[zoctoman]

Hi everyone. I am currently studying with my wife for the cpa exam. We studied audit together and I can honestly say that she knew the material very well and I felt confident about her passing. I ended up passing, but she missed witha 71. Her testing center was delayed an hour, she had numerous malfunctions before her test, but she stayed calm and tried her best.

I got an 89 and I know she has what it takes. I was wondering what type of encouragement you all would say to her if you were me? She is a bit nervous about standardized tests but she tries really hard and has great ability.

As for the 71, could something like a malfunctioning delay rattle someone enough to go from passing score to a 71? Do you think she should try to take audit as soon as possible?

I just know she can pass, and I would appreciate any advice!

Audit(11/5/13) - 89
Reg(5/16/14) - 86
FAR(7/18/14) - 82
BEC(11/14) - 85

[sanju84]

Well it can …. here was my experience which was similar. As you can see I am a decent tester and I just managed to pass by the skin of my teeth in Reg which was my last exam. I am copy pasting my experience from my earlier post. Maybe you can give her this example and tell her that she can do it next time.

I had the most horrifying exam experience. I pray no one has to experience what I did. 8am on 31 Aug was the only date available so I thought how bad can it be. I was so wrong!! I was almost late for my exam, my center is 2.5 hrs away so I forgot to speak to my mom. She wishes me before every exam (superstitious?? Who me??) .Then the girl before me who had some problem with her exam appointment and I had a strange sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Anyway I ignored it, checked in and type in my launch code, it says wrong code retype, wrong and booted out of the exam. Sheer panic overtakes me, I call the center personnel. She types in code again and still same result. They had to call their IT head while I was sitting with scary thoughts of having to study for Reg again. The process of checking in- wrong code- call-changing computers goes on for 7-8 times over an hour. Well this is how you make a grown woman cry!! 🙁 I couldn't control the sheer frustration and helplessness I felt. Finally they put me on the last available machine in their freezing isolated torture chamber. 9.15am I heave a huge sigh of relief. I managed to finish the exam with my hands shivering, teeth chattering (as luck would have this was the only exam I did not carry a jacket)

Sorry, in terms how the test lets were, it's all a blur. Only time will. After the exam the mystery solving center manager tells me that the 7 other people writing reg exam had duration appearing as 3.3 hrs, mine said nil. Some software screw up 😐 so pls check your appointment confirmations, they should have exam duration too, I thought it was a stupid miss in the email confirmation when I had received it. Hope it's not a very long and boring post and maybe this can help some unsuspecting exam taker in future 🙂

FAR - 90 - 4/2013
AUD - 95 - 5/2013
BEC - 89 - 7/2013
REG 79 - 8/2013

[sanju84]

Well it can …. here was my experience which was similar. As you can see I am a decent tester and I just managed to pass by the skin of my teeth in Reg which was my last exam. I am copy pasting my experience from my earlier post. Maybe you can give her this example and tell her that she can do it next time.

I had the most horrifying exam experience. I pray no one has to experience what I did. 8am on 31 Aug was the only date available so I thought how bad can it be. I was so wrong!! I was almost late for my exam, my center is 2.5 hrs away so I forgot to speak to my mom. She wishes me before every exam (superstitious?? Who me??) .Then the girl before me who had some problem with her exam appointment and I had a strange sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Anyway I ignored it, checked in and type in my launch code, it says wrong code retype, wrong and booted out of the exam. Sheer panic overtakes me, I call the center personnel. She types in code again and still same result. They had to call their IT head while I was sitting with scary thoughts of having to study for Reg again. The process of checking in- wrong code- call-changing computers goes on for 7-8 times over an hour. Well this is how you make a grown woman cry!! 🙁 I couldn't control the sheer frustration and helplessness I felt. Finally they put me on the last available machine in their freezing isolated torture chamber. 9.15am I heave a huge sigh of relief. I managed to finish the exam with my hands shivering, teeth chattering (as luck would have this was the only exam I did not carry a jacket)

Sorry, in terms how the test lets were, it's all a blur. Only time will. After the exam the mystery solving center manager tells me that the 7 other people writing reg exam had duration appearing as 3.3 hrs, mine said nil. Some software screw up 😐 so pls check your appointment confirmations, they should have exam duration too, I thought it was a stupid miss in the email confirmation when I had received it. Hope it's not a very long and boring post and maybe this can help some unsuspecting exam taker in future 🙂

FAR - 90 - 4/2013
AUD - 95 - 5/2013
BEC - 89 - 7/2013
REG 79 - 8/2013

[impska]

When I taught at university, I saw this sort of thing a lot. Certain friends would study together exclusively and then one would get an A, and the other struggled. Obviously, we can't know exactly why your wife didn't pass – and if you had passed with a 75 and she had failed with a 71, I think there'd be something to just saying “bad luck.” But there's a pretty huge disparity in your scores.

