[jimboace88]

As my exam date draws increasingly near (6 days) I keep getting offers to go out and do things. Usually I’ve always said no to activities during studying unless it was my day off.

For those of you who have gone through this already, did you ever go out or enjoy yourself during your final review time? My situation is probably a bit different than many of you because I’m not working right now and have no responsibilities to worry about but studying.

I’m finishing up my F4 review today. My “review” of a section consists of going through the Becker chapter and writing extensive notes, doing all of the homework MCQ and sometimes the supplemental questions, doing all of the sims for that chapter, then doing a progress test that is inclusive of the chapters I’ve reviewed so far. The rest of my schedule is:

Friday: F5

Saturday: F6

Sunday: F7

Monday: F8 & F9

Tuesday: Progess tests, sims, and quizzes for the entirety of the day

Wednesday: Looking over notes, maybe a progress test or two (my exam is at 4 PM)

Does this look reasonable to all of you and (I guess more importantly), would it be a cardinal sin to go out and have fun at any point during these last few days?

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[anonymous]

I definitely recommend taking the night before your exam off — just relax and go to bed early. I also think its fine to reward yourself with some time off as long as it fits into your schedule and doesn't put you behind. That way your brain will be refreshed when you revisit the material the next day. (what I tell myself — not sure if it's scientifically proven yet)

REG -- October 3!!
FAR -- Pass
BEC -- Pass
AUD -- Pass

[yankeeaccountant]

I think if it feels ok, then do it. For me, I study like a crazy person in my final review. probably about 8 hours a day. Part of this is because, I am not a strong test taker. I have let the exam get me and take me right out of it. So, I overdo it just to keep my confidence up. I am probably going out for dinner and drinks with a friend next week– my friend took the exam when it was pen and paper, so she is great to talk to. And she is great at boosting my spirits. So, hanging with friends can help more than you think.

I am not working either, I actually just picked up some very part time work for a prior client, so I am in the same boat. However, for me, the study quality that I am at now is indicative of summer for sure. I am a bit distracted. I have two kids: one in college, the other in high school–so the summer is all over the place. I have REG on July 31. UGH.

Your process seems methodical. Great job. I think you will do well. Go out and enjoy yourself, you have worked hard!! Best of luck with FAR. Don't let any questions throw you..be prepared to get those “what the heck is this” kind of question, and have the confidence to move on.

[Anonymous]

No big sin to take time off…you need to just make sure you don't let your plan fly out of the window because “freedom” feels so good – everything in moderation…Taking time to get your head off the material and have some fun (for those who don't view studying as the ultimate of fun) can help re-invigorate you for some more studying – instead of never taking normal breaks and then having a nervous breakdown or something because you feel like you're going to explode with all the material..

Good luck on FAR!

[T-rex]

Nope. I don't go out other than to go to work and maybe the grocery store. In order to make time for studying, I've had to:

Outsource the yard work

Begin using paper plates & plastic spoons

Resort to shaving my legs every three days instead of daily and waxing my upper lip no more than monthly

Eat microwaveable frozen “entrees” and instant oatmeal

Stop cleaning the house other than taking out the garbage and occasionally cleaning the toilets

Cease exercising

Turn down all social activities

Quit talking on the phone to friends

Cut my sleep down to 6 hours per night

Use up all of my PTO

If anyone has any additional time-saving tips, I'd love to hear them.

Life sucks right now, but it's worth making these sacrifices to get this monster over with!

This board is my sole source of entertainment.

T-rex

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[kb24]

@T-Rex

Your description of your life is almost the same as mine was in April and May. One additional tip is to take some study material with you wherever you go just in case you have a few minutes. I didn't go many places, but I always took a text or notes.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Anonymous]

I usually spend an entire week reviewing. This means skimming over the chapters and re-working every MCQ. There's no way I could do a chapter a day and then review it all in one or two days, but that's just me. I have the attention span of a two year old.

My advice would be to not overstudy the day of the exam. You want to be rested and refreshed.

[T-rex]

@kb24,

That is a good tip! I've been doing that lately. I keep notes and homework problems in my car, at work, and even in my purse. Sometimes I'm able to review them on my lunch break or when I have a few minutes here and there. I figure it all adds up.

I'm impressed that you were able to complete your 3 remaining sections within less than 1.5 months after taking the first one. How in the world did you pull that off? Awesome job!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[kb24]

@T-rex

I studied 12-14 hours/day with no days off. I'm not working, have no young children, and have a super supportive husband. I thought that taking all the exams even if I didn't pass them all would help improve my chances of finding a job. I'd set a goal of doing this by the end of May and stuck to it even when I wasn't able to schedule FAR in the first test window.

Good luck to you with FAR.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[T-rex]

Thank you, kb24.

That's great that you knocked those out so quickly. You must have been exhausted after all of those marathon study sessions. Obviously, they were worth it! It was very smart to take advantage of the time you had when you weren't working.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[T-rex]

@kb,

Any tips for tackling the research questions? I don't feel like I have a good approach for those.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[jomarie]

@ T-Rex – that sounds like my life right now. I hope it'll pay off and I'll be done after this testing window. Good Luck everyone!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[T-rex]

@jomarie,

Good luck to you! I too hope you'll be done after this testing window!

I look forward to a more balanced life and to not having eye twitches and sciatica from spending most of my waking moments in a chair in front of a monitor.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[jomarie]

I hear ya!! Tonight my husband and I were talking about taking the girls on a camping trip after I sit for FAR in Aug.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[jomarie]

Good luck to everyone!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[kb24]

@T-Rex

This is a recent thread on research that might be of help.

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/need-help-with-research-tab-urgent-exam-tomorrow

One thing that I found useful for FAR was to read the introduction to the Codification (good times, I know) in order to become familiar with its structure. It helped me zero in on the applicable area a little faster. With FAR every moment counts.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Author]

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