[Tardis_Wobble]

Hi,

So through my three years lurking experience of Another71, I know that I am not alone when I am saying that I am in dire straights and absolutely desperate to pass this exam finally on Thursday. I first attempted FAR back in May 2013, I had no idea how to study and waffled about for five months and got such a low score I can’t even type it.

I finally got serious (ish) about studying again in January 2015, and from then until now I have gotten a – 62 (April 2015), 71 (August 2015), and a 65 (November 2015) on my FAR retakes. I tried to switch it up and pass BEC to gain some confidence that I could do this, but unfortunately fell flat with another 71 (ugh really cruel).

I totally messed up with my November retake and didn’t study properly for the 65, but on the 71 I scored Comparable and Stronger (Govt, NFP and Framework) for the MCQ and absolutely bombed the SIMs with a weaker. I use only Ninja materials after my horrible experiences with Becker.

So here I am. 4 days before I meet the beast again. I have attempted 2,521 questions on Ninja MCQ with an average score of a 72 and a trending score between 78 – 79 (Govt acctg bringing me down…I am trending at 81% in all sections but I HATE CAFR so I am at a 70%) . I have honed my study technique so I am always actively studying with no distractions. Even if I have a question and answer memorized, I am discussing out loud (or to my cats) why the answer is the right answer. I review and rewrite notes at least once a day. I have attempted about half the SIMs (no research) with pretty good results. My question is, at this point should I keep hammering the MCQ? I was thinking of maybe just rewriting my notes and keep reinforcing the main points, or buying a cram course. I don’t want to get too burned out and I am not sure the additional mcq’s are helping at this point.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and had success by slowing down the MCQ and instead doing a cram for the final few days? Work is pretty lax right now so I have been able to study during the day with a very short commute time. If so, can you recommend a good CRAM course? Money is not an issue I am willing to do anything to get this passing score and finally pass FAR..or any exam, It’s getting really tough to try and keep going after all these failures. I have completely owned my lackluster study techniques for the past exams…but this time I have tried so hard. I really do want to be a CPA and I’m not going to give up but I know I’m not alone in saying how hard it is to keep trying after not yet seeing a pass for any of my sections 🙁 I’m so tired of being embarrassed and beating myself up for trying to pass FAR for over a year and remaining unsuccessful.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you 🙂

FAR - 76 - [4]
BEC - 71, 73, September 9 2016
AUD - July 28 2016
REG - October 2016

Black coffee, stress, and cottage cheese pancakes!

[Raffyfael]

IMO don't even study the last 2 days before your test and try to relax. Sounds like you're well prepared at this point. Be confident, you got this shit. Take the test, don't let the test take you 🙂

FAR - 40, 74, 80
REG - 71, 4/2/16
AUD - 5/9/16
BEC - 5/31/16

[Operation_CPA]

From the looks of your post, you've done everything you need to do to be successful – especially that MC count. My best advice is go in feeling confident. Use your final few days to sharpen up on the major topics / trouble areas. Best of luck!

[Credit Revenue]

I mean if you want the motivational approach. Learn the government… Those are free points. Keep doing lots of MCQ's until the day before. The day before maybe read over your notes for a hour. Then relax and get a full nights rest. Keep pushing yourself. These are challenging for most of us. If you still have some time keep cramming. Then pass it and move on.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Matt Douglass]

This will be my first time taking FAR (or any exam), but the encouragement I can give is that you have a solid chance. If you read some of the NINJA trending vs. Actual scores lots of people have passed with trending scores in the 70s.

I'm in a similar position, taking it on Tuesday and trending 80. I've done all the Wiley CPAexcel questions + 750 Ninja questions for a total of 2600-ish.

I'm pulling for you to pass this thing!

MS, Accounting - Done!

FAR - 83 (CPAexcel/Ninja MCQ)
AUD - 87 (CPAexcel/Ninja MCQ)
REG - 10/16
BEC - 11/16

[kyle.brown]

I have a week before my retake with FAR. I am about half way done with the Roger Cram for my second time through. I will finish this week up with knocking out MCQ and SIMS like there is no tomorrow and reading Ninja Notes another 5 times at least.

FAR - Passed 4/2016
AUD - Passed 11/2015
REG - ?
BEC - 05/28/2016

[CPApracticer]

hi tardis, I was on the same boat as you, check out my signature. here are a list of a few things I do to finally pass far:

1. Don't study for another section until you pass FAR. that way if you fail it, you can continue where you left off
2. after you go through ninja once, go back spend 2-3days going over your missed questions
3. read the becker chapters and write notes in your own words. i did not read word for word in all becker chapters but I did when it came to govt and nfp.
4. spend a few days doing just sims, and look through important concepts in the book where it might show up in sims. studying JEs will prepare you for sims as well
5. i was doing 3hrs of study after work, which is about 80-100mcqs a night. and doing 8 hours of studying each day on weekend. i got off work at 6:30 and had an hr commute. usually study from 9PM-12AM
6. dont let anything outside of family and work distract you from studying: skip parties/flirting with girls. you can still go to the gym to take a break from studying
7. the day before your exam should be relaxing/reviewing. if you have to work that day, see if u can work from home

i think you are on the right path with those scores on ninja.

F: 54 (4/13) 60 (4/14) 67 (9/14) 66 (10/14) 63 (11/15) 79 (2/16) PASSED
A: 60 (5/13) 80 (4/16) PASSED
R: 60 (7/13) 61 (2/15) 70 (4/15) 77 (7/15) PASSED
B: (6/16)

[Claudia408]

kyle.brown – which review course did you use for your first FAR attempt? Roger Cram as well?

BEC - 75 (3x)
AUD - 78 (3x)
REG - 67, 66, Aug 1
FAR - 54, Sept 8

[Flurpleperp]

FAR is all about the sims. You can't pass the exams if you don't pass the sims (I scored weaker on MCQ and stronger on sims and passed).

Get through MCQ's as fast as you can (you should do fine based on the amount of studying you've done) then use the supporting materials to look up the answers to the sims. Most of the sims can be found word for word in the codification.

[Credit Revenue]

I am familiar with SIM's as I have passed a couple of sections, but would you give me an example of how this would work for FAR? I understand the research ones and using the codification. Give me an example of a non research and your thought process if you would.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[CPApracticer]

@Flurpleperp if you had a passing score, they do not provide you with a score report showing how you compared to passing candidates

F: 54 (4/13) 60 (4/14) 67 (9/14) 66 (10/14) 63 (11/15) 79 (2/16) PASSED
A: 60 (5/13) 80 (4/16) PASSED
R: 60 (7/13) 61 (2/15) 70 (4/15) 77 (7/15) PASSED
B: (6/16)

[hasy]

I did not read other comments. But I agree with the DAY before the test. Go watch a movie, maybe not a drink. From now to the exam, do every question you got wrong. You got it wrong for a reason, so make sure you don't get it wrong again, EVER. If there's a pattern in your wrong questions, review and rewrote notes in your weak areas. I would keep doing SIMS.

And really, keep writing journal entries for EVERY problem. I just took it 2 days ago. There were 2 sims that was basically ALL journal entries.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Author]

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