BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79 PASS April 2011
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78 PASS May 2011
AUD: 103 hours/Score: 74! FAIL
AUD 2nd try: 60 hours/Score: 81 PASS May 2012
REG: 130 hours/Score: 73! FAIL
REG 2nd try: 90 hours/Score: 78 PASS October 2012
Ethics Exam: Passed
Total Hours Sacrificed: 653
I want to start out this post by saying I am officially DONE with the exam! I actually passed the last part in October 2012. I cannot express how amazing it felt to refresh the NASBA score page and see that last passing score!! AMAZING! Such a HUGE weight off my shoulders - for a few reasons as I will explain below...
Since it has been so long since my last post, I wanted to outline what has happened since:
October 2011: I started full time at a Big 4 accounting firm. From the date I started, I had exactly 1 year to pass all 4 parts of the exam to get the full $5,000 bonus. As I had posted before, this was now my goal.
November 2011: My REG NTS was set to expire and although I was able to take time off of work to study, I was still adjusting to my new job and trying to get back into the swing of things with the exams. I decided to let the NTS expire and pick studying back up after my first "busy season".
April 2012: December through March just flew by. Work was so busy that I didn't even have a chance to think about studying! I applied for a new NTS for both REG and AUD. I couldn't believe after an entire year I was still only halfway done! That also meant I only had about 6 months remaining before the parts I passed would start expiring.
May 2012: I re-took audit. I have to say that I felt much more confident with the multiple choice this time but not with the Sims. I felt like some of them were hard to interpret. Again, time was not an issue at all. I had plently left for the Sims, so I did take my time to attempt to use the research function.
June 2012: Found out I passed AUD!! This was such a great feeling!! With only one part remaining, I felt like it was still possible to finish this before I lost the bonus and any parts I had already passed. I started studying for REG again and planned to take it toward the end of the July/August window. Although I had started studying in 2011, I basically had to start from scratch. Of all the parts of the exam, REG was the worst for me to study for because I struggled so much remembering the tax portion of the exam. That and I certainly struggled with studying during the summer while it was so beautiful outside. Also, my Becker was scheduled to expire this month. I really think Becker's 18 month expiration does not make sense even though they claim it lines up with the 18 month expiration of the exam. What they do not factor in is the initial time it takes to apply and study for the first part of the exam. I decided to write them and request a 90 day extension and thankfully they granted it to me at no cost. I give them a lot of credit for doing that! THANKS BECKER!
August 2012: I took REG toward the end of the month. I struggled with the material the entire time I studied and it showed during the exam. I couldn't get keep the tax information straight in my head and the Sims were really difficult. Needless to say, I felt very defeated walking out of that exam. I was not looking forward to checking my score.
September 2012: It was score day and I was extremely nervous. I wanted so much to just be done with this exam! If I didn't pass, I only had 1 chance left before losing both BEC and FAR as well as the full bonus. Needless to say, I didn't pass. When I refreshed and saw a 73 I was not exactly surprised but it still felt terrible. I felt like I was doomed. I basically had 1 month to study again for REG and pass it. I really didn't think I could do it. I did jump right back into studying and used Jeff's NINJA method (check it out at another71.com if you don't know already) to make the most of the little time I had.
October 2012: I had a difficult time deciding on a sit date for the exam. I was going to lose BEC on 10/31 and the bonus on 10/3. I decided to just force myself to sit on 10/1 and try my best. I felt more prepared, but the exam was still really challenging. I really wasn't sure what to expect when my score came out.
November 2012: It was score day again. I was at work and I debated waiting until I got home to check my score, but I just couldn't. Unless you have gone through this, you can't begin to understand how much seeing a 75 or better means when you click refresh. For me it literally meant the difference between being done and basically starting over with only one part that wouldn't expire if I failed. It also meant the difference between $5,000 and possibly no bonus at all. I literally held my breath and covered the score part of the screen with my hand as I hit refresh. I slowly moved my hand to reveal my score - a 78! I just couldn't believe it! I had a rush of emotions. It felt so AMAZING!!
March 2013: I was still over the moon about being done! After having a second busy season under my belt, I took and passed the ethics exam which is required in my state (CT). It was a breeze to prepare for and take compared to any part of the exam. Nothing to stress about at all. Now I all I have to do is wait to meet the experience requirement which is 104 weeks in CT. I should meet that sometime in July and then I can apply for my license!
