[arsenal22]

Hi Ninjas. I’m having a major confidence crisis right now. I take BEC in 10 days and am scoring in the 50’s on quizzes. In the weeks leading up to now, I was scoring in the 70’s and 80’s consistently, but not I cannot seem to get anything right. When I work through a question and eliminate an obviously wrong answer, that answer is inevitably the correct one.

I’ve taken REG and AUD twice each and scored 72 and 74 – scoring 72 the first time for both and 74 the second time for both. I’m seriously starting to question whether I am smart enough to actually pull this off. The pressure of passing my first test is starting to really weigh on me and scoring poorly on my Ninja MCQ isn’t helping.

I’m not sure what to do to ‘get back in the groove’ besides pound MCQ’s, but the more I do, the poorer I do. Any Advice?

[Stilgoin]

Yes- you need a break. I know it is hard to step away from the computer with a week to go, but you will be glad you did. It could mean passing instead of failing. You are just overworked.

Good luck!

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Spartans92]

I agree with stilgoin, sometimes you need just a mental break. These exams don't really measure intelligence at all. Sure, if you are naturally smart maybe you will take less time to study and pass on first try. But at the end of the day if you have perseverance you will PASS and become a CPA. My friend straight 4.0 student passed all in 3 months and said it was Easy..GREAT but that does imply he is smarter than me in general. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses and grades don't define and should not define who you are. Do not give up. I was in that mindset too when I first saw my AUD grade I couldn't believe it because I did so well in the class during my undergrad. As cliche this sounds failure is the tuition you pay for success. Only time you truly fail is if you QUIT. Good Luck!

I watch a motivational speech every morning now to kinda give me that push.. thanks to another member on here for giving me that idea. It helps. I suggest you giving it a try.

BEC- PASS

[Andyred04]

I really don't think there's such thing as not being smart enough. There's probably something wrong with your study techniques. I wish I could give you a solution to this but everyone's study methods are different. 1 piece of advice I can give you though is DON'T QUIT! You are smart enough to do this! If it means studying an extra couple hours than recommended DO IT. I put in about 150 hours for FAR alone. I'm not the smartest guy in the world but I passed FAR because of the hours in put in.

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[Andyred04]

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[cpa007]

Hi, one week ago i was in your position . I took 4 days off and it really helped. Since you are very close to exam date take a day off or two and do not think about exam or book watch movies and meet people . After your break you will be more productive and your confidence level will rise. Sometime our brains goes on strike because we are using it too much . Probraly you are stress out and doing more mistakes on MC. Just relax and think that you are trying your best !
Good luck.

[Missy]

I'm going against the grain about taking a break. Yes it helps if you truly put it out of your mind but if the break involved stressing over the exam its not helpful. Pick one topic, you know the one you hope you don't see on the exam and at a more relaxed less frantic pace try to get comfortable with only that one thing for a day or two, forgetting everything else. The feeling of overcoming an obstacle will totally regain your confidence.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Martin]

Arsenal. as MLA mentioned do not take a break. And you know what is great about your situation? You have a 74 in Reg and another 74 on Audit. So one these coming windows, you will pass both parts in one window, and you will have 18 months to be come a CPA. A lot of people lose credits because of the 18 month window and you wont be one of them.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Author]

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