[josephm]

I just found out last night that I passed my last section (Audit). Now that I’m done, I thought I would take a few minutes to share my experience for those who are either new or are struggling to finish this exam. I graduated from a large state school with accounting and finance degrees in 2009 and a 3.0 GPA. It was a party school so studying wasn’t always as high on my list of priorities as it should have been, hence the not so impressive GPA. I landed a job in corporate accounting last November with a midsized public company. (As a side note, I got this job by meeting my now current boss at a Springsteen concert. We were tailgating in the parking lot, started talking, he gave me his card, sent him my resume etc etc a month later I had a job- so for those looking for jobs, opportunities tend to pop up in some unlikely places) Anyway, I started studying in January using becker. Took FAR in February, wanted to cry leaving the testing center, but I ended up getting a passing score a month later (89). I was shocked. I was convinced I had failed. I’ve found that it is very difficult to gage how you did and you often get scores you do not expect. Similar experience with REG and AUD. BEC was the only exam I actually felt good about leaving the testing center and that ended up being one of my lower scores. For those using becker, I think they do a fantastic job. I haven’t tried any other prep courses but I hear good things about several of the others as well. I don’t think that the prep provider you choose will make or break you. I’m sure they all do a good job preparing candidates. On the back end of this experience, I can tell you that this test is 10% not being dumb as rocks (which is pretty much anyone who is sitting for this test since you have a degree), and 90% hard work. I consider myself to be of average intelligence, and I passed this all 4 parts on the first attempt- Not because I am smart, but because of hard work. You need to put yourself in the mindset that you love nothing but accounting while studying, and that it’s the coolest things in the world, and all you want to do is get your CPA. You don’t need to be a genius to pass these exams- 6 months of hard work and effort will give you a lifetime of dividends. Goodluck to all those preparing!

FAR 89 REG 88
BEC 85 AUD 82
Done!!!

[nolifecpa]

congrats on passing!!!!

i am using becker as well, what was your studying technique?

REG-65,71,74,73,70,74,79
BEC-60's,60's,69,71,76*,78
FAR-67,66,65,79
AUD-54,60's,65,83*,69,80
*expired

DONE

[almostdone]

Congrats!! Thanks for sharing.

Philadelphia CPA Review/Bisk
AUD 7/6/10: 84 | FAR 7/19/10: 91 | BEC 8/16/10: 80 | REG 08/25/10: 99

[josephm]

nolifecpa- I pretty much followed beckers study plan exactly. Watch the lectures, then go through and read/skim the chapters depending on how complex the topic is, the do all the passmaster questions. Do all the chapters as like this. Then for review (1-2 weeks before the exam) go back- re-read/skim the chapters, and go though the passmaster a second time focusing on what you got wrong the first time. I didn't really look at the sims much. I just got a feel for how they worked but didn't use them to study. I also took a practice test or two during my 1-2 weeks of review. This plan worked very well for me.

FAR 89 REG 88
BEC 85 AUD 82
Done!!!

[mmp]

@ josephm, congrats on passing CPA exam. I am doing Becker 2010 and took my first test BEC on 07/29/10. Going into exam, I was confident about my preparation and knowledge about BEC. When I finished the test I was sure that I passed it. But, when I recieved my score I was surprised to see that I made 68. I was very familiar with IT, and thought it would be my easiest section on the test, and it turned out to be my lowest scoring one. I am going to continue my studying method same way as I did for BEC and as you said – LEC, review chp, HW and before the test read/skim chapters and redo HW. Hopefully I pass AUD on 8/31/10!

[Anonymous]

I couldn't agree with the original post any more!

I am the same – I wasn't the strongest student…I had to re-take both of my intermediate accounting classes. I didn't try as hard as I should have in undergrad.

I thought there was no way in hell I'd ever pass the CPA, but thought I'd try. Worked really hard, studied basically only on weekends (ALL weekend though). I started studying in very late June 2009, and took my last exam in Feb 2010. I passed them all on the first try and am very shocked that I did.

[josephm]

mmp-like I said I found it very difficult to gage how I did walking out of the exam. I was often surprised by my scores.

Don't be discourged- work hard, stay focused and you will pass

FAR 89 REG 88
BEC 85 AUD 82
Done!!!

[wishfulthinking]

@Atrus – With Becker did you spend alot of time reading the chapters after watching the lectures? I am not much for reading. I learn alot more from viewing the lectures & practicing the MCQ & writing down stuff…but I wonder if it would help me to maybe outline the chapters or go through and write out notes on the parts in the book that the lectures don't cover?

REG 85 | FAR 85 | AUD 88 | BEC 76!!! DONE!!!!

[Author]

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