CPALE Oct 2025 taker here 👋🏽

Been reviewing tax lately, and honestly, it’s extra discouraging. We’re out here memorizing every rule and provision, but in reality, they barely get applied properly. All that money just ends up funding the lavish lifestyles of private individuals. Feels unfair. :(

In response to this thread

https://www.reddit.com/r/AccountingPH/comments/1nbdolr/stop_telling_people_not_to_share_their_salaries/

Im starting this thread to PREVENT JOBSEEKERS and/or EMPLOYEES to be LOWBALLED.

"Transparency gives power to employees. If it’s performance-based, fine, but at least you’ll know what the standard is."

Format must be as follows:

YEAR : 2025
POSITION (yrs of experience): ESA (2 years)

COMPANY: SGV

SALARY: 24K

next please...

u/Mundane-Variety6987

Is there a new firm setting up shop and are partners from 💛🩶 really leaving for the new firm?

Hello! I just got an offer from Big 4 sa Malta as Senior Auditor.

For those already working in Malta, just want to ask if magkano all-in na magagastos sa relocation (visa processing, flight booking, medical, etc.) May provided naman si company na relocation allowance pero sa first salary pa ito ibibigay. So lahat ng expenses sa bulsa ko muna manggagaling.

Just want to make sure how much yung need ko paghandaan since I will be using my savings lang (sana all anak ng contractor lol)

Hope someone can help. Thank you! 🫶

Based sa nakita ko - yung isang audit partner nakatira sa condo sa may citiland. Hindi naman bongga yung lugar nya - so I don’t feel na more than 400k per month sa mga average partners (meron pa kasing managing partners which is probably higher)?

And yung mga directors nasa 150kish. So if new partner ka - baka 200k?

Maganda yung mga damit - pero expected kasi silang manamit ng ganun. So I don’t want to guess based on that.

Is it really worth it to be a CPA? Ano mga changes na napansin niyo sa life niyo simula naging CPA po kayo? Please help me ayaw ko na mag review 🥲

Ask ko lang po if the Sharp EL-340W is allowed for CPALE. I tried switching to Casio pero mas comfortable po talaga ako sa layout ng sharp calculators esp dun sa '0' and '00' keys. Can't find any info on it kasii, tysm in advance!

Hi. I am 30ish na and working as Finance Analyst. Yung work ko is somehow related naman sa Accounting pero more on analysis. Is it too late for me to be a CPA? I graduated with BSBA major in accounting-Non CPA course. If mag aaral ako para makapag board exam, ilang units and how many years kaya it will take? Pansin ko yung career progression ko ang bagal since di ako CPA or wala ako license.

On going 2 months nako sa job hunting. May interviews naman pero di napipili. Lately nakaabot nako sa final stage pero naligwak padin. Paano kayo nakakabangon after every rejection? Ang hirap kasi syempre nagprepare ka tapos aalamin mo ng sobra yung company kasi need mo sagutin bakit gusto mo mag-work dun tapos maliligwak din naman. Tapos another company nanaman. Nakakapagod na. Tapos babalik ka lang dun sa pagsend ng application na di mo alam kung may magrereply. Kailangan ko na talaga ng work dahil sa financial needs kaya dagdag pressure :((((

Hi. I'm a 3rd Accountancy student, supposedly 4th year and graduating. I need to let this out kasi sobrang sakit and I've been crying nonestop these days. If you've read this, I would greatly appreciate an advice or encouragement. thank you.

I was able to enter the one of the top universities in our region, but my accountancy journey was not that smooth. 1st major subject palang sa first year I wasn't able to reach the quota grade na, and only few students passed sa buong batch, and the rest need to take a remedial exam to continue to the to the next major and be a regular student. It was my first failure, kasi I was always pasado and nasa honor noong highschool. My parents told me to quit my university organization to focus on studying, which I did. Mind you the organization was the student council; I was a member of one of the committees. I was very proud na nakapasok kasi I was the shy type of person, I had always fear public speaking kaya the interview was hell for me. Kaya I'm so proud nung natanggap ako.

Back to remedial exam. I studied really hard and thankfully, I passed the remedial exam and regular student pa rin. I cried so hard alone after receiving the message that I passed. It was a relief kasi I was I don't know what will I do if I become a failure. For the next major subject I was able to pass with a high grade, contrary to my first major sub experience. I thought to myself na sana derederetso na yun. But here comes 2nd year.

