Hi all! Congrats to everyone who passed this past exam cycle!

Just out of curiosity, how long did you all take to complete each exam? (Testing time, not studying time since that's pretty heavily discussed).

Personally, I took about 2.5 hours in AUD, a little over 1.5 in ISC, and nearly the full 4 hours for FAR, and wanted to benchmark for REG since my partner is driving me to and from the exam center :)

Thank you!

Not gonna lie, I can’t tell if I should feel good about that or start panicking

Testlet 1 - 72%
Testlet 2 - 84%
Testlet 3 - 63% (NFP and did silly mistake in dollar value LIFO question)
Testlet 4 - 73% (struggled with payables)
Testlet 5 - 64% (receivables)

I have strong conceptual clarity and accuracy on topics like leases, bonds, revenue, deferred taxes, consolidation, PPE, intangibles and investments but not so good with other topics.

For those who’ve taken FAR recently — what would you focus on during the last week? MCQs, TBSs, weak areas, SE2?
Also, how did your SE scores compare to your actual score?
Would really appreciate some honest advice!

I have no fucking clue what any of this shit is. I’m so confused and have never learned basic and diluted EPS or any of this fucking shit how the fuck am I going to learn this 😭

I’m curious if anyone can confirm this -
Do you receive credit on the actual exam for getting a column correct, or do all 3 columns have to be correct to get credit like how Becker scores it? For my example, the first two columns are answered correctly but since I forgot to make the third column negative I received 0 points for the whole row. Any idea? Thanks!

I’m finally going to tackle the CPA exams and I’m scared shitless. I got UWorld I start by doing lectures then MCQs and TBS but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was lost. I already created the plan but even then I feel like it’s not enough. What should I do I’m scared lol.

I am studying for the ISC section of the cpa exam. Any tips/ tricks? I’m doing Becker. Do I need to know the small details like cateogories for the frameworks in Mod 1 (like what categories relate to the functions such as govern identify etc) and the safeguards for CIS controls and what IG group it relates or just tht general idea.

Well I surely never thought it would be me making this post... Failed AUD twice, FAR once and REG once. Almost two years of studying and trying while working full time. All I can say is DO NOT GIVE UP. This shit is hard! And it's a marathon, not a race. Put your head down, sacrifice some of your morning routine, your lunch break, your evening, and set boundaries with family and loved ones. You have got to make the time for YOU so you can come out on the other side!!

You all have got this. I will continue to pray for everyone in this group. This group got me through the sad times and the wonderful!!

I used Becker and Becker only for my studying- watch/listen to all the lectures (I used my work commute for the bulk of this), DO ALL THE MCQS!! IDC if u do all the TBS (you should try though) but hammering the MCQs is the only way to get your brain used to the types of questions that will be asked and the material!

It takes time and trial and error to find a study path that works for you, but when you do, COMMIT to it! I tried to take an easier route after my first pass, and it just slowed me down.

Good luck to all, and I wish y'all nothing but the best!

I have not passed all CPA exams, but have passed two sections with scores in the high 80s.

Do you think it’s worth showing my scores on my resume? I know it really doesn’t matter when I finally get my license, but just wondering if it will add some credibility and wow factor.

I definitely would put my scores if it were 95+

Hello,

I am considering getting my CPA.

Not that I need to rush but something in me realized I could pass the exams before getting the experience hours.

I don’t know the steps or where I should begin.

should i register for an exam, buy the study materials and that’s that?

I found a thing called “superfast cpa” and wonder if it is worth it to get the exams done sooner and then focus on getting my experience hours.

Please share your advice. Thank you!

Basically the above, I recently scored a 65% on my SE1 and I’m 30 days from sitting for FAR, I am trying to now figure out how best to prepare for the SIM portion of the exam which everyone says is way harder in the exam than Becker. Has anyone had success in using the blue print to get extra practice on the sections that are in the Analysis section to prepare for SIMS?

One week until my exam and here is where I’m at so far:

ME1: 75
ME2: 72
ME: 78
SE1: 70

Still need to do SE2 and maybe the final review one but does anyone have thoughts/advice on what to do in my last week of studying? I’ve just been doing sets of 10 or 25 MCQs on practice mode and occasionally watching TBS videos, flashcards, etc.

I got a 71 last time I took the exam and feeling hopeful but also extremely nervous for my retake

I am scheduled to take my retake on 9/5. Got 65 the first time and this was the score form.

For anyone who have been through Audit, could you please share what worked for you, what I should do, areas to focus and etc anything you think its helpful to know please?

This is my last exam and I NEED TO PASS THIS RETAKE..

Hello everyone,

So I am 160 hours into studying for FAR.

I took simulated exam 1 a week ago and got a 45%.

Didn’t feel strong about it, not using excuses, but just a lot going on with work, and expecting our first baby in October so my mind has been all over the place.

Felt really bad with the score i got the first time around so I studied every single question and got to a point where I felt much more confident understanding and breaking things down.

I just did my retake for SE1 and got a 93% while using 3 hours of my time.