So that basically sums it up! It was almost 2 years from the time I ordered my Becker books and I passed my final exam. It was filled with many challenges, but I was able to overcome them and finally put this behind me. I have lots of advice of things I learned along the way, but I think I will try to sum that up in my next post. For now, if you have any questions, please leave a comment or even message me. I would be happy to help!
June 9, 2013
September 23, 2011
So much for that...
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Score: 74!
AUD Mulligan: 0 hours/Applied for new NTS
REG: 35 hours/Rescheduled
Total Hours Sacrificed: 408
I'm still frustrated about failing Audit. That 74 is hard to just get over...
To make matters worse, my REG NTS expires 11-17. I had hoped to push REG off until 11-30 so that I could squeeze in Audit in a few weeks, but my experience is telling me that that will likely lead to failing both. So I am forced to change my plans yet again and go back to the REG material. I will move my REG exam to the middle of November and I will take Audit as early in January as possible before things really get crazy at work. This is not even close to my original plan, but life happens. When I started this blog I figured I would be wrapping it up about right now...oh well. The journey continues...
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Score: 74!
AUD Mulligan: 0 hours/Applied for new NTS
REG: 35 hours/Rescheduled
Total Hours Sacrificed: 408
I'm still frustrated about failing Audit. That 74 is hard to just get over...
To make matters worse, my REG NTS expires 11-17. I had hoped to push REG off until 11-30 so that I could squeeze in Audit in a few weeks, but my experience is telling me that that will likely lead to failing both. So I am forced to change my plans yet again and go back to the REG material. I will move my REG exam to the middle of November and I will take Audit as early in January as possible before things really get crazy at work. This is not even close to my original plan, but life happens. When I started this blog I figured I would be wrapping it up about right now...oh well. The journey continues...
September 18, 2011
I'm finally back! (and AUD scores are in...)
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Score: 74!
AUD Mulligan: 0 hours/Applied for new NTS
REG: 35 hours/Scheduled 10-1
Total Hours Sacrificed: 408
Wow! Time certainly flew by! I had a lot going on and took a longer than anticipated break from studying. I moved to a new house and have been spending time getting things in order for my new job that I start in 2 weeks!! I am excited and anxious to get that going...
On a different note, Audit scores were posted on Friday night and I was pretty shocked when I checked mine and saw a 74! That stung pretty bad...I have had a couple days to process that in my head now, but it still stings. I think 74 is probably the worst score to get, especially since I felt pretty good about my exam. If there ever was a time when 'almost' should count, a 74 on the CPA Exam should be it! I am confused as to where I went so wrong, but I am going to make sure that I make this next time the last!
I have accepted that I cannot possibly meet my goal of completing this exam before I start at KPMG, so my new goal is to pass all 4 parts within my first year of working there so that I can earn the bonus they offer. I have decided it is best to re-take AUD early in October and push REG off until November. I still can't get into a good rhythm with REG, so perhaps tackling AUD a second time will help me learn how to better prepare for REG too!
I do have to say that if I had to pick a part to re-take, AUD would be it. The information is so important to know and learn, I could really benefit from going back through it all and gaining an even better understanding of the rules. After all, auditing is what I am going to be doing for a career!! On the other hand, that fact makes me feel even worse for failing it...
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Score: 74!
AUD Mulligan: 0 hours/Applied for new NTS
REG: 35 hours/Scheduled 10-1
Total Hours Sacrificed: 408
Wow! Time certainly flew by! I had a lot going on and took a longer than anticipated break from studying. I moved to a new house and have been spending time getting things in order for my new job that I start in 2 weeks!! I am excited and anxious to get that going...
On a different note, Audit scores were posted on Friday night and I was pretty shocked when I checked mine and saw a 74! That stung pretty bad...I have had a couple days to process that in my head now, but it still stings. I think 74 is probably the worst score to get, especially since I felt pretty good about my exam. If there ever was a time when 'almost' should count, a 74 on the CPA Exam should be it! I am confused as to where I went so wrong, but I am going to make sure that I make this next time the last!
I have accepted that I cannot possibly meet my goal of completing this exam before I start at KPMG, so my new goal is to pass all 4 parts within my first year of working there so that I can earn the bonus they offer. I have decided it is best to re-take AUD early in October and push REG off until November. I still can't get into a good rhythm with REG, so perhaps tackling AUD a second time will help me learn how to better prepare for REG too!
I do have to say that if I had to pick a part to re-take, AUD would be it. The information is so important to know and learn, I could really benefit from going back through it all and gaining an even better understanding of the rules. After all, auditing is what I am going to be doing for a career!! On the other hand, that fact makes me feel even worse for failing it...
August 19, 2011
REG, you win!
