[hopefaith]

To whom ever can relate,

I have a slow learning curve when it comes to accounting. I know friends that study an entire chapter of Becker homework problems in one evening while I am lucky enough to drill through 30 questions a night with truly understanding what I am reading.

I also know other CPA candidates that can study for one CPA exam within a couple months. They do all of the Becker home work problems, all of the supplementary questions, all of the simulations, and have enough time to take the practice tests. At my rate, I am on pace on taking four to five months to prepare for the FAR exam and I will have drilled the homework questions, looked over the lectures, drilled the Becker CPA note cards, and practiced one simulation. I religiously study, at the very minimum, for two hours an evening. Four out of seven days, I study for two and a half hours a night and some times study for three hours.

I know every individual has different learning curves and retention rates, but I feel that I am out of place amongst my accounting peers and I am starting to think that I am just not cut out to be a CPA.

Is there any one out there that can offer some insight on my dilemma? Maybe some tips on how to study or if need be some advice on cutting my costs because I am not cut out to be a CPA.

Thanks to all and God Bless

[FARbehind]

hopefaith,

I am in the same boat of slow learners/fast forgeters. Now more than ever I miss the fast learning abilities and good memory I never had. On top of this I grew up in another country where they didn' t train us to be fast. Being precise was much more important than being fast. So I struggle with the speed concept of this exam.

Good thing we have this site and I can admit this. I never do at work and I am sure a lot of people don't admit stuff like that at work. Maybe this is why you think you are an exception. But you are not, there are a lot of people like that.

I think you should go and take a few cpa exams before you start being intimidated. The exam is manageable even to people like us. We might end up repeating one or two. Once you try out the exam your scores will be your benchmark and you will feel much better knowing how much and how you need to improve.

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[limey]

Do you work during the day, and then come home to study after work? Try to study early in the morning – you'll retain more when you're all refreshed from sleep and there's few distractions (TV is pretty bad during the wee hours!). Studying after work is a lot of work. If you can study some in the morning, you won't feel so guilty after work for lightly studying only an hour or two.

On the weekends, I used to do a weird non-stop schedule of studying for 2.5 hours or so, punctuated with naps or TV or surfing for an hour or so, then back to studying. There really is a “pause” point where your brain stops learning and retaining, probably after 2-2.5 hours, b/c the nature of the test material is quite dry and the questions quite head-banging. You just need to do something else, which you likely will, b/c you just get annoyed, bored, and stop studying anyway. Napping usually refreshes your brain, but doing something fun, like playing an instrument, reading a magazine, or working out, distracts your brain and gives it a rest too.

I really can't pass again!

[limey]

Do you work during the day, and then come home to study after work? Try to study early in the morning – you'll retain more when you're all refreshed from sleep and there's few distractions (TV is pretty bad during the wee hours!). Studying after work is a lot of work. If you can study some in the morning, you won't feel so guilty after work for lightly studying only an hour or two.

On the weekends, I used to do a weird non-stop schedule of studying for 2.5 hours or so, punctuated with naps or TV or surfing for an hour or so, then back to studying. There really is a “pause” point where your brain stops learning and retaining, probably after 2-2.5 hours, b/c the nature of the test material is quite dry and the questions quite head-banging. You just need to do something else, which you likely will, b/c you just get annoyed, bored, and stop studying anyway. Napping usually refreshes your brain, but doing something fun, like playing an instrument, reading a magazine, or working out, distracts your brain and gives it a rest too.

I really can't pass again!

[hopefaith]

I want to thank all of you for your wonderful responses and for sharing your advice and experience with me. I will keep you posted. If I can help with any thing please let me know. Thanks and God Bless.

