RVCPA – My strategy for these exams has been to not sit for one until I know the material forwards and backwards and backwards and forwards. However long it takes, it takes.
I studied for FAR for about 5 full months….it honestly took me that long to grasp everything. I went into the exam extremely nervous, but felt like I did everything I could to prep.
My first testlet, I rocked it – felt very very good. My second testlet was HARD, and I could barely answer anything. At that point, I figured I was toast. I guessed on most, and obviously I did poorly because my third testlet was VERY easy. Once I saw the basic nature of that third testlet, I was a wreck mentally. When I got to the SIMS, the exam seemed to get even worse. I was totally lost. I finished everything, but there were a ton of guesses and for some of them, wasn't even sure what I was supposed to be doing.
I walked out of the exam ready to head right back home and hit the books again for the retake, but I decided to take a little time off because I was mentally fried. I was sure beyond a doubt I had failed – I even started googling “Thought you failed FAR but passed” and reading year old A71 posts for any possible encouragement. It was bad.
I still don't understand to this day how mathematically I could've possibly had enough points to pass, however, I made it. And I am not exaggerating when I say – If I can pass, literally ANYONE can. If you gut it out, you will make it. 100%