[Bear-Bear]

I’ve been doing Ninja MCQs like crazy since last Wednesday. Over 1500. My trending score has only gotten worse, and is now at 73 with an average of 68. Breakdown as follows:

avg trending

1 Conceptual Framework, Standards, Standard Setti… 69% 69%

2 Financial Statement Accounts: Recognition, Meas… 65% 65%

3 Specific Transactions, Events, and Disclosures:… 71% 77%

4 Governmental Accounting and Reporting 65% 71%

5 Not-for-Profit (Nongovernmental) Accounting and… 79% 87%

I’ve poured my heart and soul into this since the beginning of December. I’ve put everything in my life on the backburner. My family is counting on me, and my best efforts have led me to this abysmal trending score. Try as I might, I can’t lift those horrible scores in Framework/Financial Statement accounts. Today alone I got two 53%s in a row. I am absolutely gutted, and pretty much expecting to fail.

[Jdn9201]

I think you need to slow your pace down – 1500 since last Wednesday is over 200 a day. Unless you are studying non-stop, I doubt you're taking the time to read the answer explanations, which are key to understanding the material. Otherwise, you are memorizing questions which doesn't help with new questions. Try to stay positive – there is no need to put extra pressure on yourself by expecting yourself to fail.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[NotAnother74]

You need to slow down. I am taking AUD on Thursday and just completed 1,087 questions for the second time doing 250 a day. But that's because there is no math and because this is my fourth time doing it hopefully second time passing it. I know this test extremely well…I've studied it a lot over the years.

That said, I can't imagine doing 200+ FAR questions in a day. The math and concepts are much more difficult.

My advice, take half a day off and recharge. You are only 3 days away. Only focus on the weak spots at this point.

You've got this.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[rithzz]

I wouldn't worry about the trending score. If you're consistently getting 70 to 80% right when you're doing questions you will be fine. The questions in Ninja MCQ sometimes are a bit strange, just learn from the wrong ones and move on.

If it makes you feel any better I was trending around 70% and ended up getting an 85 on FAR

AUD: 78
BEC: 81
FAR: 73, 85
Reg: 84

[Anonymous]

First off – you need to relax a little bit! I completely understand the stress (trust me I almost ended up in the hospital for my last test). Sleep in today, take a few hours off to watch TV you have missed or a basketball game. Take a walk. Go to the gym. Whatever you need to do to take your mind off it for a few hours. It sounds like you need it more than you realize.

Next, remember that YOU have studied. YOU have done the work. YOU will be the CPA someday! As much as I love the support my family has given me in my long, and still on-going, journey, I had to realize that this was about me and only me. This test is very challenging and stressful, you don’t need any added stress of what your family will think of you if you don’t pass. If you can look yourself in the mirror and know you put your best foot forward, you should be able to sleep at night.

As far as the test – It sounds like this is your first attempt, or at least first part. Keep in mind that your brain is trained to be shooting for A’s, but you only need 75% which is a C-! You might not be as far off as you think. Use these last few days to bring everything together. Do practice tests and write down 10 smaller areas where you struggled. Go through and try to master those areas, by spending 20-30 minutes reading through the material and doing a few practice questions. READ the explanation on both the right and wrong answers! Knowing why something is wrong, can we just as important as why something is right! You are going to get questions wrong (remember you only need a 75!) it’s okay to guess on a few! You aren’t ever going to know everything, you need to focus on a few areas that are weak and make them a strength! Another test taking tip – if you have no idea what the answer is (there will be a few of those!) look for the choice that is different, avoid extreme words (never, mandatory, always etc) and do you best to narrow it down to 2 answers!

Finally, remember that it’s okay to fail this test. Look at some of the signatures on this forum. People have taken these tests double digit times. Stay focused no matter what you get on this test and remember if you study hard enough, you will get through this!

Good luck and sorry for the long post!

[Anonymous]

Center your focus and mindset on Right Now. You can not control the future or the past, you can only control yourself right now. Just go in there and do your best. Hang your hat up the night before and get good sleep.

[Bear-Bear]

Thanks for the advice, guys. It feels good to be able to vent on here. I'm usually the very definition of stoic and unemotional, even in the face of life's hardest times. But for some reason, this exam, and the prospect of failure, rattles me in a way I haven't felt for a long time.

[RE2PECT]

If anyone should feel hopeless it's me lol. I'm trending 56% and testing on 2/29. I have about 100 more questions until I get through every one at least once before going back and working on weaker areas. I'm taking off Thursday and Friday and plan on mixing in some sims and studying J/E's. I know people say the ninja questions are generally harder than the actual exam, but I'm praying for a miracle come Monday.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[SGShiver]

I didn't pass the exam but I did score 10 points higher on the real exam than on my practice tests so there is hope. Just relax you are doing very well way better than I did coming into the week before the exam. I think the only reason you are making 53% is because either your nervous or focusing on the most difficult sections trying to get ready for the exam. Remember there is more than one topic and SIMS count too. If you are having trouble in these areas: leases, bonds, pensions, or governmental accounting I would focus on those topics. All the other topics are a crap-shoot and may or may not appear on the exam.

FAR- 53, next time 5/5/16
B: 7/30/16
A:TBD
R:TBD

[PleaseDontDeleteThanks]

Yeah man. Don't worry too much. A lot is on the line, but you'll have another shot at it. Just keep studying.

When I freak out, I have to write on a piece of paper “calm down,” or I just drink a beer. I keep studying no matter what.

FAR 72, 89
BEC 80
REG 90
AUD 79

[Yolonge]

Trending does not mean anything. Your average looks okay so do not worry about it! Just hit the review phase, and if u get 80-90% with 30 questions constantly you should be good (as long as you do not simply memorize)

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[Dave71]

average 55%/trending 73%, I have been studying since Feb 9th. I stopped at 1,100 questions. This monday I started redoing questions i missed exclusively. I m guessing a solid mid 60 score for myself.

REG - 10/12/2015 77
AUD - 01/06/2016 75
BEC - 01/16/2016 75
FAR - 02/27/2016 68 Retake 05/13/16 70 Retake TBD

[NotAnother74]

My test is in the morning and I'm having a nice Guinness to relax and enjoy some peace before cramming in the morning and then testing. To bed in one hour for a good nights sleep!

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[PleaseDontDeleteThanks]

@NotAnother74 I just had two Guinness at the local bar, now I'm heading back to the library. Good stuff.

I should've had more. I'm scoring mid-80's with new questions, when I was scoring less sober.

FAR 72, 89
BEC 80
REG 90
AUD 79

[NotAnother74]

Yeah I'm feeling good. 2,200 audit questions, practice test. Reviewed Becker book. I've taken the exam 3 times before. I've passed it and unfortunately lost credit. Feeling confident. I've taken these exams 9 times now. They aren't really exam to me anymore. Lol, I used to get nervous and freaked out. Now I don't. It's as much a roll of the dice as anything else in terms of what test you get.

Man the Guinness will taste really really good post exam!

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Author]

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