[Anonymous]

Everytime I come to a heavy calculation type question, I get anxious and have to read the question 10 times before anything starts to sink in. What I have trouble with most are questions with dates, 1/2 years, 3 months, etc. Basically anything with a date in it and multiple steps involved….which is all of FAR, lol

I know this is a relativley normal feeling, but I was wondering if any of you might have any advice on how you personally approach these questions. Do you write down the info on scratch paper first? If so, do they allow that during the exam? Basically, what is your thought process.

I know, weird question but it might help with heavy calculation type problems!

Thanks

[sbruce810]

First you should relax. While the calculation questions are daunting, approaching them with a frazzled mindset is counterproductive. You have to approach these problem like a math word problem.

Step 1 – Figure out what the question is asking.

Step 2 – Gather all relevant information.

Steps 1 & 2 are where the majority of mistakes are made.

Step 3 – Set up the problem.

Step 4 – Solve the problem.

When you approach each problem in a similar manner and practice enough MC questions you will be able to identify the class of question easily and move right on to solving the question.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
REG - Passed

Done

[Anonymous]

I tend to read the last sentence to see what I will need to find. Then I quickly skim the entire question. Then I READ the question, if there are lots of dates and $ amounts I write them on scratch paper as I go.

Example for EPS problem:

1/1/10 10000 sh

3/1/10 purch treasury 5000 sh

6/1/10 sold 8000 sh

9/1/10 2 for 1 stock split

It helps me to list the relevant dates and amounts. When I work the problem I can refer to it easily rather than reading through the paragraph of information again. I will sometimes even write the formula I intend to use on the paper and then look at my list of information to fill it in. After I find the answer and mark it on the screen I read the last sentence one more time to make absolutely sure my answer is what the question is asking for. For instance, they might give you all of the information to find diluted EPS but only ask for basic EPS.

I hope this helps?

[Anonymous]

Yep, thank you both. It makes sense to try to structure the process and I think I need to pratice writing down some of the information so I'm not scanning the paragraph over and over again trying to work it all in my head. At this point, I think I'd complete the question faster writing the whole thing down (not literally lol) than constantly re-reading. Although I'm sure it'll be a bit of both.

I just finished Becker F10 and I'm starting my review by doing the questions over again. I think it might be a problem of laziness or motivation too because I don't remember this feeling of dread every time I come to a calculation problem when I went through the first time.

Either way, I guess its practice practice practice.

[Author]

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