[DMV18]

For those who passed FAR, how did you manage the 4 hours exam and stayed focused and energized during the whole test?

It looks like after couple of hours, I start to feel tired and lose some of my energy

[CPAtheTHIRD]

I always packed a small granola bar and a red bull to have during my break. I would go to the bathroom and splash water on my face.

It's a grind, but when I was feeling good about about the way it was going it would help me get through the second half

[DMV18]

Did you ever practice a 4 hours exam before going to the real exam? or had sessions of 4 hours study just to get used to it?

Thank you!

[fsugirl2005]

Eat a high protein, low carb breakfast. My favorite is bacon, eggs, and two Eggo pancakes. Keeps me full throughout the exam and alert. Get some good sleep the night before.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[AGI]

I took the test at 8am. There were 3 people in the room, front desk and security guard all have nice attitude (if you say good morning). It was peace and quiet.

I purposely took the test early, when I'm awake but early enough to start feeling panicking when waiting a later appointment time. My brain was like PEACE and no emotion. Finished the test like a robot machine and head off the work in the afternoon.

Breakfast is a must. Pack tasty good in your backpack and chew on them during the break.

I usually keep each session around 45-50 min, so I get a 10 min break or so each one. To eat drink and bathroom. Take at least one break in between the three MCQS. And a longer break right before the SIMS. Leave at least 1 to 1.5 hours for the SIMS so you have time to “think and act”.

I usually able to walk out early 15 mins … I'm not the type that will sit there and try to pray on an answer.

If you do your test fast enough, you will have time to break and go backwarded to educated guess. Do the ones your absolutely know first.

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Sam]

I think the approach should be applied to all the exams; four consecutive hours (with the break of course – use all of that) is a LONG time. I always tried to get a decent night's sleep and was sure to eat something small so my stomach wasn't empty the whole time. I also took all my exams in the morning, between 7 & 8 am, for the same reasons as JFKGY, but I didn't work afterwards haha.

In addition, PLEASE take at least 1-2 simulated exams (I took all three Becker offered for every exam), think about doing them with a mask as well. If you can put yourself in that environment for that length of time, it won't be an extra stress on exam day. It'll be a boost for sure.

[Professor Farnsworth]

The best advice I can give you is something I heard from Roger. People, including me on my first exam, become frustrated during the exam, which is to be expected because you see questions that you didn't expect, written in a way that is not like the regular mcqs you were doing and in general its just a lot harder. Roger says to just focus on the exam, don't start planning a career change during the exam or let any thoughts that are not accounting related get through.

You worked hard to get to that moment, just take a breath and give it your all for 4 hours. Roger is a great motivator and he really has a unique way of making you feel confident that you're going to pass the exam. I think confidence plays a huge role in passing the exam because you need to feel confident in your answers or else you'll spend too much time on each question doubting yourself if you got the right answer or not. Most questions don't have 1 definitive clear answer… It's usually 2-3 that looks right and you just have to trust Roger's process and go with your first instinct which is most often correct!

[CPA_VT]

Professor Farnsworth wrote:

The best advice I can give you is something I heard from Roger. People, including me on my first exam, become frustrated during the exam, which is to be expected because you see questions that you didn't expect, written in a way that is not like the regular mcqs you were doing and in general its just a lot harder. Roger says to just focus on the exam, don't start planning a career change during the exam or let any thoughts that are not accounting related get through.

You worked hard to get to that moment, just take a breath and give it your all for 4 hours. Roger is a great motivator and he really has a unique way of making you feel confident that you're going to pass the exam. I think confidence plays a huge role in passing the exam because you need to feel confident in your answers or else you'll spend too much time on each question doubting yourself if you got the right answer or not. Most questions don't have 1 definitive clear answer… It's usually 2-3 that looks right and you just have to trust Roger's process and go with your first instinct which is most often correct!

I agree. I took all of my 4 exams during Covid this year. I took a 4 hour model exam on GLEIM with 1 allotted break 10-12 days before the CPA exam. I resolved not to linger on questions that I was not sure of. I just assigned those questions to the loss column and moved on. A few things I believe I did right helped me

In each exam, I took the entire 15 min break. My stomach bothers me every time before, during the exam and I just accept it. This time the glasses got clouded due to the mask and it was uncomfortable throughout but after 20 minutes I got used to it. I used the duplicate KN-95 mask with the cone shape that would let me breathe.

BEC – Took the WC seriously and gave myself enough time. Largely followed the guidelines and sample essay paragraphs. watched some economics basics videos on Youtube and Khan Academy that simplified it for me and helped sink in the concepts

FAR – Did at least 1000 extra MCQs from the question bank in last 10 days. One SIM was brutal but I just did it as best as I could and kept track of time

AUD – I struggled with it, the breadth of material is comparatively less than other sections but questions were confusing. This was my lowest score and I blew one SIM completely

REG – I struggled with this the most during study phase and in the exam. I could not remember all those exceptions and $$ limits and perhaps I need not have labored over it so much. They did not test those too much in the exam. But they did test your conceptual clarity with some tricky questions. I felt there were a lot of minefields in REG. Again 1 SIM was a washout but it turned out to be fine.

I cannot stress enough a) managing time b) not getting hung up on a question or two c) attempting every MCQ and every SIM – do not leave points on the table

And I really did not think about the result or my next move before or during the exam. I just took 1 day at a time. 1-2 hours during the week – 6-7 hours on the weekend and kept at it for 9 months and thankfully by end of October I was done and in November licensed

Hang in there and good luck

[Recked]

As with anything in life you need to train for the endurance and stamina, especially if you are older.
I found that I would normally study for about 2 hours before I needed a break. Didn't think much of it.
But then when I took my first exam FAR, it was a real kick in the pants to want that break, and not being able to (besides the 15 minute break).
Slowly increase your study and MCQs sessions as you get closer to the exam.
I did the mock exams, but the SIMs were not up to the level of the new SIMs, so I would knock out a mock exam in 2 hours. The actual exam… I ran out of time.
Just keep practicing. A good nights sleep is important, as well as breakfast, and a snack and drink for the break.
I took my first exam in the morning ( I also did all of the EA exams in the morning).
But then I was getting up at 5am to get ready and travel to the test center an hour away, and arriving early enough just in case something happened.
For the final 3 exams I switched to an afternoon time. That way I could wake up when I was ready, have a nice breakfast review some notes, leave early, arrive early.
Luckily I was let right in to the exams when I arrived an hour early each time. It felt like I beat the rush/lines of other candidates that arrived all around the same time.
Good luck!

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

When I took my last two exams, I was running on an empty stomach but my fuel was fear. Pure fear. That was the longest 11 hour day of my life and I was on edge the entire time. I didn't eat or drink at all between exams because I was afraid I would have to use the bathroom at some point. What a fun day that was. Good times.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[DMV18]

Thank you guys for the feedback!

[Skynet]

I'm waiting for that one poster to say they got laid right before taking the exam.😂

[DS]

Well, not right before but how about the night before I took REG?

[Author]

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