[ortizlop]

Hello Everybody,

So I have AUD, BEC, and REG passed. I just took FAR but failed it with a 56. I studied so much for it, but ended up coming out of the exam knowing that I failed. I took way too long to answer the MC questions and had no clue what to do in the simulations portion.

I’m guessing I probably failed it because of the sims…How would you guys recommend I study for the sims? Focus on journal entries?

I retake FAR on October 7, and it is my last shot before I lose credit for REG (October 8). With governmental busy season here I’m going nuts!!

BEC - 75
AUD - 77
REG - 85
FAR - 78

[Anonymous]

So I clearly haven't taken FAR yet, but from what others have told me: government, NFP and journal entries for every MCQ one does in preparation for the exam

[khouli]

ortizlop – no matter what materials you are using, just stick to it.

I passed FAR from the first time and here are my thoughts:

1-Try to solve the MCQ as many times as you can until you master them. I did this for Becker, I didn't solve the optional MCQs, didn't do even final tests. Just the MCQs and Sims, solved them like 3 or 4 times.

2-Try to understand the real concepts behind the MCQs

3-Focus on journal entries and never ignore governmental or NFP

4-What I noticed, in the real exam they combine different topics that you used to see in the MCQs together. And if it appears as just MCQ you would solve it easily, but when you see a couple of 2 or 3 topics combined in just 1 simulation in a way you didn't see before, it becomes scary, they key to overcome this is to master to the concepts

Good luck

FAR 08/19/2014 90
REG 11/10/2014 -
BEC
AUD

[ortizlop]

@_Nick_ yeah, that's what I see in a few posts from the past. Definitely going to take a closer look at those topics this weekend! Hopefully I'll feel way better about this exam on Monday.

Thanks for your reply!

BEC - 75
AUD - 77
REG - 85
FAR - 78

[ortizlop]

@khouli Thanks for your reply. That's what I'll be doing Friday and half of Saturday, just studying the concepts and then knocking out more MC in the weak areas followed by looking through all the JEs for those topics as well. I found that in my last exam all my sims were regarding the JEs for the big topics.

Wish I had more time to analyze what else was on the sims but I had about 20 minutes left.

BEC - 75
AUD - 77
REG - 85
FAR - 78

[BRITTANY.CAMP]

I just took FAR also and made a 61. I went through Becker once. Was running out of time and decided to only study Ninja MCQ. This time I am only going through Ninja topic by topic and making sure I understand every question. I didn't allow myself enough time for the first attempt.

I personally thought the exam wasn't that tough, but I just didn't have a deep enough understanding of some of the topics.

[Tootsie]

I got a 69 on my 4th attempt. I did well on the multiple choice but not on the sims. Definitely know all the JEs inside and out. And yes, governmental and nonprofit should not be taken lightly, same goes for JEs associated with them.

FAR - 76
AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 76
REG - 77

never, never, never give up

[ortizlop]

@BRITTANY.CAMP I see where you're coming from. I think you're right, it wasn't as hard I just didn't know the concepts well enough. I think what really hurt me in the MC that caused me to take long was that the question was simply worded and then it had a small curveball towards the end…exceptions to the rules that I must have missed…

BEC - 75
AUD - 77
REG - 85
FAR - 78

[Anonymous]

Really the only thing I can recommend with FAR is just constant study. If you're weak on an area, spend some extra time there. It's no secret that Governmental and NFP Accounting make up a large portion of the exam so you need to understand those subjects fully (including the basic journal entries).

If going through Becker, make sure you do EVERY MCQ at least once and more is better. I went through the entire course's MCQ at least 2 times (some of the concepts that I struggled with I went through many more times). You want to see every single question at least twice and more is better.

You can't pass without getting points on the Sims. But the Sims aren't too bad if you really understand the concepts and the journal entries behind those concepts. It really helps for the MCQ to sketch out the JEs while doing them (for example, I cannot figure out non-monetary exchanges without doing it in JE form). That will help you when you look at the Sims.

Hope this helps.

[Guti]

I follow the below advice, and was able to go from 71 to 84 without touching the research simulation=

Not to brag but I thought I would share my experience. Having to retake a section sucks so hopefully this will help people to do it right the first time.

