[JakeO]

Everyone in my office keeps telling me that eventually a test comes along which you will pass. There are a few people here who have been attempting tests for years and have passed some, or even all parts but too much time elapsed, and their best advice is simply “your test will come along.” On the other hand, we have people who pass all parts on the first try. Did these people simply get lucky (and I think they did since one of them received 75’s on two parts and a 76 on another)?

It can be very discouraging knowing you have studied and prepared but you get “unlucky” on test day.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[Minimorty]

@herbie – Thats not luck, man. You studied enough to be confident on enough topics to pass. Nobody is going to go in there and get every question right. You just go in there prepared enough to get to the point where even if you get a hard test, you still pass because you knew enough.

In all seriousness, though, this is how it went for me:

I thought that in two of the tests I got a “good draw” (what you guys would refer to as lucky) and on the other two I got a “tough draw” (what you guys would refer to as unlucky). I passed all four because I was adequately prepared. I put in the quality time and effort needed for me to pass and I made it happen. Thats all there is to it. When people equate passing to luck it gets me fired up because luck has nothing to do with passing.

[jokami]

I could not agree more with Mini! It is that simple!

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

[Witchkizzle]

@ Pistol

I can respect that. When I failed Audit, I knew it was because I got something I wasn't prepared for on my SIMS. I didn't feel unlucky though, I was mad at myself for not preparing for that topic as well as I should have. I took a month off from studying to enjoy Christmas, studied that one topic for 5 good hours in January and re-worked some MCQs and practice SIMS on Becker for another 5 hours or so and went back to take it again. I picked up the 4 points I needed to pass (71 to 75).

On the other three exams I passed the first try because I prepared better for those than I did AUD.

Like Mini said, it wasn't that I had unusually (or luckily) easy exam questions, I was just prepared for them well enough for me to pass.

Failing Audit was my fault and my fault alone.

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[heatmiser]

Not sure if mentioned above, but has anyone brought up the color red? I know I wore the same red polo shirt each test, and someone else wore the same red underwear (after washing I hope) for each test.

I past all parts first try. I contribute it to 2 things: 1) I studied as much as I possibly could anytime I could; this lead to 2) I believed I could pass, even if it was hard material.

If you walk into the test with your lucky shirt and an attitude that you are going to pass, I really think it helps, even on a subconcious level.

2011 CPA Exam Graduate

[Whyme]

It's all about luck, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! I breezed through my audit exam and failed. I guessed on half of my BEC exam and passed. The difference was “red underwear.” If you want to pass you will wear the reds, simple really.

AUD- 71, 73, 87 Done!!!!!
BEC- 75
FAR- 72, 77
REG- 77

[Witchkizzle]

There is a chance you can wash the luck out of your underwear. It wasn't worth the risk to me.

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[Tina82]

I did happen to wear red pants on 2nd exam which I passed, and on the 1st which I didn't. Luck or not, planning to wear for all exams. No substitue for studying but can't hurt either – whatever puts you in good spirits for the exam!

R - 74;88
A - 84
B - 74;89
F - no study = 67; May 15 = 87 & done

[HustlinHustlin]

My first exam I went all out red, bombed. The second I went with pink, didn't bomb as bad but still didn't pass…I'm running out of colors.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[KasiaS]

It's not luck, it's what you put into your studies. If you study each topic as if the entire exam will focus on it, there will be little or no surprises and you'll pass. I passed on first attempt and I think that each pass was a direct result of my studies… well, my red panties too.

@heatmiser, the red panty revolution was my thing, and YES I did wash my reds after every exam.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Tina82]

Ops I meant to say on the 1st I didn't wear red pants and didn't pass. Couldn't edit post.

HuslinHuslin how's the studying going? REG is dragging for me. Not that I ever feel totally prepared, but I sort of don't. Feeling overwhelmed by Becker/Wiley mcq combo.

R - 74;88
A - 84
B - 74;89
F - no study = 67; May 15 = 87 & done

[Witchkizzle]

@Kasia

I didn't realize the red panties thing was a thing already! I actually did wear some red undies to a test once. But, my lucky drawers are black.

I did wear pretty much the same thing to every test though. jeans, a joker t-shirt, black undershirt/tank top thing, black sneakers, black socks, black underwear. ALSO, a lucky Gold piece (a Gold dollar) was a must. I really do it for the attitude though. Like I mentioned earlier, my successes and failure were a result of my prep, not my luck.

Also taquitos from whataburger are my lucky test day breakfast. I did that as an excuse to eat 1,200 calories worth of delcious tortillas, egg, sausage, and cheese every once in a while.

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[KasiaS]

@Witchkizzle, there was a superstitions/rituals thread a few months back and I shared my red panty story – wear the same pair of red panties for every major exam since high school and it took on a life of its own! lol And so, the red panty revolution was born. This is a Polish superstition that my mom taught me when I was in HS and it never failed for me, granted I'm a total nerd and know that my grades have been a result of the effort I put into my studies, but the red panties were just that little extra boost in my confidence.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Witchkizzle]

I love it. I say do what you have to do to pump yourself up and get ready for your test/presentation/interview or whatever.

Confidence can be key to doing well on something. It can calm you down when things start to feel out of control. When I went through my interview and all that, my goal was just to pretend to be confident. My logic was that they won't be able to tell I'm just pretending if I can pull it off well enough. It ended up working out well, and I have tried to use that same outlook ever since then if I have needed it.

I may need to buy some more red underwear. I've only got the one pair right now!

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[mla1169]

It is luck but to a large extent we make our own luck. Luck only goes so far if you're not intimate with all of the material.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@JakeO — Yep, I passed all four on the first try because I remembered to throw salt over my shoulder before I took the test. Ok, all smartass remarks aside, your coworkers are probably just bitter that they failed so they say passing the first time is luck. If you study hard, you will stand a better chance of passing…there's nothing wrong with not passing as long as you push through and get back up, dust yourself off, and kick that exam's @ss the next time. But c'mon, if you do fail a section, do yourself a favor and don't become bitter about people who do pass on the first try like your coworkers. We're all in this for the same reason, to achieve the same goal…we all want those three little letters after our name. It doesn't matter how many tries it takes to get there, but you definitely shouldn't downplay some people's accomplishments by attributing their success to luck…that's not cool. With that said, best of luck to you, my man!

[Author]

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