14th and 15th were a write off for me.... Maybe this is good luck, but I injured/fractured my foot a few weeks before the CFE... So I went to the hospital on the 14th to see a doctor while everyone was writing...
To be honest, it was another blessing...
Because I didn't plan on writing it...
I did contact CPA about not writing it,, but they never got back to me because they had this we'll respond in 5 days automated message thing....
I spoke to an CPA officer and they asked me for proof that I went to see a doctor and that I had an injured leg.
So I immediately responded, because when I was at the hospital, I asked the doctor to give me a note and he did.
I should have my money refunded to me for day 2 and 3. I'm not sure how that will work... But I was told it will work...
I will be writing Day 2 & 3 in 2018... IF!!! I'm truly blessed they won't count it as an attempt... But I dunno... We'll see...
Monday 18 September 2017
September 13th, 2017 - CFE Day 1 (Round 2)
We WERE given a copy of the original case (FYI) lol...
So I took an uber there...
Oh man... The uber driver LOVED to talk... And I only encouraged him... ($50 ride - Jheeeeez!)
Not a big mistake....
One HUGE mistake!!!! UPDATE YOUR SECUREXAM the night before your exams!!!!!
I arrived to the exam with 20-30 minutes before it began.
We all put our coats and backpacks in a room (as usual)
Then I walked back to my desk.
And kept reviewing until a supervisor/officer came up to me and said start logging in!
So I tried logging in... but I didn't have access to the exam! *_* because I did not update my Securexam the night before.... T_T
So then a tech support guy comes to me with a USB key and he says the exams are on it. They weren't. He brings another USB key... It doesn't work...
Then the announcer says "Candidates you may start writing the exam"
Then this CPA officer comes by and tries to fix the problem. Unsuccessful. Makes me restart my laptop and what not. Then they're like "Grab a spare laptop" I'm thinking okay, awesome!
Note: Do bring a spare laptop in case this happens to you. But DO rely on your primary laptop and update it the night before because internet is generally cut off right before the exam starts.
So, they give me a spare laptop, it works and I login. By the time I start I am AT LEAST 15 minutes behind everyone else... Not to worry! BECAUSEEEE stress doesn't help at all. :)
So, I just played it cool, and approached the exam with "A CALM AND FOCUSED MIND"
Read through it with a yellow highlighter. And as I was reading, I developed my report. This goes here, that goes there.
Then I read it a second time, this time more emphasis on stuff I was looking for that makes up a report.
I had my situational assessment (crap, I may have written situational analysis... I wonder if they deduct marks for having the wrong CPA way title... possibly... but probably not)
I went through any relevant points... I found that there wasn't any information for me to do a financial ratio analysis! :o Wow. Didn't do that.
I re-wrote the updated mission and vision, talked about what they're about and then I transferred my analysis of the vision into the operating issues, because it's usually not a major issue.
Did a bit of an updated SWOT because it was possible. Focused on changes in the environment. Included a Trends part... I worked on my weaknesses from last time... talked about key success factors (both in the old and new environment)... talked about stakeholder preferences... I actually created something called decision maker preferences which was cool.
Finally, I went through the case and identified the major and other issues.
I found only 2 major issues and few other ones. Maybe I was dead wrong, but I found that only 2 changed the strategic direction of the company and had a company wide impact, these generally tend to be the main two factors of identifying major issues. The "other" issues have components of both a major and operating issue"
So I identified 'em
posed 2 alternatives (mentioned that if we accept one then the opposite is rejected) and if there was another alternative, I talked about that as well.
If their was a required and I really didn't have the information to calculate what they wanted, I mentioned that additional information is required based on the need for new orders blah blah blah
In the end, I finished the exam. I was somewhat happy with my response. I would write more, but I'm really tired at the moment.
So I took an uber there...
Oh man... The uber driver LOVED to talk... And I only encouraged him... ($50 ride - Jheeeeez!)
Not a big mistake....
One HUGE mistake!!!! UPDATE YOUR SECUREXAM the night before your exams!!!!!
I arrived to the exam with 20-30 minutes before it began.
We all put our coats and backpacks in a room (as usual)
Then I walked back to my desk.
And kept reviewing until a supervisor/officer came up to me and said start logging in!
So I tried logging in... but I didn't have access to the exam! *_* because I did not update my Securexam the night before.... T_T
So then a tech support guy comes to me with a USB key and he says the exams are on it. They weren't. He brings another USB key... It doesn't work...
Then the announcer says "Candidates you may start writing the exam"
Then this CPA officer comes by and tries to fix the problem. Unsuccessful. Makes me restart my laptop and what not. Then they're like "Grab a spare laptop" I'm thinking okay, awesome!
Note: Do bring a spare laptop in case this happens to you. But DO rely on your primary laptop and update it the night before because internet is generally cut off right before the exam starts.
