[sacpa]

Yesterday, I took BEC for the 3rd time. For the first attempt, I took it without much preparation because my NTS was about to expire. So I don’t take that into consideration. I got a 65 in the 2nd attempt. I have taken FAR & AUD 2 times & failed. Same as BEC, I took my first FAR since NTS was about to expire. So in all that’s 5 failures without counting the 2 failures in FAR & BEC 1st attempts without enough preparation.

I am not feeling confident about yesterday’s exam. At this point, I am seriously considering whether I am cut out for this. I have not taken up full time jobs so I can have more time to study. So I am hurting both from not passing the exam & not being able to work full time. Hurting more from not able to pass the exam, being in the this journey on & off for the past 4 years with life coming in the way & procastination also being another reason.

I thought I had prepared well but was blown away with the exam yesterday. Mcqs were mostly were short, vague, twisted & mostly from COSO & IT. I flagged about 10 questions in 1st testlet. Took about 1 hour to complete 1st testlet. The 2nd testlet was easier with almost no questions with calculations. Sims were not hard, except it took lot of time to put the information spread out in the resources, question base & the actual question itself. I felt the challenge was more from focusing just what you need to answer the question. WC topics were all from BEC. By that time, I was feeling hopeless & drawing a blank. I did well in one WC compared to the other two. I was disappointed to the core & felt dreadful yesterday.

I am over it but now considering what should be my next step. I would die if I give up now but don’t know how to proceed either. I have Gleim & will not blame the material. The mcqs & sims are really good. I completed all of the 80 sims & completed about 2000 mcqs. I also did some mcqs in CPAreviewforfree site & questions posted in FB. Yet, I felt I was not able to tackle the exam questions. Maybe test anxiety took over. I don’t have problem understanding the material either. I have A’s in all my Accounting classes in college. I understand that college courses are different from the CPA exam. So now do I continue in this journey? If I continue, which exam do I prepare for? My Gleim will expire on December 1st. I have the extension guaranteed for BEC & FAR. However access to AUD & REG will expire if I do not complete 90% of the material & take the exam by December 1st. To make it worse, FAR has some major changes in revenue recognition starting from 2nd quarter in 2018. So probably I’ll prepare for AUD. Since I am in Tax, I reserved REG for the last. I am posting my long story here in hopes of getting some tips & suggestions to improve my performance in exam & pass them.I

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.

[Tncincy]

There is no easy way to pass. There is no nice, happy feeling about failing. Dust yourself off and try again. Again? Yes, again. Change somethings, and try again, there will be a passing light at the end of the tunnel.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[sacpa]

Thanks for the tips Meg267, apple 32, anyatver & Tncincy!

@Meg267: That was a typo in my previous post. I meant to type – I studied an average of 10-12 hours a day for a month. More than that 10 days before the exam. I completed all the coursework in Gleim. I did all the 80 sims & about 2000+ mcqs.

@apple32: I wrote down notes before spending lot of time. But gave that up since I never review the notes. Probably concise notes are the key which will help while reviewing every day & day before exam when you should not be doing questions.

@anyatver: I agree that we cannot hope to remember the concepts. We need to be thorough in all the concepts. Agreed, I was not upto that level on the day of the exam. I find that the more concise the question is, the more difficult it is to answer. And yes, most of the mcqs I got were in that category. IF we are thorough, then we can answer however they twist the question.

@Tncincy: I am trying to come up with a list of things I need to change – strategies, methods, habits.

Maybe if I had more time & kept on going like I did this past month, I could have done better. But with my NTS expiring, I had to take BEC when I did.

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.

[mtaylo24]

If I can pass, anybody can pass. It took me 17 times, and even though I got an extension from the state (due to the new exam fiasco), I am done and licensed! Believe me, I have been there…Just keep on pushin. Use the forum, use the study groups, find people who have passed (offline) and pick their brains. It can be done!

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Tncincy]

mtaylo24 : I'm sure you've been asked this before but what review materials did you use?

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Recked]

10-12 hours a day seems a bit excessive.
Perhaps its because I am older, but if I push it past 6 hours in a day, I know I am going to have the review the next day for things I forgot.
Do you recognize when your brains shuts down and you are just reading words and nothing is sticking?

1 hour for a MCQ testlet seems pretty long. My only suggestion would be to practice practice practice.

[mtaylo24]

@Tncincy – Always Gleim as my main and Ninja MCQ for my 2-3 week final review, I added the Hock International videos to pass FAR my last go. I've used Wiley focus notes, book, and ninja notes as supplements, I really liked the focus notes.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[ixlr82day]

I've been at the CPA game when the exam was still paper and you had to take all 4 parts over 2 days. I then procrastinated and tried using Wiley later when it went to computer. My scores were always low with the exception of BUS which I passed. In college I took a lot of IT and Finance courses so it helped me pass those parts. In 2016 I started with Becker. I guess I had my midlife crisis and thought it was now or never. I passed BUS on my first attempt and studied about 5 hrs a day for two months. I am in tax too so REG was passable but I studied hard to make sure I passed. I didn't want to admit to my bosses if I failed REG. Audit took two tries and I felt lucky on my pass. FAR was the same. I studied FAR for 3 months and 5 hrs on weekdays and 8 hrs a day on weekends. I think I used Gleim way back as well but I liked Becker simply because it felt more understandable. Wiley was a ton of words and a ton of information. A becker book seems more simple.

