[DMV18]

I failed FAR using GLEIM although I studied (160 hours) as advised by GLEIM in 3 months period.
I did not think the exam was hard, I felt confident when I finished it
But I was shocked when I got 41% score. So I don t know what went wrong?

Any advice? Anybody went through the same situation?

[CPAHOPE]

Sorry to hear your situation. I know exactly how it feels to see a failing score after spending many hours studying. Scoring below 60 indicates you're solving lots of MCs but you're not spending enough time thinking n analyzing the questions you got wrong. They read it,understand it, and move on but you need to REALLY understand it. They also do lots of memorizing instead of understanding the underlying concepts. For instance, under equity method of stocks, do you know why investment account decreases when there is dividend distribution by the subsidiary and increases by the portion of SUBSIDIARYs net income? Dividend distribution is a cash payment which is a return of capital. The dividend distribution is paying you the money back on the original investment. SUBSIDIARYs net income increases the investment account as this is not a cash distribution. This is the type of analysis that you need to do instead of just memorizing the journal entries on equity method of stocks. Ask the question why why why?

Im rereading the whole book on FAR and im definitely picking up things I did not see before. Its definitely a gruesome process but its needed to pass this beast. Good luck!

[CH89]

First time I took FAR, I scored a 57. Like you, I spent 3 months studying, however, I was inefficient during that time, and had to make changes to my study habits.

I'm not trying to be mean here, but just because you studied for 160 hours, doesn't mean it was quality study time. What were your study habits like? How many MCQs/SIMs did you do leading up to this exam? I would suggest starting fresh and go back to the beginning for FAR. As mentioned above, you really need to understand these concepts. Knowing why that one answer is correct, and why the other three are wrong is key. As discouraging as this may be, this is a great learning experience for you. Lean on this community, we are here to help and be supportive. You can do this!

[Recked]

No offense, but it sounds like you just chugged along through the program nice and easy/slow.
How many MCQs did you do, and did you complete everything per the Gleim guidelines?
160 hours over 3 months/12 weeks averages only 13ish hours a week.
If I were you I would start fresh and do it all over again, this time trying to do 20-25 hours a week in 8-10 weeks. Target at least 2000-3000 MCQs, and lots of SIMs.
The CPA exam isn't like college, where you can read it over once and be good for the exam.
You'll need to assess your study methods and habits, and make some real changes to determine what is effective for you.
It was all trial and error for me, and also why I spent so much more time on FAR than any of the other exams.
–
Once you figure out your best study methods, it will be like unlocking a door, and will really benefit you for the other exams.

[DMV18]

So for the last 2 weeks review before the exam, you go through the main MCQ and SIMS (most interesting ones)?

What is your strategy for the last 2 weeks review before the exam?

Thank you guys!

[CH89]

I would usually spend my last two weeks leading up to the exam by reviewing notes and working those MCQs and SIMs. For instance, in the morning I would spend time reviewing my own notes and/or the Ninja notes, or any other supplemental material you may have. I would focus more time and energy in MCQs/SIMs in my weaker areas, but still touch on all other topics. I would also spend an hour or so a day re-writing my notes. As Recked said, it is all trial and error. I think by the time I passed BEC earlier this year is when I figured out what works and what doesn't work.

If you do plan on starting fresh with FAR again, I would also suggest spending 1 day each week for a cumulative review. There's a lot of information, and it is easy to forget things.

[Audarah]

How many MCQs did you do? You have no idea how many times I got through a section and thought I understood it until I started doing mcqs. I scored low on my first attempt at far. I studied WAY too long and hardly did MCQs. If I did get it wrong, I didn't understand why. Recipe for disaster. I do at least 50 mcqs a day while studying further into the material. You have to find what works for you. For me, CONSTANTLY doing mcqs is what works.

[DMV18]

I guess what I am trying to say is that during the first 6 weeks, you go through lot of MCQ and SIMS. So for the last 2 weeks of review before the exam, which of these MCQ and SIMS you review (since there are lot and you can not review all of them in 2 weeks)? How do you choose which MCQ and which SIMS to review in the last 2 weeks before the exam?

Thank you!

[Recked]

Set yourself up with 2 33 MCQ mock testlets, and then see where you performed poorly. Review those area, hammer more MCQs, rinse and repeat.
It's human nature to sway towards the topics we know and perform well on. You need to recognize that those are your strong points, and work on the weak ones.
The Gleim TB had great performance tracking, and I targeted areas that were either rumored to be hard hitting and tough, or the areas that I performed weakest in.
The final 2 week review really needs to be comprehensive, so you freshen up on all the stuff you forgot over your 6-8 weeks of studying.

[Madhav]

Keep trying. You should try new questions with different formats. I passed FAR after low score first time by focusing on understanding the concepts than covering the different topics. Also focus on Govt. and Non profit accounting heavily, these questions are weighted heavily.

[AGI]

I have no comment on GLEIM, I did not use that software.

But mind if I said, if you did not think the test was hard, and when you use GLEIM your score was fine… you might want to at least Google some random CPA question set and use those for a test trail. Just to make sure you didn't fell into the pothole of undiscovered topic or something “you think you know / got right but you actually don't”.

And then the last 2 weeks, I'm sure you are familiar with the test already. There are always those questions / topics that must appear every test set and SIMS. I would focus and study those. There are some very cold topics, maybe you will see one question in the whole test. Evaluate and split the questions into 3 levels, must, chances, unlikely (hard and odd ones), and study the most common ones. If you known about half of the MCQs and at least 2 SIMS, you will pass by educated guess the rest.

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

[Author]

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