[Martin]

The first time I took FAR, I got a 71 and then took it again towards the end of the next window and got 86%. The same thing happened with Audit, I got a 72 the first time around and then took it again towards the end of the following window and got 84%. I took BEC on Nov 30th and got a 74%. I’m taking it again the first week of January, so I can take REG by 2/28/16. It seems that it takes me around 5 to 6 months to be ready to pass an exam. How can I break this pattern and pass REG in 2 months without getting a brain transplant? I write a lot of flash cards, so that might have to be eliminated.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[ohiostategirlcpa]

Keep a log of all your tests and test scores (put them in your signature).
Find the pattern/system that works for you and repeat it 4 times.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Martin]

Thanks for the advice. I have to find a way to pass REG in 2 months. I have been working part time (30hrs) to be able to pass some parts, so now my wife thinks I'm mentally retarded, and she is very mad about this whole ordeal. I need a miracle.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[ohiostategirlcpa]

It is hard to give you advice without seeing your whole testing history, and the books/reviews you used. You notice how people list that in their signatures, it helps when comparing experiences.

For example, is this your first time at REG or your 4th time. If it is a repeat, then 2 months should be sufficient, if not, then it is pushing it.

In any case, the CPA testing should be taken as a whole, because passing any one test is not sufficient.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Martin]

I made a list of my negative patterns, which is pretty much two windows per part (5 to 6 months). I have used Becker for FAR, and Roger for both Audit and BEC. This is the reason why I keep telling myself that passing REG in 2 months will be almost impossible.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[ruggercpa2b]

For me I realized that it wasnt necessarily the number of months but the quality of study I did during the retake. Try to write down maybe what you did the first time around you took the test and then what you did differently for the second go around.

My main problem has always been not actually studying during the months I plan on studying and then panicking the last 2 weeks and in a mad scramble try to cram everything. Which usually results in me dismissing weak areas and hoping that if I pray hard enough maybe they wont test me on those areas. Even my husband points out when I start to procrastinate because he has to listen to me when its crunch time.

Maybe instead of trying to take it in Feb shoot for April.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Martin]

I have to pass by Feb 28, or I lose FAR, and if I lose FAR, I lose my family. My wife is very sick of this situation. She already told me to move out if I don't pass by February. I'm even afraid of telling her I did not pass BEC by one point. I don't know how I let it come down to this ordeal. I finished college like 12 years ago, so it was very hard for me to remember so many details that I supposedly learned in the past.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[ohiostategirlcpa]

Your situation is still not clear to me. In one thread you mentioned that you studied for 3 years, and you only have credit for 2 (or 1?)

5-6 months studying per section is exactly what the AICPA allows (18 months for 3 sections, after passing the first) so that is not a problem.

Now your family is threatening to leave you? I would say go with the family. You have a better chance of keeping the family than passing the test.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Martin]

Where do you get the 3 years? Like mentioned many times before, it has taken me around two windows per part. I stopped for a few months to work on a project at work, and now I'm paying for it. Thanks for the “advice”, I'm just going to continue my journey. I'm the only Accountant at work who can speak Portuguese and Spanish, so becoming a CPA will only make me more valuable to them.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Missy]

Show your wife the pass rates so she understands your predicament is common with this exam. Flash cards did nothing for me personally, how many mcq are you doing and from how many sources? But if you're SERIOUS about how shaky your marriage is,, I'd ditch the exans entirely, not worth losing your family over.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Missy]

And FWIW I believe you CAN pass the 4 exams, quite possibly BEC and REG in Q1. However if it were me personally I wouldn't gamble my marriage on my ability to pass 2 in the same window (not to mention the additional strain on the relationship between now and February) unless I was absolutely certain that my career aspirations would be enough for me as a divorcee.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

I struggled a lot with REG. What put me over the top was a very strict studying schedule that my wife and I agreed to, and adding NINJA MCQ. NINJA MCQ will help you study areas you are not good at.

Also, just so you know. The CPA exam is not scored by a %, it is simply a number on a scale from 0-99.

https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/PsychometricsandScoring/ScoringInformation/DownloadableDocuments/How_the_CPA_Exam_is_Scored.pdf

[PleaseDontDeleteThanks]

Make an Excel spreadsheet documenting:

1. Time you start studying
2. Time you end studying
3. Have Excel calculate the time

Note: adjust for daydreaming, nodding-off, and breaks.

100 hour mark – you should be finished with all the chapters & MCQ once through, start review
150 mark – you should be well into review – practice exam – focus on problem areas
200 mark – take the exam

FAR 72, 89
BEC 80
REG 90
AUD 79

[Martin]

mla11692, thanks for your advice, I also think passing BEC and REG is doable considering I got a 74 on BEC and scored stronger on MC according to the report. She is mad at me, but she won't let me quit. She is too goal oriented and wants her husband to be a CPA. She keeps reminding me how she thought I was smart and now can't understand why is taking me so long.

BowBett, thanks for the link.

PleaseDontDeleteThanks, I think that is a great idea and thanks for sharing it with me.

Thank you all, I will do my best to be done next quarter. I think I underestimate BEC, and now I'm paying for that mistake.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Sand Wraith]

The only advice I can give you is keep calm and keep working MCQs.

To be honest I've tried the flashcards before and it didn't work for me, I just kept on working on the MCQs and Sims and kept taking notes, you'd have two months to study for REG so try to put your life on hold for those two months and you'll make it.

Wish all the best of luck and may the force be with you! 😉

AUD ... Passed
REG ... Passed
FAR ... Passed
BEC ... Passed

I'm Done!!

[If I can, u can too!]

@PleaseDontDeleteThanks i thought there weren't others that kept track of hours spent studying. i started doing it after failing FAR for the 2nd time so i keep myself honest (i was wasting time watching youtube and sports on tv). time keeping worked in some aspect, and the log really kept me honest.

@Martin i'm sorry to hear about your situation, it is rough when your family doesn't support you. it could be that you're not spending enough time with your family. i read someone posting to have a good balance of study/family time so was suggesting to study everyday but leave one day out for family time; this would also prevent you from going insane. but make sure you put in 2 or 3 hours everyday and 4-6 hours on a weekend day. i usually put in 15 – 20 hours / week even when i'm pretty busy at work (like 10K filing time).

Licensed CPA since Apr 16
Order in sequence of passing
FAR-71,71,79
BEC-80
REG-72,77
AUD-56,72,72,72,80! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!
FAR/BEC/AUD: Becker & Yaeger lectures (Wiley & Ninja MCQs). REG: Becker lectures (Ninja MCQs).

[Author]

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