[Anonymous]

I really needs ideas. I have FAR in 13 days. I went thru all of my lectures and I am in the process of re-writing Ninja notes but as I am doing the mcqs (ALL FOR first time) I am missing all of them and getting frustrated. Any advice? Should I try to re-read each section and then take mcq? Should I do a progress test instead of each lectures mcqs? What has worked for you guys/gals? I just feel like I haven’t retained much and I am just starting mcqs and havent done any SIMS. I have all of next week off too!

Any help, ideas, plans?

[ihatestudying]

im feeling the same way with BEC right now…even though i have 2 months to study for it, im still a little nervous tha tim not going to learn, retain, all this info..plus memorize all the formulas….

my advice to you is to do as many multiple choice questions you can from now until test day…read answer descriptions whether you get the question right or wrong.

AUD - 2/27/12 - 76
REG - 5/31/12 - 78
BEC - 8/31/12 - 77
FAR - 12/6/12 - 76

[Nicolec22]

What study material are you using. I am also in the MCQS study section using Wiley. I did 179 so far this week (my goal was 178 a day in order to finish all mcqs but its taking me longer than I though) but today it gave me an error message. Something about Java plug-in and I am still trying to figure out what is wrong and why I am not able to log into my Wiley account. How many MCQs do you do in a day? I have FAR July 9

[Anonymous]

I am using Becker. I don't keep up with a certain number, I am still working on Chapter 1 though. Are ya'll going by chapter or just mixing them all together? I am going to finish chapter 1 today whether it takes me all night. I planned on doing a chapter a day then progress test on weekend and my plan is not working perfectly because I keep getting frustrated plus my work schedule has been crazy this week, but it will be better tomorrow and Im off next week. I am taking a while on each section really reading each question and trying to figure out why I got it wrong. Then I try and go back in each section and re-do the test but still read why it was right or wrong, but I feel like time is running out. Plus I have done zero SIMS!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I am using Becker. I don't keep up with a certain number, I am still working on Chapter 1 though. Are ya'll going by chapter or just mixing them all together? I am going to finish chapter 1 today whether it takes me all night. I planned on doing a chapter a day then progress test on weekend and my plan is not working perfectly because I keep getting frustrated plus my work schedule has been crazy this week, but it will be better tomorrow and Im off next week. I am taking a while on each section really reading each question and trying to figure out why I got it wrong. Then I try and go back in each section and re-do the test but still read why it was right or wrong, but I feel like time is running out. Plus I have done zero SIMS!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think that you are doing ok, if you stick to a good plan and utilize your time well. However, as you get closer to the exam, if you find that you are running out of time and really could use a few more days, if pushing off the exam is an option, perhaps that would be beneficial.

I would suggest: You should go through one section at a time. Did you read the Becker book yet? Review it if you can, and read through (/write over) the pertaining NINJA notes. Then work on the mcqs relating to that section. Read through the explanations carefully, they can be very helpful. Keep track of which questions you get wrong so you can go over those topics if you need to. When you finish one chapter, move on to the next. You can do small progress tests to keep the material fresh in your mind.

Don't let the frustration get to you. It is common to get things wrong. While it is important to review what you get wrong, don't let it take too much time and prevent you from being able to go over the rest of the material. You don't have a lot of time left, so you do need to pick up the pace.

Regarding the sims, I have heard mixed opinions on how helpful it is to do practice ones. I guess it helps in that you get an idea of what the sims are like. However, generally the sims one sees on the exam are quite different… I guess it's good to do a few practice ones, and go into the exam expecting the unexpected.

Good luck!

[jenuno01]

Honestly, I don't think you're doing ok. Unless you're planning on rescheduling, you need to stop re-writing your notes and going HAM on those MCQ's. I've never re-written my notes, I am sure it works for some people… but to do that, you should've planned ahead so that you had that portion done by now.

Anyway, I am a big fan of rescheduling if I am behind, better paying those $30 than failing. Good luck!

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah… forgot to mention that doing as many mcqs as possible is really important. They will help you understand the material better.

When I was running out of time, I would briefly review the material, so I had an idea of what the topic was about, and then do mcqs mcqs mcqs.

