[Michael]

So I will be sitting for my first exam (FAR) on Tuesday. I am definitely not expecting a miracle with this exam and plan to take a couple of days off after and then start to restudy FAR just in case I do not get a 75 (expected). I feel like it is important to be realistic and assume I did not pass instead of wasting 2 weeks.

I completed one full practice test last weekend with a 59. Attempted one today but Wiley glitched out and with one and a half testlets left the page refreshed and stated that I ran out of time. I got a 42 without getting a chance to complete the last 1.5 testlets. Within the last week I have done 350 MCQ’s with a trending score of 55%. So with that being said I am expecting to hopefully score at least high 50’s to low 60’s.

Any advice for sitting for my first exam or advice on how to approach restudying FAR?

[William]

Most people here don't think the practice tests are a good indicator of actual scores. I was trending 60% on Ninja and scored a 57. I would go back a read sections you are weak in and practice MCQ from those sections. Don't forget to practice SIMs.

[ak_cpawannabe]

I would highly suggest to take those two weeks and relax and regroup. What I noticed has been happening here with some people is that they burn out after taking exams so much without breaks. It’s the worst thing to burn out and have no personal motivation to keep going. You have been studying so hard, take a break, reward yourself for a good effort and mentally prepare yourself that if you did not succeed this time, you will not give up and you will get it done! This test is a test of determination. Be super determined and you will succeed!

[Recked]

Hit up the AICPA sample exams to get a feel for the test and SIMs.
How long have you been studying and how many MCQs have you done?

[Michael]

@Recked I did the AICPA sample yesterday. I had read alot on this forum that it was basically a must do.
I started studying December 10th. I obviously had a few days around Christmas that I did not get through any material. Through Wiley I have done ~1300 MCQ's and another 350 through NINJA. The ones through Wiley were the ones completed throughout the lessons so not so much a review.

My problem was my study did not focus enough on review. I had the last 2 weeks to review which I ended up having 3 days where I ended up not doing anything related to reviewing. So I am at that point where I see a question and recall learning the material, I just can not always recall how to answer the question.

[Recked]

Use your test taking skills.
2 of the answers should be easily eliminated, then you just need to pick the best of the 2 left.
Make your best educated guess and move on.
Try to leave yourself 2.5 hours for the SIMs, they are monsters.
If you don't know an answer 1, recognize you don't know it, 2, pick something and move along.
Don't waste time, save the time for later opportunities where you have a greater chance of scoring points.
Don't let the mock exams and trending scores get you down. You studied, you invested time. Just go in there and do your best.
Worst case scenario you are just using it as a practice run. You might surprise yourself.

[Michael]

Solid advice. Through the two practice exams I took I did pretty good with time. The one I completed entirely with a 59 I had an hour left when I finished.
My method with the MCQ's was if I couldn't recall the topic or had no idea where to start after like 15-20 seconds I just flagged it and moved on. And before submitting the testlet I would review the flagged questions and try and eliminate obvious incorrect answers and then just make an educated guess if I couldn't figure it out.
At the end of the day I feel like it will be the luck of the draw depending on the SIM topics I get.

[Author]

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