[T-rex]

I’m using Becker for FAR, and because I wasn’t an accounting major, much of the content is brand new to me. I’m struggling, super stressed, and beginning to doubt my ability to pass FAR.

Have any of you non-accountants or non-accounting majors passed FAR using only Becker? If so, would you please share your approach? For example, how much time did you spend reading the material vs. practicing questions. Did you spend much time on sims and final exams?

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Minimorty]

Given your other scores I am surprised you are so concerned.

I majored in Econ and hadnt taken one accounting class until a couple years after graduation, when I decided to sit for the exam. I took an intro to financial accounting course which helped a bit with the journal entries. Becker was great though. I listened to all of the lectures and did the homework for each lecture immediately after listening to the lecture. I went through all of the simulations after going through the lectures once. Then, as a review, I listened to all of the lectures again (a bit quicker though) and did the Supplemental multiple choice questions in Becker. I took one final exam 2 weeks prior to exam and the second final exam 1 week prior to exam. There was nothing on my exam that I hadnt already seen in the Becker material. Also, I completely ignored the ancillary material (I'm not necessarily suggesting this, just mentioning that it worked for me).

Let me know if you have any specific questions. Good luck!

[T-rex]

Thank you, Minimorty, for the helpful information! You did very well on FAR!

I have a few more questions for you if you don't mind:

Did you read the Becker chapters or just rely on the lectures and homework?

How many times did you do the homework questions?

Were you working full-time when preparing for FAR?

How long did you take to prepare for FAR?

Thanks, again, for your help!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[jimboace88]

I was an accounting major, and a damn good one at that. I don't mean to brag, but I do it to emphasize this point–my success is school is not helping me AT ALL to get through Becker's review. They have this unique way of re-imagining things I learned in school; things that I once understood perfectly are now confusing because I'm looking at it the way they present it. There is also a good chunk of material that, even as an accounting major, I have NEVER seen before.

Really, when you think about it, all an accounting major gets you is a boatload of general business courses that are largely useless and maybe 10 or so actual accounting classes, of which somewhere in the neighborhood of 3-5 are actually helpful in the future.

So no worries, you're not far behind!

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[T-rex]

Thanks, Jimbo. I've taken a crap-ton of useless business and finance, and a few accounting ones, so I see what you are saying. I'll just keep plugging along and do my best.

Best of luck on your upcoming exam!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Minimorty]

@T-rex

I skimmed through the text as a final review, but mostly focused on the stuff I highlighted from the lectures.

I just did the homework problems once through.

Yes, full time job, a 2 yr old, and a 2 month old. Crazy times!

Studied for 3 solid months, but

could only log a couple hours a night at best.

[T-rex]

Wow, Minimorty! Congratulations to you! I am very impressed! I do have a full-time job and a 1.5 to 2-hour daily commute, but I don't have any children or significant other, and I struggle with this exam. I know it's much, much, much harder with a full-time job and a family. I'm inspired by your success! Keep up the good work!

Thank you for your help!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[SoonToBeCPAChick]

There are only 3 classes during my undergrad that actually helped with FAR. Intro to Acctg, Intermediate Financial Reporting and Advanced Financial Reporting, I took all three but I could have dont it without taking advanced FR, so there are really only 2 classes that helped. I also got my MSA while studying for the exams which did not help AT ALL! And I agree with other posts that the way Becker presents material is very different from how school presents it. I think Becker does it , because the visual way they present some material is used as a memorization tool, but half the time it just confused the heck outta me!

FAR 10/1/2010 =====> 90
BEC 10/28/2010 ====> 81
REG 2/2/2011 ======> 82
AUD 5/28/2011 =====> 92 ===========>DONE!!!!

[T-rex]

Thank you, SoonToBeCPAChick! I'm feeling a bit more positive now.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Author]

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