[SchruteBeet]

Hi everyone,

I got my results from AUD this morning and got a 74. I am just really bummed out. Not exactly sure what I am looking for from posting this but I am just overwhelmed by how tough and slow this process has been. I was hoping to get done with AUD before the exam changes so that the only thing I’d have to worry about is FAR. Now I’ll have to retake AUD, wait for the results until Aug and study FAR not knowing how I did on AUD. I have until Mar 2018 before my BEC score expires, and with only being able to take one exam per window, I really don’t know if that will be possible. I am not the smartest person so I know that perhaps FAR will take me more than one tries. How many I gonna fit everything in? I don’t even know if I’ll ever pass any exam with these new exam changes. I am just not smart.

If I don’t pass these exams, I will not get promoted next year. I have gained so much weight losing sight of my health over these exams. Plus I am not exactly in a good place in life in general. I am constantly worried if I’ll have to relocate to another destination (I am a foreign citizen and so if my work visa doesn’t get approved in 2 months, I will need to move to another country which is hard when you’ve built a life for yourself here). My family is not exactly the most supportive when it comes to my relationship with my partner, and I have just been struggling in general. I’ve been traveling a lot for work which has made studying difficult. This pass could have been one thing going well for me but that didn’t even happen. I don’t even know what I’m doing with my life anymore.

I apologize for the long rant but just need some words of advice from you guys.

[Wannafree]

As someone else has said if you got 74 you will pass next time.If you have passed REG , you would pass FAR with similar efforts.

[Jax]

Please don't be discouraged!! You will pass! Just got a 73 on AUD myself, so I know exactly how you're feeling. I would retake AUD ASAP and then focus on FAR. There is some overlap between those two tests, and you have a year to get everything done. You can do it! 🙂

[shawn in VA]

74 is the AICPA giving you the middle finger. I have gotten 74 before. You did well and the AICPA just cannot give you the 75 b/c they can only allow around 50% of people to pass in a quarter. It is to main this “prestige” which is complete garbage.

It is painful I have been there.

[waffle_house]

AUD is a tricky one and dare I say the hardest exam to study for?

The key was to read the book and understand the flow of it, from planning to actually signing off on the financials.

[Char143]

Please don't say you are not the smartest person and will need more than 1 try. Don't say those things or you'll keep them in your head as you are studying. The first, second, and third attempt don't change how smart you are, you only pass if you study enough the first time around. You give yourself enough time to study the first time around, if you want to pass the first time and things aren't clicking go through the material twice. It's amazing how much detail they go into on a subject you learned 5 lessons prior and forgot about. When you go through the stuff twice (which I know this process will take a long time) and you put in the time and do the mcq and really understand what is being explained you won't have to worry about memorizing because now it is just a natural thing to you. Like oh yeah the economic value added formula just makes sense because blah blah blah, things will just make sense the second time around if they didn't the first.

Don't beat yourself up over a 74, that means you aren't stupid and were almost there. A stupid person wouldn't be attempting this exam, a stupid person wouldn't be in America on a work visa trying to be better and do better. Nothing about you is stupid, you have passed two others, a stupid person can't get that far. It sucks to fail and once you're done you'll see that somethings can be a blessing in disguise and the timing wasn't right. Life is funny like that.

Every time i failed i deserved it, I knew I should have tried harder, taken less breaks, really understood some topics.. I never lied to myself and told myself I did everything I could possibly do.. even if I said it out loud I knew I didn't do my 100% best. I will never blame the AICPA for any of my scores, because I knew I deserved them, so instead of every being mad at the AICPA tell yourself you'll impress them by showing how much you've improved and the next time you'll beat it.

Life is hard but what fun would it be if everything came easy.. we are trying to get a very specialized license that only 550,000 people in this country have, something that special will not come easy, so we have to tell ourselves “whatever it takes”. Yeah the score release timeline sucks and it's scary and will give you anxiety but be better and tell yourself you can do it. Don't tell yourself that you can't. The words you put out in the universe are what you will believe about yourself. Even if you fail again (God forbid) be strong and tell yourself that YOU WILL BE A CPA ONEDAY!

Best study advice I have for audit is when you are done re write your notes, do not miss this step! It was the reason I passed audit on my first attempt and it was my highest score.

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

[SchruteBeet]

Thanks everyone for your kind and encouraging words. I really appreciate it!

[SomwhereOvertheRainbow]

Okay so this is creepy as hell but you just answered in another topic and I liked a lot how well you put that answer together so I decided to check on your posts and found this one. This is EXACTLY how I feel right now. Except for the visa and the relationship facts. I am also up for promotion next year and I NEED the CPA or I won't get promoted. I have tried everything on these exams and don't seem to past them and the only one I one I passed I already lost. I even called my parents today and said that I am probably not meant to be a CPA. Please advise. I am trying to read what other have told you and use it to my benefit thinking that I will get it done… I just don't know how much disappoint me I can take.

[tskits75]

This is exaclty what this forum is for, to blow off steam when you fail. I'd take a couple days off and then jump right back in.

I know its hard but it seems that you are focusing on the big picture, I know its a lot easier said than done, but I would take it one step at a time that way it will appear more managable.

AUD - 92
BEC - 79
REG - August
FAR - TBD

[SomwhereOvertheRainbow]

Yeah. I think you're right. I am starting to study for my next part (REG) starting this weekend. Not waiting for the next week's score to start but I will def finish crying my eyes out today before I start. haha

[Tncincy]

You'll get over the discouragement…..just take the time to study again. speaking from experience. 🙂

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

[2017cpa]

I'm in the same boat. I made a similar post and you had some great advice

@tskits75 You are right all good things come a little at a time…I think I have a hard time not looking at the big picture and instead focusing on what I can do now to get there

A low score is not easy to take for anyone but at least you got a 74, which means you only need to understand a few more things and you're there. I got a 63 I still feel like I have a LONG way to go.

@schrutebeet I also tend to feel like the dumbest person on here most times. Especially when I'm studying and cant seem to understand things that are “basic accounting knowledge” but at the end of the day you have acquired so much more knowledge on accounting that it's still going to help you in your career regardless if you passed or not. It's better to keep going now that the knowledge is fresh in your mind rather than wait and later on in life decide to try it again when rules have changed. Maybe you just need to take a break off work and studying (if possible) to take care of yourself, release some stress, and reassess why you're taking the test. Once this is all over you will look back and be glad its over but you also value your license that much more.

[Author]

Replies