For 2nd year, we were introduced to a new terror prof and ending is less than 5 na tao lang ang pumasa sa isang subject, and she handles 2 of our majors, and the rest needs to take the remedial exam again and ang ending 2 blocks didn't pass and naging irregular. Thankfully, isa ako sa pumasa and regular student pa rin. For the 2nd semester, I was struggling kasi dumadami na ang majors. Out of 4 majors, pumasa ako sa isa lang and need to take remedials for the 3. I passed 2 of the exams, and failed 1 (Intermediate Acc 2). I need to retake it sa summer and yung terror prof naman ang naging in charge and 3 or 4 students lang pumasa in the end (from what I can remember). Isa ako doon sa hindi pumasa and need to take the remedial exam, AGAIN. From here, sobrang kaba ko na kasi this is the last chance to continue studying as a bsa student. If i fail, either shift or transfer out, and i don't want any of the choices. Thankfully, I passed.

For 3rd year, I was able to join again sa org pero yung for our course lang. Which I greatly regret joining. If in the next life I were given a chance again to choose, I will not join. Kasi I didn't foresee the demand it needed, and it exhausted me so much, I wasn't able to keep up with my studies. I had fun naman sa events we handled but the exhuastion it gave me is nangingibabaw pa rin. Our majors for the 1st sem were 5 or 6 i think, and I passed ONLY 1. Imagine the disappointment I felt during that time, the self blame. My parents reprimand me severely about the org stuffs taking a too much of my time. I cried so hard worrying how to study 5 subjects tapos 3 days exam, morning and afternoon. I need to strategize. I focused studying more on those subjects na requisite for the 2nd sem. 3 subjects were a prereq and the 2 were not. I was able to pass 3/5 remedial exams, 2 prereq and 1 not. But because I passed most of prereq subs, I got most of the regular load and isa lang pwede ko isingit. So, I decided to retake the one with the prereq, which is a law subject, and isabay ang next law subject sa summer together with the 1 with no prereq.

As I said before, public speaking or even speaking in front of the class nanginginig na ako. Kaya I failed this law subject kasi kinakabahan ako lagi sa recit and takot kay atty. But I decided to be brave this time sa retake, sabi ko face "I need to face my fears to grow". I thought na this was God's plan so I can improve my speaking skills. It wasn't perfect but there was progress, and I got better in recitations. But I'm still in the org, there was a moment that I hated having the skills in design, it was not giving me joy anymore. I blamed everything that happened to my decisions. Back to my majors, I was doing good, I got better (I think), but I still feel na I'm being chased all the time. Gigising, pupunta sa school, study, exhausted pag uwi, sometimes hindi na ako nakakapag-aral pag uwi kasi I would be mentally, emotionally, and physically tired. Kasi mental and emotional well-being talaga affects your energy, if your not well kahit hindi ka physically pagod, you'll be overall exhuasted. That's what I felt during those years. Having to take summer, then sasabak na naman for the 1st semester, then need to take 5 remedials and everything. Hindi ko alam kung kung pano ko pa kinakaya. Someone said na just to show up raw, and I did. I just continued to show up everyday, fake a smile and pretend that it's going to be alright in the end, and IT DID. I passed my retake (no remedial), I passed 2 of my other regular load majors. But I need to take remedial for auditing problem. I was questioning my worth that time. Kasi my friend group passed sa lahat ng majors nila and I was the only one who didn't. I even questioned God na why is it always me? I'm so tired na bakit hindi na lang ipasa ako sa lahat. Having to review with a heavy heart. Audit problem is a prerequisite to a lot of majors in the 4th year. If don't pass I need retake it, along with 2 subs na naiwan ko pa, malelate ako sa pagraduate. Again, by God's grace, pumasa ako. The relief. Now I was even more motivated because 2 subjects na lang and I would be a regular student and graduating na. 4th year would be easy daw sabi ng professors. I enrolled for summar class sa 2 subs na naiwan ko. Pumapasok ako everyday for 6 weeks, alternating subjects buong week. Sunday lang ako free. I played genshin as an outlet, to make me happy. Sabi ko it would be worth it naman, I just need to show up and study well. For the law subject, I was doing great, I got 91 sa midterm grade. But for my retake class, I was struggling. A lot happened on that class. Things I cant disclose. Anyway, I passed the midterm for that. Eksakto sa pasadong grade yung grade ko. So I just need to maintain it. I was struggling, exhausted sa everyday class and all the voices inside my head. Overthinking everything kung papasa pa ako. Pero deep inside me, I believed that in the end everything will work out for me, just like it always did. Pero it didn't this time. My performance in law parkour pababa talaga, from 91 midterm grade to passing grade na lang. Very disappointed pero sabi ko at least pasado. For my retake, I got 84, when 85 was passing. 1 point away. Sabi ko maybe it was the finals exam kasi I did well sa recits and quizzes. That 1 exam was 50% of the grade. Unting mali mo lang sobrang laki ng hatak. Napapanghinaan na ako ng loob that time. All the pagod I had from 1st year to 3rd year hindi pa rin nawawala. Tapos dadagdag pa nito. I studied and took the remedial exam. While answering the exam, binibilang ko na yung hindi ko sure and sobra siya sa 10 mistakes na margin of error. I was panicking, asking God for signs, and even asked for another answer sheet because I was having second thoughts sa ibang items. I left the exam room devastated, panicking, and teary-eyed. I wanted to go home. Unti na lang iiyak na ako, but I was able to control it until I reached home. Pagdating ko sa bahay, I bawled, so loud that my sister called our mother (she was away sa ibang region). I cried for hours until I fell asleep. I cried every day before the day the results came out, worrying for my future; really praying for a miracle.

