[hilaryh_88]

So I’m preparing to take FAR for the 6th time, yes 6th. It is embarrassing. I have passed the other parts and this is all I need to be done with this stressful experience. I take my test on July 25th. My AUD expires July 31st so this is really make or break for me. I’m studying hard but a voice in the back of my mind is really saying “you’ve failed it 5 times, you won’t get it this time either.” I’m trying to block that out but I really have a lot of doubt.

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/12
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

[Anonymous]

What has been your study plan in the past? What are you doing differently now? Do you feel that you have trouble understanding the material, or do the wording in the questions trip you up? Identifying the problems first will go a long way in helping you pass this time around.

Keep at it! You are sooooo close to that CPA!!!

[hilaryh_88]

Thanks. I'd say in the past I didn't study enough ,plain and simple. Instead of doing the same old thing this time around I got Yaeger CRAM because I couldn't bear the thought of watching all of the videos over again. I'm taking notes as I go as well and plan to rewrite my notes. My time management has been poor in the past and I was always rushed on SIMS. I plan to leave 90 minutes for them this time. The only reason I haven't in the past is because I thought if I could do well enough on the MC, I could afford to do a little worse on the SIMS, but I don't think that is a good stance to take.

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/12
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

[mla1169]

You have got to tell that voice in your head to go away. There's a voice in there saying “you've already passed 3 exams, of course you can pass one more!” Find that voice and let it be the one that you listen to!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[kb24]

@hilary

mla is right about replacing that negative comment in your head with a positive one. Also your plan to leave 90 minutes for the SIMS is good. They count for 40% of the exam so you don't want to be rushed and make stupid mistakes or not finish. I also have a couple of test taking tips that I found helpful. Stick to your schedule no matter what. For each testlet go through the MCQ as quickly as possible. If you don't understand a question, make your best quick guess or skip it entirely. Mark for review and come back at the end and spend whatever spare time you have working on these questions. If you're short on time, make sure you've entered an answer in each one (who knows – you might get lucky) and move on. It's hard to do, but it's better to have enough time for the SIMS than to spend 10 minutes on one MCQ that might not even count. If you find yourself getting anxious during the exam, close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths, and try to relax your shoulders. Relaxing just a little bit seems to help my brain function better.

Good luck! 6 is going to be your lucky number.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[wantmylifeback]

@hilary, I think your plan to leave ample time for the Sims is a good approach. I really wasn't ready for FAR when I took it in April. When I took the exam, I blew through the MC. If i knew it, great, but if i didn't know it or have a clue, I took my best guess and quickly moved on. I got to the Sims with 2 hours remaining. This left me with soooo much time that I could research every Sim if i didn't know it. I'm not sure if this would work for everyone, but just my experience to pass along. Good luck!!! You'll nail it this time!!

BEC - 83 (10/22/10)
REG - 87 (11/30/10)
AUD - 76 (02/26/11)
FAR - 79 (04/26/11)

[hilaryh_88]

@kb24,wantmylifeback,

Thanks for the tips. I will take that advice. I'm so paranoid about having to just go on past MC question that I could likely get with a little more time, but I am really starting to believe that I have to leave plenty of time on the SIMS to do well on them to have any chance of passing, no matter how many MC I get right. I saw someone on here post that they were Stronger in all areas of the MC on their score report, but weaker in the SIMS and they still failed.

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/12
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

[hilaryh_88]

Do you think it is feasible to do each MC testlet in 50 minutes, or should I try to do them even faster than that?

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/12
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

[kb24]

If you know the material well, you will probably be able to do the first testlet in around 35-40 minutes. You should allow longer for the next two, though, as the problems should be harder. One other tip that helped me with the SIMS was to look through all of them and work on the ones I knew first. That way, I could spend all my remaining time on the one that I knew would be a problem without having the stress of worrying about any of the others. I did this on REG too, and it helped.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Anonymous]

Interestingly enough, when I took FAR, it took me one hour to complete each testlet. I almost panicked when I saw that I only had 1 hours to do 7 TB Sims. But oddly enough, it was just the right amount of time. I finished them without feeling rushed. But with AUD, I had one hour and a half to do the Sims and I almost ran out of time. Weird, I know!

[Author]

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