[Anonymous]

I just received my first (and last?) failing score this moring. I’m not sure where I went wrong but I do know that I wasn’t prepared for it based on my Becker final exam scores. I read over the material and took tons of notes but I really felt rushed through everything. Basically I don’t think I planned well.

This time I was thinking that I would spend less time on the material and more time hammering out MCQ’s, even if it means purchasing an additional source of questions, like Wiley test bank. The first time, I went over the questions 2-3 times. I felt like I had a pretty good handle on thnigs but obviously not.

Good plan? No?

[xsf123]

Get the Wiley test bank and do questions (in practice mode and read the material when you get questions wrong) until you are blue if the face. 3/4ths down and this has been my recipe for success.

[Anonymous]

I think the general consensus is MCQs over and over and over again. Then do some more. I realize going from 74 to 77 isn't a big jump, but that's what I just did on FAR (if I had gotten a 2nd test like my 1st, I would have nailed it – retake was just way too different).

My re-study period was all NINJA audio and Wiley Test Bank. I didn't go back to lectures at all.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I keep reading different strategies on the board and needed to hear it….MCQ's till blue in the face. I know this is where I screwed up last time. Too much book too little questions.

@k917, I know what you're saying. Thanks. Congrats on getting through this one!

[Anonymous]

Hi DEPBrain,

I think the most important part is to be honest with yourself. Are you a fast learner or a slow learner? When I started my CPA journey, I was taking all the advice from this board and not really being honest with myself as to how to approach the exam.

The advice I got from here when I was just starting:

It takes 2 months to study for FAR, put in 30 hrs a week of studying, do not do simulations practice because they cannot really prepare you for the real deal, skip Becker lectures

So I did just that but when my exam date was approaching fast, I knew in myself that I was not ready. BE HONEST with yourself if you're ready to take the exam and don't rush if you don't need to. I remember I kept pushing the date back until I was really ready to take it.

I re-evaluated the advice I got from here and these are what really worked for me (for slow learner like myself lol):

Take the section when you really feel are ready (in this order: REG, FAR, AUD, BEC)

Do not ignore practice simulations and do NOT skip Becker lectures

Put in MORE (productive) hrs if you need to

Supplement your Becker materials to help with the understanding (Wiley for REG, CPA Revieforfree for Audit & Ninja notes)

Do not re-do the items you already know, work on the things you are weaker on

Be honest with yourself and know your capabilities

If you don't get the chapter you're working on, MCQ will make you understand

Re-read the book at least 3 times!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not lose hope!

Buy red panties (jk)

Sacrifice, if you really want this bad!

HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF! This is more of a mental challenge than anything.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

MCQ FTW. Audit and FAR are my prime examples. I went through Becker for both, took the exams, and got 74s on each. I was going fast, so went through the other exams, then came back to AUD. I rewatched the lectures and HW for Becker, and got a 73 on AUD. Said screw that and just did MCQ and got an 85 on my third AUD attempt. Then moved to FAR, which I originally took in August of 2011. All I did was practice Becker MCQ, retook January 2013 and got a 75 without any other materials.

MCQ is the way to go. Practice practice PRACTICE!!

[nbad311]

Pick up the Wiley book from Amazon or your local Barnes & Nobel (they are cheap too, like $50 a textbook). I like the actual book because it forces me to go slow, read MCQ answers instead of the electronic version where I can click click click to get through stuff as fast as possible. Wiley's MCQs are challenging.

However, I did purchase and implement the electronic testbank of Wiley Qs in my review phase for BEC second attempt, only because it WAS quick and I wanted new questions to do. If money is not a huge contraint, I'm all for buying and using multiple forms of study material

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[Mr. Happy]

Don't be afraid to try different review course. RogerCPA got me through AUD and REG, Becker got me through FAR, and Gleim got me through BEC. I used the Ninja notes here and there too. Different courses work for some people and not others. And yes, do the MCQs over and over.

[WICPA06]

Based on your signature, it looks like this was your first test? Honestly, it's not a passing score but it's not terrible for your first exam. You now have a good idea of what the exam is like to be better prepared the next time. The biggest thing is to truly understand the topics. Really understanding the topics and not just memorizing things goes a long way, especially in FAR. Whatever your learning style is to really understand topics is what you should go with. Whether it's continuing to write notes, listen to lectures, listen to audio, doing mcq or a combination of these. You are the only one that can determine how you learn the best.

