[gamerbigwannabe]

I feel so depressed right now studying for FAR because I feel like I’m not retaining anything. I’m currently in my 5th week of studying and close to finishing F5 from Becker.

My usual way to studying is to go through the lecture videos, read the book, then answer the MCQ’s. My issue is, when I go through the MCQ’s, I get 40-60% correct most of the time. The only chapter where I had no issues was F1 and F3.

The chapters F2, F3, and F5 has been a nightmare. It might be me, but I feel like reading the book and watching the lectures do not prepare me for the MCQ’s because the book is so general compared to the MCQs. Sometimes I wonder if the book even covered some aspects of the MCQ’s.

Anyone else go through this struggle when studying for FAR? Or am I not grasping the topics well enough going through the lecture and books? I’ve done well in school because I always had a detailed textbook to rely on when studying, but the Becker book just breezes through everything that its so frustrating.

 

 

[mabancroft]

This is relatively normal. The intent is that 90% of your learning should be done when going through the questions and really understanding why the answers are right (and even wrong) so that you solidify the lectures. I was told that the general rule is that if you are answering more than 50% correctly the first time through, you are in a good place. Obviously you want to improve as you review the topics and go over the questions again. Don't panic too much about your performance on attempt 1 and keep plugging away. You'll get there.

REG: 90
FAR: 76
AUD: 88
BEC: 89

[drichter321]

What I found best using becker is taking my own notes during the lecture instead of highlighting. So if the old guys would read something but not highlight i would write it down or type it. I would also write down/type everything they highlight. This causes your brain to think more during the lecture. If you are in the live class this might not work all the time, so I would recommend viewing the lecture before and/or after to make sure you have everything covered. Then do the multiple choice questions.

If your getting a 70 and below on the practice MCQ re read your notes, maybe your just not understanding the topic completly. What I am doing, and it seems to be working is to redoing every mcq in that section if i get below an 85 (Round down). Not only will this reinforce what you know, but a lot of the times the becker questions ask you the same thing just 8 different times, for the same answer.

I also found doing progress tests via ninja mcq (you can select your topics), or becker very helpful to see if you are retaining the info. I am 16 days out from my auditing exam, and so far this method seems to be working. As my homework scores are 70 or 80's first time, then 85-100 second and third times.

Only downside is that each lecture might take more time, but i think you learn it better.

For my reg exam which i recently passed I had a huge issue with business law, so i purchased ninja mcq and did a ton of business law questions until i felt confident enough for it, as well as doing the becker stuff.

BEC: 75 lost credit, could not pass far 🙁
AUD: 76 lost credit could not pass far 🙁
FAR: 74, FML. Next exam 06/14/23
REG: 75 lost credit could not pass far 🙁

[Anonymous]

Watch the lectures then do nonstop MCQ. The MCQ are where you truly learn the material. Work all of Becker's MCQ twice, purchase NINJA MCQ and get through half of them and you will pass.

[jrb0048]

The lectures and book prepares you for those easy “cheesy” questions on the exam. The MC prepares you for the actual problems where you have to work things out computationally. What I am doing on FAR is printing 1/2 of the questions from each chapter. That wil lgive you a base understanding for the test. Doing ALL of the questions I feel takes an eternity and in my opinion, should only be done if you failed it the first time.

Audit- 86 5/27/2015
Regulation- 89 7/2/2015
Bec- 83 7/23/2015
Far- 80 8/31/2015
Ethics-62, 90
CMA-
Part 1: Passed 12/10/2015
Part 2: Passed 3/11/2016

CIA- Pass 1/29/16/// CRMA- Pass 2/9/16// CCSA- Pass 2/21/2016/// CFE- Pass 2/29/2016/// CFSA- Pass 3/15/2016

[spatel15]

Best tip for your doubt of whether Becker is too general: Every question you doubt may not be covered, click the Ebook link when on that question. If it's covered, it'll bring you to the page referring to the topic at hand. If it's not covered, it'll bring you to a page, but there'll be no mention of the topic at hand. Of course look at the prior and subsequent page too, just in case.

I like this method because it makes you think about whether you read it or not; at this point I can almost guarantee to myself it wasn't mentioned half the time and checking the linked page just confirms it. If you happen to be getting many questions wrong and it turns out Becker did mention it, then it's on you and you probably need to reassess the initial studying process. Slow down your reading, don't move on without fully understanding it in and out.

[Anonymous]

I haven't seen anyone post this idea, but I think it's golden. When I was studying for FAR I would reference an accounting textbook anytime I doubted my knowledge on a topic. Textbooks give you more examples and discussion than a review course. For far you will need an intermediate book for gaap and ifrs, and an advanced book for gnp and consolidations. You can usually get these texts used for cheap or even at a library. I made an 88 on far. The sims were not easy, usually covering advanced topics similar to an intermediate accounting interactive problem. Therefore, I suggest learning all you can! Good luck!

[Author]

Replies