I did find writing over the NINJA notes helpful. When I was pressed for time I just read through them, but they were very beneficial.

I probably rescheduled most if not all my exams as it got closer to exam day… I agree with Jenuno… better to pay the money than fail…

[jenuno01]

@Acct – yep. The NINJA notes are def helpful, I still think the OP should stop re-writing and focus on doing MCQs and reading the NINJA notes.

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for all your advice! I just did probably 150 mcqs in a QUIET office away from my kids etc. and I am starting realize now how helpful they are when you can really read them and not get distracted! I am going to start hitting mcqs hard per section as I have been today. I really feel somewhat better. I have done each section over and over until I made over 90% then move on. I have already found that I am understanding and getting more questions right the first time just by reading the solutions. I wish I had more time but I will just have to work harder.

I tried re-scheduling and no slots were open that didn't start at 5 PM. I am not a night person, I have work better in the morning.

So yall don't put much emphasis on the SIMS with Becker, if you understand the mcqs you hopefully will understand the SIMS?

THANKS AGAIN

[Anonymous]

I agree with @jenuno01, stop re-writing the notes. I don't think you have enough time to do that right now. Ninja notes are helpful, but I never re-wrote them due to lack of time, PLUS I learn better by reading and practicing MCQs.

Here's what I would do: Do a chapter a day, read the chapter and do its MCQs and SIMs if you have time.

I used Becker and that's what I did in last 10days leading up to the exam. I had watched all the lecture, read the chapter and worked all the MCQs once. However, during my review phase, I found that I had forgotten earlier stuff and I had to read it again to refresh my memory. I did a chapter a day, some took two days…During my exam, I had many conceptual questions and having read the book helped a lot with those questions. For SIMs, be sure to use the lit. tab if you run across topics that are unfamiliar to you.

Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Thank Yall again.

[Anonymous]

@cpa_goal

Are you located somewhere with a few testing centers nearby? I have a few centers within an hour's travel time from my house, and when I would want to push off my exam I would constantly check for availability, and eventually find seats opening up. Other people change things last minute, too, and sometimes the seats are only available for a short amount of time before they're taken by other people. If you are interested in pushing off the exam, I would suggest checking the availability often.

I think it is good to do a few practice sims just to get an idea of the setup and what it is like, but keep in mind that the ones you get will probably be different. Be comfortable with using the authoritative lit tab (very useful for other sims, not just the research sim) and understanding how to double click on cells to get answer options.

Doing the mcqs will help you get a better grasp on the material which will hopefully help you on the sims. You never know what topics the sims will be on, so it's important to make sure you understand the material and how to apply it.

[Anonymous]

I am also 13 days away and am almost at the same point you are. I am using Becker and am tackling Chapter 6. Just keep doing the questions and write down concepts that you are having the most difficulty with and review at the end of the day before going to sleep. Good luck to you!

[The Dingo]

@cpa_goal —

Just to clarify, you're on Chapter 1, haven't done any MCQs and you expect to be ready for FAR in less than two weeks?

Let me put this bluntly, say you expect to do your “Final Exam” push with just MCQs and sample tests for your last week, that means you need to cover the remainder of the lectures and reading in the next 6 days…Is that feasible? Even if it's nothing but reading / lectures and MCQs for 12+ hours a day, it's easy to hit the wall and find the law of diminishing returns.

I took two months to get ready for FAR, from Chapter 1 through final exam prep.

@jenuno01 is right about the MCQs…practice for the exam like you studied accounting as an undergrad, get proficiency on the problems by working them many, many MCQs…If you not getting them at first then do them “open book,” but don't just go through the motions and read along…That's like watching the prof. demonstrate an example and you got home after class and realized you couldn't figure it out…You MUST work them through…and after a few times you'll have the process “baked in” the brainpan….Repetition is the key…That and caffeine.

[Anonymous]

I have done all lectures and now working all day on mcqs and re-reading concepts I'm forgetting. I have been studying for it since may but with 2 jobs and 2 kids, I got behind but I have read notes several times and all lectures. The mcqs are helping me more than anything so far.

[Author]

Replies