[KNCPA]

So – I’ve been a constant reader on this and have posted only a few times. I’ve never really shared my story so I’ll keep it brief:

I’ve been studying since 2013. I have taken the exam 15 times and as of right now I have FAR and REG passed. My REG exam expires on 8/31 and I had just received my Audit score and to my surprise (or not so surprise): 73.

Granted, I have passed BEC before but eventually lost credit for it because REG took multiple times to pass. I really thought I passed AUD this time around so when I saw the 73 this morning – it really was a dagger and all the motivational wind went right out of my sail. Before my ‘no motivation’ hit today, my study habits have been really good. I put 3-4 hours in a day and sometimes more on the weekends so study time, etc. isn’t the problem…..

I have friends who started their MBA journey over a year after I started my CPA journey and they are done and I still have nothing to show for my hard work — talk about discouraging.

I have BEC scheduled for June 10th, but sitting here right now, that’s the last thing I want to do. So my question is this: When is it time to just accept the fact that this horrible, horrible, horrible test has gotten the best of you and hang up the gloves?

Because I’m very close to calling it quits…

[Crunchtime]

Never. Defiant until the end.

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

Ethics here I come!!

[Missy]

Hang up the gloves when you've passed all 4 in 18 months. Not trying to be cute, I realize its frustrating, but you'll always have it in the back of your mind if you walk away, would one more try have done it? How would I feel if I hung in there?

I know people who kept at it for years, and once they receive their fourth pass all of the frustration disappears or at least seems irrelevant.

If you know you could walk away and live out your days 100% ok with that decision, call it a wrap. If you'll spend even 5 minutes a month for the rest of your life wondering what if, get back to studying.

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

[KNCPA]

Appreciate the insight, @crunchtime and @ mla11692.

To your point, @mla11692 — I wouldn't be 100% ok with my decision. However after 15 attempts, there has to be a point where you re-gain your balance after being knocked down multiple times by this tests wrath , dust yourself off, realize you've been bested and move on..

[jjordan022]

In the words of the great Jim Valvano, “Don't give up, don't ever give up.”

AUD - 75
REG - 79
BEC - 79
FAR - August

[leglock]

you've already past 3 of them and got a 73 on audit. you are not one who should be giving up.

[KSOZE]

If you were consistently getting 50's or 60's it would be one thing. Getting a 73 could be the difference between an incorrectly scored question that prevented you from getting a more difficult testlet which would have provided the necessary points to pass.

Keep going. Set a date in the future if you must where you “hang it up”. I would not say now is the time, however. You have put in tons of work, you are only going to get closer to your goal.

BEC - 80
FAR - 81 (third attempt)
AUD - waiting for score 8/23
REG - 09/08/2016 - going to cram and wing it

OH Ethics - Completed

[Anonymous]

I failed my first three times. I wasn't learning by watching videos and reading the text. Full immersion into the test bank was my solution. I was doing around 3,000 questions per prep period to get my passing scores.
Also , I work in public accounting , at the time my kids were 4,2 years old and extremely time consuming. I had to get extremely focused and crush the exams ! Don't give up !!

[Anonymous]

Here's my thought:

– If you quit right now, and then decide in 2 years you want to do it again, you'll have to pass all 4 again. Right now, you need to pass 2. After sitting 15 times to get those 2 currently-unexpired credits, it'd be a pity to lose them. So, I'd be inclined to say keep at it for now.

– If you get to the point that you've got no credits, so you're – say – 18 attempts in and have no current credits, then I'd think about taking a break for awhile. Maybe not call it “quitting”, but at least take a break for a couple years to re-assess in the future.

– In between those two would be having 1 credit, which is where you'd be in August. I'm not sure what I'd think in that spot. For now, I'd try to not think about it. See if you can get the two you need in the next window, which is just another 3 months' commitment. If you can, awesome; if not, then you'll either be at 1 credit or 0 credits (you didn't mention when your 2nd credit expires) and have to decide if you'd do better with a break or not.

I think sometimes one's ability to continue to push is diminished after such a long run. It's a marathon, but even marathons have a limit. You don't see 10,000 mile marathons, outside of Forrest Gump movies. So, if you're halfway there, stopping seems like it puts you in a worse spot to start over in the future. However, if you get to where you're no longer halfway there, then maybe it's time to take a break, and re-start your marathon. If it can be a 5-mile marathon, but right now you're on mile 25, then stopping to rest and rejuvenate and come back at it fresh and just run 5 miles might be a lot easier than trying to run 5 on top of 25.

[KNCPA]

Appreciate all the support and confidence.

It REALLY helps to know that people who don't even know you are rooting for you to pass this thing..

Truly appreciate it.

[TheHoundThatRides]

Dude. You're at the finish. Just give it one last push. BEC takes a few weeks and you are almost at a passing score for AUD.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[choffner]

KNCPA…don't give up!! Defeat the exams. You're in the 70's. You can do it.

My first two tries at AUD were failures. For the 3rd try, for three solid weeks, I spent 5 hours per evening, and all day on the weekends studying. I watched all the Becker lectures again and did 4100 MCQs between Becker and Ninja. For me, it was cranking out the MCQs and reading the correct & incorrect answers after each one to fully understand.

The feeling of finally passing is even better than I imagined. Please don't quit on yourself. That feeling is worth it, I promise you.

BEC 75
REG 81
FAR 69, 75
AUD 71, 74, 84

[Anonymous]

I am rooting for you. Sometimes when you don't have the motivation or energy to keep going you have to get your source of motivation from others, so here I am cheering for you!! I too failed audit this morning with a 74. I am crushed and spent my whole morning in tears. But we have to keep pushing!! You have plenty of time to knock out AUD on your next try after you take BEC. You passed BEC the first time so I am sure you have what it takes to pass it again.

[perezc3910]

@KNCPA If I were you, I would reschedule BEC for the latest day in August possible and use the next month to focus on your weak points in Audit. Do more MCQ and review whatever it is that you feel you are struggling in. You can schedule your retake Audit test for the first week of July and start studying for BEC right after. The reason that I suggest taking Audit again first is that the information is still fresh and you don't want to risk losing it all. Now is NOT the time to give up. We are all rooting for you!

BEC-July 2016
REG-August 2016
FAR-October 2016
AUD-Nov/Dec 2016

[Sang]

Be Positive! – Don't give up! – You got this!

Best case scenario:
1. You pass BEC on June 10th
2. You pass AUD on July 5th
3. You finish the CPA exams on July 5th.

I think Perezc3910's idea is good, to spend the next 2 months studying for AUD and retake it at the beginning of July.

FAR: (05/24/16) | (07/15/16) | (10/22/16)
AUD: (09/07/16) | (11/29/16) |
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
Using Roger CPA Review + Ninja (MCQs, Notes, Audio)

[melissahoff]

Don't give up, you will regret it if you do. Maybe not this year or next year, but in the future. The exams are only going to get harder and you are already halfway there! Just keep powering through it. So many people spend years and money on this and I have never heard anyone say they regretted it.

One thing that helped me was that I learned something with each fail. What to do, what to study, how to study, how much to study, how to take the test, deal with anxiety, stop crying during my tests.. I have taken away something from each one and it has made me a stronger person because of it. Just take it as another lesson and move on. Dont dwell on the failure, focus on the positive things you are learning from this process. Its so hard.. But dont give up!!

AUD - 74,72,74,73,67,80
BEC - 69,80
FAR - 50,51,50,74,71,79
REG - 69, 72, 81.. and I am DONE...
Ethics-93

[Author]

Replies