[Kitch]

So far, I have failed two exams and I am pretty sure I failed FAR. It seems that everyone at work is always passing the test and I am always failing. I really do study, maybe 200 hours per exam, so I feel like I earned it. I also had a 3.75 accounting GPA in college and am really struggling. I went to a state school, so I am sure it was a good education. This test has made me so insecure at work. Not to mention I do work with some arrogant people. I feel really alone in my failings and am glad I have this forum to go to. It’s hard not to compare myself to them, especially when I am study much harder and they pass on first try.

I started studying for the exam right when I started my job. I was trying to learn my field and study at the same time (along with two small children) I think I took too much on at one time and find myself very depressed. I am really hoping I can be done by September.

Not sure I can take another fail emotionally. I take them very hard! Ugh…………. Anyone else going through this?

FAR - Passed
REG - Passed - 2 tries
AUD - Passed - 2 tries
BEC - Passed

[Anonymous]

Luckily where I work they never give me grief about my scores. I come from a telecom background and my accounting classes (had to take 24 hrs to sit) were taught by an idiot. I put a lot of hours in but so far have only passed 2 on the first try. You'll see my signature block what my other attempts have been I fugure I'll pass all four parts or die trying.

[HighMileageDude]

Well you've passed AUD&BEC already so you know how to win! Keep it up!

A lot of people at your firm are insecure so they will act like it's easy, but it's not easy. If it were easy everyone would be a CPA. I've heard of great students who take a CPA section without use of a review course and only score in the 40s. There's no substitute for grinding out lots of MCs. It's not a test of how smart you are….”mile wide and an inch deep” You really have to put in the work to be able to come out on top. Procrastination is worst enemy. it's difficult to be efficient with your time if you're not as motivated. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that you need to believe in yourself. you're on the right track. psych yourself up, put in a ton of effort with your MCs, & go into Prometric and rock it man, give it your all on exam day and hope you come out better than 55% of test takers.

Tip: Try to motivate yourself like each CPA exam is a boxing match, or sporting event, or whatever mental trick motivates and does it for you.

[kb24]

@Kitch

I was thinking of suggestions that might help you after reading your post but rethought what I wanted to say after I read your other post about studying with children. Even without studying for the exam you'd be in a tough situation. Working a full time job with 2 young children is overwhelming for many women, and you've added 4 hours of studying every day on top of that. Your schedule doesn't allow sufficient time to sleep let alone any time for yourself i.e. hobbies, exercise, friends, etc., and you've been doing this for months. Here are my thoughts on some things that might be help.

1. You sound really down in your posts, and I'd recommend you see a doctor and ask about depression. I hope you're not offended by this suggestion. Depression runs in my family, and I've seen how debilitating it can be. You don't have to have something sad going on in your life to be depressed; depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain and stress can be a trigger. Also, feeling hopeless is a common symptom.

2. Ask yourself if this is the right time for you to be attempting the exam. You need to be doing this for yourself, not because your coworkers are making you feel like you have to have your CPA to be worthwhile. It may be best for you and your family (both of which are more important than the exam) if you wait for a year or two.

3. If you decide that you still want to go ahead with the exam at this time, sit down and talk to your husband about how you're feeling and what can be done to improve the situation. Men can be incredibly obtuse when it comes to emotions (sorry to you guys out there, but it's true), and he may not realize how overwhelmed you feel. Maybe he could fix dinner and bathe the kids some nights.

4. I also have a suggestion about your approach to studying if you decide to continue. I spent a long time studying before I ever took an exam, and I wasn't able to prepare properly until I changed my attitude. I kept trying to thoroughly learn the material every step of the way. But that doesn't work (at least not for me) unless you study a ridiculous number of hours. Basically, you're taking one test that covers 3-4 college courses and is 100 times harder than any test you had in college. What finally worked for me was to read the material thoroughly but not worry about catching every single detail, do some MCQ to reinforce it, and go on to the next section. I'd review all the material, but give extra focus to my weak areas. I also did thousands of MCQ during my review.

I hope that some of this helps. Please let us know how you're doing. We're rooting for you!!!!!!!

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[jelly]

Not really. I looked back at one of the places I started at about 5 years ago, it's not a large group. The pass rate's been about 25-30%, and there are a number who've been seniors forever. They all came from upper middle class backgrounds, and went to pretty decent schools, so the pass rate I calculated is actually below the national average.

Couldn't pass again!

[Kitch]

Thanks for the input kb24! I really appreciate it. I have actually considered going to a therapist as quitting the exam is not an option. I am really close to the end. I have passed two and taken all four exams….still waiting on FAR score and then clean up REG. I was only off 1 point so I am sure I will get it next time around.

I have been studying for over a year now and I just think it is weighing on me. I have my good days and my bad..today is obviously bad. I do think this is a normal process however. So it is nice to have a forum to go to, to vent where people understand the pressure.

My job is great about the exam. Yes, people at work appear to pass more often than fail. I personally compare myself to, too many people and am way to hard on myself. I work at a CPA firm, I do both audit and tax, so I have had to learn details of both.

I know once I pass this exam it will all be OK. Until then, I may just need to see a therapist 🙁

Depression runs in my family too. I am depressed more often than I would like to admit, but it is not daily. Thanks again for the input.

FAR - Passed
REG - Passed - 2 tries
AUD - Passed - 2 tries
BEC - Passed

[Kitch]

@Jelly

Thats good to know Jelly! My firm has 70 accountants and 5 offices. My office has the managing partner (Yay) so I wonder if the pressure to pass it is higher in my office. My best friend has been studying with me. So far she has passed all 3 on first try and I am jealous. She has no small children, which I think was to her benefit. It just really sucks every time I get a fail and she gets a pass. I am super happy for her as she has worked hard too, just jealous. I feel like I am being compared to her by my superiors. Everyone asks her about the exam and nobody talks to me. A bit offended, but kind of glad. My office also has accountants that do not even have their CPA. The other offices accountants seem to pass to without a problem though…………so I also compare myself to them as well.

This exam is a mental challenge in every sense of the word!!

FAR - Passed
REG - Passed - 2 tries
AUD - Passed - 2 tries
BEC - Passed

[kb24]

Kitch

Sorry, I didn't notice your scores at the bottom and thought from your post that you hadn't passed any of the sections. Of course if you've already passed 2 you want to continue. And you might have passed FAR even though you don't think so. I have a tendency to focus on what I did poorly rather than what I did well, and it sounds like you might be the same. I hope you do go see a therapist especially since depression runs in your family. Just having an objective person to vent to will probably help you even if you aren't depressed. And, of course, you can always come to this site when you need to let off some steam or want some encouragement.

Good luck and take care of yourself.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Bob Moritz, CPA]

@Kitch- you are awesome! Keep your head up and keep your eye on the prize.

Bobby Moritz

[shutupandstudy]

keep your head in the game! youll be okay!

[Author]

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