[Faintear]

Over the past week, I’ve been a nervous wreck. I’ve put in a HUGE amount of time study this past week and over the past month. But last week was the first week where I began completely grinding out the MCQs since I got done with all the lectures.

I’m not sure what it is, maybe it’s some really bad anxiety, but I feel I’m always in panic mode. I pretty much think about the test 24/7. The past week, I was starting to lose my appetite, and felt like throwing up from time to time. My friends suggested I take a little break in that I might be over studying. I had a couple of 11 hour study sessions last week and I gave myself a night off Friday night and I took the entire Saturday off. Decided to try some lighter studying on Sunday, but I just ended up spending about half a day grinding out more MCQs.

I’ve calmed down a bit. I just got my application approved and all the slots at the end of August has been taken so I have to wait until the very beginning of October to take my first exam.

Does any one have some tips to calm down? My chest feels heavy every time I think about the test. I may be psyching myself out a bit and over thinking the test. I feel like I have the mentality to try to get the highest score instead of just trying to pass with a 75.

[Mom2two]

I have tons of advice since I live with anxiety and have had to learn coping mechanisms to live a normal life. It can be done. Realize that running at a high level of stress for an extended period of time can cause problems with your thyroid and throw it out of whack due to constantly producing too much cortisol. So if you are having real physical problems it might be worth talking to your doctor and having your levels checked, specifically your thyroid. Once you have eliminated it is not something medical that needs pharmaceutical help there are lots of alternatives to help with stress. Yoga and meditation are great remedies!! I used the Isha Kriya specifically to help during times of major anxiety. Google it and it will bring up the website with directions on how to use it. The breathe work can really help calm you down and give you focus. Ginger is remedy for stomach problems (gin gins – the hard one's, not the chews). Ask yourself what helped before? Where you really physical, like into running or exercise? If so, make time to do that, just 30 minutes to relieve the stress. Finally think about a time management technique like study for 25 minutes, take a 5 minute break. But use a timer and don't go over your 5 minutes. Breaking it up helps make it more manageable and not so stressful.

On a last note, remember this too will pass. Take care of yourself, your mind and body. Good luck, you can do this!

B: 81 (3X) May 2012
A: 76 (1X) Nov 2011
R: 86 (2X) Feb 2012
F: 64, April 2011, retake 10.01.12 - 75!!!!!!!!!!

[nearly_there]

Being psyched about it is normal. I can relate to alot of what you are saying about losing apetite, feeling nausious and having pressure in the chest area. I assume that having to wait for nearly two months to take the exam is only making this worse.

I have a feeling that you will ace this test with the amount of studying you have been doing so don't worry. So go watch a movie, hang out with some people, go to the gym, play a video game… do something else to get your mind off CPA. You really don't need to be studying 24/7 in order to pass it, espassially since you still have so much time.

Plus you really don't want to burn out on it before you actually take it, so pace yourself. You'll be fine. Confidence.

FAR - 85 November 2011
AUD - 81 January 2012
REG - 68 March 2012
BEC - 86 April 2012
REG - 92 July 2012

[porschify]

@faintear Did you try looking for a Prometric site that isnt as close to you? I think not taking it till October might actually be a disadvantage because IMO 3 months, especially at the pace you seem to be doing is way to long to stretch it out.

Do not put this exam on a pedestal, you need to bring it down to your level and realize that this is something that you can do. All the studying in the world will not help you if on exam day you are to nervous to be able to focus. Many people have passed these exams and will continue to pass them. At a high level, the difference between passing and failing is being able to answer enough questions correctly to obtain more points than a 75. They do not test you on how well or poor you performed while studying, or how many hours you put into it. You need to be active and engaged when your taking the actual exam.

REG- 81
BEC- 72,76
AUD- 67,88
FAR- 78

Done!

[Faintear]

Thanks for the kind words. I was looking to take the exam in the final week of August (27-31), but all 3 locations that I should be able to reach are out of those slots. Earliest opening would be the Thursday before (8/23). Should I just aim for that? I'm waiting for them to process the ATT so they can give me my NTS.

I think I'll be ok during the test. It's always the build up leading me to do stuff is what kills me.

[Author]

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