. I'm not as worried about AUD and BEC. I can do those. REG, I think will be about on the same level as FAR.

[bigcore20]

So true about how easy the exam used to be. The standard has just risen. It's like that for all professions these days. The MCAT and medical boards are hard as hell now compared to 20-30 years ago. But CPA is still very passable, people do it all the time. Same thing with the MCAT. Is it fair? No. Deal with it and stop whining. You can pass this thing

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

@crazyleon I think you are missing a large part of what Iam saying to you. My method is about getting YOU TO OWN the information you learn vs memorize. Memory is short term, but owning the information means you relate the given accounting concept to something you understand very well, relate your own story and language to it, then when working your problem recall the scenario you have created to memorize.

Like with bond problems I have isolated the types of questions they ask to be: interest exp, the carrying amt, or premium/disc. I think of these situations like when i played football. I had to analyze, down, distance, personnell, and field position in my determination of what play to expect. As a student of the game I always watched film to get my oppoents tendencies, so this helped me make decisions.

Realize that the fact pattern is your personnell grouping. You get a sense of what you are being asked based upon what you are given. The facts themselves are like the opposing players, and the action verb in the question is there play ie record, amoritize, expense etc. So once you have identified what they are doing that tells you what you need to do.

Every accounting concept has a certain number of things they are asking and it shouldnt be that you have to memorize all things. Somethings have to automatic, things you can instantly recall bc they are so immediately related to the topic. Not sure if you have tried ninja audio but maybe you should. I think it would help in boosting your recall for certain topics

[Anonymous]

Yes of course, learn vs. memorize. And if you don't lose it, you lose it…unless you've learned it. Memorization doesn't get anyone very far usually except for very basic things. Of course, you have to know normal debit/credit balances and certain things like that or else you can't do j.e.'s. As far as making up stories or relating your life's experiences that parallel accounting topics – apparently that works for you. I have never tried doing it. It's a good suggestion though. If I find myself having real trouble passing the exams, then I'll perhaps buy Ninja's products. I like to exhaust all my options for one thing before investing in something else. I've already dropped a lot of money as it is for my review course (Roger) and money doesn't just flow out of a water faucet for me at this point in time. Although I've never used Roger or his Roger-Cram products, I do find his lectures, also available on audio, helpful. Repetition is the only way to learn these things well, for those of us who haven't been accountants for 10, 15, 20 years.

[Mike J]

Just to piggyback on Wannabe a little…

I cringe whenever I read on this forum MEMORIZE this or that.

You have to understand what you're asked to do. Take a breath and a step back if needed. Put it in your own words.

OFTEN a journal entry will help. Start with what they can't Mesa with. For a bond interest calculation, usually that will be cash–just think Am I getting (debit) or giving (credit) cash. An expense is usually a debit balance. Write those down. You know that cash interest (the face amount doesn't change). The interest expense is a debit but you need to know the carrying value of the bond liability so write out the original issuance journal entry. Then multiply the balance by the market rate. The plug figure–often what they ask for–is a debit/credit to premium or discount.

I do disagree with WHAT you relate what you're learning. I found it more useful to find the connective tissue to what your learning. eg. with the WACSO calculation for EPS vs Average Expenditures for capitalized interest, you use a sort of time conversion (# x mm/12). Or, during the BEC exam prep, I grouped relates equations together and saw how they relate rather than merely memorize what they are. eg I grouped EVA w cost of borrowing with the cost of equity equations. The equivalent finished units calculation reminded me of the construction in process calculation. You get the idea. That way, the exams become less about voodoo and more about seeing the underlying logic.

[Track55]

I am internal audit at a publicly traded company and everyone is expected to have at least one certification. When people ask me what I am getting from passing the exam, I say I get to keep my job. So you will need to pass something. I would not want to work at a place where most people don't even have a CIA.

As for the exams, they have 50% passing rates. You're supposed to take more than one try. It took me 7 tries to pass them (BEC was a cinch). Don't take FAR twice, not pass and then give up. Keep going. As for the state fees, I lucked out that for a while CA only needed $25 for each application. There was little difference paying one at time (maybe a few weeks gas or a Clipper ticket).

I studied for 3 months per exam. I did Gleim in order, then did Ninja cause you get all the topics at once. It's impossible to forget stuff when you get all topics mixed up together. I did all the Ninja correctly at least once, so yeah, probably did them all twice for a total of 3,000-4,000. That's the way it goes.

I estimate I paid $4,000 for the license including passport photos and fingerprints. I am not at a firm or govt so I won't get a $3-5k bonus. But that's nothing compared to the $20K in loans I have or what a house costs in So Cal. Sometimes it takes money to make money. I still think you should switch to BEC to get that mojo going. Plus do you really want to take it with SIMS or with 3 easy essays no one reads except a computer?

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[Author]

Replies