So, they give me a spare laptop, it works and I login. By the time I start I am AT LEAST 15 minutes behind everyone else... Not to worry! BECAUSEEEE stress doesn't help at all. :)
So, I just played it cool, and approached the exam with "A CALM AND FOCUSED MIND"
Read through it with a yellow highlighter. And as I was reading, I developed my report. This goes here, that goes there.
Then I read it a second time, this time more emphasis on stuff I was looking for that makes up a report.
I had my situational assessment (crap, I may have written situational analysis... I wonder if they deduct marks for having the wrong CPA way title... possibly... but probably not)
I went through any relevant points... I found that there wasn't any information for me to do a financial ratio analysis! :o Wow. Didn't do that.
I re-wrote the updated mission and vision, talked about what they're about and then I transferred my analysis of the vision into the operating issues, because it's usually not a major issue.
Did a bit of an updated SWOT because it was possible. Focused on changes in the environment. Included a Trends part... I worked on my weaknesses from last time... talked about key success factors (both in the old and new environment)... talked about stakeholder preferences... I actually created something called decision maker preferences which was cool.
Finally, I went through the case and identified the major and other issues.
I found only 2 major issues and few other ones. Maybe I was dead wrong, but I found that only 2 changed the strategic direction of the company and had a company wide impact, these generally tend to be the main two factors of identifying major issues. The "other" issues have components of both a major and operating issue"
So I identified 'em
posed 2 alternatives (mentioned that if we accept one then the opposite is rejected) and if there was another alternative, I talked about that as well.
If their was a required and I really didn't have the information to calculate what they wanted, I mentioned that additional information is required based on the need for new orders blah blah blah
In the end, I finished the exam. I was somewhat happy with my response. I would write more, but I'm really tired at the moment.
September 12, 2017
Went to the library
And worked on my giant template related to Day 1 and inputted all the knowledge as best I possibly could on how to write a perfect Day 1 case.
So I did this. A LOT. I perfected my writing form.
I had to analyze how to identify major issues and operating issues or other issues (which contain both).
Then I came up with how to analyze alternatives...
And also learned as many analysis techniques as perfectly as I could:
e.g. NPV, valuation, profitability analysis...
///** flash back to four days ago **///
I saw this Asian guy sitting at my table reading a VPL... I asked him "Hey, what VPL is that for?" His reply was "Accounting" I asked him if he was writing the CFE too, and he said yes!
So I was like hmmm! A classmate! Cool!
After that we chatted a bit, and it seemed he was ready for all 3 days of the CFE... He was a first time writer. Me? A 2nd time writer...
I was planning on only writing the Day 1 Case...
I said goodbye and went on my way home
///** coming out of the flash back **///
So before I left the library, I saw the Asian guy (Ryan) again studying at his desk...
He kept asking me about where my writing location was, which was Odd because I thought we had time to figure that out.
Then while talking to him, I had the realization... I got the dates mixed up. The CFE Day 1 is tomorrow on the 13th! Not the 14th!
Here's the lesson from this: MAKE FRIENDS! AND EXCHANGE AS MUCH INFO AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!
Honestly, if I never met that Asian guy, I would've tried to write the CFE day 1 on day 2.... hahaaaa XD T_T
So... Yeah, meeting him was a blessing!
Then I went home and studied all the way into the night, again perfecting my analysis techniques and other random stuff I needed to remember.
And worked on my giant template related to Day 1 and inputted all the knowledge as best I possibly could on how to write a perfect Day 1 case.
So I did this. A LOT. I perfected my writing form.
I had to analyze how to identify major issues and operating issues or other issues (which contain both).
Then I came up with how to analyze alternatives...
And also learned as many analysis techniques as perfectly as I could:
e.g. NPV, valuation, profitability analysis...
///** flash back to four days ago **///
I saw this Asian guy sitting at my table reading a VPL... I asked him "Hey, what VPL is that for?" His reply was "Accounting" I asked him if he was writing the CFE too, and he said yes!
So I was like hmmm! A classmate! Cool!
After that we chatted a bit, and it seemed he was ready for all 3 days of the CFE... He was a first time writer. Me? A 2nd time writer...
I was planning on only writing the Day 1 Case...
I said goodbye and went on my way home
///** coming out of the flash back **///
So before I left the library, I saw the Asian guy (Ryan) again studying at his desk...
He kept asking me about where my writing location was, which was Odd because I thought we had time to figure that out.
Then while talking to him, I had the realization... I got the dates mixed up. The CFE Day 1 is tomorrow on the 13th! Not the 14th!
Here's the lesson from this: MAKE FRIENDS! AND EXCHANGE AS MUCH INFO AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!
Honestly, if I never met that Asian guy, I would've tried to write the CFE day 1 on day 2.... hahaaaa XD T_T
So... Yeah, meeting him was a blessing!
Then I went home and studied all the way into the night, again perfecting my analysis techniques and other random stuff I needed to remember.
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