I used Wiley 08 and Bisk 09 in four sections.  My congrats to you as well performance62. Your endurance has been paid off. I hope I won't lost mine. Receiving failed scores is just frustrating. I feel like I am wasting my time in getting a CPA license.

I studied FAR for 4 months, since I have never taken government/not-for-profit or advanced accounting classes.  I studied AUD for 7 weeks, doing 6-8 hours 6 days a week, in order to pass.

I also agree with the idea of finding your weaknesses.  For FAR, I could not get my score up no matter how much practice I did until I stopped and looked at the questions I was getting wrong and going back to the materials to find my error.  And I did that 3 days before the test-I was desperate.  It worked.

Outdated materials are fine for some of these tests, like BEC or AUD.  But FAR and REG require current materials.  I would definately use updated materials for these exams.  I would hate to think less than 100 dollars cost you a passing score.

I don't take an exam till I'm ready.  Slow down and master one test before you move on to the next.  If you failed a test, retake it immediately while the materials are fresh in your mind.  Even if you only get 1 test done in that window, at least you will pass it and are making headway.  Cycling through all the tests, leaving a wake of failure behind you is a waste of time and money, in my opinion.  Stop, focus on one test till you nail it, then move on to the next. 

Keep in mind that if you are weak in communication, thats 10 points on the floor.  You will have to score higher in the other areas of the exam to pass.  I know people who pass these exams without the communications points, but they are rock stars in the multiple choice and sims - they KNOW the material, inside and out. 

Thank you oldog new trics. Your explanation make sense. I can see my problem now. I applied for the four sections within six months giving each one 1.5 month to study. Big mistake. I will follow thru your idea of focusing on one section at a time until I pass each one. My sims are stronger, I just have to find out what went wrong with my communication because indeed, 10 points make a difference. 

Thank you so much. Congrats on your passed sections.

Thanks to jeni as well.