[RandomRandy]

I’m going to be taking my first ever section, FAR, on the 15th and i just finished my first Becker Practice exam and got a 60%. Im pretty bummed considering I have been studying pretty hard for the past 3 months. I feel helpless right now and lost all my motivation for studying this week because i don’t see myself retaining and extra 15% of material in a week. Anyone have an advice as to what i could possibly do? was anyone else ever have a similar situation? Should i just accept my fate?

FAR: 74 1/15/16, 72 7/2/16 -_-
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
AUD: TBD

"Nothing is impossible to him who will try" - Andy Bernard

[Heather1032]

Hi GuitarMan2016 – I know how you feel. I am taking FAR tomorrow for my third try. It will hopefully be my last test and I'll be a CPA!! The FAR exam is the worst in my mind because of the amount of information you need to retain. Don't get discouraged, we've all been there. My advice would be to go over the questions you missed, and go back to the materials and find out what you were doing wrong. Determine if you don't know the material well enough, read through the question to quickly or misunderstood what it was asking for, etc. You've worked hard for three months now, work really hard this last week on your weak areas, and be sure to review you strong areas along the way. Also try focusing your efforts on the major topics you are weak in, (ex. it's more important to know Govt/NFP than Asset Retirement Obligation). Don't worry about knowing everything, just continually try to improve and you'll get there. Also be aware of your timing, FAR is very hard to complete in 4 hours, so practice your time strategy. You can do this. Mentally prepare yourself for success and believe in yourself. The best way to walk into an exam is with confidence and a clear head. Stress will distract you from your goal. This is something I have had to learn and just recently accepted. These exams do not determine our value. It's something we are willing to work hard for. So take the pressure off, and know you are doing whatever it takes to be a CPA.

FAR: 1/11/16
BEC: 78
REG: 77
AUD: 76

[MaLoTu]

First of all, your real exam will be nothing like the practice exam. It is not adjusted based on performance, so the test is at a set level of difficulty. I am fairly certain between the two exams that they cover a little of every topic, not going to happen on the exam.

Study the stuff you are weak in … I think it would be most beneficial to spend a day working with the stuff you almost know that way you have a chance of perfecting it. Drill the MCQ. Maybe go back over some SIMS. I am taking FAR on friday and I just really started studying last week (doing lectures and MCQ one chapter a day)… you are in a much better place than me!

I did decent on one REG practice test and pretty bad on the other and ended up passing REG. Your exam is partially based on luck, you may get tested on stuff you know, you might not. Try not to stress out and try to keep pushing on.

[RandomRandy]

@Heather1032

Thanks for the encouragement! It's just really discouraging to study during all my free time, when I also work full time, and then do poorly on the practice exam. I feels like it was all for nothing even though I know it wasn't! Im gunna just keep going like I would have if i scored better and hope for the best! and goodluck to you on passing to become a CPA!

@MaLoTu

Im taking FAR on Friday too!!!!!! Thats crazy! lol and I think it would be best for me to just to keep hammering multiple choice and review flash cards! I hope Friday will go well for both of us! Best of luck to you!

FAR: 74 1/15/16, 72 7/2/16 -_-
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
AUD: TBD

"Nothing is impossible to him who will try" - Andy Bernard

[Missy]

Remember on the actual exam, 75 is not a percent of questions answered correctly. I've seen people get 69
0's on practice exams and pass the real thing, I've seen people get 80's on practice exams and fail. Spend your last few days wisely, all is not lost.

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

[RandomRandy]

@mla11692

Ya that makes sense. I figured the Becker exam was a good way to gauge where you are with the exam, but I guess there is more to consider than just that. Thanks for boost of motivation!

FAR: 74 1/15/16, 72 7/2/16 -_-
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
AUD: TBD

"Nothing is impossible to him who will try" - Andy Bernard

[RSBro]

The Becker Final Exam Reviews IME are harder than the actual exam. I barely missed on both of my REG tries and I was in the low 60s when I was doing the Final Exams. On your actual exam you don't have time to do MCQs that take 3+ minutes like in the homework.

I'm taking FAR the first time in a few weeks. I feel like I'm going to completely bomb too.

REG - ('11) 71, ('12) 71 - Becker
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD
FAR - ('16) 54 - Becker

[jcf175]

I only passed 1 of the becker practice finals i ever took. With that being said, I think they're a waste of time because a) they're harder than the actual test b) dont have the same scoring and c) are just random MC from the lecture homework. I would only recommend the final if you want to practice the timing (ie how to pace yourself). but hey that's just my .02 cents

Passed all sections between 5/15 - 10/15 order AUD REG BEC FAR (used Becker only)

[Author]

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