[Jeff_A]

I just took far. I feel like I have PTSD. I don’t know what to think. Easier than becker. Testlet 2 wasn’t particularly harder, but definitely wordier. I thought I crushed testlet 1 but that makes me wonder. Sims were brutal. I’ve no idea. Anyone feel that way and end up passing?

FAR- 83
BEC- 85
REG- 79
AUD- 91

[theCPA15]

I also studied with Becker, and I couldn't tell how I did at all after I took FAR. I was super frustrated because I thought the SIMs were ridiculous. I didn't know if the testlets got more challenging or not either. I was so nervous about checking my score but I ended up passing, so there's hope for you.

[Anonymous]

I feel the EXACT same way! PTSD for sure. I'm still exhausted from taking the exam earlier this week. I put in over 200 hours with Gleim and Roger's Cram. I didn't feel the questions were more difficult in Testlet 2 and 3. In fact, I thought Testlet 1 was harderst. Testlet 2 and 3 had some difficult questions in them but for the most part, I felt testlet 1 took me the most time.

The sims were unbelieveable. Not necessarily for content but the instructions were confusing and ambiguous. Not clear at all. I finished and know I got at least partial credit for some when I went back and looked it up. Others I think I got completely wrong. Fingers crossed – I have no clue. I passed AUD and BEC first try with Gleim, and sort of felt the same way after leaving the testing center, but definitely not as bad as this!

[krokofilen]

Only 14 days to Aug 22… :p

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[jstay]

can you explain more on how beckers questions were harder than the exams

[theCPA15]

@jstay I would say that Becker questions are often a lot wordier and sometimes more specific than the questions on the exam, but I don't think the questions on the exam are easy by any means. It's more challenging for me to see so many questions that I haven't seen before because I think Becker got me used to seeing questions multiple times. Seeing them multiple times obviously makes it easier to remember the answer, which is not a feeling I got on the exams.

[jstay]

but you felt becker prepared you well?

current becker user..taking FAR 8/31..

i'd say i went through material at least twice already (most of it) but then i took like a 10-14 day break and used WTB and now I'm using becker again up until exam..i feel like i haven't memorized the questions, i guess only the obvious ones that had abstract answers

[Kimboroni]

Jeff, yes, that sounds like my FAR experience. I felt good about MCQs and had nightmares about my sims. But I passed with room to spare!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Sarah1421]

LOL PTSD… 🙂 I can relate. I was crying and laughing on my way home because I couldn't believe how bad I choked on the sims. I didn't even finish them… I bet you passed.

I doubt I missed a single question in my first testlet… but my second and third were definitely more difficult. Some questions just came down to educated guesses (that's the nice way to put it… it was more “heads” or “tails”). I didn't leave NEAR enough time for my sims and completely lost it when I skimmed through them…. I had less than an hour and the sims were worse than anything I'd seen in Becker. I ended up leaving two sims completely blank and just gave gut responses on another two.

I have a feeling AUD is going to leave me completely clueless tomorrow. 🙁

FAR - 90
AUD - 91
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[CPA50]

Hi Sarah! You gave me some hope with your FAR score. Remember with AUD to RTMFQ – read the question and then re-read the question and make sure you get all the positively or negatively worded sorted out the right way. You'll do great!!

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...

[thechapman]

Experienced basically exactly what you described (obviously I don't know all the details) and got an 88. I was convinced that I failed because I wasn't confident on the sims at all. Texas gives you your performance report if you pass, and I was stronger on every area, including sims. So you probably did better than you think. Good luck!

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

PTSD is such a polite way of putting the FAR exam experience. I called my husband to let him know I was on my way home from my last FAR exam and he asked how I felt. I told him that I felt like I'd had a colonoscopy, a mamaogram and a frontal lobotomy all at the same time. I was so mad I wouldn't check the score myself. I got an 85.

[Sarah1421]

Thank you, CPA50! I'm so happy my experience could give someone hope… 🙂 I was 99% sure I failed because of those sims.

You couldn't be more correct on your auditing advice. Note to self – SLOW YOUR ROLL…

I better get off this forum and back to my red bull and textbook… lol

FAR - 90
AUD - 91
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[Jeff_A]

This is all very encouraging. Thanks for your experiences. It stinks to sit in suspension til scores are released.

FAR- 83
BEC- 85
REG- 79
AUD- 91

[Author]

Replies