[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

NINJA Question –

I’m currently scoring in the 50%’s for the NINJA FAR MCQ during the assessment phase. Has anyone experienced a low score and was able to score in the 80s after a few weeks of studying? I’m planning to take the exam in August.

Any and all tips are appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I started in the 50s and 60s 4 weeks ago and I'm in the 80s now–1.5 weeks before my exam. Just keep working those problems and reading those explanations and it will get better. Think of it as “learning” and not “quizzing”.

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

I'm assuming you're referring to REG?

I hope that i can apply the same study tactic to FAR. Scoring in the 50's is demoralizing and makes me lose any form ambition.

[Anonymous]

The same logic can be applied to FAR. Ninja didn't exist when I took FAR, but I was scoring poorly in the beginning with the Wiley Test bank and it took a few weeks to really utilize the textbook feature and learn the material enough to score higher. My two practice exams were 77 and 81 and I scored 81 on the test. You just have to keep working them. It will come together. Read the explanations every time for right and wrong answers unless you already know exactly why it's right/wrong. The more times you read an explanation the more likely it will stick to memory. FAR is a beast and there were plenty of times during my period of studying for it that I was completely devastated by how little I felt I knew, but you usually know more than you think you do. Keep going and just know that most people feel that way at some point or another while they are studying for any section, but FAR is the worst because of the amount of material.

[Anonymous]

^ great post, @CPAmommy! Totally motivated me to review FAR an extra hour tonight even though I'm dead tired.

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

Thanks CPAmommy, you've given this tired soul a spring of hope to drink from. I scored a 69 on my previous attempt which was a few months ago and i have already forgotten a lot of information!

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

Cpa mommy, did you study by topic? Or did you study all topics at once aka sets of 30 testing everything's?

[Anonymous]

I did one topic at a time. Read over my Ninja Notes, worked all the MCQ for that topic, made additional notes to add to the Ninja notes (I had converted them to word so I could add notes easily), then I would move on to the next topic. When I got to the third topic, I took a short 20-30 quiz on the two prior topics to keep it a little fresh, then proceeded to do the above for topic 3. I followed that pattern through all the material, adding each previously covered topic to my “refresher” quiz before I started a new topic. After I went through all the MCQ that way, I started reviewing my complete set of notes one topic at a time and taking a small quiz on that topic. Then I took a practice test 2 weeks before my test to narrow down my problem topics. I focused on those topics when little refresher quizzes mixed in every so often for the next week and a half. Then I took my second practice test. The day before the test I went through every topic, one by one reading through all my notes carefully. I didn't do any MCQ the day before the test. I would go through a section of notes, watch a show, go through another section of notes, take a nap, etc. I was so wound up that I needed that relaxation day before the test. One thing I didn't do, but wish I had was make a one page note sheet of memorization items–things I wanted to be sure to read over right before I went into the test. When I got to the test I jotted down a lot of memorization stuff on my white before I logged in and my time started.

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

That might be a better idea, cause ive been doing all the topics at once and it makes it harder for me to “master a topic”

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

Btw. Thank you for taking time to help me out! I'll give you a huge shout out if I pass haha

[Anonymous]

No problem. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great!

[Tncincy]

@ CPAMommyof3,

Very good advice….I have been guilty of trying to know it all in one quiz or practice test. I found myself getting really stressed because I was not scoring high. So, I did what you are saying, I went back to topic by topic, reading notes, writing notes from questions and repeating. Now I am doing much better and retaining more. Being random with random questions was a headache to me and caused too much anxiety. I can do a little more on the review, and putting my notes in one place ( I have notes everywhere), but

thank you for reiterating such a simple process.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Anonymous]

No problem. If you had seen how I tried to study for the first couple of weeks when I was scheduled to take FAR in February it would be very similar to what you are describing. I was so overwhelmed with notes all over the place in 4 different books, loose leaf papers. My dining room looked like a tornado hit it. When I had to push my test back to April I decided to start over from scratch doing it the way I described above. I still had retention problems in some areas, but nothing like before. It was my saving grace for FAR. There is just so much material and skipping around didn't help me retain anything. You're going to get it this quarter tcincy! I just know it!

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

100% agree on the “just so much material and skipping around didn't help me retain anything.”

I'm really enjoying going through topic by topic and refreshing my memory vs. doing random mcq -getting questions relating to construction accounting and the next question relating to NFP. Caused me tremendous amounts of anxiety!!

[Dan T]

Curious to see where people stand/stood close to their test. My test is in 2 days and my FAR trending score is 72% 62 hours and only 71% into the adaptive learning. I don't plan on pushing this thing back. Hopefully this will be good enough :/

AUD - 75 ☺
FAR - 65, 71, 70, 77 ☺
BEC - 80 ☺
REG - 73, 66, 79 ☺ 2/28/15

Done!

[Shake_n_BakeaCPA]

That's a lot of time on MCQ's haha good stuff.

Great question. Any input is appreciated.

[Author]

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