I got a 69 the first time I took FAR. I think I made the mistake of focusing only on MCQ questions on my first attempt and I didn't have an effective study plan to focus on J/Es or sims–my score report reflected weaker on sims and stronger on everything else. I have seen too many people with a score report that says they were stronger on every section except for sims and too much advice that has told people to ignore having a focused study effort on simulations which really hurt me the first time I took FAR.

So, here is what I would suggest that helped me slay FAR on my second try as well as some other things I wish I had known when I started.

Take FAR as your first exam and follow it with AUD! These two have a lot I was able to roll into AUD right after my miss on FAR and pass it easily. Then I was able to roll back into FAR studying without forgetting too much. I really don't know how people can leave FAR for one of their later exams. If I was going to throw in the towel, I wanted to know early and have the toughest test first! I seriously think FAR was 3-4 times more difficult than AUD so I would have hated to have to do that one later.

Get the Wiley Test Bank and only answer MCQ questions until you get to about an 80% for each section of FAR, The reporting on this test bank is nice because you can see graphically how you are scoring on all of the sections so you have the proficiency you need. If you are trying to get higher much higher than 80%, you are getting to a point of diminishing returns and you need to divert your attention to studying J/Es and Simulations. Until you are at the point where you are scoring in high 70s or 80s consistently on the MCQs you may not even want to schedule your exam date because you are just wasting your time. Sometimes I wonder if the people who get tons of failures in a row are using the real exam as a diagnostic exam–if you can't score in the 75+ on the test bank, you probably have no business taking that section at all yet.

Also, one thing I notice about people posting about doing MCQ questions is they say they do an ungodly number of MCQ questions during their study sessions and then complaining about not passing. Don't fool yourself about MCQ–the number of questions attempted doesn't translate into a actual learning. Sometimes it would take me hours to get through 20 questions because I was spending a ton of time trying to figure out what I didn't understand in my book. The point is that you shouldn't confuse blowing through a ton of MCQ question with studying–you are just blowing through questions and not learning.

As for the actual exam, though, you need to move through the MCQ questions like lethal Ninja from Shinobi–30 minutes per section should be your goal. I was at 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 40 minutes for mine because the testlets got harder. Your 80% on the test bank should give you confidence to know you are prepared to tackle them quickly. Start chopping off heads of the MCQ questions as quickly as possible and keep moving like you are in a Bin Laden compound or something. If a couple of foot soldier MCQ questions get away with just a flesh wound DON'T spend time chasing them. Remember you are there for the BOSS at the end of the level AKA the sims. Whenever the test tricks you to spend too much time on an obscure MCQ, think of Arnold Schwartzenegger or some other action star saying…”GET OUT..GET OUT NOW” with whatever movie scene you can think of where some dumbass is trying to get everyone killed because they freeze when the grenade is in the foxhole! LOL

You MUST, MUST, MUST go through and write down every journal entry entry in your FAR book and you have to do try to work through every FAR sim in your book. You will have to do it on pencil and paper because the Wiley test bank isn't good enough to prepare you for the sims based on what is in the software. For my final review, I completely ignored doing multiple choice questions since I already had an 80% on all sections and only focused on sims and journal entries. Of all the stuff I said before this is the ONLY thing that improved my score so much. Even if you can't predict the sims that will show up, having confidence in how to tackle that type of problem will pay dividends. Furthermore, you will better learn the more advanced content that you will see in the MCQ questions. This is the area where I was able to improve my score.

40% of the scoring on the exam is sims so you have to spend time preparing for them. Trying to increase your score marginally by continuing to pound MCQ questions after you have gained proficiency at 80% isn't going to translate into a lot more points on your exam. The amount of effort for the amount of marginal increase in score isn't worth it. However, if you can take your sim score from a 50% to a 75% by putting in a little more effort on preparation will make a huge difference in your final score.

If you have just failed with a high 60s or low 70s, I wanted to give you my experience how I raised my score to help, if possible. To summarize here is the gameplan…80% on all sections of Wiley, schedule your exam, spend your last 40 hours of prep time doing nothing but journal entries, extended examples, and sims from your book on pencil and paper. (mine was a gleim book).

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[BRITTANY.CAMP]

Do you suggest a certain study guide for the journal entries?

