6 weeks too long for a FAR retake?

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  • December 22, 2017 at 6:07 pm #1684927
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Scheduled my re-take for February 12th. I wanted to be close to score release, but January 20th date for a February 6th score release didn’t quite make sense… I have my schedule set up to start studying on January 1st, even though I already started light review…Is 6 weeks too long? My plan is to read the Becker textbook, and then do Ninja MCQ on the related topic. I think it will take me 2 solid weeks to get through all of the material again and the Ninja test bank the first time around. Then I plan on going through “missed” and “trouble” questions in Ninja, while doing SIMS in Becker and Ninja. I can’t imagine that would take me 6 weeks? Help! 🙂 I want to pass, but I don’t want to drag this out! I studied for 3 months the first time around, I must have put 200 hours into this thing already, no way do I need 150 more, do I??? 🙂

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  • December 22, 2017 at 9:49 pm #1684973
    Go.For.Broke
    Participant

    @anyatver Your FAR situation sounds similar to what mine was like. I primarily used Becker. I studied for 3 months (it was the first section I took in my CPA exam journey, and I gave myself loads of time). I made a 73. By the time I got my score, I was halfway through studying AUD, so I followed through with those studies, took AUD, and the very next day (after AUD exam), I got right back into FAR. I set an exam date for 7 weeks out (pretty similar to your 6 week plan), took the exam, and scored a 78.

    I think that if you have set up a solid study plan for 6 weeks and you feel like you can cover and master the necessary amount of material to pass in that time frame, then 6 weeks is right for you. In my case, I skipped reading the textbook chapters. I realize that's a crucial step, but since I had read that FAR book front to back once already, I just couldn't do it again. So, my priorities were:

    1. Watch all lectures and do in-class problems, while taking notes along the way.
    2. Do every single MCQ of each chapter and every SIM.
    3. Study all flash-cards (they don't come with the course, but you can purchase separately (this was my “short-cut” from reading full chapters. The flash cards got to the point without too much nitty-gritty).
    4. Purchased and studied/copied Ninja Notes. This was crucial to my success, I believe, as I look back. Fantastic product. Obviously, I was mixing Becker with Ninja, but the concepts are the same. Just presented differently. Ninja products (in this case the notes) really put me in a position for success, I believe.

    I hope this is helpful, or at least gives you some insight from one other person. Seeing your other exam scores, you're a sharp tack. You're gonna kill FAR this next time. I think 6 weeks is good, so long as you stay diligent and get your studies done.

    Thanks!

    December 23, 2017 at 8:57 am #1685066
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Go.For.Broke-thank you! I appreciate the insight and encouragement! Right now I am thinking to review with Becker by reading the book, and then doing corresponding Ninja MCQ. I might just jump into MCQ and then go back to the book on areas I am weak on and make notes. I have to restudy revenue recognition standards and a couple of other new things they are testing as well. I did not read Ninja Notes which I will do this time. I listened to Ninja Audio and it was helpful. I also have Ninja Book and I might utilize it for areas I was weak on-maybe a different perspective will be good. I know my plan might change, I just know I have to get this thing done! Thanks again for the pointers! I love this site for the fact that there are so many people who know exactly how I feel:)

    December 23, 2017 at 12:11 pm #1685161
    cpasoon
    Participant

    I scheduled my FAR retake in 3 weeks. but I don't plan on rewatching all the lectures though, probably learn the new update on revenue recognition, and focus on the practice questions.
    Good luck!!

    December 23, 2017 at 3:49 pm #1685237
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @cpasoon-you too! I thought of doing it on January 20th, but that seemed not enough time to me…:)

    December 23, 2017 at 4:31 pm #1685257
    msquared17
    Participant

    I'm in the same boat. I'm giving myself 6 weeks to redo FAR from scratch and a week or two for final review. Planning to retake 2/23. My plan is to read the chapter and take notes before the lecture. Then mcq and sims. I will do progress tests after each chapter. This was a step I didn't do before. I'm hoping this plan works.

    December 24, 2017 at 9:23 am #1685410
    Sunni
    Participant

    5-6 weeks is perfect imo. IDK how people take longer than that without forgetting what they initially learned. 3 months to me is just as bad as 2 weeks.

    I would also skip lectures except for your trouble areas but what do I know. I never did the lectures.

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