[nshah1824]

I’ve been studying for this since June. I first studied June-August and took it then and ended up failing (63). Then I started my full-time big 4 job and studied at the same time and from mid Sept-beginning of November and just found out I failed again (62). I’ve been using Becker and Roger study materials. I’ve literally gone over everything, all lectures, all supplemental lectures, all m.c., all sims, written my own notes, gone over flashcards. I just don’t know what to study anymore. I was considering getting NINJA but not sure if its the same question bank as Roger and Becker. Any tips to help me pass PLEASE?

[isa.rojas333]

Hi Nshah1824. So sorry to hear you failed FAR for the second time. I also failed FAR twice (68 and 69) and passed on my third try. For my third attempt, I ordered Ninja MCQs and used the Gleim book and prep course. I did not watch videos or read through the entire book, I just simply went straight to the MCQs. If I didn't know the answer to a question, I would go to my book and read the specific paragraph relating to the question only and then try to answer the question. I read through the explanation of why I got it right or why I got it wrong. It's a VERY slow process, on average I was only able to do 20 MCQs per night but I felt like I was truly absorbing the information not just memorizing the answers. Three weeks before my exam, I switched to Gleim MCQs and I did as many SIMS as I could. I also created a self-exam with questions from the main topics discussed in the book and tested myself on the process rather than the answer. I passed my third attempt with an 87. I used this same exact method for the other three parts and passed all of them on my first attempt. While this may not work for you, I really hope that you can find what does. Best of luck!

[ak_cpawannabe]

Hello, sorry you did not pass yet. I took Far twice. Finally passed on second try. How I studied after I failed first time: I went to test bank and did all questions for each section. For example, one day I did all inventory. Next day all cash. Next day A/R section questions. Etc. So I was slowly going over each section mcq in my study materials. Where I saw that I was making same mistakes, I read chapter again or watched video. It took me good 2.5 months to do questions every day like this. I think I did 93% of questions, which is over 3000 questions in Wiley Cpa Excel. I really felt stronger and on practice exams got average score of 80. Just keep going, this is a test of determination. Good luck!

[Jenny]

@Nshah1824 I am the same situation with you, so disappointed after I found out FAR and failed again. I did all the MCQ and watched plus videos in Ninja, and I studied 6 weeks.
so now I need to change my strategy. We will get it there! keep going!

[RaulB]

@Ak_cpawannabe- I want to ask you a question. How did you study the first time that made you fail?

[Maggie]

@nshah1824 I just passed FAR on the third try. This is how I got through it..

During the actual exam, I know when I'm being asked a question that I don't really know… I write that topic down on the scratch paper… Once I'm completely done with the test but before I leave the test computer, I look at that paper and I memorize all the topics I was asked about but didn't fully know (things I made a guess on, etc). When I get into my car, I write those down in my phone note pad.. Those are the topics I KNOW I need to go back and master.

I then go back and re-do all the areas but really focus on those weak areas that I was tested on and master those..

This is how I went from a 65 to a 70 to a 79 for FAR. We need to master our weak areas as best we can, but there is also an element of gamble because you never know what they'll test you on, you might get questions on your strong topics and you might get a lot on your weaker topics.

AUD- 74 (2012), 72 (4/20/16)
BED- 7/6/16
REG- TBD
FAR- TBD

[nshah1824]

Thank you all for your input. As far as my study strategy has been I usually go through the lectures, then the supplemental skills lecture, then do the questions for each chapter. I wrote down the becker notes as well as my own notes for questions that I got wrong and why I got it wrong. My 2nd attempt, I went through my notes, and drilled through m.c. and sims with heavy importance on sims since that showed up as weak on my report. I just don't know what to do strategy wise for this 3rd attempt. Are there any other resources I can go to that can improve how I score on sims? I feel like the becker sims are easier compared to the past 2 tests I've gotten because they have so many exhibits to look at. Any further suggestions will be appreciated.

[ak_cpawannabe]

Raul,
I failed with 70 the first time. I think it was due to poor time management on exam. Took too long on mcq. Then looked forever for research problem and didn’t find it. Then left 2.5 sims blank. How I studied: went over every chapter. Took notes. Did everything software offered. Did many questions daily but not all because how crazily time consuming it can get to read, watch videos, to take notes, and do questions. So at the end, I completed only 65% of test bank.

Second time around on exam I completeled mcq portion very quick maybe in 1.5 hrs. Remaining time was enough to work on each sim problem. They were terribly hard, but thank you cpa gods for letting me pass:)

[JRG24]

Everyone learns differently, but here is what I did. MCQs. You have looked at the material enough. Sign up for Ninja and start doing MCQs. lots of them. Do them with purpose, explaining to yourself why an answer is correct if you know it, and make sure to read the explanations for the ones you get wrong. You can use the detailed progress report to focus your studying. let the MCQs guide you to your weaknesses. If the explanations from the MCQ's don't make it stick, then return to your study materials for that one thing only. Otherwise, continue pressing on with MCQs. This way you are always working on your weakest areas.

[Author]

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