[lab2008]

Hello,

I just took my FAR exam yesterday afternoon and I actually am thinking about continuing to study. I was just curious if anyone else does this because I feel like it’s a bit crazy. I’ve always started studying for the NEXT section immediately after my exams but hat I don’t know if that was a good idea because then I didn’t want to go back and study the old one if I didn’t pass, but that’s in the past for me for now.

This is a little different because FAR is my last section assuming I don’t lose credit for Audit on August 4th. I feel a little crazy thinking about continuing to study because if I passed, I would be done forever. But I almost think it’s a good idea to keep going in case I didn’t, because if I didn’t, I’m going to REALLY be trying to pass the beginning of August and it will keep the info in my brain. It seeps out so fast.

My next topic is what is your study strategy, or what has been a good strategy for restudying an exam, or just in general if not restudying? For the 3 I passed I did the whole Becker course then a ton of Wiley multiple choice. I followed that same strategy 3 times and it led me to pass 3 times but only Audit on the first try and two tries for BEC and REG. When I had to restudy for BEC & REG, I completed the Becker course again in its entirety (even optional questions both times), and then did Wiley test bank until the exam. Oh and for all of these times, I spent A LOT of time on the HW questions because I would go and look up in the book and highlight and take notes for almost all the questions I missed.

For FAR, since I knew it was HARD and I could be done forever if I could manage to pass it, I changed things up. I spent so much time in the Wiley test bank for AUD, BEC and REG that I found it to be easier than Becker and also contain errors. Also, easier in the sense contain more conceptual questions then number questions. Also, I have a problem with how Wiley “randomly” chooses questions. I don’t like how the distribution works out.

So this is when I discovered the Gleim test bank. I was immediately impressed with the progress reports as you can see sections & subsections and your scores. Someone suggested some kind of strategy of going one section at a time (but not the order of the sections in Gleim) and just drilling the test bank until you got an 87. There are 20 sections in Gleim so in trying this strategy of not leaving a section til you made an 87, I spent WAY too much time on just a few sections and realized I needed to change my strategy.

So then I started doing all practice questions sessions. I did so in Gleim and went back to Becker and realized I forgot Becker. Granted, when I started doing Gleim after Becker, I thought I didn’t know anything. So I decide to keep going Becker progress reports so at least I would know something. I also kept working in Gleim and then towards the end I did some Ninja MCQ. I got my becker scores up but couldn’t get the scores up in the other test banks.

I just planned so hard for this section and feel like I went wrong somewhere. If I passed, I won’t be worried about it but if not I don’t even know what I should do. should I go through the entire becker lectures again? should I try doing the gleim course (never did it.) should I do some kind of review where I focus on questions and sections I have issues with. I just don’t think I can skip the “lecture” part of it. I see the Ninja strategy has to use a book instead of videos, has anyone done that? Does anyone know if becker or gleim course prepares them better and if you do use Gleim, do which videos do you use? There are two sets to choose from.

Part of me wants to rebel from becker and just do Ninja MCQ, but I don’t think I will feel ok skipping the ‘instructional’ part of it. Well that’s my whole experience with it, thought I would open these topics up for discussion.

Also, I was reading about the ‘ninja way’ and so you read a book instead of lectures and take notes and rewrite them and also rewrite either your notes from MCQ or the Ninja notes. I tried rewriting the Ninja notes a couple of times and didn’t get very far. Anyone had a lot of success with notes? Maybe I just passed and won’t have to worry about it but I feel frustrated like my efforts to put in extra effort sabotaged me. Maybe it’s just PSTD from the test. 🙂 Thanks!

3 out of 4 passed and sitting for FAR on May 31. Will lose credit for Audit if I don't pass FAR by Aug 4. I love leases and bonds.

[Anonymous]

Hi! I remember chatting with you on the FAR 2Q board! How did you feel about the exam? And when do you get your score?

[Anonymous]

I am having the same feelings as you except my final part is auditing. I passed the other three parts on the first try but auditing is my trouble child. This is my third retest, a 70 the first time and a 71 the second time. The second time, I walked out thinking I had done ok and I did not pass. This time, I walked out thinking that was the hardest test that I have ever taken. I feel like I need to study because like you, I will lose credit for a part in August if I can't pass auditing by july 31st. Just have so many thoughts and feelings.

[Missy]

I continued studying after the 3rd time I took aud, my last exam. Passed it but don't regret a second spent studying while i waited for scores.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[lab2008]

I get my score June 9. At least I think I do. It's actually June 9 or June 18 but last time I was like that and got it the first day. I feel slightly better now. OMG I felt so horrible last night and today. All that studying and taking that test is hard to come off of. I don't even know how I did on it. I definitely knew what was going on but I definitely also had to guess at stuff but I've passed 3 exams and there wasn't any that I felt good about. I've been thinking it could just go either way but i'm starting to think I failed. That's just being negative though. I really couldn't even tell you.

And all my studying and testing has been ok. I mean it's not fun. But the last test I took before this ( REG ), I put a lot of pressure on myself to pass it since it was my second time taking it (after a 74) , and I knew I wanted to have two chances at FAR before the 18 months came up. Studying for this FAR, I decided to kind of go all in, take a bunch of vacation, try other study banks, and I think I messed up my studying some how (by forgetting becker by doing it early – although I don't know how else I would have studied as much, by only focusing certain sections on gleim, I don't know I think I put the hours and in just screwed up.

But just the stress. I was so much more stressed taking the last REG thinking I need to pass since it's my 2nd try and I want to have to tries at FAR. This last FAR, I was thinking if I just put everything I can into it, i'll be done forever. I wasn't scoring very high on test banks even though I studied a lot. It helps coming on here and seeing other people have to try multiple times at this crap, I honestly just feel like I'm stupid or my boss or work will think i'm stupid if I didn't pass.

3 out of 4 passed and sitting for FAR on May 31. Will lose credit for Audit if I don't pass FAR by Aug 4. I love leases and bonds.

[Ineedsomesun]

dpadgett – what are you using to study for AUD? My scores are pretty much similar to yours and I passed the other 3 parts on my first try also. I just took audit for the 3rd time, although the first time I sat for it, I didn't even open the book because I had FAR and AUD on the same NTS and could only study for one. Funny thing was, the first time I took Audit, I scored stronger on the SIMS! My score was a 55 so obviously I did horribly on the MC. The second time after studying about 100 hours, I got a 68 (weaker on both MC and SIMS). I used Roger the second time but I don't blame his course, I just didn't study enough. BTW, I used Roger to pass the other 3 parts. Third time, I used Becker and the structure was better for me. Anyway, keeping fingers crossed as I'm expecting a score between 73 – 80. I'm going to add Ninja notes and MC IF I need to retake in 3rd quarter.

FAR - 78, FEB2014,
REG - 82, MAY2014
BEC - 79, JULY2014
AUD - 68, 86, MAY2015 (ALL DONE!!!)

[Author]

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