So I'm going to suggest that you just had a stronger grasp on the topics than she did, and as a result, maybe studying together didn't work for her. Studying together works great for some people, and clearly it did for you. Other people start feeling that they're holding back their study partner or that they understand it when you explain it (but not in practice).

I assume you're both studying for Reg at this point, given your scheduling date in your signature. So I suggest you see how it goes. If she doesn't pass again and you do, then it's time to rethink how you're approaching this. If it works better, then just ask her if she would prefer to revisit AUD or continue to study together for the next section.

The real problem is that when you study together, it creates a kind of competition. She has someone to compare herself to – you. You studied in the exact same time/way that she did for the exact same exam and yet you rocked it and she didn't. That's hard on the self-esteem.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[impska]

When I taught at university, I saw this sort of thing a lot. Certain friends would study together exclusively and then one would get an A, and the other struggled. Obviously, we can't know exactly why your wife didn't pass – and if you had passed with a 75 and she had failed with a 71, I think there'd be something to just saying “bad luck.” But there's a pretty huge disparity in your scores.

So I'm going to suggest that you just had a stronger grasp on the topics than she did, and as a result, maybe studying together didn't work for her. Studying together works great for some people, and clearly it did for you. Other people start feeling that they're holding back their study partner or that they understand it when you explain it (but not in practice).

I assume you're both studying for Reg at this point, given your scheduling date in your signature. So I suggest you see how it goes. If she doesn't pass again and you do, then it's time to rethink how you're approaching this. If it works better, then just ask her if she would prefer to revisit AUD or continue to study together for the next section.

The real problem is that when you study together, it creates a kind of competition. She has someone to compare herself to – you. You studied in the exact same time/way that she did for the exact same exam and yet you rocked it and she didn't. That's hard on the self-esteem.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[10keyLeah]

impska brings up a good point that it is a hit to the self-esteem when someone you are studying with does well and you don't. Especially since your wife has some test anxiety.

She is obviously capable of passing (getting a 71), but the cpa journey is very individualized. Encouragement can be a good thing, but it can also be annoying coming from someone that passed when you didn't. There's a fine line there.

I'm saying this from experience since my husband is the intelligent overachiever type (not that you are), has no test anxiety issues, and that's just him and that's ok. I'm no dummy, but it can be intimidating to ‘compete' with him. I've had to learn that my journey is my own. What has helped us is that he is supporting (which I love), but not overbearing with it. We are both open about our needs so I feel comfortable telling him when I need some space. I hated having to tell him I failed an exam, but I've learned he loves me anyway because he supports that I'm different and have my own path I have to go down.

Is your wife familiar with the forums? I ask this because it may be important for her to see that not everyone passes on the first try and to have a second resource for encouragement.

As far as a retake, I would suggest not bouncing around from section to section. Stick with one or two until you pass them. What I've done is to take an exam, then study for the next section while I wait on my score. If I fail, then go ahead and take the section exam I'm studying, but then schedule the re-take for the first test right way.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

impska brings up a good point that it is a hit to the self-esteem when someone you are studying with does well and you don't. Especially since your wife has some test anxiety.

She is obviously capable of passing (getting a 71), but the cpa journey is very individualized. Encouragement can be a good thing, but it can also be annoying coming from someone that passed when you didn't. There's a fine line there.

I'm saying this from experience since my husband is the intelligent overachiever type (not that you are), has no test anxiety issues, and that's just him and that's ok. I'm no dummy, but it can be intimidating to ‘compete' with him. I've had to learn that my journey is my own. What has helped us is that he is supporting (which I love), but not overbearing with it. We are both open about our needs so I feel comfortable telling him when I need some space. I hated having to tell him I failed an exam, but I've learned he loves me anyway because he supports that I'm different and have my own path I have to go down.

Is your wife familiar with the forums? I ask this because it may be important for her to see that not everyone passes on the first try and to have a second resource for encouragement.

