[GeauxAwayCPA]

Ninjas – first exam using the NINJA Method (FAR retake, 72 round 1). I’ve “Nailed the concepts”(as best as I could in one pass..) and took “Intense Notes” simultaneously.

I’m getting ready to start “Nonstop MCQs” and I have three questions:

1) At what point do you stop/pause the MCQs to go onto the J for “Just rewrite the notes”? It’s not really nonstop if you have another step after haha

2) What have you all found most effective for MCQs when starting out? Hammering out topic by topic or starting with random 30 question sets from the get go? I know I’ve seen some threads on here say it depends on the person. I like the idea of hammering out topic by topic(it’s what I’ve done on the other 3 exams) to get some consistent, focused work on each topic but how do you keep the other stuff fresh? Just interested to hear what’s worked best for you all out there for keeping it all together since FAR has so much information.

3) I have access to CPAExcel’s Test bank as a new resource but wanted to get the NINJA MCQs because I’ve heard so many good things and success stories from those who have used it. I’d like to try to use them both if possible but I want to make sure I get through all of the NINJA MCQs and get to this adaptive phase I hear of. I’m afraid that if I try to use them both simultaneously, I won’t make enough progress in the NINJA MCQs to get the benefits of that software and the metrics it provides. Anyone have any suggestions for how they’ve used two different test banks simultaneously and seen results?

An added note, I can’t schedule my exam until this window closes and based on current availability it’s looking like I won’t be able to take my exam until Mid-October. There are only 5 days in there that I won’t be able to study (or at least reduced intensity studying) due to a conference.

Sorry for the long post! Figured one big one would be better than three different ones. Thanks in advance for advice/tips and good luck to everyone studying!

[hasy]

1) Hmm, nonstop, that's not very literal. Do as many MCQs as you can, but make sure that you're actually retaining them. When I was going 120-180 per day (and for FAR, that's a lot), I ALWAYS made sure that I took notes on EVERY MCQ that I got wrong. For every answer, I always read the entire description and if the answer interested me, I wrote it down too. When you have enough notes that shows you clearly need to review, I would stop and start reviewing and rewriting those notes that you JUST took.

2) I would do new questions until I finished ALL the questions at least once. Then I would look at my score progress and see which areas, I needed to review. Then I would start attacking the troubled areas, “Missed last time seen”.

3) Straight up, I do NOT like WTB for FAR. For some reason, somehow, it made me more confused about the question and the subject for me. I did like 400 on there and said “bump this” and went back to NINJA. I passed with NINJA though. Feel free to use it if you don't feel the same as me. Also, practice SIMS on NINJA. Don't devote 40% of your study time, but devote like 20%. It helps, trust. There were like 2 sims that showed up on my exam, practically word for word.

Remember, quality over quantity.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[GeauxAwayCPA]

@hasy thanks for the feedback!

So you would rewrite the notes you took on the MCQs and not the notes you took on lectures?

I do get frustrated with CPAExcel sometimes, but it's all I've used to study thus far and it's gotten me 3 first-try passes. So I don't really know anything else. I guess we will see once I start using the NINJA MCQs which one I prefer. I like the idea of the metrics and adaptive software NINJA is supposed to have. Just a little concerned that I have so much time between now and my exam that I might need to find some supplemental questions if I get through NINJA too soon,

Any other feedback is welcome!

[RE2PECT]

I did sort of a modified NINJA method for FAR. It was my first exam so I didn't know what would work best for me. I started out watching lectures and then reading the chapter and writing notes. I'd also try some mcq's, but it was taking me forever to get through the material so I ditched the mcq's until I got through all the videos. After that I did mostly mcq's with some sims mixed in when I needed a break from them. I never rewrote my notes and didn't take notes on any mcq's and managed a 75.

If you need to supplement with new questions then try cpareviewforfree. They're not AICPA released questions, but it's a free resource so I'd take advantage of it if you feel like you're memorizing answers.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[GeauxAwayCPA]

thanks for the advice @RE2PECT !

For you and anyone else who uses the NINJA MCQ(or any MCQ I guess), do you usually do the MCQs in Quiz/timed mode or study mode to get the immediate feedback?

[hasy]

Hmm, I used Roger and NINJA. On Roger, there is a timer and I tried to make sure each question was under 90s. Regardless that failed, because I still didn't have enough time for all of my SIMS. Spend extra time on the first testlet! Make sure you get a HARDER second testlet!

I mean, you have time. I would spend it trying to be able to answer each question CLEARLY and try getting it under 90s.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[GeauxAwayCPA]

@Hasy – this is my third time trying to reply to you. Server has timed out every other time I tried. But yeah, I normally try to time myself as I go through practice problems. It seems like it goes out the window come exam day though haha. Honestly not sure if extra time would have helped me on Round 1 with Far anyway – I had no clue on the SIMs! Maybe to try to find answers in the AL I guess…

About how many questions is average per day? Today was my first day using Ninja ever and I only got through 30 questions today after several hours. Felt like there was significantly more information given as answer explanation than CPA Excel and I felt like I had to read it all…

[Author]

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