[jeff]

NINJA Study Notes, Flashcards, and Audio: https://www.another71.com/products-page/

Wiley Software: https://www.another71.com/wiley-cpa-software/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[PackerFan]

I love the boards; I'm a long time reader and infrequent poster. I have the 2010 Becker Review. I got a 72 on FAR last fall when I took it. Should I go out and purchase Becker 2011 for FAR alone? That could be pretty costly. I'm debating whether to use Becker 2010 primarily and findind MCQ for 2011. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Much appreciated! Thanks guys, I'll hang up and listen!

( Written in a way that one would politely call into a radio talk show )

FAR 72 80
AUD 89
REG 88
BEC 80

[Anonymous]

Can't you update the Becker 2010 to 2011 without rebuying it?

I think you could use Becker 2010 and Wiley book ($34) to supplement for the new IFRS and tab simulation changes. Not sure what Becker has for IFRS, but Wiley has a few pages at the end of every chapter that compare and contrast U.S. GAAP to IFRS for those types of transactions.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Becker was offering update 2010 materials to 2011 but I think the cutoff was March 15th. Check out there website or give them a call. Maybe they will help you out.

@PackerFan- When are you looking to take the test?

[rowingOC]

So like most of you out there in CPA-wanna be land, I've been studying for these test for FORVER (since the last week of August 2010 to be precise). I take FAR on May 23rd and, assuming I can pass, I WILL BE DONE! Which is really exiciting and i'm planning all these fun things to do once I pass. However, I just can't stay focused anymore! I just finished Becker's F7 chapter and need to keep on keeping on but ARGH! Where is my motivation?

Anyone got any suggestions out there to help me power through my (hopefully) last 3.5 weeks of studying?

B - 11/10: 79
A - 10/10: 81
R - 2/11: 77
F - 5/11: 83 <--- DONE!!!!!!!!!!

[T-rex]

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” ~Newt Gingrich

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

[Lina]

I taked FAR on 4/28/11 and I'm completly lost on how I did. I have no idea if the 2nd and 3rd MQ's testles were medium or dificult. My only hope is that I finish all the exam and 6 from the 7 TBS were from material that I have knowledge of. However since on REG, I was pretty sure I failed and then I pass, just don't know what to think anymore. This is my last exam if I don't pass I lose BEC credits. I have my hopes kind of down for this one and at the same time waiting for a miracle. Just want to get it out of my chest!

AUD-85 Exp(5/31/12)
Bec-76 Exp(4/30/11)
Reg- 78 EXP(4/30/12)
Far- NTS# 450 PR

[magster]

rowingOC – I am with you with needing some motivation….I am reaching or perhaps I am already passed the burn-out point. I am on Chapter 12 of 20 in Gleim and my test is on the 26….I am cutting it short for the review but since this is a retake I am hoping that I remember most of the NFP and Government stuff, the leases are ok too. That means only a review for these 3 chapters but I really have to push hard to sit down after all day working and going over MCQ's. I get up in the am at 5:30 and do questions for an hour, do questions during lunch….maybe I am overdoing it.

Lina – when I took AUD the first time I thought I passed for sure, was prepared and walked out felling good…fail 73. This time I took it and I still felt ok until I got to the TBS – they did me in…always seems to happen that way. I really don't think that we can use our gut as an indication…..they pass or fail as many of us as they need to. Especially now with the new grading, while the passing grade is still 75, how they get to the 75 is now more a mystery than ever and they can pretty much decide to pass you or not based on the number of passers they want. That's how I see it anyways…

I had so many 73s and 74s now that it is unreal…I have taken 6 tests and passed one with a 76 and failed the others with above 70…. it's like playing poker…even if you know how to play you can't win unless you get a good hand. The tests are the hands, if you get one that's alright, the hard work and the sacrifices you make studying pay off…if you get an off-the wall test with TBS out in the left field….there is no passing, no matter how much you study. Doing well on the MCQ's is not enough to pass, especially now with the 60-40 split and no written portion to pull you up. Just saying….just venting actually…sorry all…….just frustrated after 18 months of this and only 1 passing score to show for.