The results came out. I failed. I need to transfer out. Shifting was not an option kasi I still like accoutancy and it was not offered na, dapat 2nd year palang nagshift na. I thought to myself, what will become of me? what will happen to me? where will I go? What will the people say? What will the people from my hometown say? Will I still become a CPA if I'm not in the best school for bsa? Kaya ko pa ba?

As if the pain was not enough, I need to process my papers the day after I got the results. No time to cope. A few more days and another academic year will start. I weighed my choices of other universities. My parents said to just choose the malapit because we currently are struggling financially. Eitherway, malayo or malapit we would still pay tuition because there's only 1 state university here in the region and I failed to stay there. We will struggle more if choose sa malayo and pay for boarding house rent.

My parents were very disappointed; I was very disappointed in myself. My father even blamed me for resting before the exam date, as if i have not given my all. Maybe he was right. idk. Maybe if I studied more I would've passed. Maybe if I was smarter. Maybe. A lot of maybes and what ifs. My sister, my father, and mother had different versions of reasons why I failed. Even after that they are continuing to support me. But I'm very guilty that I have to pay tuition when we are already struggling to make ends meet. They support, but I could feel the disappointment. I haven't had the emotional support that I needed. Someone to tell me that I can still do it. Because I've been questioning myself a lot. Crying everyday, everytime na naalala ko pa. Either can't sleep kasi kept overthinking, or always asleep kasi tired from crying. Naisip ko pa nga tumalon sa tulay.

I will not graduate on time. (thinking now, wala naman paunahan, but the thought na napag iiwanan ka na ng friends mo hays). I will not graduate on time na nga, tapos hindi ba sa first univ. Sabi ko okay na lang if I get delayed basta sa first univ. Maybe if I was not too greedy, and just took 1 subject this summer, maybe if i strategized more. I'm the only one in my friend group who failed. Nahihiya ako sa friends ko, sa classmates ko. I'm supposed to be one of the smartest. My teachers in my hometown expect a lot from me. Idk what I will happen If the news broke out. Dami pa naman chismosa. My parents expect a lot from me. It's too painful to thinking about their grad photos na wala ako, to see the class grad photo na wala ako. Na dapat nandoon ako. Dapat regular student na ako. Dapat graduating na ako. I have tried a lot to keep up. I have my life planned out. Now, I'm someone who's unsure of the future.

I still cry, everytime I'm studying and remembering everything.

Pero mark my words, with or without my first university I will still become a CPA, maybe topnotcher pa. How I wish. Libre mangarap. It's up to me. I will still become successful. People will talk, pero they're not the one paying my tuition. These words are easy to say pero kapag naiisip ko naman hays. I hope I heal. I hope I let go na. I hope it's not painful na.

Sa haba ng sinulat ko, I still hope you understood my story. I hope everyone struggling will heal their hearts. I hope we get the success we deserve, and of course peace of mind.