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 25 hours/Scheduled 10-1
Total Hours Sacrificed: 398
Ok, so I admit defeat. I just can't focus right now on anything it seems. A lot is going on in my life and studying is really not happening. I am currently in the process of moving, quitting my current job (3 work days left) among other things. I just can't focus on anything because I am getting too stressed about everything!
As a result, I made a tough decision to move my REG exam to October 1st. I wanted to know my score BEFORE I started at KPMG, but I don't want that score to be a failing one, so I have decided it would be better to move it. I will still have taken it before I start working on October 3rd, so technically it is still possible to reach my goal of passing all 4 parts before work begins. I will just have to wait for my score which is supposed to be released much faster in the last quarter...
I did somehow manage to finish all lectures except R-7. I am not sure I absorbed very much from them, but at least I wrote the notes down. I will still study a little for the rest of the month and then will study aggressively during September. I feel some relief, but have to be careful I don't slack off knowing I have more time now...
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, vote on my polls and leave your comments. I appreciate it!
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 25 hours/Scheduled 10-1
Total Hours Sacrificed: 398
Ok, so I admit defeat. I just can't focus right now on anything it seems. A lot is going on in my life and studying is really not happening. I am currently in the process of moving, quitting my current job (3 work days left) among other things. I just can't focus on anything because I am getting too stressed about everything!
As a result, I made a tough decision to move my REG exam to October 1st. I wanted to know my score BEFORE I started at KPMG, but I don't want that score to be a failing one, so I have decided it would be better to move it. I will still have taken it before I start working on October 3rd, so technically it is still possible to reach my goal of passing all 4 parts before work begins. I will just have to wait for my score which is supposed to be released much faster in the last quarter...
I did somehow manage to finish all lectures except R-7. I am not sure I absorbed very much from them, but at least I wrote the notes down. I will still study a little for the rest of the month and then will study aggressively during September. I feel some relief, but have to be careful I don't slack off knowing I have more time now...
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, vote on my polls and leave your comments. I appreciate it!
August 14, 2011
Frustrated to say the least...
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 18 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 391
So I managed to study a whopping 4 hours since my last post! I really don't know what is wrong with me! I just can't force myself to do this and I am frustrated with my lack of motivation. I'm not sure what my deal is. I mean, like anyone else, I have a lot of personal stuff going on, but that is inevitable. I have been able to manage it all up to this point, so why in the world am I struggling so much when I can literally see the finish line?!
I still have to watch lectures for REG-6 and 7, write notes and do MCQ for ALL sections. I am doubting I actually have the time to do all of that in these remaining couple of weeks. I am a little bit tempted to bump my exam to October 1st, but I just don't want to give myself more of a reason to slack off. I would also be giving up on my goal of passing all 4 parts before I start my career and I REALLY don't want to give up on that. So, I must accept that I have wasted the past week + and really commit to making these final few weeks count.
On another note, my husband's grandmother passed away last week. She was a beautiful lovely lady and I have the fondest memories of her fancy hats, especially on my wedding day. My husband flew home on Friday to attend the funeral. She will truly be missed by so many people.
Ok, back to REG lectures as soon as I post this...
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 18 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 391
So I managed to study a whopping 4 hours since my last post! I really don't know what is wrong with me! I just can't force myself to do this and I am frustrated with my lack of motivation. I'm not sure what my deal is. I mean, like anyone else, I have a lot of personal stuff going on, but that is inevitable. I have been able to manage it all up to this point, so why in the world am I struggling so much when I can literally see the finish line?!
I still have to watch lectures for REG-6 and 7, write notes and do MCQ for ALL sections. I am doubting I actually have the time to do all of that in these remaining couple of weeks. I am a little bit tempted to bump my exam to October 1st, but I just don't want to give myself more of a reason to slack off. I would also be giving up on my goal of passing all 4 parts before I start my career and I REALLY don't want to give up on that. So, I must accept that I have wasted the past week + and really commit to making these final few weeks count.
On another note, my husband's grandmother passed away last week. She was a beautiful lovely lady and I have the fondest memories of her fancy hats, especially on my wedding day. My husband flew home on Friday to attend the funeral. She will truly be missed by so many people.
Ok, back to REG lectures as soon as I post this...
August 4, 2011
Anyone seen my motivation?!
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 14 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 387
OMG! I started off so good and then totally lost my motivation! I have only put in 4 hours of lecture since my last post! Seriously, what happened?? Even tonight I am trying to find every excuse to avoid studying. I need to get back on track immediately because I am running out of time!
