[mjp44]

Another “failed FAR again” post. I kind of felt like I didnt do enough pass. I am little disgruntled because I did put a lot of time into this exam this time around. I noticed on the exam that there are things I still struggle with. Most specifically -> IFRS!. I dont know how to go about studying for that stuff. I reviewed the NINJA notes regarding it but it seems that on the exam they always ask very vague questions regarding it.

Maybe I am not an efficient studier or maybe I gave myself too many weeks to study. I started studying the 2nd week in March and took the exam on May 13th. There is SO much stuff on FAR, you have to be an efficient studier and pick and choose what is most important to study by focusing on your problem areas. I guess I am just really bad at doing that and retaining the conceptual information.

Another issue I am having is dealing with getting an “easy” 2nd testlet. This time around I thought I had killed the 1st testlet – only checked 4 or 5 questions that I wasnt sure of. Then I get to the 2nd testlet and the 1st 5 questions were like 1 sentence long. That is a pretty demoralizing feeling. I know that getting an easier testlet does not mean that “you should just get up and walk out” but its a confidence killer for the rest of the exam.

Im going to tackle this beast again in July. I am going on a vacation the 3rd week in July so I will take it right before. That should give me about 6 weeks to prepare with the material relatively fresh in my head.

Any other tips for those that have failed this test multiple times? I am going to purchase the Wiley test bank. I was using Gleim but I think I need to see new questions. I improved my scored by 4 points so at least I am heading in the right direction!

FAR- PASSED (11/13)
REG- PASSED (2/14)
BEC- PASSED (5/14)
AUD- PASSED (8/14)

If it's important to you, you will find a way. If it isn't, you will find an excuse.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same exact boat. Don't be discouraged. And actually I'm on the same timeline as you are for FAR. Shooting to take it around the 15th or whenever I can take it and still be in the 1st wave of scores. WE CAN AND WE WILL DO THIS!

[mangos]

Make sure you understand the concepts of what you are reviewing… I kept my college textbook and Google on hand every time I didn't understand something 100% and wouldn't move pass it before I did.

Also, RTFQ! 🙂

Good luck!

FAR (5/07/13): 96

[Reed2654]

@Mango- That's a really impressive FAR score. I'm also using the Becker Self Study. I'm curious as to how you approached the studying and what pace you maintained. How many weeks of study per section in Becker. The schedule printed out for me shows two parts per week with a week of final scheduled in before the exam.

[mangos]

Yeah, I pretty much followed the Becker schedule. Would bang out 2 chapters a week, and I left myself 2 weeks of review.

The first week of review I just reviewed the book and the flash cards, and I would do progress tests as I progressed through the chapters. This was just to solidify the concepts, refreshing my memory, and also to point out any weaknesses I still had.

So on the first day I would re-read chapter 1+2, and do a 100-120 question progress test on those two chapters, and any weaknesses I would find meant I went back to my college textbook for reinforcement.

I did this for all chapters on the first week of review, and every day I would look at my flash cards for an hour or two so I wouldn't forget past chapters.

Then on my second week of review, I did tons of cumulative progress tests (F1-F10) (120Q+ per session, sometimes 2-3 sessions a day) and reworking the SIMs.

I think on my last 2 days of review was when I actually felt comfortable taking the final exam once I was consistently scoring in the 90's in the progress tests and feeling comfortable with the material.

I really think the 2 week review really helped me, if I were to have only done 1 week I'm sure my score would've suffered a lot because that's where all the material came together for me.

It takes time for sure! I spent about 6 weeks working the material, and 2 on review. I'd work it every day for a couple of hours (4-6), with the exceptions of weekends (although I ignored that rule when I was in my review stage).

FAR (5/07/13): 96

[Onmyway82]

I was in the same boat when I took FAR for the third time. I felt like I was never going to able to pass it. I used Becker and for the third time around I added NINJA notes and the Wiley test bank. I went through one chapter a week and had two weeks for review. One of those weeks I went through the Final Review from Becker and the other week I just did lots of MCQ's, SIMS and went over my notes. I found that I finally understood topics the third time going through them that I didn't understand at all the first time I took the exam. Some of the exams just take us longer to understand. Good luck!

FAR- 70, 68, 90
AUD- 72, 85
REG- 74, 83
BEC- 81
ETHICS- 90

CA CPA
CMA

[HustlinHustlin]

I definitely feel all of you.

This will be my FOURTH round with FAR.

I was expecting a higher score, not exactly passing, but did expect it to at least be higher than last time. My score report showed me stronger in the one category I was weaker last time and vice versa.

If I keep my progress up, I should reach that mark in two more tries – HA!

I have to admit though, for this whole process I don't know if I have really given it all I've got. I have given quite a bit multiple times, but it's just not enough. Time to pull out the stops.

I'm debating on shelling out some $ for Roger CRAM, since my Becker book is from 2011, the software expired and now my Wiley expired too. I'm just tired of throwing money and time into this machine…but maybe that's the problem – I'm not feeding it enough.

I'm in guys. Lets conquer this thing once and for all. After I throw a hail mary (literally have not touched the stuff) tonight with REG, I'm back to FAR. Not going to let this get me down!

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)

[J]

@HustlinHustlin… if I may offer some unsolicited advice, you can save your money IF the only reason that you want to purchase additional material is to have the 2013 version. There is really nothing significant that has changed for FAR from 2011 to 2013; at most, get yourself a 2013 Wiley book for $30. I passed FAR with a decent score in 2013 and used Yaeger 2011 for my study material (along with a 2013 Wiley book) and nothing else. There are others on the forum who have done the same.

It's an entirely different discourse if you want to purchase something new because you didn't like whatever it was you were using previously.

Just my two cents…

[memmy29]

@onmyway82 Were you getting improved scores on Becker MCQs? I feel like I understand things better than my last try, but my practice scores haven't improved. So frustrating.

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[stancesc5]

You just need to concentrate your study on stuff that's not common knowledge such as governmental account and non-profit since that is where other people will lose a great number of points, giving you an advantage. Rest of the stuff is more bread and butter accounting that most people will already know from school or from the job- hard to get an advantage there. Assuming you're not trying to get the Watt-Sells award, the key is NOT to study everything, just the 10 most frequent topics that make up about 90% of the exam.

I passed FAR with a 75, but I only studied 15 hours total 🙂 outside of review course time that is

details of test day:

I did not skip any mutiple choice that took more than 2 minute as becker suggested. instead I did every question carefully and by the time 4 hours was over i still had 2 simulations completely blank! Of course this won't work if you just don't know the questions period, but it can pay off to take the time to finish every question if you've already wasted 45 seconds reading it.

[memmy29]

@stancesc5 Wow, that's impressive. How were you scoring in the Becker MCQs prior to the test? Did you feel confident when you went in?

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[SeattleAccountant]

Hang in there, there is a light at the end of this journey!

For IFRS, I found the most useful thing was to type up several summary pages of all IFRS facts that I came across during the review. In that summary, make sure to compare IFRS vs. GAAP. This way, all of it is one place and in concise form.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[stancesc5]

@memmy29

Okay, this is going to be bad but I never even used the practice exams. I took their live class and ask questions about anything I didnt understand. I mastered the 15 or so practice MCQ's at the end of each chapter of the physical book during the last week before the exam and I passed. If I'd taken any other form of becker review I would have failed this exam because I have a tough work schedule (like 80 hours a week) and would never think about opening a book to study on my own free will

[memmy29]

I guess I'm not sure if I should just push ahead and ignore my practice scores…or if I should reschedule. After this window I only have one more chance before I lose AUD.

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[Author]

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