REG - Passed
FAR - Passed
BEC - Passed
AUD - 2-25-12 PASSED - DONE !!!!!!!! WOOHOO

*** One day I will get my life back.... maybe today is the day ***

[Hurry-up-n-wait]

Well said magster! I always tell people who aren't going through this process that whether you pass or fail, is 1/3 how much you study, 1/3 your attitutude and focus when you take it, and 1/3 is total luck (which test and how your “score” falls in the mystery scoring process).

The “playing poker” is good. I printed it out so I can use that one. Maybe now I won't hear, “you're smart and you've been studying a lot so there's no doubt you'll ace it”. =)

AUD-78
BEC-74,78
REG-51 FAR-60,70
TEXAS

[Anonymous]

So I took FAR yesterday for the first time…

and surprisingly it was not as horrible as I thought it would be. I felt like everything on the test I had at least seen or heard of at least once in my review materials, (I used Ninja notes, Wiley book, and Gleim test bank) and nothing seemed totally out of left field. (When I took REG i felt like alot of it wasn't even in my study materials, or wasn't covered well enough.)

I will say that some of the questions were very poorly worded though, like they describe several transactions to buy different machines, and then refer to “this” machine in the final question. ok…which machine exactly? they gave information about several, but then didn't specify which one they were specifically asking about in the end. Frustrating.

I will say that Ninja notes were so awesome! I was feeling so overwhelmed by all the information in Wiley, and the ninja notes really helped to summarize it all into digestible chunks, and really highlight the most important things to remember. I would say there were a few questions on the exam that I could answer easily just based on what I had studied in the Ninja notes. I re-wrote the ninja notes, added in my own, and re-wrote all my notes and the ninja notes again. If I missed a practice question, I went back and made sure it was already in my notes, and if not, then I added it.

All in all, it was a hard test, but it didnt feel impossible, and I know if I didn't pass it's because I didn't study my materials hard enough. But I didn't feel “tricked” by the exam, and I thought the review materials fairly represented what was covered in the exam. And I think the AICPA outline was a fair representation of what kinds of questions were on the exam. (i.e. 25% governmental and NFP!)

Time-wise, I made sure to leave 2 hrs for the sims. I felt like I was “rushing” to try to get through the MCQ's, but I was really worried about not finishing the SIMS in time. In the end I probably had about 30 min left, but I always was lucky in being able to answer the research question really quick, so that saved me some time.

Oh, and finally those four hours are soooooo long! By the end of the test, you are so exhausted by the long nights you spent cramming, and the three hours you've just spent staring intently at the screen, thats it's hard to focus on the sims.

[CajunCPA]

@CALCPASoon: Thanks for the info. It looks like Ninja notes really helped you out. I'm seriously considering getting them but I'm a little worried I'm too late because my FAR exam is May 19th. What do you think I should do?

REG - 78 Expired 11/24/11 - Oct/Nov 2013
FAR - Retake for the 5th time - Jan/Feb 2013
BEC - Retake for the 4th time - April/May 2013
AUD - Retake for the 3rd time - July/Aug 2013

[Anonymous]

I think the notes are still very effective, even at the end of your study plan because they serve as a really great overall review. And it helps put what you've been studying into focus by highlighting the most important things.

[CajunCPA]

Awesome. I'll buy them right now. Thank you for the advice. I'm sure you did great on your exam! Good Luck with everything.

REG - 78 Expired 11/24/11 - Oct/Nov 2013
FAR - Retake for the 5th time - Jan/Feb 2013
BEC - Retake for the 4th time - April/May 2013
AUD - Retake for the 3rd time - July/Aug 2013

[yankeeaccountant]

@calcpasoon

I am retaking FAR on 5/30…..are Jeff's notes updated for changes that were effective on 4/1/11?

[Anonymous]

What changes do you mean?

[yankeeaccountant]

@calcpasoon

Well, I just starting reviewing the material. But looking at basic concepts, SFAC #2 is no longer in use. It is replaced by SFAC #8 so it changes the setup of the hierarchy chart that I used for taking FAR in February. (feedback value is gone for example) Some terms have changed. I am using the Yaeger cram and they are highlighting the changes. So, far there are at least two changes.

[Author]

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