[hopefaith]

I want to thank all of you for your wonderful responses and for sharing your advice and experience with me. I will keep you posted. If I can help with any thing please let me know. Thanks and God Bless.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you too. I've always considered myself a slow learner… I studied my butt off in college to only get high Bs. This exam is no joke. Many people feel intimated from the beginning and quit before they even try. I'm taking Becker as a review course and as much as its funny when Peter Olinto tells you there is an inverse relationship with your happiness and passing the cpa exam, he's not joking. And when the becker books in the very first couple of pages tell you to talk to your family/friends about your devotion to studying, that's not a joke either. You truly truly do have to give up your life and that on top of many other things have been very difficult. I work 8-5pm and then study from 5-9pm every night during the week, I go home to quickly eat, relax with my bf for 30 minutes then bed and repeat. Then on the weekends I try to do something fun each day but nothing lasting more than a few hours. Use the weekends to your advantage with a lot more time to study than during the work week. I'm also easily distracted to the point that I think I have ADHD so on top of learning the material I have to stay focused. My best piece of advice on that end is you need to find a super quiet place to work and preferrably with a bare desk.

One thing you have going for you is that you can totally vent/chat/write to anyone here. It's so nice to know that we can all relate to what you are going through. Use this site as your support group.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you too. I've always considered myself a slow learner… I studied my butt off in college to only get high Bs. This exam is no joke. Many people feel intimated from the beginning and quit before they even try. I'm taking Becker as a review course and as much as its funny when Peter Olinto tells you there is an inverse relationship with your happiness and passing the cpa exam, he's not joking. And when the becker books in the very first couple of pages tell you to talk to your family/friends about your devotion to studying, that's not a joke either. You truly truly do have to give up your life and that on top of many other things have been very difficult. I work 8-5pm and then study from 5-9pm every night during the week, I go home to quickly eat, relax with my bf for 30 minutes then bed and repeat. Then on the weekends I try to do something fun each day but nothing lasting more than a few hours. Use the weekends to your advantage with a lot more time to study than during the work week. I'm also easily distracted to the point that I think I have ADHD so on top of learning the material I have to stay focused. My best piece of advice on that end is you need to find a super quiet place to work and preferrably with a bare desk.

One thing you have going for you is that you can totally vent/chat/write to anyone here. It's so nice to know that we can all relate to what you are going through. Use this site as your support group.

[Focused]

@hopefaith — I share your sense of slow learning. That could describe my entire learning experience throughout school. I managed to do well enough but I always felt that the pace of coursework was much too intense and too quick to adequately understand and retain the knowledge. With that in mind, I would strongly encourage you not to be discouraged by this knowledge about yourself. Rather, it seems that you have been able to compensate for this perceived challenge by giving yourself plenty of time to study for the FAR exam. I studied for 4 solids months before I sat for FAR in November 2009 (and I passed with a 77 score).

As you plan out your exam strategy, consider which exam material(s) you consider to be the most challenging. Use your 18 months to the best of your advantage by allowing yourself the time you need to complete those challenging sections. Personally, I found AUD and BEC to be a breeze and they were nothing more than a test to see if I was conscious; but REG was an absolute monster (I am waiting on the score from my 2nd attempt). By starting with FAR and giving myself as much time as I needed to pass it before the 18-month window begins, I have given myself several remaining months to focus exclusively on REG (if it is needed).

Good luck!

[Focused]

@hopefaith — I share your sense of slow learning. That could describe my entire learning experience throughout school. I managed to do well enough but I always felt that the pace of coursework was much too intense and too quick to adequately understand and retain the knowledge. With that in mind, I would strongly encourage you not to be discouraged by this knowledge about yourself. Rather, it seems that you have been able to compensate for this perceived challenge by giving yourself plenty of time to study for the FAR exam. I studied for 4 solids months before I sat for FAR in November 2009 (and I passed with a 77 score).

As you plan out your exam strategy, consider which exam material(s) you consider to be the most challenging. Use your 18 months to the best of your advantage by allowing yourself the time you need to complete those challenging sections. Personally, I found AUD and BEC to be a breeze and they were nothing more than a test to see if I was conscious; but REG was an absolute monster (I am waiting on the score from my 2nd attempt). By starting with FAR and giving myself as much time as I needed to pass it before the 18-month window begins, I have given myself several remaining months to focus exclusively on REG (if it is needed).

Good luck!

