[Anonymous]

Hi all! I was just curious if anyone plans on purchasing new textbooks for the 2017 changes. I took FAR back in October but failed horribly, so the tentative new testing date is in May. I’m wondering if it’s worth it to purchase a new book. My old one has all the highlights and notes in it already, but maybe at this point since I’ll be studying for FAR several months later I should start fresh? What do you guys think? I’d appreciate any feedback. Thanks and good luck to all with studying!

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on this?

[Mike J]

Especially BECAUSE you have highlighted all over you books, I would look to start over.

Start over. You didn't get a () you got a zero. That was my mentality when I failed, at least.

If that means you'd want to buy a new book do that. If that means finding FREE articles to explain subjects you are completely blown away about, do that. Then just review Jeff's video for 2017 exam changes. That's easy enough to find.

…

Seriously start over. Don't touch your CPA review materials yet. Take yourself back to school and read up on those trouble subjects. If you don't know what accounts have a natural debits/credits when you increase or decrease it COLD, practice with that first. Journal entries are an excellent problem solving tool. You also will have a harder time grasping much of the FAR exam. Trust me.

…

I know this doesn't necessarily answer your specific question. But I wanted to help, given that I have failed FAR before.

[Anonymous]

@Mike – wtf are you talking about…?

[Anonymous]

Somebody else posted about this topic this past week. The person is using Roger, and I am as well. Roger is offering all four new textbooks for 50% off. Well, I gave them $1,950 for all materials good thru March 2017. I don't feel like giving them more money for books that are not substantially different. They do post textbook updates on their website. I am not sure which course you're using?

I personally wouldn't throw out your old textbook. You can have your bonfire after you've passed all four, if you're so inclined. But the stuff you wrote in it may very well help you in the future. BUT…if you really highlighted a lot of stuff, then perhaps just refer back to it for the notes you took within it. Highlighters are poisonous. They're counter-productive, and most people don't realize that. Studies have shown that most people who highlight things *don't even go back and re-read those things they highlighted!!* I could talk more about why blue is worse than yellow and other colors, but I won't bore you with those sordid details.

BTW, a 59 on FAR is not a horrible score. You could have gotten a much lower score, which would mean that you were in very deep water and in that case starting completely over would be a good idea but it doesn't sound like you're at that point. You probably just got a really hard form of the test and will pass next time. FAR usually requires 2 attempts. I pulled 62 on FAR in January. I wasn't prepared. I will get it next time…especially since it will have fewer MCQ.

[Mike J]

@CPAtheThird

You sound like a troll.

What I wrote was very clear. It might not be helpful to buy another review textbook. Instead, research topics on the exam online for free that you struggle with a lot. Then when you're comfortable with them, find a video (eg Jeff posted one here) that summarizes the exam changes since last year. And then go use CPA review materials to study.

Nothing complicated

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your responses! I am currently using Becker (may add Ninja MCQ later on since I have heard such good things). Becker does release a list of updates (not any for the April changes from what I can see), but by the time I plan to take the exam in May, the textbook will have been updated twice. That's why I was curious if it is worth it to start with a whole new book.

[Author]

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