[OneTime]

Hey Guys,

I just finished up FAR Lecture 3 today using the Becker Software DVDs. After reading all of the posts on this forum, I am starting to stress. Right now, I am averaging between 60-70 on the homeworks. However, I am not scheduled to sit until the beginning of July.

My question – Once I finish watching all of the DVD lectures, and complete all of the MC questions within each lecture, should I:

1) Take notes on the main concepts in each lecture, and bang out MC Questions until I attain >80% or

2) Bang out MC questions, and go back to the areas I am weak

3) Man up, and do both 1 and 2.

I feel that it is more essential to learn the concepts in FAR, but many people suggest not taking notes on each FAR Section within Becker.

Thanks!

F...... 94..... 7/3/2012
R...... 89.... 8/1/2012
B...... 93.....8/23/2012
A...... 11/3/2012

NY CPA Journey

[SDTrojan1904]

As you know each 3 hour lecture/chapter is broken down into sub topics that can range from 10 mins to 20 mins or even as much as 1.5 hours. First I view the lecture for that subtopic, then do the flashcards for that subtopic, and lastly do the PassMaster questions for that subtopic. Once you've done the questions, write notes for explanations you might forget or create new flashcards for the concepts you feel that you should.

First, Watch the lecture for subtopic: I find this way helpful because the subtopic (if it isnt one of those rare 1.5 hour clips) is just short enough, around 25 mins, for me to focus! As soon as my mind is wandering off, the video clip for that subtopic is done!

Then do the flashcards immediately after watching subtopic lecture: This is where the understanding process starts to happen and since you've watched the entire clip for that subtopic, you can then make better flashcards cus you know how to tie things together as YOU see fit. I used to pause the lecture, create a flashcard if I saw a Becker mnemonic or for something flashcard-appropriate, but then as I resumed the lecture and a few pages later, I realized I could have added more stuff to the FC or wrote it differently to allow me to better understand said material.

Finally do the passmaster questions for that subtopic after doing FCs for that subtopic: By this time, you've created your flashcards and just by reviewing the material to create the flashcards itself, you have seen the material enough to really have an understanding of it. The passmaster questions are there to reinforce that understanding by reading the solutions for every answer.

Once you're done with all that, create new flashcards you feel you probably should (after realizing which MCQ's you got wrong) or write notes on explanations from the questions that you will probably forget. Also, don't hesitate to write notes for questions you got the answer right to. If the solution explained it better than how you concluded with that answer then I would jot it down once again. When writing these notes, I usually box off in red ink the topic in the explanation and then underline in red ink the actual answer. This way the topics and answer of that note pops out when reviewing them days later. I would review these notes at the beginning of each study session

[SDTrojan1904]

Above is a suggestion I had sent to another member since I was also struggling to find a studying technique that would work for me. But the best tip I can offer is that you just have to be honest with yourself when you're studying and really ask yourself if the time you put in were *quality* study hours.

In the past, I've “studied” for hours before but really only a fraction of that time was quality studying where learning/understanding actually took place. I convinced myself that I was “studying” but weeks later it was apparent that I wasn't studying right because I had forgotten everything from week 1. Just make sure you are truly understanding the material and not getting away with a good short term memory because it will definitely catch up to you.

Just be honest with yourself, see what studying methods work and what don't, regularly review past chapters notes/flashcards and do cumulative chapter quizzes every week.

[OneTime]

Thanks for all of the help. I will definitely incorporate the technique you suggested above. I would agree that most of my learning has been short-term, because several days after a lecture I am not retaining all of the material.

F...... 94..... 7/3/2012
R...... 89.... 8/1/2012
B...... 93.....8/23/2012
A...... 11/3/2012

NY CPA Journey

[rp 12]

Hello Everyone,

Currently this is my study pattern for FAR-

1. Watch and listen to the lecture once and again for the parts I didn't understand.

2. Do all the homework problems. The ones I get wrong will go over it again and start from the beginning of that chapter subtopic.

I started studying last week and since past Thursday I have slacked off (because of graduation and my parents visited me), but will get back on track from tomorrow. Am little nervous w/ my preparation and not confident about my study plan. Any insight from your end will be helpful and I will try to modify my prep strategy according to that

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[OneTime]

@Ronak

I decided to implement SDTrojan's strategy. He made a salient point that when taking notes, a switch flicks on in your mind. Prior to taking notes, I was hovering around 50-60% on my first time through the Becker Mutiple Choices Questions. Since taking notes I am hovering around 70%, on my first time through the questions. It was a drastic improvement, and I feel that I am retaining more information. However, it takes me a couple more hours each day, in order for me to stay on my study schedule.

F...... 94..... 7/3/2012
R...... 89.... 8/1/2012
B...... 93.....8/23/2012
A...... 11/3/2012

NY CPA Journey

[Author]

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