After I publish this post, I am watching at least 4 hours of lecture this evening. I have to actually sit down and write out my study plan so that I feel more obligated to stick to it. That is what helped me on all the other sections, but I haven't done that yet for REG. I have a long way to go in less than 4 weeks!
If anyone else has any motivation to spare, send some my way!
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 14 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 387
OMG! I started off so good and then totally lost my motivation! I have only put in 4 hours of lecture since my last post! Seriously, what happened?? Even tonight I am trying to find every excuse to avoid studying. I need to get back on track immediately because I am running out of time!
After I publish this post, I am watching at least 4 hours of lecture this evening. I have to actually sit down and write out my study plan so that I feel more obligated to stick to it. That is what helped me on all the other sections, but I haven't done that yet for REG. I have a long way to go in less than 4 weeks!
If anyone else has any motivation to spare, send some my way!
July 30, 2011
Boring...
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 10 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 383
8 hours of REG lecture and 2 hours of book changes and updates have left me exhausted! I had such a hard time at work today...blah!
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 10 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 383
8 hours of REG lecture and 2 hours of book changes and updates have left me exhausted! I had such a hard time at work today...blah!
Just making a quick post to say it feels great to be studying for my final section and I really hope I can pull this off and pass! I have impressed myself by actually diving right into the material rather than spending 2 weeks avoiding it like I have for the other sections...I just don't have the time to spare this time. REG certainly scares me because it seems as though it has now become the toughest section. I enjoyed my Tax and BLAW courses in college though, so I am hoping I can get through this material ok. Lectures are obviously boring, but I am so accustomed to that by now.
I spent 2 hours updating my entire book with all these little changes...dates, values, wording...it was annoying, but I am thankful Becker keeps on top of changes and corrections in their material. I hope anyone else using their material remembers to update both their program and their book.
Ok, movie night with the hubby...I am taking a break for the evening and then back at it tomorrow...
Ok, movie night with the hubby...I am taking a break for the evening and then back at it tomorrow...
July 27, 2011
REG
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 373
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 373
Sitting at my computer getting ready to pop in the lecture CD for REG and just realized how time has flown since I started this journey back in January! Wow! I felt like it was going to take forever to get to this final section, but here I am.
Again I am using Jeff's NINJA study framework for REG. I really like it a lot and feel like it is better than the study plan Becker suggests. If anyone is curious, head over to http://www.another71.com/ and check it out. I believe Jeff has the framework available for free. There are tons of suggestions that are really great! Basically I am going to watch all videos for the entire book. Then I am going to go back through and take notes section by section and do the MCQ as I go. Then I will rewrite my notes for entire chapters and go back through the MCQ. I usually only have enough time to go back through the ones I marked and I wait to do the supplemental questions at that time. I also have Jeff's NINJA notes for REG and will go through those regularly...
I also wanted to share a really great song that I listen to during study breaks. It helps me get my mojo back and is a great motivator...check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/open-happiness-butch-walker/id309023289?i=309023338
Again I am using Jeff's NINJA study framework for REG. I really like it a lot and feel like it is better than the study plan Becker suggests. If anyone is curious, head over to http://www.another71.com/ and check it out. I believe Jeff has the framework available for free. There are tons of suggestions that are really great! Basically I am going to watch all videos for the entire book. Then I am going to go back through and take notes section by section and do the MCQ as I go. Then I will rewrite my notes for entire chapters and go back through the MCQ. I usually only have enough time to go back through the ones I marked and I wait to do the supplemental questions at that time. I also have Jeff's NINJA notes for REG and will go through those regularly...
I also wanted to share a really great song that I listen to during study breaks. It helps me get my mojo back and is a great motivator...check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/open-happiness-butch-walker/id309023289?i=309023338
July 26, 2011
AUD IS OVER!
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 373
Just finished my exam! I am glad that is over!
I missed work today again because I am still not feeling well. Thankfully I felt well enough to take this exam and I really had no other choice...
Post exam feelings:
I feel a lot better about my exam today than I did about either of the others. I am just not sure if that is a false sense of security since perhaps the reason I feel better is that I have been through this twice already and have 2 passes under my belt. Who knows?!
I think the MCQ went as well as they could given the nature of AUD questions. It seems like I could eliminate 2 answers easily, but deciding between the remaining 2 was challenging on several of the questions. It was a matter of "choose the BEST option" so that caused me a little difficulty. I also had one question repeated 3 times and another question repeated twice within the same testlet! I really hope I answered those correctly! I averaged right around 30 minutes per MCQ Testlet.
