[Tawilkins]

Ok… So Here’s my story. I quit my job as a Controller of a manufacturing plant, about 6 months ago, to focus soley on the CPA exams. So Far I’ve taken 3 and Have not passed a single one yet. I took FAR twice, almost back to back as I sat the last day of the exam window and re-took it the very first week of the new window. Both times I made a 72. I decided to move past it and take it in the end. I recently took BEC and made a 73. I have signed up for it again and I hope to take it in about 2 weeks. I must admit that I’m pretty discouraged. By now, I figured that I would be at least half way finished, if not finished.

Has anyone else been in this position where you have taken three and failed all 3? Any words of advice?

AUD - Done
BEC - Done
FAR - Done
REG - Oct.

[Zaq]

You quit your job as a Controller to focus on the CPA's?

wut

We can't really answer that for you.

Why are you trying to get your CPA and for what purpose? Does the costs outweigh the benefits? Etc. From what I understand, most people here are trying to get their CPA's so they can reach a Controller position in the future! So, I'm not 100% sure why you quit your position to focus on the CPA unless you have something in the future lined up?

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[peetree]

First, anything I say below is merely conjecture as I don't know your particular situation. I also do not mean to offend.

Are you thinking because of your background you didn't need to study as much?

If you are, I'd throw that feeling right out the window because the CPA exam is just a different beast than normal work. I know people who work in Tax that struggle to pass REG as well as people who work in Corporate accounting who think FAR is just insanely hard.

Most of the time, these type of people I mentioned above are very smart. Only because of their background though, they short sell how much time this exam really takes in terms of studying.

Be honest with your study assessment, if you truly feel you really gave it your all, try a different review material as they all are a little bit different.

If you feel like you didn't give it your all because of your experience, then the problem may lie not with your level of expertise, but your lack of respect for what this exam truly takes.

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Anonymous]

I have seen that many, many controllers are NOT CPAs – probably because the CMA pairs up well with controllership. Having a CPA with the controller background should position Tawilkins in a great position.

“Winners focus, losers spray.” Focus, focus, focus!!!

[Tawilkins]

Having your CPA means a lot, even if you are a Controller. It opens a lot of doors/opportunities and generally pulls down more pay.

I thought that I knew enough, based on my job, but apparently I don't. I'm using the Becker study materials and so far, they seem to be great. I tend to panic during the exams and everything I kn0w, goes out the window. I fear that I will never pass! Ugh. Usually I do well at anything I set my mind to do, but this is kicking my butt.

I don't want to go back into the workforce without the CPA. 🙁 This defeats the purpose.

AUD - Done
BEC - Done
FAR - Done
REG - Oct.

[Onmyway82]

I also failed my first three exams and I was upset everytime but I just didn't give up. Once I passed BEC my confidence increased and I felt better about having to go back and retake the exams. When I failed FAR for a second time I just got mad and I was determined to pass it since I knew it was possible. You just have to stay motivated because I'm telling you, once you pass them all it is soooo worth all the struggles.

FAR- 70, 68, 90
AUD- 72, 85
REG- 74, 83
BEC- 81
ETHICS- 90

CA CPA
CMA

[Last chance]

I failed BEC three times and yes, it discourage you so bad that I had though time getting back up.

and it took me 10 months to pass my second exam. During that time, I almost gave up.

My problem was that I did not believe in my study materials. therefore i didn't totally mastered it! All I did was worrying how hard the exam would be and what will they ask.

Now I have confidence that if I master that 1,786 mcq (Becker and wileybook) and read it every night, I can pass this!!

Do not give up! Both of your FAR and BEC scores are so close!!!!!

[Anonymous]

If you truly want to be a CPA and reap the associated benefits…NEVER Give up! So, the answer to your guestion is NO! I took about 10 exams before I passed the first one with a 75. Check out my AUD scores…72, 71, 74 and 74. If you can get a 72 or a 73 – you can get a 75.

Take a day and lick your wounds but never give up!

[mla1169]

You need to study as if you've never seen the material before, don't rely on how “close” you came already or your experience. Put in at least 4-6 weeks for EACH section.

I'm confused by your approach though. You claim you thought you knew enough based on your job but you quit that job to study?

Go back to it humbled, and study your backside off. You'll get it next time.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Tawilkins]

Thanks so much for the comments/support!

AUD - Done
BEC - Done
FAR - Done
REG - Oct.

[kmaahs]

Your scores are all so close!

Hang in there! I'm sure you can scrape by another couple points!

C.P.A.

[Spur]

Don't give up. Keep thinking about the reason why you decided to take this exam. See my FAR experience below… My first attempt was in November of '11. A real eye opener was my third attempt. I just kept chipping away at the material.

FAR - Bad Fail '11, Fail '12, Fail '13, PASS It's a miracle!
AUD - Fail, PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC - PASS!!!!!!!!
REG - PASS!!!!!!!! And I'm done!

[MintsRGood]

If you quit now then all of the time/money/effort will be for nothing!!!!!! This exam is not easy…no matter what your background. Utilize the materials you have to the fullest because you have the time to do it right! Keep your head up and don't quit. It took me 3 tries before I conquered auditing but I didn't quit and I won't let YOU quit either.

The only way to truly fail these exams is to quit!!!!!!!! Don't give up!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

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

[Anonymous]

You are scoring in the 70s. Im thinking that the only reason why you should rejoin the workforce without first passing is if you run out of money. Other than that, don't quit. Also, are u doing much multiple choice like Wiley test bank? Sometimes, even with good materials like Becker, the material is not well written and you don't really understand (you may think you do at first) until you do the multiple choice. Also, make sure you read the explanations to the questions you answered correctly too. Good luck (although you won't need it if you put in the time)

[IwannaBaCPA]

Obiously I agree with everyone here – DON'T QUIT!

You need to take a step back though. Look at your study habits and the way you approached the materials. I got all A's in accounting in college, but that didnt make studying for and passing these exams any easier than someone who may have gotten C's (just an example). You really do need to study all the material, practice all the questions and do a thorough final review. AND you need to do this every time you take an exam – whether or not you have taken it before. Sometimes people focus too much only on the topics they were “weaker” in and then on exam day they fail because they forget all the other

info.

Consider following Jeff's NINJA methodology to studying. Maybe taking this different approach will help you as it did me.

Just don't give up! You can succeed – you just may need to change your approach and find a method that works better for you. Good thing is you are pretty close to a passing score 🙂

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

dont give up if this is something you really want. the worst feeling in life is looking back and saying you wish you would have done something that you surely could of. been there before and i try to think about this whenever a tough decision comes up. suck it up, change your study approach, and get through them. 5 years from know you want to look back and say damn im glad i did that back then as opposed to i still really wanna do the cpa and wish i would of but life has changed and for whatever reason i cant right now

[Author]

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