[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.

[Anonymous]

Tawilkins, I am in a controller position and it took me three years to pass the exam. Granted, I was trying to do it while working full time and helping my husband start a business, but even without those obstacles, this exam is a BEAST!

As I am sure you have found out, the information on the exam is not necessarily what you deal with on a daily basis in your controller position. Since we don't work in public accounting there are a lot of things that we just simply are not familiar with. I passed FAR my first try then went on to struggle with the rest. It took me 5 times to pass Audit, 3 times to pass BEC and 3 times to pass REG. During this time I lost credit for FAR and took it at the end and ended up having to take it 2 more times before I passed it again (the exams changed quite a bit from the first time I took it, they added IFRS)

Bottom line, if this is what you want to do, then don't give up.

[Gerg, CPA]

why did you quit your job again? What type of job are you hoping to get after you pass the CPA? I would think that a controller position would already be ideal.

Don't quit! (except your job…?)

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[Tawilkins]

Bnrhilton – I should have passed FAR my second attempt. The truth is on the FAR exam, I finished only one simulation because I ran out of TIME!!! I couldn't believe it! I spent 36 minutes on the fist sim tab!!!!! I was shocked that I made a 72 given that I didn't even complete but only 1 sim. Oh well.

I appreciate everyone's comments on here!!! I feel reinvigorated to study again…. at least for now. Thank God for this message board, otherwise I don't know where I would have gotten the strength from . lol…

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

[GO Hawks]

considering your last post, you might need to focus on time management. make sure to take the Becker practice tests in a “test like” environment. Also, I found it helpful to do the Becker “progress tests” in intervals of 24 or 30 questions, depending of which test, so you can build an internal clock for allotting time to each question.

on test day, it will feel more natural.

you can do it!

BEC 88 5/25/2013
FAR 96 7/01/2013
AUD 99 7/08/2013
REG 93 8/01/2013

Straight Becker'in it

[wizards8507]

I usually disagree with the people who say “never give up, no matter what.” Sometimes you have to realize a thing just isn't for you. If you were studying HARD and scoring in the 50's, I'd say that's probably the case.

That said, it seems like one of your main problems was time management during the exam itself and you're still scoring in the low 70's. You're close. Press on!

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

@tawilkins,

You should definitely practice time management on the exams. I always set myself a time limit on the testlets and allotted myself 15 minutes per sim. I knew I could gain extra time from the research question and probably gain extra time from the testlets. I wouldn't have that set in stone but used it as a guideline so if I needed an extra few minutes on a testlet that was fine but I knew I needed to watch my time. For example for FAR (4 hr exam), I allotted myself 45 minutes per mcq testlet and 15 minutes per sim. I usually ended up with more time left at the end of the mcq testlets that I could add to the sims. If you are stuck on a sim, move on. I always look at each one first then decide which ones are the easiest to tackle and get those out of the way. Then move on to the others. If you at least partially answer them you get some credit.

For the mcq's I went through and answered all non computational questions first then went back and answered the ones with computations in the testlet. That way I didn't get stuck on one problem trying to figure it out and run out of time.

Hope this helps.

[Author]

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