[Thekid2576]

Hello all,

I am new to the forum. I am enrolled in the Becker fast track program, my first exam is going to be the FAR, YEAH!!! I am wondering if there is anyone out there that can provide me with some guidance, as far as the best, most efficient way to study (what has worked for them). I can not get over the depth of this thing, I knew it was going to be bad, but not this bad… I am looking to take the FAR at the end of February. I had problems with the software and wasted a week talking to their technical support department, all they really want to do is exchange e-mails it seems. I am finally up and running now, just having to play catch-up, which I am not fond of. Anyhow, thanks to any and all that can provide useful information, guidance with this. Good luck to everyone!!

Best

John

[CPA = Continuous Pain & Agony]

I am using Becker self-study and have taken 3 out of 4. Passed BEC and FAR first and waiting on AUD score while I study for REG. FAR was the most intimidating to me when starting Becker just because the book was twice as thick as the others. I think it was around Chapter 4 and 5 that I started to panic and told my wife there was no way I was going to pass that test.

I had trouble with bonds, diluted EPS, and a couple of other topics. I followed Becker's recommended schedule, as it worked for me in BEC, and decided to stick with it all the way through Chapter 9. One thing I started doing differently with FAR was writing out my own outlines, similar to the NINJA notes that Jeff from another71.com sells. I did my own flash cards in BEC, but felt writing out full outlines of all the stuff I was not 100% comfortable with helped me a little more than flash cards. (Spend a lot of time on NFP's and Gov't!!)

Once I finished all lectures, MCQ's, and sims I went back to bonds, diluted EPS, and the other trouble spots and worked MCQ's and wrote additional notes until my head exploded. By the time I walked into the exam, I was mostly confident in my weak areas.

I didn't blow the exam away by any means with an 82, but bottom line is Becker worked for me with FAR. Some people say watch all the lectures before doing any of the MCQ's, but I have stuck to Becker's recommended schedule for all 4 sections and so far it has been very effective. It all boils down to how serious you take it and how much time you put into it. If you put in the hours that Becker recommends and you have an Accounting degree or experience, you should have no problem.

Good luck!

B - 80 (10/06/11)
A - 84 (01/03/12)
R - 81 (02/16/12)
F - 82 (11/23/11)

Thank you Jesus!

Used Becker Self-Study

[Thekid2576]

Thank you so much for the help and advice, can you give me a good place to go and reference topics that I feel a little weak in and that is not covered to well in Becker?? Some of this is blowing me away and I am having trouble breaking it down…

[HustlinHustlin]

If you have an intermediate accounting book from college it will help solidify some topics. (though I never used it)

You sound a lot like me a few months ago. It took me a while to figure out the most effective way to study. Here are some of my tips

*DO PROGRESS TESTS! It will help when you get to the end of the book and start your review and have forgotten tons of stuff from earlier chapters.

*Speaking of remember stuff, don't stretch your exam out too long. It takes about a month and a half of intense study. I took four freaking months and slacked off. You need to make sure that you are meeting your goals for the week and staying on track. And if you're not on track you need to forfeit some time.

*Don't get caught up in minute details. There is so much to remember so you want to know the top off everything.

*Pay attention to IFRS. I had a lot more of these questions than I expected on the exam.

*Make sure you fully understand fund accounting (NFP and Governmental) I haven't heard of an exam where it wasn't heavily tested.

Going through the MCQs can take a while, but master them and focus on why you got something wrong and do them over and over and over again. (A good way to do this is through the progress tests or quizzes in each section).

Hope it helps and wish me luck on a passing score. If I don't I'm going to feel like a real idiot for giving you this advice like I know what I'm talking about.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[Thekid2576]

Thank you for the input, let me know how you did when you find out, hope you got through this beast!!!

[Anonymous]

And read the RULES OF THE CPA EXAM thread 🙂

[Author]

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