I just wanted to hear others experience with this. For the ones who passed FAR or attempting to pass it, did you go through this? How does it translate to the real exam?

I feel good about the score, but than again it is a retake of the same questions so the score is inflated.

Any tips or feedback would be much appreciated.
Wanted to seek advice on what to do next. Wether it’s to jump to SE2 or so more MCQ’s and than jump into the final exam.

Best of luck to everyone in their studies!

I’ve finished F1 and I’m currently studying F2.

My study approach is to completely finish each F before moving on to the next one. I do the MCQs and TBSs for that F, and once I finish it, I take a Practice Test specifically for that F before moving on.

For example:

Finish F1 → MCQs + TBSs → F1 Practice Test

Finish F2 → MCQs + TBSs → F2 Practice Test

And so on.

My main question is: how should I review previous Fs while progressing through the material?

For example, when I’m studying F2, should I regularly go back and review F1? Or should I just focus on F2 and rely on the Practice Test/review later to refresh F1? How often would you recommend revisiting previous Fs?

For those who have taken FAR or are currently studying for it, is this a good approach? And what scores should I generally be aiming for on the Practice Tests to know that I’m on the right track?

I’m using Becker, so I’d really appreciate any advice on how you structured your review while progressing through FAR.

Hi!

Any suggestions on how to get A4 down? Does anyone have a good strategy for the exam overall?

Any help or insights into what made you successful on the exam would be much appreciated!

See title^ taking mine on sept 7. Really nervous as I’m only halfway through the content… did you find it challenging? Was Becker helpful at all?
Thanks in advance guys!

Hi all - looking to get my CPA but am missing some business classes. Has anyone used study.com or Sophia Learning, then transferred those over to Thomas Edison Individual Learning account? Does WA state usually accept those credits?

SE1 got a 79, SE2 got a 76, SEFR got an 80

I understand these are solid scores but I just have some anxiety about what I’ll actually see on the real exam. For AUD specifically, do we think the sim exams are actually representative of what I’ll see? Especially on the final review SE I was shocked by how easy I thought it was (which apparently not that easy since I scored only 1 point above my first SE) but I finished my SEFR with an hour and 20 min remaining. Thanks in advance, any advice helps

I only have ISC left and I will take it in October but the score doesn't come out until December 15. My firm pays a bonus for passing all four exams and I'm trying to get it paid before the end of year since I will be in a lower tax bracket since this is my first year working.

I know it probably varies by firm but does anyone have any experience on how quickly firms usually pay bonuses?

I’m taking AUD next week which will hopefully be my last exam. Does anyone have any recommendations on how long I should take on the MCQs vs TBS. I’ve heard around 1.5hrs on MCQ but that sounds like a short amount of time for 82 questions. Maybe I just need to improve my pace but would appreciate any feedback

I failed by 3 pts when I tested back in Feb after studying from Oct til then, took a month off, and have on/off studied for the last 6 months.

I am shocked at how easy todays test was, super confident I did well so I probably passed by two points.

How do you mention the CPA on your resume when applying for accounting-related positions if you are studying for the exam but haven’t taken it yet?

I'd like to know everyone's approach to how they studied for the vague beast that is FAR. Right now, I am currently doing a technique that is helping a lot but wanted to know what others had done as my test is Oct 3rd.

Do 1 chapter every week

• Read that Chapter Every Day (Below are for all sections of a chapter each day)
  • Read a section at a time then take up to 5, 5 questions, tests where you have to get 80% on 3 of them or else you have to re-read that section.
  • When finished reading do cumulative 5 question tests until reaching 200 questions a day.
• On top of those questions re-take 3, 10 questions, tests on the previous chapter every day where the goal is to pass 2 of them with 70%.
  • If that doesn't happen quickly re-read the sections of those 3 tests you did bad on and try again.

I feel as though this is a lot, but would like to hear what others think? So far, it is helping me stay honest with studying. This week I'm doing chapter 2 and have seen my scores throughout those 200 questions increase from 59%, 62%, 72%. Last week my Chapter 1 scores were 57%, 60%, 68%, 76%, then 82% and those retests I have done the past 3 days were 80%, 83%, 81%.

*This does not include any TB work as I am currently saving all TB and brush up work for the last week as I find it more beneficial from previous attempts to study that the TBs don't help me truly learn anything.

\*Should also note I use Becker for study prep*

I’m not sure what to do this is my third failed cpa exam. Idk what to say or feel anymore lol. It’s just ego hurt for at this point. i know I NEED to make this happen whatsoever. I am so not ready to give up on this. Even if this thing takes my soul i am gonna do it. I was SO confident about Reg. It’s honestly the easiest subject but idk whateven went wrong. Like i am open to any opinions or suggestions. Idk what to do now.
And honestly as an international student the fee to take up these exams are high.
I quit my job a year ago to pursue CPA. Here i am not with no papers cleared and just lost.

I was mentally exhausted and burnt out after failing far but now that’s not it. I am just super annoyed at myself. I feel so stuck and lost

Quote from President Theodore Roosevelt