As far as a retake, I would suggest not bouncing around from section to section. Stick with one or two until you pass them. What I've done is to take an exam, then study for the next section while I wait on my score. If I fail, then go ahead and take the section exam I'm studying, but then schedule the re-take for the first test right way.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[mla1169]

You know her and none of us do but I can tell you even though my husband never took the CPA, some of his attempts to “pump me up” made my skin crawl. Its just that when you're down and overwhelmed like that you need more than a cheerleader. Your wife may be different but I recommend telling her that you're concerned about crossing the line between supportive and annoying 😉 Let her tell you exactly what she needs. Most of all listening goes a lot further in this case than trying to “fix” the situation.

If she's not a member of this forum, direct her toward it. For me personally the encouragement of others who'd been in the same boat went a LOT further than the encouragement of those who managed to pass each section on the first try.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

You know her and none of us do but I can tell you even though my husband never took the CPA, some of his attempts to “pump me up” made my skin crawl. Its just that when you're down and overwhelmed like that you need more than a cheerleader. Your wife may be different but I recommend telling her that you're concerned about crossing the line between supportive and annoying 😉 Let her tell you exactly what she needs. Most of all listening goes a lot further in this case than trying to “fix” the situation.

If she's not a member of this forum, direct her toward it. For me personally the encouragement of others who'd been in the same boat went a LOT further than the encouragement of those who managed to pass each section on the first try.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I had a study partner (not my husband) for my first two tries with BEC and AUD. We didn't share our exact scores, but we both passed BEC and both failed AUD. He decided that partner studying wasn't working for him so we went our separate ways, but keep in touch to encourage each other. I decided to retake AUD and he decided to move on to REG. I passed AUD on the second go around and he is still waiting on his REG score. I could tell from his last text that he will be hard to motivate to continue if he doesn't pass REG. Between my fail and pass of AUD I found Another71 and it has been wonderful to help me keep going. I've tried to bring it up to him several times to join ANother71, but he doesn't seem interested at all. I would suggest that you and your wife not study together, but remain encouraging. I would definitely suggest that she repeat the part she failed before she moves on. It could benefit her in the long run to do so because you will have already studied for REG and would be able to help her with questions she may have.

[Anonymous]

I had a study partner (not my husband) for my first two tries with BEC and AUD. We didn't share our exact scores, but we both passed BEC and both failed AUD. He decided that partner studying wasn't working for him so we went our separate ways, but keep in touch to encourage each other. I decided to retake AUD and he decided to move on to REG. I passed AUD on the second go around and he is still waiting on his REG score. I could tell from his last text that he will be hard to motivate to continue if he doesn't pass REG. Between my fail and pass of AUD I found Another71 and it has been wonderful to help me keep going. I've tried to bring it up to him several times to join ANother71, but he doesn't seem interested at all. I would suggest that you and your wife not study together, but remain encouraging. I would definitely suggest that she repeat the part she failed before she moves on. It could benefit her in the long run to do so because you will have already studied for REG and would be able to help her with questions she may have.

[UNC MAcc]

Try sex

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[UNC MAcc]

Try sex

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[MintsRGood]

^^^LMAO!!!!!!! Hey, it helps. Just sayin….

In all seriousness, she should retake ASAP and you should move onto your next section. You both can study together but focus on your individual sections. I love that you want to support her and keep her motivated, it's important to support each other in this process. I 100% agree with MLA with more listening and less pumping.

Jewelry helps too…again, just saying… 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

^^^LMAO!!!!!!! Hey, it helps. Just sayin….

In all seriousness, she should retake ASAP and you should move onto your next section. You both can study together but focus on your individual sections. I love that you want to support her and keep her motivated, it's important to support each other in this process. I 100% agree with MLA with more listening and less pumping.

Jewelry helps too…again, just saying… 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[littlenumberrobot]

OP, I can relate. My boyfriend and I took the exams together. He passed his first before me, then I passed, passed again and passed again! He passed his last 3 in the last two windows before his 18 months were up. It was a close one! I think you just need to comfort and encourage her just as you would with anything else. Too many times I wanted to give up and so did my boyfriend, but we just kept pushing through and put out the fires as they came. Also, a 71 in Audit is close. Very close, I had a 74 in Audit. Maybe see if changing how she studied would help. Also, my boyfriend and I do not learn the same ways so we couldn't help each other out at all! We don't live together either so it was rough on our relationship, but when we both passed our final exam in the same window, it was amazing feeling. Be there for your wife and bring her to A71!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Author]

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