[weareallone]

Keep up the hard work and never give up!!

I personally do not consider myself to be an ACCY-Wiz-Kid. Not at all to be honest.

But, I will tell you, the people who pass the exams often say that they solved MCQ and looked at the Beckers Software Program until their ‘eyes bled'.

Don't doubt yourself and believe in hard work (bleeding eyes).

It is normal for people to (1) put in different time and get different results (2) put in the same time and get different results…

p.s. Why don't you give us more INFO about yourself and how you have been doing so far, and people might be able to give you more specific advice.

REG[5/18] - P BEC[8/5] - P
FAR[7/9] - P AUD[8/30] - P

[weareallone]

Keep up the hard work and never give up!!

I personally do not consider myself to be an ACCY-Wiz-Kid. Not at all to be honest.

But, I will tell you, the people who pass the exams often say that they solved MCQ and looked at the Beckers Software Program until their ‘eyes bled'.

Don't doubt yourself and believe in hard work (bleeding eyes).

It is normal for people to (1) put in different time and get different results (2) put in the same time and get different results…

p.s. Why don't you give us more INFO about yourself and how you have been doing so far, and people might be able to give you more specific advice.

REG[5/18] - P BEC[8/5] - P
FAR[7/9] - P AUD[8/30] - P

[Manderz]

I have a very low learning curve as well, I often have to read, re-read and re-read again the book, MCQ, notecards, etc. I was supposed to take FAR next Monday, Nov 22nd… after much contemplation, I moved it back to the first available date I could get in the next testing window, Jan 4th. I know this means that I now have to learn all the FAR changes and international rules or whatever, but I am prepared to do all that if it means I have a better chance of passing!! I just ordered my 2011 supplies, so hopefully they will get here in time for me to learn the changes.

I have had several friends pass all 4 parts, and who are now done… some had to retake several, others, only one or two, and even one friend who supposedly read all the books (no mcq, no flash cards, no lectures….only reading the books), took 2 of the tests at one sitting and two at the other sitting and PASSED. -UGHHH… it's so frustrating because it takes me so long to even comprehend what I am reading, let alone figure out how to solve the problems.

Everyone automatically thinks that since you are an accounting major and were a good student in the pass that “you'll be fine” and tell you to “stop worrying” or my favorite, “do you think you're over-studying?” which we all now know, is not the case… it makes me want to scream even though I know they just will never understand. This site definitely gives me motivation when mine starts slipping, it gives me hope when I start to lose all mine & feel lost and alone in this.

Of course it doesn't help that I have an extreme deficiency of vitamin B-12 and therefore, EXHAUSTED every waking hour of my life… I started getting shots for it because for some reason I can't absorb it in the pill form or through food, but the shots still haven't kicked in yet. I actually found myself having to load up on 5-hour energy drinks or old prescriptions of adderall to even stay awake long enough to get a good study session in (which I know I probably shouldn't be doing, but I guess whatever it takes, right?). I also was just diagnosed with some weird stomach/digestive disorder that makes me nauceas about 45% of the time, and about 10% of the time I am physically getting sick… which, needless to say, makes it even HARDER to study & retain information.

It's beyond frustrating when you think you are doing well, and then you go back and look at previous chapters & think “what the heck?? I don't remember this stuff anymore…” but I am hoping when I go through it all for a second time it will start coming back to me. I started making posters of formulas with brightly colored markers in hope that it will help myself remember more. I study my notecards on the way to work on the bus, I study 3-4 hours a night during the week and anywhere from 5-10 hours each day on the weekend (more like 10+ hours when the exam gets closer). Once I get through the lectures, I am going back to each chapter and reading my notes and doing the MCQ again, along with the progress tests, followed up with the simulations. After I am done with all that, I will move on to the Yaeger CRAM… I'm PRAYING that this is enough to help my slow-self to PASS.

Rant over… bottom line, if I can keep plugging away at this, I'm sure you can too!! Just remember you are FAR from alone in this, we all understand what you are going through and the intense amount of frustration that comes with it all! Good luck, you can do this!!