My only suggestion is to be very aware of your time during the exam. If you don't know MC guess and move on. Focus on sims. With sims you have research that can help you answer the questions. Be calm and carry on. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Helllloooooo,

I like responding on threads like this….and the timing of yours couldn't have been perfecter.

Some people pass them all on the first try. Others don't. It doesn't mean that the people who don't are dumbasses. It DOES mean that the exam is very, very crazy and that you may get a bunch of rotten questions, not all of which that you can answer correctly…whereas the person sitting next to you gets a batch of beautiful, straightforward questions on each of their four sittings.

I'm responding to this thread while on hiatus from CPA exam studies. What happened was that I tried to write a post asking if anyone else on here had passed using free or very-low-cost materials online (websites with free test banks, etc). I'm not poor, but I was indeed wallet-raped by ROGER CPA REVIEW for two thousand dollars and really don't feel like paying any more money, or much more money, for more review materials. But somehow that post didn't get posted due to technical problems on here, which seem to be somewhat frequent. Anyhooz.

Believe me, I have been where you are since day one. I'm still there. “Is it for me?” I often think not. I just got a fantastic new job 2-3 months ago now and nobody at my workplace is a CPA, yet they're all fine accountants – all 20 or so of them. I had to pass an accounting exam and several rounds of interviews to get the job. References checked, criminal/civil background checked, urine checked. And, surprisingly, they were one of the few companies I interviewed at who DIDN'T seem to give a crap about my not being a CPA. Actually I applied for other positions over the years where they didn't want me simply because I wrote on my resume that I was pursuing the CPA license. Yes, there are companies like that. They don't want CPAs and/or are bitter towards CPA candidates. Not to be understood, and probably crappy places to work.

I probably don't need it. But, I've studied everything covered on the CPA exams in school so why not try to pass the exams?

@Missy is probably the most senior member of this forum and she's never made a bad post or suggestion to anyone. She asked you “How badly do you want it?” I'd also ask you, “Do you need it?” If you need it, then you have to get it or else you won't be able to go any farther. If not, well, that's one of the the AICPA's missions – to weed out people who either don't need it or don't want it, or both. And they're there to take your money if you do need/want it or not. Can't make your way through The CPA House of Sand and Fog? Good! Then let us be the first to show you the back door, and be sure to let the screen door hit you on the way out. But if you're gonna stay, you do need to pay us because your time is free and ours isn't.

There is no answer as to why some people struggle for years on end and why other people don't struggle at all. I gave up on being pissed off at the people who don't struggle long ago. They aren't to be envied. They were either blessed with a very high IQ and/or they just lucked out on the exams. Don't even think about those people or compare yourself to them (if you ever did do either of those.)

As another few mentioned, studying is everything. I had a 4.0 in school and I'd say it was due to my study habits. Yet, I'm at zero for three thus far on the CPA exams…and not for lack of studying. I don't know what study techniques work for this exam if for no other reason than none of the things I've done to date have had a positive outcome.

Wishing you the best. If you need and/or want the thing, you'll continue until you're done. If not, you can still have a great career.

[sacpa]

@ixlr82day: On the day of the exam, my husband fell sick & had to take of his needs. A service guy who was supposed to come another day, arrived at 8am in our house. My husband took care of it but it was still something that I had not planned for on the day of the exam. The Prometric center was a zoo. There were about 6 or 7 people who were all scheduled to take the exam at the same time as me. Not sure why that was the case. We were asked to move around chairs in different places in the room as we went ahead in the order. The camera in the computer was not working. I was so concerned as to how I can be back in 15 minutes if I take a break. I even asked the Prometric staff about it & he said that once everyone settles down, it won't be that busy.

Finally when I sat down at the computer, I forgot what the time limit was to sign the disclaimers. Usually I take a few minutes to settle down before I click the ‘Begin' button. I knew that the time was shortened but didn't remember the exact time limit. Anyway, I started the exam before taking a few minutes to calm down, fearing that the exam will shut down on me. I was so flustered by that time. & To make it worse, the very first question was a variance calculation one. From there, it was downhill. I flagged that question & came back to it, only to realize that it was not that bad. I need to have done my homework on the time limit. This is my first time taking the exam after the changes. I flagged about 10 questions, which probably would have been easier if I had stayed calm. Now I realize that the exam as such was not a tough one, it was just my nerves, test anxiety & pressure of taking the exam again without passing any section as of date. After the 3rd testlet, I was contemplating whether to take the break or not due to the busy atmosphere in the test center. But I decided I needed a break & took it anyway. With the time pressure, I did not do well in the sims before & after the break. I did my best with one WC, ok on the 2nd one & basically re-writing the same thing over & over for the third one since I could not remember anything about the topic though I had covered it. After the exam, I had to remind the Prometric guy to take my picture & he had a sheet of paper with my details on it & I was asked to hold it as though a mug shot was being taken. I am going to lodge a complaint against this center.

