[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to start a post talking about the struggles that most of us go through when taking the CPA exam. I feel like most people do not talk about it but most of us go through it. I currently have only REG left but I feel like I have nothing left to give..terrible anxiety and isolation. ..feel free to post anything you are currently dealing with or have been through.

[jenpen]

I gelt like completely giving up last year. I made a Hail Mary pass at the exams so many times last fall trying to get them all done before I lost my REG credit in February. I took BEC with about 2 weeks of study. Got a 70, so it wasn't terrible. But I had taken AUD 4 times at that point and never got anything higher than a 69. I felt like a failure and that I wasn't smart enough.

This summer I switched up my study habits since they were all retakes. I took AUD and FAR in the last window. Once the scores were released I cried. I passed both – an 85 and 82, respectively. I don't know if it was the test change or my study habits, but clearly something worked.

Now I'm just trying to push through. I finally have light at the end of the tunnel and I'm ready to knock this out once and for all. REG in 2 weeks and BEC in December and studying the same way I did this summer. The Ninja test bank has been my saving grace.

Preservence definitely pays off!

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Sweet<3 soon to be CPA]

OMG @ Jennifer! What an inspiration!

I am in the same boat – up to my final part (FAR) scheduled for 12/2 and I can relate to anotherseventyfour with not feeling like have anything left to give.

My 2016 was FT masters degree (and working FT) and 2017 was 3/4 exams was studying and working full time – along with other life obstacles – moving and death in the family. It's amazing how I passed the 3/3 – barely but I passed.

A couple weeks ago I broke at work. With the environment being unhealthy I gave my two weeks notice. Promising myself I would use the additional time to study and once FAR done I would be steps away from being CPA!. With the tools of getting an even better job.

Although this isn't the path everyone has the ability to take I still think you have to remind yourself you have one more exam to go! Personally I worried about AUD the least AND studied the least and it was my highest grade (I do not have Audit professional experience). REG I think i passed by the skin of my teeth bc Ninja MCQ allowed me do really well on MCQ which saved me a fail from doing not so well on the SIMS- leaving one a complete and total guess AND getting the research wrong.

Don't give up! After this it will be no more exams 🙂 <3

[Anonymous]

I am in the same predicament with REG being my final exam – exhausted, depressed, and isolated. But, I refuse to give up and hope to pass my last exam within a month or so.

Stay positive and remind yourself that this Process will pay off.

Goodluck everyone! You are not alone!!

[M123]

Every examinee needs a cheesey '80s motivational soundtrack to get it into high gear.

Guilty as well – early into study – feeling disconnected, missing out on events, going to bed feeling dejected, waking up from a night of insomnia.

There are solutions but a big confirmation here.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Just want to be over. I want to see my first home Philippines. Maybe live there half of the year, teach part-time. As a Canadian resident, my life is almost over here. My kids are almost all adults, and my husband is retiring in less than 10yrs.

I know I am not dumb, just very unfortunate most of the time. But then, thankful of my family. As to my CPA journey, this link, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWu1tVBhdmMeAI-pkJeaGjQ/playlists will give you an idea where I came from, and what I have to go through to stay in the race.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

When I was taking the exam, there were days when I woke up at 6am to crank out 40 MCQs and asked myself if it was all worth it.

I was exhausted, distancing myself from just about everyone I knew, and becoming unhealthy.

However, each time I was able to see some results (in the form of scoring higher on 30-MCQ quizlets, understanding the concepts, or being able to explain the concepts to others), it kept me motivated and let me know that all this crap was only temporary and that the outcome was DEFINITELY worth it.

I was fortunate to pass all four exams within five months, but those were the HARDEST and most challenging five months of my life. I was lonely, depressed, unhappy, and unsure about whether accounting was right for me.

Each time I thought about quitting, my lovely significant other and my family let me know that quitting was not an option. All that sacrifice was going to be for the right reason: passing this exam.

I hope that each and everyone of you guys keeps on fighting, because this exam IS passable.

[RyonT]

I left Prometric this past Friday feeling like giving up. I've been studying since last November, and 5 exams later, and I still have yet to pass a section. It's certainly not for lack of trying (no less than 20hrs a week of study). I suggested this to my SO as we were heading home(she tagged along to do some shopping while I tested), and she suggested that if I gave up now, all this time and money is for nothing. Even if it costs me another 5k, and another 2 years, the payoff is still potentially much greater. I get a lot of motivation from many of the past candidates who have 15 failing scores under their signature along with the 4 passing scores.

Also, @jennifer, I'm wondering what you changed about your study habits for you to start passing?

[jenpen]

@RyonT – if it makes you feel any better, my count is currently 10 exams, and 3 passes. I will take numbers 11 and 12 this window, and I really hope that I'll be done.

To answer your question, I pretty much completely abandoned my Wiley software. I couldn't get myself to read the books AGAIN for the last two sections, so I just hammered MCQs for a month or so before the exam. I ended up with around 40-50 hours in the Ninja bank for each section. After awhile I could see where my weak areas were, so I would go back and read the Ninja book, notes, and Wiley video if necessary to brush up on a topic. I listen to Ninja in the car (most of the time, at least. Sometimes I'm too tired to concentrate.). Every now and then I'll hit the Wiley test bank just to make sure I'm really learning the information and not just memorizing questions.

Good luck!! Just keep going – you'll get there eventually!

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[parvaluemethod]

The only way out is through.

[sacpa]

@parvaluemethod: Wow! What a score in AUD! How did you prepare & what did you use?

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad I ran into this thread. Thank you guys for sharing your story!

[FutureCPA]

This past summer I studied hard for Audit and BEC. It was my closest retake. To say that I needed that pass is an understatement. I scored lower than what I did last time. I should have known better, the exam felt easy. I murder the Sims (got strong) in this area so I walked out almost positive that it would be my first two pass. I cried my tears but I immediately dusted myself off and went back to the drawing board. I was encouraged to continue because I remember the many encouraging post that I have read in this forum. Thank you.

I need to pass before busy season.

[sacpa]

@ FutureCPA: I am also in the same boat without a single pass. Love your quote. It's only a matter of time. We can do this. So if you had well in the sims, was the issue with the mcqs that brought down the score?

FAR - < than 75, 10/2013, 2/2015
BEC - < than 75, 10/2013
AUD - < than 75, 8/2015, 1/2016

~ Winners fail until they succeed. Losers quit when they fail. - Robert Kiyosaki
~ I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me.
~ Something will grow from all you are going through. And it will be YOU.
~ Right now you may not be where you intend to be, but it's where you need to be in order to get where you want to go.

[fxbinbin]

love this thread

[FutureCPA]

@sacpa, I find myself going into the testing site asking the man upstairs if it's his will that this is my first pass.

MCQs was absolutely the reason why I failed. I also have to say that all my MCQs where on topics that I was strong on. I mean I knew them in and out. I just went on and on in the writing portion. I left enough time to organize all the information I knew and write a well organize response.
I plan to leave more time for MCQ next time I take the exam.

I need to pass before busy season.

[Author]

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