[ReneeNC]

I have started studying for FAR using CPAExcel. I am watching the videos, taking notes, and making notecards. I am only doing the proficiency questions, not the MCQs. It makes sense why Jeff suggests that method.

However, FAR covers a LOT of info! Won’t I forget the information 6 weeks from now anyway? For REG and BEC, I watched the videos and did the MCQ immediately. I did have to go back and do them again.

I guess I am just nervous about taking in everything and then trying to sift through it later.

How do you study?

REG - 89
BEC - 82
FAR - 87
AUD - 81
Used CPAexcel, Wiley Online Practice, and NINJA!

[Anonymous]

For some reason, I just can't study like that. I watch a lecture, read that section and do its MCQ right away. I know Jeff's plan has worked for so many, but I can't study like that. Listen to everyone's advise, but do what works for you. Do what helps you pass these exams. You did really well in REG, maybe stick to that process and see how it works for FAR.

[JakeO]

My biggest tip is to use Flashcards…and not premade ones. Get computer software, I use Repetitions, which also syncs with the iPhone/iPad app for on-the-go studying, and the day after going through hours of videos, the first thing I do is to go back through my notes, clarify any items which are complex or hard to understand and then create tons of flashcards. The software tracks how well you know each card, so if you know a card like you know your birthday then you will only see it maybe once a week, but for those cards which are difficult or do not know, you will see it constantly. This is the best method of learning. So the program tells me which cards to study in a day, and you can adjust how many new cards you want to see each day, and after i've done that and made my new cards from yesterdays material, then I will go on to new study material in the form of videos. Once i've wathced all the videos and completed my notes and made my flashcards, then I will start my day by reviewing my flashcards and then doing MCQ's. If I encounter some info in an MCQ which I did not know, or do not have a Flashcard on, then I will make one and insert it in my deck.

I suspect for FAR I will end up with around 3000+ flashcards, but they are little, bite-sized pieces of info which only require a few seconds to answer and hopefully this method will pay off. I am worried it may take a little longer than other methods of studying, but I believe in total the hours needed to study will be much less, and I may even be able to start studying for another part before I take the exam for FAR. At least, I think I can start watching the videos and forming notes and making the flashcards and start studying those for 20 minutes or so each day, just to give my brain something different to think about for a break in between FAR sessions.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[Anonymous]

I tried Becker and hated that you watched a little and did some questions. I knew that I might know something that day and have no memory of it in a few weeks. Becker wasnt for me at all.

I started over with Yaeger using Jeff's method for FAR. I thought the same thing as you. It's too much information and I wasn't sure I was learning. So now I am doing a hybrid of Jeff's method. I watched the videos then a few days later, I go back and do the multiple choice homework. Enough time as passed that I don't remember what I didn't learn. I'm making notes as go and going over those notes during downtime. I have a lot of time that I can answer questions and review notes, but not actually sit down and get tied into an hour or two of videos. Trying to use my time the best and combine Jeff's method. I'm happy to say it's working for me. I did a practice test on Wiley Test Bank for the chapters that I have covered and scored 85%.

[ReneeNC]

I do make flashcards – tons of them. At least I did for REG, and got a great score. I did not do very many for BEC and felt extremely unprepared when I took the exam this past Monday. If I failed it, then I will go back and re-do that for BEC, too.

So far for FAR, I am watching videos and taking notes. I am also making flashcards. I think I'll do the hybrid like Caddygirl7 – take notes on several sections, work with the flashcards, then do MCQs.

REG - 89
BEC - 82
FAR - 87
AUD - 81
Used CPAexcel, Wiley Online Practice, and NINJA!

[Author]

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