[Goingallin]

Like most here, I am waiting for Tuesday score release. Since the exam I can’t stop replaying stupid mistakes I made on the exam.

Part of the mistake is due to pure exhaustion by the time I get to the SIM. For all exams I’ve taken, I’ve definitely missed a SIM or two due to my head not thinking straight after 70+ MC questions, not bc I was clueless on the topic.

Just curious if anyone struggled with the long no real break on the exam which may have caused them to fail by a few points or got a lower passing grade merely bc their brain shut down after x amount of intensive nonstop questions. Wondering if this issue is universal for most exam takers or perhaps exclusive to us older candidates.

Seriously can’t understand why it took the aicpa this long to figure we actually need a break (with the clock stopping) as this should be a test of knowledge, not endurance.

[C / X]

when I took REG my brain was in a really funky place but I studied the material well enough that when I made stupid mistakes that i looked up later I knew the material too well to let it affect my score too much. After that though I bought sleeping pills, energy focus pills etc from AMZ (non-habit forming ones though) because I didn't want that to happen ever again.

That being said, it's not over until the bell rings. I think I've passed despite the mistakes I made (if I'm wrong though…) but you never know until you get your score because of the weird way they grade. I'm not sure what's important and what's not but I'm getting frustrated waiting for my score too. Now I'm trying to stay busy until Wednesday because I can't take the suspense anymore. So I feel you but we're not helping anything. IF only it was easier to control our thoughts and feelings when it comes to these things, lol.

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

It's easier said than done, but it's best to assume a positive result over a negative one. I've been wrestling with the same emotions. This could be my last test and I'm soooo over the AICPA and there crap with this test. But not to distant memories of past failures are making think I will be taking the new exam Q2.

This exam is professional hazing pure and simple. They don't want everyone who takes it to pass. Thus the secrecy in scoring,the extra long wait time for a computer generated test. The artificial pressure they have to create to for the exam aids in the prestige. As frustrated as I am by it know, you better believe when I pass I want it to be twice as difficult for those coming behind me.

May the odds be in your favor

[Goingallin]

Christina: I've been taking sleeping pills more than I would like. A pass for reg for me means I'm done so I guess that's why if I fail with a 74 I would be so devastated. Out of all the exams, reg I understand best. There's one sim I completely got wrong due to stupid mistake so if I do get a 74, I know that one sim was the difference between my passing and failing. It hurts bc I actuall knew that topic so well. If I left the center knowing I just didn't study enough would've been easier than failing to a very stupid mistake.

Wanna: less than 24 hours left for us. I'm sure like most of the people who counted on this release to be their last, the dreaded august wait is painful. If it wasn't for the delay in score release, I definitely wouldn't be as hard on myself bc I would just simply take it again in April since I know reg better than the other three, I still have full memory of the material, it would be less painful to re study.

[shawn in VA]

Goingalin-

I thought I was the only one that thought the actual test at Prometric was more of stamina and endurance.

I felt like some soccer player or a runner in a marathon. I get somewhat mentally tired by the time the MCQs are over, but tell myself I have to keep going for another 1 to 1.5 hour. On march 10 when I took BEC my brain was pretty fried sometime around the second testlet then got a burst of energy by the time WC came around. I made the mistake of studying right up until the exam time which I will never do again. I will take the day off before the exam and not study to give my brain a rest. Being tax season did NOT help at all with all the hours I put in during the week. I will probably have to test end of April and end of May, so I will take the week off before the exams to study and do nothing the day before.

I agree the AICPA needs to give a 30 minute break WITHOUT the clock running. 4 hours is brutal.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my REG exam on March 5th. I over-studied and ended up making stupid mistakes on the SIMS even when I knew what the answer was. For some reason I always end getting an impossible research question…not sure how everyone always gets that right away..

[Wannafree]

@goingallin ,I can understand your post ,felt exhausted after 90 questions of FAR and couldn't focus on SIM even though knew the topic.Good thong they would be giving 15 minutes of break moving forwards which I am definitely going to enjoy.U R not alone.

[Goingallin]

Comforting to know I'm not the only fool out there. I say fool bc when you have the answer in the palm of your hand and you mess up, it's a foolish mistake. I believe had I not been so drained out and was thinking straight I would've passed without a doubt. Now I'm thinking if I do pass it would in the mid 70s at best. I feel like such an idiot I didn't review the questions once last time since I had 20 mins left. but the logically side of me know it wouldn't have made a difference since my mind was already checked out. Can't wait to get my score and move on regardless the outcome. don't want to think about the what ifs anymore. It's draining.

[Jdn9201]

Just a thought, but have y'all thought about taking a break during the exam? I know it's tough because the clock runs, but I was happy for the breaks when I was going through this process. I have a short attention span and I found that when I took breaks, I came back refreshed and the exam didn't seem so overwhelming. I always took the break between testlet 3 and the SIMS, and during FAR I took a break between every testlet. You may find that the productivity gains outweighs the few minutes you lose by taking the break.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[C / X]

JDN: Ha, I was too scared to take breaks for REG and BEC but I did take one the 2nd time for AUD cuz I knew I was going to have enough time so I did it during when it was finally time for the SIMS. The one thing is if they have cameras in the restroom they are going to laugh at me because I only took a couple minute break to use the restroom and jump/stretch around in there, lol. I was also too scared to stay out too long they would think I was cheating or something but I do think it helped.

I'm a little scared of FAR, because even though actual accounting is my strong point every one has told me that they felt like they failed and needed more time for that exam. And it's all that INFO and the fact that they probably are testing you on teensy tiny details! OMG. I might take the 5 minute break for FAR but only if I can afford it.

[Goingallin]

Yea I do take a bathroom “break” but always rush back in fear I won't have enough time for SIM. I don't really define that as a real break since you're stressing about the clock running. I usually have 10 mins left to spare at the end but going into it, you never know if you'll need that 10 mins to find the answer for the research question and as we all know it's a hit n miss. Sometimes it takes 5 n other times it'll take half in hour to find the research answer. Hindsight, I really should've just closed my eyes for 5 mins and just take a deep breathe to refresh. Easier said than done BBC I'm usually in panic mode during the test.

[Anonymous]

agreed with taking breaks. I took one, in between the MC and the SIMS for all the exams.

[Author]

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