[nvm5223]

Just got done taking FAR. I took it back in Q1 and came up a little short due to the simulations. After retaking it today, my MCQ were a little harder than the first time taking it but my SIMS were much more manageable this time. I’ve taken FAR, BEC, and REG under the new exam format and so far all my simulations haven’t been that bad. We’ll see when the scores get released.

As far as the FAR exam actually went, it wasn’t bad. There were a couple of topics that were tested more than others but other than that, there was a sprinkle of a good variety of topics.

Sounds cliche but just know everything lol (easier said than done) but you really don’t know what you’re going to get tested on. I got topics on my test today that I didn’t get in Q1 and vice versa.

I use Becker and some of the NINJA MCQ as a supplement. As always, Becker and Jeff prepares you well for the tests and you’ll definitely be prepared. If you guys have any questions, I’ll try to help without disclosing too much.

Good luck!

[Sweetie1]

@nvm5223 Thank for the update.
I take my first exam (FAR) Thursday. I feel I am well rounded, but don't have anything nailed down perfectly. Hopefully that will prove to be alright.

You say that you didnt do as well on your first exam because of sims. I feel that is what I am lack the most on… Did you do something special to prepare more the sims this time?
I am reviewing with Becker, and I have heard a lot of people say that they didn't think the Becker sims prepared them enough. Do think reworking the homework sims is beneficial for me the next 2 days? Or just knowing the material (and working mcq's) will get me through the sims?

[CoachEmUp]

@nvm5223 would you concur with others that working on knowing journal entries would be a big help for the simulations? Seems somewhat common sense, but just curious?

Also was time management ok for you? Most of the people in Q2 were complaining that the sims took much longer.

[nvm5223]

@Sweetie1. Yeah that's definitely a good question. So this exam was just clicking for me 10x better than my last exam. My exam in Q1, I had the flu so by the time I hit the sims there was around an hour and 20 minutes to go and I was just out of it. Also, on my Q1 exam, I got my NTS on the last minute so I threw it in the last second before the quarter expired so I only had a 48 hour review session for FAR and I got SIMS that I've never even seen the information before lol so yeah I'm actually surprised I got a 72. It was just a garbage fire thrown at me.

This exam though I was a little more prepared and luckily the sims were just more manageable. The sims I got on my exam in Q1 were just hell.

The sims on Becker help you understand the material better which is good. Every time I finish a lesson or a module I do the sims just because it's a good experience to just apply the material in a non-MCQ way. But yeah the actual exam's sims are much harder and longer. But to answer your question whatever helps you understand the material more efficiently you should definitely do.

[nvm5223]

@CoachEmUp Yeah you definitely will need to know your journal entires. I can say for sure that knowing your journal entries will help you with both the MCQ and SIMS. it's all good to know your JEs just because they can help you out with questions that might not officially need a journal entry but using a T chart might help you with an answer or so on.

Time management was good with me. It was with the same format with the REG exam. A day or two before your exam definitely do a walk through of how much time you want to allocate to each testlet and stick with that game plan. My gamelan is:

1st testlet: 45 minutes (3:15 left)
2nd testlet: 45 minutes (2:30 left)
3rd testlet: 30-40 minutes (2:00-1:50 left)
4th testlet: 55 minutes (55 minutes- 1 hour left)
5th testlet: Finish

Works every time.

[#cpa2017!]

I took FAR yesterday (7/3/17). I used Becker to review for two months. I felt pretty good about the MQs and my fist 6 sims. My time management was off so I started to run out of time on the last 2 sims. I hurriedly half completed the last two sims. The sims weren't too bad, but took up time because most of them had multiple reference tabs.
Yes, journal entries are a must. Like the first poster said, know everything; don't skip out on unfamiliar subjects like gov accounting and nonprofits.
I felt pretty good about my preparation, but should have practiced my time management. Even with the rush job half completing the last two sims, I feel like I should hit north of 75, Hopefully I'm right. I'll update you on my score once I get it next month.

I also took Audit in May with the new format. I had no problems with time on that one. Once again the questions came from everywhere, but I left feeling pretty good. Hopefully that translates into a passing score. I find out my results next month also.

Now on to BEC.

[Sweetie1]

Thanks @cpa2017! and nvm5223, I appreciate the info. Back to some serious studying today, and hopefully I will have enough knowledge from each area to pass that thing on Thursday.
Congrats to all of you that at least have this beast done. =)

[JAStansel]

@Sweetie1 Good Luck! Update us all after you celebrate.

[Author]

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