[nib]

all those who missed this time ,

better luck next time .

let us know what you think was your mistake . In future exams you would like to correct that.

[Crunchtime]

This could actually be a good thread. This is my frustration with the CPA test they don't give you direction of what you should improve, the weaker, stronger and comparable breakdown is joke and doesn't give me a sense of direction at all. I always tell myself my area/s need to work has nothing to do with my knowledge but the ability to stay calm, focus and draw my knowledge I have learned in the testing center better. I do enough studying for the test but in the test center I might lose focus or for some reason can't come up with the best answer. I do believe this ability separates the people with passing scores and not.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[terpgirl]

omg cruchtime – totally agree about the test center. I study and focus best when there is noise and activity. I am trying to train myself to focus in total quiet, and it has not gone well so far. I don't know what to do about it. Not an excuse – I just need a way to solve it.

Aud - 60,70,72,69,80 (2/19/16)

[Crunchtime]

@terpgirl, yes!!!, I have a 3 month old and a 12 year old, We are building our second house and had to move in with the in-laws for a couple of months and I am used to some noise as well and you step into the testing room and it is the most quiet place ever. In the testing center I am always talking to myself and get people to stare. It is a different environment in which people aren't use to it, which makes the test harder then if you were sitting at home in your desk and chair all comfortable.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Claudia408]

The score feedback is definitely a joke! And since every exam on each attempt is different it's just even more worthless. But I feel by just doing MCQs over and over you get a sense of what you're stronger at. You get a question you can tackle right away or you're sitting there fore 5 minutes spinning your wheels. Taking note of what kinds of questions/topics you struggle with will help you identify what you should focus more time on.

BEC - 75 (3x)
AUD - 78 (3x)
REG - 67, 66, Aug 1
FAR - 54, Sept 8

[melody_pinaycpa]

Do not change your initial answer unless you're 100% sure. I was changing answers in the SIMS part during the last 10 seconds and I got a 73.

FAR (Apr 2015) - 88
AUD (July 2015) - 86
BEC (Oct 2015) - 82
REG - 73, 70, retake Sept 2016

[Crunchtime]

@melody that doesn't mean you changed them to the wrong answer.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Anonymous]

Give yourself enough time to study all of the material. The only exam I didn't pass I didn't finish all of the subjects. I work in tax and figured I was comfortable enough with the REG material to try to cram after tax season with a vacation. I ended up scoring weaker on those subjects I did not finish reviewing.

[Anonymous]

Consider not investing in a study package. This was a huge mistake for me. Because I had paid for the full 4-section package it took me forever to admit defeat and work with a system that is simply better for me. I really wish someone had told me that. I wasted too much time with a system that I couldn't learn from.

Also. Totally agree about the testing centers. I had zero test anxiety before the CPA exams. This last time I actually took a break just to recollect.

[Track55]

What makes you think that if you failed, you made a mistake?

These tests are —-in hard. If you failed, you failed. No shame in that.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[Anonymous]

Didn't study enough. Simple as that. Put in the (quality – see: key to passing the CPA) hours.

[Crunchtime]

@Track55 how did you raise your score by so much twice?

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Track55]

@Crunch – the first time I took the exams I went thru the review course in 3 months and took the test. The problem is I can only remember what I studied the last few days so I forgot the older material. With NINJA MCQ, you get all the topics at the same time so it all stays fresh in your head.

Plus I was unemployed the 3 months I studied for AUD, so I had nothing to do all day except study and go on interviews.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[SGShiver]

I am not sure if I failed FAR since I am still waiting for the score. But since it was my first exam I have already learned what I would do next time if I failed or for the next section if I passed:

1. Set a study schedule for your best estimate of “quality” hours needed of studying before taking the exam. I am a little embarrassed that I did not do this to begin with as it should not have to be said. During my past study schedule for the FAR exam, I studied until chapters/lectures were finished with my Roger course. The mistake was I allotted myself the same amount of time (typically 1-2 days) to complete a chapter when each chapter varied in difficulty/lecture length. It was ridiculous of me to put so much time into mastering little topics instead of focusing on and giving the bigger concepts more time. In the future, I plan to get familiar with small topics, but keep my focus on what matters the most on the exams (the review courses were pretty spot on what was heavily tested for FAR). Because of this, I am basing my hours on length/difficulty of the content instead of the number of chapters I want to complete before exam day.

2. After setting the schedule, give yourself hours needed to be completed by the end of the week. Let it be a flexible work schedule in case things come up, but don't let yourself slack off. One day you may only be able to study 1 hour, however, make sure that another day has enough hours put in to make up for it. Because the estimate should be based on difficulty/lecture length, some weeks only one chapter may be completed, other weeks 3 chapters. Don't let the number of chapters get in the way of the quality time spent on important concepts.

3. Take all advice with a grain of salt. On this forum, there are many different people with conflicting opinions. Although most people mean well, they are generally speaking from what has worked for them personally. I personally will need to do things differently than people who had a 4.0 in college, those who have to study while taking care of kids, those who have been working many years in the industry, those who English is not their primary language…etc. While some things are important for everyone, there are many different ways to study/pass the CPA exam. Find what works best for you even if it is not the same path that the Elijah Watt Sells winners did.

FAR- 53, next time 5/5/16
B: 7/30/16
A:TBD
R:TBD

[Anonymous]

I failed BEC back in 2013 primarily because I did not spend enough time memorizing the formulas. Missed questions that I had seen before in my review because I just could not remember the formulas. Hit them super hard the second go round and passed.

[Author]

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