[jeff]

This is for people taking their exams in the January/February 2010 testing window.

Recommended prep time for FAR is 6-8 weeks @ 20 hours a week.

CPA Exam Score Release Predictions:

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-scores-results-january-february-2010-wave-1.html

[Inspired]

I am continuing with Yeager Home study and cram with additional Gleim software prep.

[J]

I am also doing the Yaeger cram – will be studying 10h+ today up to January 8th! My New Year's resolution is to pass FAR in Jan and move on with my life!

I'm very familiar with FAR considering my 4 years of experience in auditing, but I'm doing all the questions and SIMS assigned by Yaeger to be safe and of course reading through the answers to understand what I did wrong or if I was unsure of the answer. The Yaeger cram really helps me identify what areas I need to spend more time on. With that said, I think I'll need to spend more time on Pensions, Bonds, Governmental and Not-for-profits. Ohh how I wish I had some experience in governmental accounting, this stuff looks soo foreign to me!

Anyways, GL to everyone!

[Anonymous]

I sat for FAR for the second time this morning and it was much more difficult than when I took it in November. I hope I'm not divuldging too much, and jeff, please delete my post if I cross a line.

But there was a topic that Becker expected to be a small percentage of the exam but I had many more questions on that topic than I was prepared for. Is it possible that some of those questions were pretest questions, or were the Becker estimates off? I had educated answers for each question but it would certainly put my mind at ease if there is a good chance some of them were pretest questions

[Inspired]

Taking this Feb 4th, No idea how I am going to pass FAR. Really worried.

[Anonymous]

Awesomo: it's possible. However there are certain minor topics in each exam that, while they generally only compose a small portion of the total point distribution (i.e., 1-3%), they do have the possibility of making up a larger percentage of the composition (such as 8-10%). It's certainly possible that some of them were pretest questions, but it might depend on what the topic was, which shouldn't be revealed due to exam disclosure requirements. I would suspect a higher proportion of pretest questions involve newly added or “hot” topics. Current examples of this might include fair value measurements, derivatives and related disclosures, and certain hedging and stock option contracts. In light of recent events and circumstances all of these topics have gained increased importance so it's reasonable to think they would warrant heavier testing than in the past. With that being said the AICPA might include more of these questions on each exam as pretest questions to see how candidates respond in the aggregate. I have no authoritative data or research to back this up; it's merely an observation based on logical conjecture, trends, and relative importance.

[pblakk]

Hi guys, so what is the ‘supposed' study time for Wiley FAR anyway? My 2008 book has an outline for the different sections along with a strategy, and it's for 80 HRS. That sounds low. I remember maybe a year ago or something, I had read something about Wiley FAR estimating a 300 (yes 300) hour schedule?

Am I missing something? thanks.

I really do not pay too much attention to the time, except for the fact that I wasted 2 months :(, and it's really hurting now!

[Anonymous]

It all depends on your experience, schooling and freshness of that information in your mind. I spent 80 hours just reviewing what I had already gone over in depth earlier. But don't gauge yourself by me. I have killed many a brain cells in my day; it takes me longer to study than others. 300 hours may be overkill though for most candidates.

Crap. I have 12 hours left until I take FAR. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm so tense and the theme from “Rocky” keeps going though my head.

The Club 75 has helped me so much today with their “cheerleading”. I recommend it highly. Plus I watched a “Final FAR Tips” video yesterday through them that helped as well.

[pblakk]

Hey CPAWannaBe!! WOW, you're taking FAR tomorrow! You will do well!

Yeah on the study time, I guess it depends on prior knowledge, and of course the individual. My problem is I can't sit and study for too many hours in a single day, maybe 4 productive hours at most, otherwise I just get tired and don't retain much if at all.

Thanks! God I wish hadn't wasted the last 2 months, but anyway… I guess I can plan on possibly setting an April testing window. The State has yet to even receive my official University transcripts! Well, if not April then May is fine as well, no big deal.

[Anonymous]

CPAWannabe,

I'm doing little Russian ritual that is going to make you do great today and pass FAR.:-)

[houstoncpa]

Trying to take FAR in wave one. Can someone tell me the time frame for wave 1. Don't feel like waiting 2 monthe for results.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Anna!

I just left the exam and I am still shaking. On my way to a much needed facial. Maybe I can relax a little now that it's over.

[houstoncpa]

You will be fine. That is FAR. Had a 73 last window. FAR is brutal. Trying to take it b4 busy season.

[zena]

houstoncpa, if you take it by Feb 7th, typically the score should come out in Wave 1. However, there is no guarantee that you will not have a new simulation which will automatically put your score in Wave 2 release. I have heard people waiting as long as 11 to 12 weeks for their scores… 🙁

FAR 86 | BEC 94 | AUD 90 | REG 85
All done! used Becker

[houstoncpa]

Thanks Zena. I will schedule it by Jan. 30. Hope I don't have a new simulation

[Anonymous]

I hope I didn't have a new simulation. I will go crazy if I have to wait 12 weeks. One of my tabs was acting up though, so it may be new because of the glitch. It required me to put a number in a cell, but kept overriding my number. The number that was being forced was wrong. Anyway, I reported it to NASBA.

A tidbit of advice for those studying: I decided not to focus much on ratios and formulas because I didn't see too many in my Becker questions, but at the last minute, I read over 2008 and 2009 AICPA released questions. There were problems with ratios and formulas so I made sure I could do them. There were questions on my exam, not exact, but very close. I was able to figure them out from practicing with similar concepts on released questions.

Also, don't minimize gov't and NFP like some people say. It is on there.

[Author]

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