[Char143]

So last night was rough, I failed REG with a 69. Not going to lie, I’ve been crying off and on.. I really thought I did good enough for at least a 75. I know everyone is saying I can take it again and blah blah blah, but I feel like I wasted so much time studying and didn’t go to the pool on Memorial day and I end up with a 69, idjkhfHFJSDHKJSHDSAJskjdhfidsh just sucks.

Oh well, my question is: after I took REG I started a CPA in person review course for FAR and it ends in three weeks. I planned on taking FAR the last week of July. Should I scrap the FAR class and studying for FAR and give all my energy back to REG? I paid a lot of money for the FAR in person review course, but I don’t want to forget everything I learned in REG, especially because everything in FAR is the exact opposite of what REG and tax taught.

I just really don’t know what the right move is. This is my first fail but I feel so bummed out.

I will probably go with whatever you guys say since I am really confused right now, so best advice please 🙂

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[mabancroft]

Stick with FAR and knock that one out. Don't even think about REG until you get past your FAR exam.

These exam re-takes require you to start fresh anyway, so anything you remember from REG is merely an added bonus as you re-work the material.

One test at a time, one step at a time and you'll get through this.

REG: 90
FAR: 76
AUD: 88
BEC: 89

[Char143]

@mabancroft How did you do so well on REG? I am using Wiley CPAExcel and I watch the lectures, did MCQ and Sims. I also used Ninja MCQ and listened to Jeff's voice at the gym every day. I will admit I didn't read the book or any chapters, I find it difficult to focus on the reading, however this time around I for sure will. (I didn't have to for audit apparently)..

What did you do to score a 90? I feel like it was hard for me to memorize all the concepts in REG.. are you good at memorizing or am I missing something lol?

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[mabancroft]

Well, I work in tax (though that isn't all the helpful on these exams honestly).

But most importantly I got to the point where I could hear the lectures in my sleep. I must have listened to the full set of lectures at least 8 times. Like, really listened, not just in the car or at the gym. I used Becker but I assume the materiel itself isn't all that different between the different products that are offered. Pounding MCQ is great for garnering an understanding of how the questions could be asked, but they are not designed to be about getting them right or wrong. They are about knowing why this answer is right and not the others.

REG is very conceptual, so nailing each major concept is crucial. Most people assume its about memorizing rules and exceptions to rules. That's helpful but that won't get you where you need to be for this exam. Its concepts, and truly grasping them.

For example. Tax is timing. The government gets theirs, its just a matter of when. That is the major difference in all the different types of taxation. When the government wants to incentivize something (say education, or growing a business), they delay tax or offer credits.

Hang in there and keep plugging away. You proved you can do it with your audit score, but each exam is its own animal and what worked for one may not work for the others.

REG: 90
FAR: 76
AUD: 88
BEC: 89

[CPA2BEE]

I also failed REG, it was supposed to be my last exam. Apparently the AICPA thinks I am one point shy of being a CPA. I'm blown away and crushed by this, I've failed before but none hurt as bad as this. If you're in the middle of FAR, keep going. And stay strong when you get back on the horse for REG, we can both do this.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[passthisthing]

@ChareleneR – in your case, and in my opinion, considering how far along you are with FAR (no pun intended), I would knock that one out. Also considering that you rocked AUD which complements FAR, you're still in that finance accounting & auditing mindset so easier to focus on that then to reset your mind to think Taxation.

[Anonymous]

i recommend reading the book and skipping the lectures and not the other way around. its so hard to give advice because i dont know people's learning styles. but i love reading and would always skip class in college and self teach myself from the book so im used to that.

seems like that won't fit your style (you admitted you dont like reading the book, and dishing out for an in person FAR course tells me you are more that type of learner to follow live or video instructions)

regardless, i dont think you should dismiss the book as a valuable learning tool

[Char143]

Thank you everyone.

Passthisthing, I am so confused. Some people (my CPA friends) are telling me to take REG and not move on until I pass it, and some people are telling me to take FAR and restart fresh with REG later. I keep going back and forth on which is the best path to take. I know it's up to me, but I have no idea what I am going to do. I don't even know which book to open today!

A big part of me wants to retake REG in July because I want to kick its ass and feel better about it- but I also want to make the smartest choice. I also am really liking FAR, I know that sounds crazy but it makes a lot of sense to me.. more than REG. I always thought I would go into taxation and that I loved it.. Maybe not!

As you can see I am VERY confused.

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[SaveBandit]

You've put too much effort into FAR to pull back now.

I know a lot of people say that you should re-study the thing you've just failed, and I get that. But at the same time, if you're anything like me, then you're A) really effing sick of it and need to at least move on to another topic and B) memorized a lot of the answers at which point the questions are no longer valuable to you. If you move on then come back, you'll have forgotten the Qs you've memorized and forced yourself to re-learn.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[passthisthing]

Understadable. Like you said, it depends on you and one thing to keep in mind is not fall under analysis-paralysis. If you feel you have a momentum going with FAR and enjoy it (send some of that FAR joy my way, please), then that might as well roll with that. And for context, my opinion was also based on the fact that were you close in REG. It's not like you had such a low score that could possibly indicate major gaps in understanding, so for you, it could be a matter of you brushing up or ironing out a particular area you find challenging. In other words, it might quicker/easier to recall/review the REG material even after you have been away from it due to FAR.

In any case, you got this!

[Amortized and Energized]

I agree with Bandit regarding point B. If you're like me, you drilled so many multiple choice questions that you just started getting used to the answer that went along with it rather than concentrating on how to do it/why it is the answer.

You have invested time and money into FAR and to try and stop now switch back to REG and then switch back to FAR is going to muddy the water. You mentioned wanting to come back and kick REG's ass next month.. but I don't think going into the test emotionally charged is going to help at all either.

Sounds like you and REG need to take some time apart. Maybe see other tests and candidates for a month or two and come back and work things out. 🙂

Sorry to hear the test didn't go as well as you hoped. It's certainly not a good feeling when you look back at how much you studied and sacrificed. Bear down and grind and Good Luck whichever way you decide!

FAR - Aug 2015 (58), Feb 2016 (81)
u
BEC - May 2016 (79)
AUD - Jul 2016
REG - Aug 2016

[Char143]

Everyone, thank you so much. I really really REALLY appreciate all the advice.

@eesti, I LOVE reading, just not CPA text for some reason LOL. No matter when I take it again, I will be reading the book, it has a lot more information than the lectures and information that may not seem relevant or important until you get a 2 pt question on it. 🙂

Again, thank you everyone! I really needed this thread to make me feel better and for some reason just talk of moving forward and what I am going to do next is pushing me.

Seeing the word FAILED in cpa central really sucks btw, I wish they would say “you rock try again” lol

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[KJ]

I just failed FAR my first one, so feel horrible. But I am re-taking it again in July. If I don't pass FAR in July I'm moving on to next one (planning to take AUD end of August).

As much as feel your pain OP I feel we all have something in us that we can do it (I always say CPA is just a different animal to tame). I cant give you much advise because yet to pass my first but I know I am going to do this no matter what.

2 reasons I think I failed. One studied too long and started to forget some material, scheduled exam too far out. Second at one point I started to feel I was memorizing questions. These 2 are going away for sure and time to re-strategize now. You can do it!!!

FAR - August 2016
AUD - September 2016
REG - October 2016
BEC - November 2016

Remember: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

[Author]

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