[Manderz]

I have a very low learning curve as well, I often have to read, re-read and re-read again the book, MCQ, notecards, etc. I was supposed to take FAR next Monday, Nov 22nd… after much contemplation, I moved it back to the first available date I could get in the next testing window, Jan 4th. I know this means that I now have to learn all the FAR changes and international rules or whatever, but I am prepared to do all that if it means I have a better chance of passing!! I just ordered my 2011 supplies, so hopefully they will get here in time for me to learn the changes.

I have had several friends pass all 4 parts, and who are now done… some had to retake several, others, only one or two, and even one friend who supposedly read all the books (no mcq, no flash cards, no lectures….only reading the books), took 2 of the tests at one sitting and two at the other sitting and PASSED. -UGHHH… it's so frustrating because it takes me so long to even comprehend what I am reading, let alone figure out how to solve the problems.

Everyone automatically thinks that since you are an accounting major and were a good student in the pass that “you'll be fine” and tell you to “stop worrying” or my favorite, “do you think you're over-studying?” which we all now know, is not the case… it makes me want to scream even though I know they just will never understand. This site definitely gives me motivation when mine starts slipping, it gives me hope when I start to lose all mine & feel lost and alone in this.

Of course it doesn't help that I have an extreme deficiency of vitamin B-12 and therefore, EXHAUSTED every waking hour of my life… I started getting shots for it because for some reason I can't absorb it in the pill form or through food, but the shots still haven't kicked in yet. I actually found myself having to load up on 5-hour energy drinks or old prescriptions of adderall to even stay awake long enough to get a good study session in (which I know I probably shouldn't be doing, but I guess whatever it takes, right?). I also was just diagnosed with some weird stomach/digestive disorder that makes me nauceas about 45% of the time, and about 10% of the time I am physically getting sick… which, needless to say, makes it even HARDER to study & retain information.

It's beyond frustrating when you think you are doing well, and then you go back and look at previous chapters & think “what the heck?? I don't remember this stuff anymore…” but I am hoping when I go through it all for a second time it will start coming back to me. I started making posters of formulas with brightly colored markers in hope that it will help myself remember more. I study my notecards on the way to work on the bus, I study 3-4 hours a night during the week and anywhere from 5-10 hours each day on the weekend (more like 10+ hours when the exam gets closer). Once I get through the lectures, I am going back to each chapter and reading my notes and doing the MCQ again, along with the progress tests, followed up with the simulations. After I am done with all that, I will move on to the Yaeger CRAM… I'm PRAYING that this is enough to help my slow-self to PASS.

Rant over… bottom line, if I can keep plugging away at this, I'm sure you can too!! Just remember you are FAR from alone in this, we all understand what you are going through and the intense amount of frustration that comes with it all! Good luck, you can do this!!

[i.can.haz.CPA]

i can relate! i have MS and it greatly affects my ability to learn and retain information. i'm so tired when i get home from work that i can only get about 1 hour of actual studying before i go brain dead. i've managed to pass 2 sections and i just took Bec for the first time and Reg for the second. the scoring of tests is so wackadoo. passing is hardly based on your ability to memorize tons of information quickly. once to get that first section passed, your confidence skyrockets and the rest start falling into place.

that was a very susan sunshine thing of me to say. ha.

AUD - 79
FAR - 79
REG - 69, 69, retake Feb 26
BEC - 60, retake Jan. 22

[i.can.haz.CPA]

i can relate! i have MS and it greatly affects my ability to learn and retain information. i'm so tired when i get home from work that i can only get about 1 hour of actual studying before i go brain dead. i've managed to pass 2 sections and i just took Bec for the first time and Reg for the second. the scoring of tests is so wackadoo. passing is hardly based on your ability to memorize tons of information quickly. once to get that first section passed, your confidence skyrockets and the rest start falling into place.

that was a very susan sunshine thing of me to say. ha.

AUD - 79
FAR - 79
REG - 69, 69, retake Feb 26
BEC - 60, retake Jan. 22

[Author]

Replies