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.

[sacpa]

@mtaylo24: What changes did you make? How did you keep going? Can you share the link to the post of your challenges & how you overcame them?

@ReckedRacing: I was in a ‘now or never mission' when I was preparing for BEC with NTS expiring in a month. Still am! Studying long hours is not a problem for me. Further with the way my personal life is, I need to take a few breaks during the day taking care of stuff at home. I have trouble focusing when I start studying after a long gap of months. But once I am get into study mode, I am on a roll. I am older too but never hold that as a reason for not being able to study harder or longer.

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.

[sacpa]

@crazyleon: Congratulations on the new job! Looks like you did well coming this far in the selection process. It says a lot about your abilities. Pat yourself on your back!

I also have a 4.0 in college & the best part is I enjoyed studying for my Accounting courses. Still do, except not passing even one section is frustrating. I love working as an Accountant as well. I don't beat myself that I am dumb. I realize that others' circumstances are different than mine. Most of the CPA candidates are all done, but they are all just married, without kids & other commitments. Not to say that it was a piece of cake for them, but they did not have other things to worry about & were able to fully focus on studying. I have some personal challenges at home & other commitments which I only have to do. Further we don't eat out a lot since we are trying to lose weight. So cooking is inevitable. To make it worse, with a recent move, there were millions of things to take care of & had to take a break from studying which is why I had just about a month to prepare before NTS expiry. I know some people have it worse than me, having kids, health problems, death in the family & such. But my situation is a bit different with not much support from my husband which is why it is even more challenging & another reason for not completing this journey earlier. I admit procastination had a role too which I am totally responsible for.

That being said, I am still very much in the game. I want to be a CPA so bad. Now I am over with the exam, I am angry & determined to face this challenge head on. I prepared a list of all the mistakes I did & the changes I need to make to correct them. I have started preparing for AUD with just 2 days of break after the disaster of the BEC exam.

Though your response was blunt & brutal, I guess I needed that. I am still alive & kicking. I have overcome so many hurdles in my life so far & I will face this challenge as well. I am still very much in this with Grit as my middle name. Let's all work together & help each other.

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.

[sacpa]

@anyatver: I did complete all the course work outlined by Gleim. I did 80 sims & more than 2000 mcqs. But I get what you said. I still need to fine tune & be solid in all the concepts.

@crazyleon: Thanks for your wishes! Good luck to you as well!

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.

[sacpa]

@crazyleon: What do you mean by this – But if you're gonna stay, you do need to pay us because your time is free and ours isn't.

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]

@sacpa – Yes, my posts are usually blunt and brutal! lol Well, I don't mean to be brutal. But, I lay things on the line and don't beat around the bush. I've been lambasted on here more than once for my bluntness, usually from people who can't handle it. A few have praised me quite a bit, and those are the ones who can see the value in what I post. Not that what I say is anything too prophetic but… This forum is pretty soft, on the whole. But, we do have the cocky millennials start shooting their mouths off about passing all 4 while working 60 hours a week at Deloitte and Douche. LOL No really, I am not jealous of those guys and girls. They just have a different life/career path than I do and who cares. I'm an older cpa student (age 40'ish). I only started studying accounting 7 years ago, completely part time, while working in a completely different industry. So, obviously my take on this stuff is not going to be as rosy as others'. Although we do have a good number of 40'somethings and 50'somethings (who are CPAs but still come here to participate) on here too, thankfully. If we didn't, I wouldn't be here. I used to post a lot, but nowadays I don't, especially now that I'm on a hiatus.

So, you WANT to be a CPA so bad. That'll be your incentive to pass. I was surprised that I didn't pass any of the three exams I took. It did make me feel a lot dumber than I thought I was. Then again, I never thought I was dumb. Seriously though, I don't know how the old/ancient forms of the CPA exam, pre-computer age, were. But the current version is hard – not in terms of the questions so much as the randomness of the whole thing. As I said earlier, the person sitting next to you could get a very soft version of the test while you've gotten a Mount Everest version that takes every ounce of endurance and momentum to even get through in 4 hours. Fair? No. Not even remotely. But, that's the game that participants must play. FYI, there was a period of time earlier in the decade when there were a good number of people passing who were not very high performers and that's why the exam was remodeled over the past few years into what it currently looks like.

What did I mean by “If you're gonna stay, you're gonna need to pay us because your time is free and ours isn't?” This means that you and I and everyone else are just serfs. We pay to be CPA candidates – we pay our state, and we pay the AICPA, regardless of how well we do on the tests. If we want to keep going, despite failed exams, we have to keep paying to participate.
The AICPA is in business to make money and graduate new CPAs. Our credit card debts pay their salaries, just like a bank.

Anyhoo, keep at it – I'm sure you'll pass eventually. It may not be soon, but the good things are worth the wait. Always. Thanks for your compliments too.

[Anonymous]

BTW @mtaylo24 – I am so glad you're done. Congratulations!! 17 attempts is what it takes some people. I think I'm gonna be another 17-timer. In the end, nobody cares about the number of attempts, only that you have a license.

[Author]

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