I mean, I can go through and I see where they have example journal entries throughout the MCQ. But, I need a study guide where I have it all together?

[CPA50]

Hey BC –

I am making my own study guide 🙂 I have all my notes and books out along with a nice fresh Excel sheet.

I have made a journal entry template and copied and pasted it all over the spreadsheet. Now I am transcribing all my notes onto it into neat little journal entries with room for explanations and descriptions. I've been doing this all day and having huge lightbulb moments.

For me, when I think journal entries, I think Excel. I do not like to scribble them on a yellow legal pad which is what I did last time, and obviously it didn't work.

Best wishes!

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[Tncincy]

Are you saying Gleim has a better sims study strength than wiley? not the test bank but the book? Does Gleim cost a ridiculous amount? Let me tell you I am not about spending more money than necessary, but I do want to finally get that 75 on far. I did move on from far because it is aggravating but I need the uplift from passing at least one section. So I hope there is some hope.

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

[jacquelynsimon]

Far from FAR-

I'm on that long journey of studying for the CPA Exam. I am tired of looking at my calendar and saying well I am behind, I guess I'll push the date back…again. I need some serious motivation. Chapter 4 is just not doing it for me. I hope chapter five goes better. Maybe it will pick up when I get through the homework questions.

[Anonymous]

Best advise ever from Guti-

“As for the actual exam, though, you need to move through the MCQ questions like lethal Ninja from Shinobi–30 minutes per section should be your goal. I was at 30 minutes, 40 minutes, 40 minutes for mine because the testlets got harder. Your 80% on the test bank should give you confidence to know you are prepared to tackle them quickly. Start chopping off heads of the MCQ questions as quickly as possible and keep moving like you are in a Bin Laden compound or something. If a couple of foot soldier MCQ questions get away with just a flesh wound DON'T spend time chasing them. Remember you are there for the BOSS at the end of the level AKA the sims. Whenever the test tricks you to spend too much time on an obscure MCQ, think of Arnold Schwartzenegger or some other action star saying…”GET OUT..GET OUT NOW” with whatever movie scene you can think of where some dumbass is trying to get everyone killed because they freeze when the grenade is in the foxhole! LOL. “

I got stuck on a weak multiple choice but I could hear Arnold in my head telling me ” GET OUT..GET OUT NOW!”

[Anonymous]

The first and only part I have taken so far was FAR and I passed with an 84. I did research on different CPA review courses and felt that Gleim was the way to go based on price, amount of information, and difficulty of their questions. So I definitely recommend this review course to start of with. Secondly, the hours you study means nothing if you read something and don't truly understand it. If you are stuck on a particular subject, use all of the resources you have to understand it, don't just skip it and I highly recommend writing down the journal entry and T accounts for all Statement/Transaction questions so you can truly visualize what is going on. I learned how to answer questions from three completely different subjects simply because they had the same exact T account process, just with different classifications. Finally, I think it is EXTREMELY important you know how to manage your time. Before taking the exam, I had to take 3 GMAT exams to get a decent score to get into graduate school and the reason for that was because I had awful time management skills and was tired towards the end and my brain gave up on me. For FAR, I brought with me 2 espresso shots, water, and a protein bar. After every section, I made sure to get up for a break, regardless of how tired/energetic I felt and I went to the bathroom and did 50 jumping jacks to allow my brain to rest a little. I ended up leaving the exam with 10 minutes left and did not feel tired at all. So here is my time management recommendation:

1) About 45 min/hour before the exam: Eat a banana

2) Right before the exam: Take an espresso shot and try not to sit

3) Testlet 1 : Don't go over 30/35 minutes because it should be the easier one

4) Right after you finish testlet 1: go to the bathroom and do 50 jumping jacks &wash your face with cold water

5) Testlet 2: Don't go over 45 min

6) Right after you finish testlet 2: have a few bites of a protein bar and go to the bathroom do jumping jacks, drink water(not too much, but enough to keep your brain hydrated)

7) Testlet 3: Don't go over 45 min

8)Right after you finish testlet 3: Finish the protein bar, have some water, take the second espresso shot, go to the bathroom and do jumping jacks

9) By the simulations, you will have enough time and mental capacity to stay calm and read through them carefully and even do some research if you are stuck

Hope this helps!

[Author]

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