Keep your head up. There are a lot of ups and downs in this process. The only way to fail is to quit. Keep working hard and things will come eventually.

BEC - 77 (lost credit), 4/5/13
AUD - 83
REG - 77
FAR - 73, 74, 80! One more to go!!

[Anonymous]

@AnnaMay84, great advice! Although today is a rough day to answer whether I'm a fast or slow learner…hehe. But you hit the nail on the head as far as being honest with myself. I'm kinda kicking myself now for going in and taking the exam knowing I didn't feel prepared. Its tough finding my footing being my first exam I guess. Any experience is good experience. I appreciate the advice.

@bdavis89, that's encouraging, thanks!

@nbad311, money is always an object! The only thing becker's payment plan is good for is making sure you don't give up while you're still paying for it, lol

@WICPA06, Yes, first exam. I don't really know what to make of it at the moment. As of right now I'm thinking more MCQ's is the answer based on how I studied previously. Hopefully thats a part of it. I'm sure there are some other things I can do differently too. We'll see. As far as quitting, I probably don't even know half of that desire yet since I'm still on my first exam but I know I can't quit. It'll eat me up.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, here's what I've done to pass 2 sections now w/Becker and the Ninja Notes/Wiley test bank as a supplement:

Watched lectures either one chapter at a time, or one subsection (i.e. watch 1 hour) at a time. Sometimes I'd go ahead and do heavy written notes from the chapter if I felt like I needed it, or other times I'd just jump in to MC's.

Do multiple choice questions. If I have no idea on the answer I go ahead and use the ebook to look it up. For every question I didn't know (and many that I did), I'd write out word for word what the explanation was for the correct answer. I'd read through the explanations for why the other choices were wrong – if I found some bit of good info, I'd write that out too.

I did not do progress tests, mostly for lack of time and maybe a bit of laziness. I also did not use flash cards for FAR or AUD, but will for REG.

I allowed myself three weeks for review. After completing all the lecture material and all MC, I went ahead and rewrote the Ninja Notes, but otherwise did not really refer to them. I then went back and did each chapter's homework for the 2nd time. Again, if I got something wrong, I'd write out the explanation.

Once I had done all the Becker homework, I started on the Wiley Test Bank. Using the “not seen yet” option, I worked through all the questions once, in blocks of 30. Again, writing out the explanations as necessary – I've used up about 6 pens since I started studying for this exam. Then I went back through and reworked the ones I got wrong.

After finishing with Wiley, I went back to Becker. For a couple sections I reworked the homework for a 3rd time (Government, NFP, pensions). Then I started on 30 question progress tests with maybe a week left before my exam. I worked simulations as well and did the 2 final exams. I also went back through the Becker book and looked at all the Pass Keys and wrote them out if necessary. Finally, I went through and reread everything on IFRS.

For me, writing out the question explanations was key. It takes a long time, but it's been worth it.

I hope that helps!

Anita

[Anonymous]

@AnitaNC, thanks for the post.

I think I have a couple of things I need to do differently. I know in school I was always able to skim through everything, maybe put in a little cram session at the end and come out with an A or B. I think I was using that same ‘reactive', lazy approach to this. Instead, I should have been proactive and more engaged. Basically I need to find a way to WANT to do this vs' just going through the motions. I need to jump in with BOTH feet.

The second thing is being honest with myself. I do know that I am a slow learner. I need to read and write everything out to understand it. The lectures are a good supplement for me but only a supplement that helps to reinforce things.

Third is time. I have all the time in the world at the moment. I do work full time but I wont be in the accounting field until May and I have more than enough time at work to study. So that being the case, I should have used the tools available to me… progress tests, practice exams, etc, and actually listen to what they tell me. I knew based on their results this time that I wasn't ready. I should have postponed my exam until I brought my scores up a bit.

Fourth, more MCQ. It's clear that people are using more and more supplemental material for a reason. I used to think that Becker was all I needed but I've always done better with a couple of different perspectives in the past.

Now I need to find a way to hit the books again and get out of this slump!

[Author]

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