[klmc]

So I just failed FAR with a 70 and now I’m wondering how I should re-study. I’m gonna take it again in mid-october, but this time I wanna do it right. I used Becker’s lectures and WTB for most of the MCQ and I didn’t bother doing SIMS (which now that I look back might have been a bad idea).

How should I go by studying for FAR the 2nd time around? I was thinking just doing MCQ and SIMS and going back on the questions I miss and review the topics. Any thoughts?

Thanks

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[Anonymous]

I just posted this in another thread for FAR…

I used Becker. I studied a total of 24 days (including test day) for the exam. I only got about 50% of the Becker MCQs done and an even smaller percentage of the SIMS. I didn't take a practice exam. Going into the exam, I was fully prepared to retake…even more so walking out of the exam.

I literally jumped out of my chair in shock when I saw my score last night.

My advice: Understand which learning style fits your personality. Are you someone who can pay attention in class (lectures) and take good notes? Do you learn better with a hands-on approach (SIMS)? Does trial and error fit you the best? (MCQs)?

Either way, set a budget of hours you plan on studying (FAR = 128 for me) and stick to it. Then, use the Becker weighted percentages of the material to budget further (for example, government is 10% of the exam…so I spent 13 hours on government…no more, no less).

It is very important to not get bogged down…I could've spent 40 hours on government, or 25 hours on pensions, or 15 hours on foreign currency…but it's not worth it…expose yourself to the weighted material, trust your instinct, test your instinct, change your thinking on areas you aren't testing well on…

I am most proud of my FAR score, because I spent the least amount of time studying for this exam, which meant I wasted less time on each part (AUD – 1st, REG – 2nd, BEC – 3rd, FAR – 4th).

Good luck…you'll pass

[klmc]

I am thinking about supplementing with Ninja, can anyone vouch for this?

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[CPA soon]

You need some sort of summary to review periodically, it being ninja or becker final review..You have to read it multiple times throughout the process.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[LKD CPA]

klmc – Speaking from experience, that sucks. I failed FAR with a 74 my first time around. When preparing for this second attempt (just got an 83) these are some things I did that helped me:

1) Purchased and downloaded the Ninja Audio for FAR (I have a long commute so this what I listened to EVERY day to and from work.)

2) I pumped out MCQ's and any that I did not answer right (which there were a LOT of them) I Googled for clarification or came here to message boards to get a better understanding. I also made a flashcard for EVERY wrong MCQ.

3) I restudied NFP, Govt, and IFRS – those were my weak areas – find yours and know them forward, backwards, inside out, etc.

4) THIS ONE IS THE ONE I THINK HELPED THE MOST – For EVERY MCQ you do, write out the journal entry and/or T-account. I think this is what really helped me!

I know you must be really discouraged right now…believe me I know! But, keep your spirits up and get prepared to kick FAR's @ss this next time around!

FAR: 74, 83
REG: 76
BEC: 77
AUD: 89

[klmc]

Thanks the reply guys, did anyone focus heavily on SIM questions in addition the MCQ? I've been getting mixed reviews from people, some say don't bother others say study them alot.

I think I did not do well on the SIM (I don't know where to check what percent of the SIMS I got right)

|FAR| - 72, 83
|AUD| - 73, 76
|REG| - 76
|BEC| - 73, 82

ALL DONE!!

[CPA soon]

I did not study any sims. Just practice journal entries, you need to understand journal entries for both mcq and sims.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Matt]

I also failed FAR. I took it at the beginning of July and have since taken two more exams (BEC and REG), so I've probably forgotten most of it and will start over from the ground up. I will be retaking it in early October.

In reference to “Cramming Works”, cramming does indeed work, but I had pushed my luck just a little too much. I spent 2 weeks studying for FAR and missed it by 3 points. If I had spent one more day studying not-for-profits (which I basically skipped), I probably would have passed the exam.

AUD: 88
BEC: 79
REG: 81
FAR: 72 » 74 » 88

Study method: 100% watching videos, including solving problems covered therein; no books, paper, or pencils

[iwillpassforsure]

I swear to God I could not have passed FAR without Ninja. I failed it twice and I would have lost audit if i didnt pass. I raised my score from 64 to 77 using Ninja alone. (Becker expired and wiley is too complicated)

AUD 64,66,83
FAR 68,64,77
REG 71,76
BEC 62,60,77

[LKD CPA]

klmc, If you have a strong understanding of JE's then you should be able to make it through the SIMS ok. You won't find out what your actual percentages were from SIMS. You'll just get a notice telling you your score (which is like salt in the wound) and it will list which content areas you were either weaker, comparable, or stronger in. It will also list whether you were weaker, comparable or stronger in MCQ's and SIMS. It is not a detailed report at all! Just a summary.

FAR: 74, 83
REG: 76
BEC: 77
AUD: 89

[Anonymous]

now what? study again!!

[SAM04]

Hey guys just wanted to know whether doing MCQs is enough for getting the passing grade in FAR or thorough

reading of book is required.

[Anonymous]

Well, I didn't pass FAR the first time, but I did pass REG and AUD using just the NINJA MCQs and Notes. And I came pretty close to passing FAR with the same combination and there were only one or two surprises on the actual exam, so I definitely think it's enough for a passing score. I haven't thoroughly read an actual book since I took BEC in February, and that was the exam I actually felt least prepared for.

[Anonymous]

What do you do when you fail? Need some motivation? Fight back like a damn honey badger.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2641503/He-went-swinging-Plucky-honey-badger-takes-pride-lions-15-times-size-holds-30-minutes.html

[CPA50]

Yeah, but didn't the lions eventually get lunch?

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[Anonymous]

They did. But the operative message here is to fight like a dang honey badger.

[Author]

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