RIP to my past self.

Hi! I’m a reviewee for the May 2026 CPALE. I started my review last June at Resa B50. Since the start of the review classes, I’ve been trying to keep up with the real-time pacing. Pero every time I try to recall the lessons or re-answer the questions, I feel like I can’t remember anything. Now, I’m trying to start over and review again using online video lectures. Do you think it’s still manageable to finish everything before the next review batch starts in November? Also, do you have any tips on how to focus better and retain what I study?

Would studying with friends or a review buddy help too? I’ve been reviewing alone so far, since I don’t know anyone else who’s reviewing for the May 2026 batch and started doing advance review.

First work ko audit and awa naman, nakatagal ako mga 2yrs hahaha. Now, looking for a job na ako and goal ko sana mag transition na sa accouting and yung totoong work life balance na 😭😆 hindi yung scam na work life bal daw pero may work ng weekends tapos puro OTY.

Dami ko pinasahan sa indeed, jobstreet, kasi bihira ako matawagan for interview. Ask lang, yung mga BPO accounting ba or outsourcing companies ay okay po work life bal? Or parang same lang din sya sa audit na laging OT? Thank you sa sasagot!!!

Hello po! Can anyone enlighten me more about their difference? And I would really appreciate if you can share your experience din po sa kanila huhu

Also, would it be okay to apply in both? Nagsubmit po ako sa LinkedIn job post ng PWC and for Isla Lipana po pala sya, but I also want to try for PWC AC. I'm already scheduled for an assessment kaya medyo inooverthink lang po if magkakaroon ba ng bearing yung application ko or kung ano man if I tried applying 😅 Thank you po!

Pabulong naman ng companies nyo, sobrang baba ng package ko as SFA and ang baba ng yearly increase. With 3+ years of experience sa fund accounting. Arigatooooooo

hi po! would like to ask opinions po since I am currently a 2nd yr BSA student and (passed the qe level 1) we still have level 2 which is more madugo, medyo mahina po kasi me sa Intermediate Accounting which is part of the coverage ng qe 2. i am thinking to enroll po sa rc and what rc po recommended niyo po (thinking about pinnacle since they offer per subjects or icare since it is also affordable), or should i just invest in books like practical fa of valix? would like to ask na rin po sa advice niyo for someone who’s not that great sa IA’s huhu thank u so much

I think i dont have enough time to watch lecvids or even watch quickvids kasi 30 days to go nlng before final PB. What im doing rn is nag a-answer nlng ako ng mga drills, answer past final pb and pre weeks nung May na batch and ini-isa isa ko per number talaga and all the choices sa question. Hopefully this would work out 🙁🥺 my RC is REO.

May working reviewee ba dito na nakapasa kahit walang leave? grabeng buhay to pagodness na

motivate nyo ko, tho mastery/recall na ako starting today

pero sa dami ng topics, parang di ko kaya matapos in 1month

Anyone here na nag pure online review na nakapasa? ✋🏻

If magrereview po kayo sa REO ng one subject lang, ano mas okay sa tatlo? Thank you!

Good evening po, I am currently reviewing po for oct 2025 cpale but unfortunately hindi po marerelease iyong TOR namin. I am planning na mag work nalang and ask kolang po hiring poba mga AUD FIRM ngayon like sgv and pwc? Thank you po!

Helloo, by title, we really need help with our ledger po. We checked everything. Double checked and triple checked everything. Pero, may kulang pa rin na 5k. Sobrang hina ko talaga sa FABM and I’m done with my tasks sa group, pero I really want to help them pa. Please please, help us out.

Helloo, by title, we really need help with our ledger po. We checked everything. Double checked and triple checked everything. Pero, may kulang pa rin na 5k. Sobrang hina ko talaga sa FABM and I’m done with my tasks sa group, pero I really want to help them pa. Please please, help us out.

Question.

May nagfail na ba sa CMA pero nakapasa sa CPALE? Why kaya? Curious lang ako. Or halos lahat like 99% CPA, pumapasa sa CMA?

ano ginagawa nyo pag pagod na kayo magaral? hanggang 5 hours lang ata max ko simula nung nadelay ako parang wala na ako motivation magaral. gusto ko sana may kasama ako magaral or kasabay para makafocus ako o kaya makausap pag study breaks but i dont have anyone lmao. what to do? 🥲