[Anonymous]

I was wondering what the general consensus was as for the most difficult chapter for FAR using Becker? I just began and I am having an extremely difficult time. Not sure what strategy I’ll have to use, but I do know that I will need plenty of review time before my exam…

 

 

[mailtogaurav]

Pensions

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BEC 84, FAR 79, AUD 91, REG 84, ETH 90

Nothing Good Comes Easy, All Good Things Take Some Time - Hang in there !!

[Anonymous]

The hard thing about pensions is staying awake during lecture IMO. I find F3 difficult (Business Combinations), mostly because the homework questions are tricky. I also dislike annuities in F5.

[jimboace88]

I don't want to sound like a downer, but I don't think one can possibly pick a solitary chapter in FAR and call it “the hardest.” Unless you're working in F1, F8, or F9, they are all awful and if you manage to do well in them the first time around then you are probably an accounting genius. Now that I'm about to start my final review process tomorrow, I can say looking back on all of the lectures and homework that a 70% ISN'T awful and if you feel like you're struggling, it's totally normal.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[T-rex]

I agree with Jimbo. Chapters 1, 8, & 9 are manageable. The rest are insane. By the time I got through chapter 4, I'd forgotten everything I'd learned in 1-3. This is why it's important to keep reviewing chapters you've completed.

My recommendation is to start with chapters 8 & 9 and then to do 1-7. For 1-7, read through the chapters very slowly and really try to understand the material. Take as many notes as needed.

FAR has taken me much longer to prepare for than any other section, and I'm nowhere near done.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Anonymous]

Although I didn't take Becker, I can safely say that the hardest FAR topic for me was Business Combinations!!! All those weird journal entries, calculation of Goodwill and Noncontrolling Interest, and Intercompany Transactions. Ugh!!!

[NoScores2Display4thisSection]

I think probably Chs 2, 3, & 7 are the most difficult

Why?

Hardest:

2 has a bunch of misc but important topics and the set of MCs on timing issues is very long along with nonmonetary exchanges and some forex stuff

3 – the acquisiton method &consolidations & intercompany is very very hard. especially figuring out how to adjust for CGS and ending inventory

5 covers bonds and leases which can be very, very tricky but when you master them you'll feel great

7 covers some very tough areas with stockholders equity, APIC and that stuff, and Statement of cash flows and crazy topics like liquidating dividends

Medium:

6 – pensions are the hardest part, yes there is some tax stuff but not too bad.

the easiest might be chs 1 & 4

but then again there really isnt an easy chapter in FAR

and ch1 covers a lot of important IFRS differences (3 Bal Sheets v. 2, etc)

done

[Author]

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