[Goldfish2012]

I F5’ed A71 and NASBA’s website all day/night yesterday only to see a 69 for my FAR score on my 3rd attempt at FAR. As you can see from my signature, I’ve previously received a 70 and a 71 on FAR. I read every chapter of the Becker book, reviewed my Becker flashcards multiple times, did the Becker MCQ and Sims, and this time I added the Wiley Test Bank and did all 1,200 questions and all of the Sims for additional practice. I studied over a 3 month period while working a busy season of 12+ hours for 2.5 of those months. But I still came up short.

My REG NTS expires on 8/31/13 so I’m considering retaking FAR first in the middle of July and then taking REG in late August. For my next go at FAR I have a couple of questions:

1. What’s the best way to approach this attempt if I give myself about 5 weeks? Should I reread the Becker book and tthen crank out MCQ? Should I do both Becker and Wiley or just focus on one? Do you think it’s possible to do 2 chapters a week while working full time?

2. Has anyone used the FAR Final Review from Becker? Did they find it useful to their studying?

3. Is there anything else I should use to supplement to my studying? I know that Jeff sells NINJA Notes, Audio, and Flashcards. I don’t have a driving commute so I wouldn’t have too much downtime to listen to the Audio. I take notes when I get MCQ wrong, but I know that I personally don’t learn well from writing and re-writing notes. And I’ve added a lot of my own notes to the Becker notecards to make them very detailed so I don’t know if the flashcards would be helpful either. I did buy the Wiley Test Bank from Jeff.

4. Any other tips/advice to get over the hump and get a 75+?

Thanks in advance for your help!

AUD - 7/9/2012 PASSED 77!
BEC - 8/13/2012 PASSED 85!
FAR - 70, 71, 69 7/22/2013 PASSED 78! (I survived "Server Upgrade" 2013!)
REG - 59, 64, 70 11/23/2013 PASSED 81! DONE!

Becker 2012 FastPass, Becker Self study

Experience: Completed!
DONE THE CPA EXAM as of 12/6/13!! License pending!

[DUMBCPA]

Curious, how did you do on the Becker Final exams 1 & 2?

B - 85 (4/2013)
A - 97 (5/2013)
F - 83 (7/2013)
R - 8/2013

Becker Self-Study

[Goldfish2012]

@inspiring: I actually didn't do the Becker final exams for FAR because when I did them for Audit, I got really discouraged by a low score. I only did the final exams for the sims for FAR.

But I did progress tests of 30 questions and scored in the 70s-80s on them.

AUD - 7/9/2012 PASSED 77!
BEC - 8/13/2012 PASSED 85!
FAR - 70, 71, 69 7/22/2013 PASSED 78! (I survived "Server Upgrade" 2013!)
REG - 59, 64, 70 11/23/2013 PASSED 81! DONE!

Becker 2012 FastPass, Becker Self study

Experience: Completed!
DONE THE CPA EXAM as of 12/6/13!! License pending!

[Goldfish2012]

Bump. Anybody else have any advice?

AUD - 7/9/2012 PASSED 77!
BEC - 8/13/2012 PASSED 85!
FAR - 70, 71, 69 7/22/2013 PASSED 78! (I survived "Server Upgrade" 2013!)
REG - 59, 64, 70 11/23/2013 PASSED 81! DONE!

Becker 2012 FastPass, Becker Self study

Experience: Completed!
DONE THE CPA EXAM as of 12/6/13!! License pending!

[Anonymous]

I would recommend doing the Becker final exams…every new question you see is something that you may be able to use for the exam. Also trying buying the Wiley book for like 30 bucks online. It has even more additional questions that are usually worded a little different from Becker's that can help you test your knowledge.

Finally I would recommend doing random Becker tests until you are getting in the 90's on them.

[niggy]

I would also recommend using AICPA most recently released MCQ and SIMs, they are pretty close to the real exam. I spend one night go through 2011 and 2012 AICPA released questions, very helpful. I think I actually ran into 2 same questions, or maybe very similar, same concept ones. So that will help you. Becker is harder than real exam, but the AICPA released questions are the same level as real exam.

Good luck!!

AUD - 76 (May 2012)
BEC - 81 (July 2012)
REG - 61 (Aug 2012), rematch 83 (October 2012)
FAR - 85 (May 2013)

Based on Becker 2012 self-study.
Currently licensed PA CPA since July 2013.

[Goldfish2012]

@AccountingTerp: thanks for the advice! I will do the final exams next time for more additional practice. I will also look into buying a Wiley book. Thanks again for your help!

@Niggy: I did do the 2013 AICPA released questions prior to taking this exam, but it looks like Becker has not yet released the explanations for each question. The answer is solely the correct letter with no explanation. I will look into redoing this exam and understanding which ones I got wrong.

AUD - 7/9/2012 PASSED 77!
BEC - 8/13/2012 PASSED 85!
FAR - 70, 71, 69 7/22/2013 PASSED 78! (I survived "Server Upgrade" 2013!)
REG - 59, 64, 70 11/23/2013 PASSED 81! DONE!

Becker 2012 FastPass, Becker Self study

Experience: Completed!
DONE THE CPA EXAM as of 12/6/13!! License pending!

[niggy]

I think 2012 has the answers. Well, if you didn't know the reason why you did it wrong, you can always come here to ask. I am sure there will be someone to answer your questions. i got plenty of help from here when I didn't know why the correct answer is different from my choice.

AUD - 76 (May 2012)
BEC - 81 (July 2012)
REG - 61 (Aug 2012), rematch 83 (October 2012)
FAR - 85 (May 2013)

Based on Becker 2012 self-study.
Currently licensed PA CPA since July 2013.

[Goldfish2012]

You're correct, the 2012 version does have the explanations. And I did stalk the threads and found some 2013 questions that people helped to solve. I'll keep that in mind to ask my fellow Ninjas. 🙂

AUD - 7/9/2012 PASSED 77!
BEC - 8/13/2012 PASSED 85!
FAR - 70, 71, 69 7/22/2013 PASSED 78! (I survived "Server Upgrade" 2013!)
REG - 59, 64, 70 11/23/2013 PASSED 81! DONE!

Becker 2012 FastPass, Becker Self study

Experience: Completed!
DONE THE CPA EXAM as of 12/6/13!! License pending!

[niggy]

And to your original post, I'd say the material Becker covered is enough (my firm paid this, I don't want to add any extra expense if they don't reimburse me) So I didn't get final review, flash cards or other materials. I think, no matter what book you are using, just focus on one (too many books will make me freak out), and try to find your weak area during your review round, and focus on beat those weak areas, then you should be good.

There are so many people that passed the exam solely on one material, but I guess Ninjia 10 points combo would be helpful if you are only a couple of points away from pass.

AUD - 76 (May 2012)
BEC - 81 (July 2012)
REG - 61 (Aug 2012), rematch 83 (October 2012)
FAR - 85 (May 2013)

Based on Becker 2012 self-study.
Currently licensed PA CPA since July 2013.

[Author]

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