[Tarheelgirl]

I am currently studying for my first exam FAR and shooting to take it in April. I am currently studying with Gleim material and on the 3rd unit. When doing MCQs, I have seen people agree that you should be scoring an 80% or higher before moving on. That being said, first 2 units I would do MCQs until I got an 80% twice in a row then move on to the next study unit. But a lot of the questions would reappear on those multiple quizzes that by then I had memorized the answer. (Although I would either work out the problem by hand or in my head anyways so I knew how to calculate/understand it). I guess my question is when should you feel comfortable to move on to another section once you are getting an 80% on the MC quizzes? Sometimes I feel like I don’t understand the concept completely but would get over the 80%. I don’t want to spend so much time on one section when their is a lot more material to cover and also that could also help understand topics at the beginning of the chapters.

Any advice would be appreciated so I don’t get behind schedule.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

@Drake11 – Thanks for the tips. I just finished unit 3, starting on the next one I will go in with a different strategy to see what I feel comfortable doing. I am not a good test taker and memory isn't that great. Lucky you! I hope I can even get somewhat close to your scores 🙂

@Ajaz0810 – I get the same scores you do when I follow the Gleim study guide. That is why I feel like I am not doing good, because of the low scores. At least someone is in the same boat as me. My quizzes combine for around a 66% too, hope that is not telling us both something. More MCQs…boo!

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

@Ajaz0810

Post what you get on FAR, would love to know your thoughts and how well Gleim prepared you. 🙂

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

@Ajaz0810

Post what you get on FAR, would love to know your thoughts and how well Gleim prepared you. 🙂

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

Hi tracey, i'm in the same boat, i'm a horrible test taker. However, i never take a MC unless i've reviewed my notes, because i don't think it's helpful to waste my time trying to find out a ‘weak' area on something i haven't even read. You have to find out in what context they want you to use the information You'll see what you already know as you're reading.

My plan is to take notes, review my notes once, then take a multiple choice and extend my notes on what i got wrong. Review again then take MC, and do sims. I do this for 2 sections at a time. I'm not sure when i'm gonna fit in time to rewrite my notes, i may do that at the very end because i dont want to take up too much time, i want to be able to get through all the info. I want to knock out 3 subunits a week if possible, but i know this is aggressive because i'm bound to get stuck on something. In my study time i do include the time to clarify definitions etc, i don't move on until i understand it all.

I picked Gleim because so many people said their test questions are harder than the real thing. Doing the MCQ after reviewing has made me more comfortable with test taking in general. From the GMAT to the CPA exam, i think a big indicator of how well you do is how comfortable you feel with how they ask the question, the scope in which they're resting your knowledge, because you know what tricks they're probably gonna throw at you.

[Anonymous]

Hi tracey, i'm in the same boat, i'm a horrible test taker. However, i never take a MC unless i've reviewed my notes, because i don't think it's helpful to waste my time trying to find out a ‘weak' area on something i haven't even read. You have to find out in what context they want you to use the information You'll see what you already know as you're reading.

My plan is to take notes, review my notes once, then take a multiple choice and extend my notes on what i got wrong. Review again then take MC, and do sims. I do this for 2 sections at a time. I'm not sure when i'm gonna fit in time to rewrite my notes, i may do that at the very end because i dont want to take up too much time, i want to be able to get through all the info. I want to knock out 3 subunits a week if possible, but i know this is aggressive because i'm bound to get stuck on something. In my study time i do include the time to clarify definitions etc, i don't move on until i understand it all.

I picked Gleim because so many people said their test questions are harder than the real thing. Doing the MCQ after reviewing has made me more comfortable with test taking in general. From the GMAT to the CPA exam, i think a big indicator of how well you do is how comfortable you feel with how they ask the question, the scope in which they're resting your knowledge, because you know what tricks they're probably gonna throw at you.

[Tarheelgirl]

@alex5904 Thanks for your response. I'm glad I have someone that is going through the same thing as me at this time. I like your study technique. I am working on Unit 4 at the moment for FAR and redoing how I have studied in the past to see if it helps any. I have thought about how I need to study best and pretty what I had come up with is how your are doing it. Take notes, review notes, MCQ, add and then review notes, then more MCQs and a sims. I will see if my scores turn out better changing up my studying technique.

Knocking out 3 units a week will be tough. That is just about what I am going to have to do so I can take my exam in mid-April. I know these sections are bound to get harder as we go along. I even this week got out my college accounting textbook, because I figured it might simply things down a little bit than how Gleim has it.

Good luck in your studying!

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

@alex5904 Thanks for your response. I'm glad I have someone that is going through the same thing as me at this time. I like your study technique. I am working on Unit 4 at the moment for FAR and redoing how I have studied in the past to see if it helps any. I have thought about how I need to study best and pretty what I had come up with is how your are doing it. Take notes, review notes, MCQ, add and then review notes, then more MCQs and a sims. I will see if my scores turn out better changing up my studying technique.

Knocking out 3 units a week will be tough. That is just about what I am going to have to do so I can take my exam in mid-April. I know these sections are bound to get harder as we go along. I even this week got out my college accounting textbook, because I figured it might simply things down a little bit than how Gleim has it.

Good luck in your studying!

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

I also plan on taking my test mid april too, i'm hoping that i can knock out all parts of the CPA exam in 8 months (prob not).At 80% i'm gonna move on, i read it's better to stick to your schedule with how many units u want to get through, than dragging out your time. Like i just got done doing multiple choice for Unit 1&2 and i'm sure for one more week i could continue adding notes of new info i got just from MC. But i'm gonna take what i have, make note cards tomorrow and just move on because at this rate there's no way i'd have time to review, let alone rewrite my notes

[Anonymous]

I also plan on taking my test mid april too, i'm hoping that i can knock out all parts of the CPA exam in 8 months (prob not).At 80% i'm gonna move on, i read it's better to stick to your schedule with how many units u want to get through, than dragging out your time. Like i just got done doing multiple choice for Unit 1&2 and i'm sure for one more week i could continue adding notes of new info i got just from MC. But i'm gonna take what i have, make note cards tomorrow and just move on because at this rate there's no way i'd have time to review, let alone rewrite my notes

[Tarheelgirl]

@alex5409 Right. Everytime you complete a MC there is always something to add to your notes. I have so many inserts in mine. Sticking on schedule to cover as many topics as possible is better than missing one. I would rather briefly cover it than not cover it at all. Good luck on TRYING to complete the CPA exam in 8 months! My goal is to have it done within a year, I think that is realistic for me. Plus I have to go back and get 4 more credits in school for my 150 hours anyways 🙁

I did purchase the NINJA Notecards, they seem pretty good to me. I have been reviewing with those after I have already completed the sections for a review so I don't forget stuff.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

@alex5409 Right. Everytime you complete a MC there is always something to add to your notes. I have so many inserts in mine. Sticking on schedule to cover as many topics as possible is better than missing one. I would rather briefly cover it than not cover it at all. Good luck on TRYING to complete the CPA exam in 8 months! My goal is to have it done within a year, I think that is realistic for me. Plus I have to go back and get 4 more credits in school for my 150 hours anyways 🙁

I did purchase the NINJA Notecards, they seem pretty good to me. I have been reviewing with those after I have already completed the sections for a review so I don't forget stuff.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Author]

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