SIMS...those things are just plain not fun! I was super lucky to have 2 research ones (I hope they both count!) and I really think I nailed them. I was careful to read them carefully and get right down to what they were looking for. Those didn't take much time. Out of the remaining 5 Sims, I found 2 to be pretty fair, another to be manageable and the other 2 were pretty bad...I had to really guess on those last 2, but I didn't leave anything blank. I feel like one would need to have some solid auditing experience to be able to really nail those. I spent 1.5 hours on the Sims.
So with 1 hour and 7 minutes left on the clock I ended the exam. I could have sat there for that hour staring out the Sims, changing my answers, second guessing myself, trying to pull answers out of my head that just weren't there, BUT I felt like I gave it my best effort...I really hope I PASS! I feel like it is possible, but either way, what is done is done...
Moving on to REG tomorrow. I don't want to lose momentum and I know REG is going to be a challenge. A lot of other candidates over at another71.com have indicated that REG (especially the Sims) is a beast! If I take a break now, I will truly regret it...
Happy studying and good luck to anyone else taking this journey!
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 103 hours/Waiting Begins...
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 373
Just finished my exam! I am glad that is over!
I missed work today again because I am still not feeling well. Thankfully I felt well enough to take this exam and I really had no other choice...
Post exam feelings:
I feel a lot better about my exam today than I did about either of the others. I am just not sure if that is a false sense of security since perhaps the reason I feel better is that I have been through this twice already and have 2 passes under my belt. Who knows?!
I think the MCQ went as well as they could given the nature of AUD questions. It seems like I could eliminate 2 answers easily, but deciding between the remaining 2 was challenging on several of the questions. It was a matter of "choose the BEST option" so that caused me a little difficulty. I also had one question repeated 3 times and another question repeated twice within the same testlet! I really hope I answered those correctly! I averaged right around 30 minutes per MCQ Testlet.
SIMS...those things are just plain not fun! I was super lucky to have 2 research ones (I hope they both count!) and I really think I nailed them. I was careful to read them carefully and get right down to what they were looking for. Those didn't take much time. Out of the remaining 5 Sims, I found 2 to be pretty fair, another to be manageable and the other 2 were pretty bad...I had to really guess on those last 2, but I didn't leave anything blank. I feel like one would need to have some solid auditing experience to be able to really nail those. I spent 1.5 hours on the Sims.
So with 1 hour and 7 minutes left on the clock I ended the exam. I could have sat there for that hour staring out the Sims, changing my answers, second guessing myself, trying to pull answers out of my head that just weren't there, BUT I felt like I gave it my best effort...I really hope I PASS! I feel like it is possible, but either way, what is done is done...
Moving on to REG tomorrow. I don't want to lose momentum and I know REG is going to be a challenge. A lot of other candidates over at another71.com have indicated that REG (especially the Sims) is a beast! If I take a break now, I will truly regret it...
Happy studying and good luck to anyone else taking this journey!
July 25, 2011
Tomorrow is exam day!
BEC: 111 hours/Score: 79
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 96.5 hours/Scheduled 7-26
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 366.5
Wow! There is a lot of info here! Not nearly as much as FAR, but still a lot to keep straight. I hope I can pull this off tomorrow. I have completed my final review of everything and tomorrow I hope to be able to understand some of my weak areas a little more (A-4). Overall I fell pretty good about the material...another week and I would feel great, but that is not going to happen...
I did lose some study time because I was sick last night and today. I missed work, but had a hard time using that time to study. I am not sure about making it to work tomorrow as I am stll not feeling well and don't want to risk missing my exam because I didn't rest. We shall see how I feel in the morning...
My test is at 5:00pm and I can't wait for it to be over! Wish me luck cause I will need it :)
FAR: 159 hours/Score: 78
AUD: 96.5 hours/Scheduled 7-26
REG: 0 hours/Scheduled 8-31
Total Hours Sacrificed: 366.5
Wow! There is a lot of info here! Not nearly as much as FAR, but still a lot to keep straight. I hope I can pull this off tomorrow. I have completed my final review of everything and tomorrow I hope to be able to understand some of my weak areas a little more (A-4). Overall I fell pretty good about the material...another week and I would feel great, but that is not going to happen...
I did lose some study time because I was sick last night and today. I missed work, but had a hard time using that time to study. I am not sure about making it to work tomorrow as I am stll not feeling well and don't want to risk missing my exam because I didn't rest. We shall see how I feel in the morning...
My test is at 5:00pm and I can't wait for it to be over! Wish me luck cause I will need it :)
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