[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I desperately need some advice. I am scheduled to take FAR on Thursday. However, I do not feel ready at all! I just took Becker final exam #1 and scored a 66% on the multiple choice. While I know that people usually score much higher on the actual exam (as has been my personal experience!), this is a good 10-15 points (at least) below of what I scored for the other 3 sections for their final exams. I do plan on major cramming tonight and tomorrow, but I just don’t feel comfortable with so much of the material.

My dilemma is this: Should I pay the fee (about $100) to push off my exam for 2 weeks (will have to travel about an hour and half, right now I travel 20 minutes to my testing center) or should I just take it on Thursday? I have already paid $35 to push it off by 2 days to Thursday.

If I push it off, I will get in more review time but is it worth it, since I know that I will never know all of the material perfectly? Also, I have a lot going on for the next 2 weeks after my scheduled exam, so I wouldn’t be able to focus too much on the material.

Right now I feel like how I felt before REG…not confident at all! However, I ended up getting a 90 on REG, so I’m glad I didn’t push that off! However, compared to how I felt with BEC and AUD (much, much more confident), I’m really scared.

So please, advice anyone? I need to make up my mind tonight to be within the 24 hour time limit!! What would you do if you were in my situation?

( Also, does anyone know where I can get an (up-to-date) boiled down summary of the important concepts in the book?) (less than 30 pages). Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Don't change it. It is absolutely normal to feel that way. I took FAR and I was thinking that I'd failed after I left the test center. I thought that I should have moved the test. But I end up passing. I think you should keep yourself reviewing the material and forget about changing it.

By the way, what were your scores on AUDIT final exams?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it! The main reason why I'm so nervous is because I only left myself 3 days in total to review for FAR. I know that everyone else generally leaves weeks to review, but for all my other exams I only had 1-3 days to review and I was fine. Unfortunately, FAR is so long that having only 3 days for this exam is just not enough.

I do have a game plan for the rest of my study time:

Tonight: 1. finish reviewing final exam I

2. read through Becker's chapter summary notes & review course questions for each chapter (the 20 or so

questions that come at the end of each chapter in the book)

Tomorrow: 1. Take final exam II

2. review final exam II

3. Couple of practice simulations

3. Last minute skimming or progress test, depending on amount of time left

How does my study plan look? Do you have any advice on what else i should include in my review?

For AUD, it was actually really interesting- I scored exactly the same on both Becker final exams as the actual exam!! 86 on all 3!!! I normally do much better on the actual exam but I wasn't surprised not to, since testing day was crazy (2 hour delay in the testing center). I was surprised to get the exact same scores though!

[Anonymous]

I would definitely look at Chapters F8 and F9. Review them and I know you will pass

[Anonymous]

I scored a 68% on audit final exam 1 4 weeks after I took the test because I feel I will fail. What do you think? My first testlet was easy. The second one was hard. The third one was an in between. Both sims were hard as hell.

[Anonymous]

I am very strong on chapters 8 & 9 so I'm glad!! If you don't mind my asking, how did you score on Becker's final exams for FAR vs your actual score?

In terms of audit, do you mean you took the final exam after you took the actual test? If so, I wouldn't worry about getting a 68 because a lot of memory dump happens right after the exam. My m.c. testlets for audit were easy, hard, hard. It was actually the only exam that I could tell was getting harder. My written communications were really easy, but the sims i had to make up a ton. I actually scored weaker on the sims than average (my state gives reports even if you pass) which was a first for me!

[Anonymous]

I scored 70 and 67 on Becker finals vs 92 on actual exam

[Anonymous]

I took it 4 weeks after the actual test.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow, great job!! Are those scores from the multiple choice only or did you add points for the simulations/written communications too?

If your multiple choice for audit went from easy, hard, to in-betweenish, I think you did well enough to counter effect any horrible simulations as long as you did well for the written communications. Because I did horribly on my simulations but since almost everything else was stronger than average, it balanced out alright. Also, you may not have done as badly as you think. For REG, I thought I did terribly on the actual simulations/written comms and I ended up scoring stronger in both! A 68 four weeks after the exam is really good! I doubt that I was able to recall much more than that so long after studying for it.

[Anonymous]

just for the mcqs. You will pass it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. You have really boosted my confidence tremendously!!! I better go finish studying now, but good luck on receiving your audit score, and, from the looks of your signature, studying for BEC!

[Anonymous]

bakagal – I think you are wise to keep your exam scheduled for this Thursday based on what you said in your post.

You asked about a good Summary of the book – I would suggest Jeff's notes from Club 75! I used them for my AUD & REG exams and they were very helpful summary. He suggests reading them a couple times the day before the exam and I also read over them in my car at the test center. I think it would be worth the cost if you are looking for a summary! I'm not sure what kind of deal he has going right now, but you can cancel your subscription at any time!

I'm studying for FAR now and I think his notes are 20 or so pages, but I haven't read them yet.

GOOD LUCK tomorrow!!!

[Anonymous]

I just checked Jeff's FAR notes are 33 pages including the title page!

[jeff]

My FAR notes are what carried me to a passing score on FAR despite not studying NFP accounting (10% of your score).

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info Connie & Jeff! I am going to review Becker's chapter notes and then take the second final exam. Depending on my results and how I feel while taking it, I am definitely going to consider purchasing Jeff's notes tonight. My only concern is are his notes updated to the 2010 exam, since he took it before 2010 and there have been changes in FAR in recent years?

[Anonymous]

Quick question about purchasing the notes- do I just join club 75 and then get access or do I have to buy them separately for $40 from here: https://www.another71.com/cpa-review-store/

[Author]

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