[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I am studying for FAR and I’m just so frustrated that I felt the need to rant…

I just graduated from college in May and I started studying full time for FAR on June 1st. I was very unproductive on the first week but I want to say I’ve been studying pretty hard starting the second week.

I did fairly well in school (high honors) and studying for this exam is making me have self doubts. I’m using Becker self study – I view the lectures, go back to review the chapter, and go on to do the MCQs. I think the MCQs are the main reason why I feel so depressed because I’m scoring like 50-60% on them… even though I thought I felt pretty comfortable with the materials. it’s very un-motivating (makes me just want to quit) AND THEY TAKE SO LONG TO DO!!

I have FAR in three weeks, and I’m on chapter 5 right now. And I need to go back and study some materials that I ditched in previous chapters… and I didn’t do half of the simulations (I just wanted move on).

I’m just so frustrated with myself, I feel so unproductive and somewhat stupid… I cried a little in my car on the way back home from the library yesterday. This is my first CPA exam I think I underestimated the CPA exams in general…

I know I just have to push myself but it’s hard… Idk what I’m doing wrong, or what I have to do learn & study more effectively. I really don’t want to fail and having to re-study and go through what I’m going through agin.

Thank you for reading, any advice or encouragement or even criticisms are all welcomed. Now it’s time for me to go back and do chapter 5 MCQs… :'(

[Determined CPA]

If FAR is making you depressed, then you're doing it right! Push thought and you'll be happy you did =)

A - 75
B - 78 God is good.
F - 77 Answered prayers.
R - 84! Done!!

Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

[Anonymous]

i am also taking far this quarter (at the end of august). keep trucking everybody. we can do it

[Key522]

Friday night completing Ninja MCQ for FAR and they are kicking my butt. 🙁

BEC Feb 2015 68 - rematch Apr 2015 - 84
FAR July 2015 77
AUD Oct 2015 74 Feb 2016 71 April 2016 85
REG Jan 2016 67 July 2016

[Last Chance CPA]

I have failed REG many more times than FAR, and I would still rather be studying for REG. FAR is very painful to study, but hang in there, you will get through it. Take a break when it is time to take a brake. Walking away and returning gives you that new found energy each time…

Sets of 30 MCQs at a time…

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[smazthespaz]

OP: I feel like I would be overwhelmed with the material if I studied full time. Information overload is a real thing. If you take small breaks throughout the day, it should hep with memory retention. If you still have another couple weeks, you should be able to get through a section in 2-3 days with still enough time to review.

I studied for about an hour/day during the week and about 3 hours per day on the weekends. With 10 weeks of studying, that adds up to about 110 hours (give or take). But again, it's not the quantity of hours that count, it's the quality of study time and memory retention.

I also did Becker self study. Try to view the lecture, then do the MC questions for that section prior to moving on to the next section. It seemed to work for me. Do the sims as part of the review, as they tend to test comprehensive knowledge. (Oh and don't forget to do JEs while doing MCQ).

Hope this helps!

REG - 83 11/24/14
AUD - 94 2/17/15
FAR - 93 5/26/15
BEC - 90 8/10/15

[Anonymous]

I'm getting completely raped by F5 right now and I know it's going to get even worse. My test is in 3.5 weeks but I'm extremely unproductive and my self esteem is shot. Like OP, I'm getting 50's and 60's on homework and don't feel like I'm retaining anything but the correct answers (and I don't mean the concepts). I can't do the sims, nothing is clicking. It's my first exam and I just feel like it's one huge struggle. Honestly I don't even know if being a CPA is worth it at this point.

[Ag12thman]

Maybe take a break and try to refocus. That seems to help me. Stay POSITIVE. The material is heavy, but you can master it.

This song takes this a little further than what we are going through (not a matter of life and death), but good for study breaks to stay positive and motivated. Helps me. May not help you at all depending on musical preference. The right mindset is key for this exam, I think. You can do it. Refocus!

Key lyrics: 1:40 through 1:52

FAR: July 2016

[law0915]

“There's an inverse relationship between happiness and passing the exam. The more miserable you are, the likelihood of passing skyrockets…because you're in the library studying!”

-Peter Olinto

REG 77 Feb14
BEC 13*, 79 Aug14
FAR 64**, 76 Nov14
AUD 89 Feb15

*Exited exam after first testlet
**Only studied F1-F6 out of 10 Becker chapters

Licensed Arizona CPA

[nyli9]

@StudyLikeGranger, Don't give up. I am taking FAR in 11 weeks and just finished module 8 in Becker (doing self study as well). I am miserable, but I know it can be done. I studied for AUD 8 days, for BEC 15 days and REG 17 days and scored in mid-high 80's on all of them (first try). My Becker score was always between 65-78 and I am scoring 50-60% on FAR now. What helps me is to read why I got a particular question wrong. FAR has enormous amount of info and you just need to do as many MC questions as you can.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
REG - Passed
FAR - July 2nd, 2015

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I know it’s been a while but I have some downtime at work and wanted to come back to this (This post is going to be an update/rant).

Long story short I was able to pass all the exams on the first attempt within the time frame I was shooting for (Thank God). I ended up taking Far in July (passed with high 80s(!)), Audit/BEC in August, and Regulation on October 3rd.

I took a short break between each exam but basically lived a hermit life for 3-4 months. I stopped wearing makeup and hit the library with my hair up in a bun almost everyday.
I remember I cried on my way to each of the four exams. I think I might have been too obsessed with the thought of passing the exams on the first try (and not having to restudy). I wish I was not as stressed as I was knowing that everything was going to turn out OK, but at the same time I want to give my past-self props for staying motivated and keep pushing.

It really was a great feeling when I found out I passed the last exam and realizing that I was done. Hope all of you who are putting a lot of effort into this exam will have that moment soon.

Surprise, life after passing the exams was not that easy either haha. I joined a Big 4 accounting firm and struggled in my first year on tough clients. I’ve had nights when I couldn’t fall asleep because I was anxious (bc of work) and cried on the way to/back from work and also in the client’s bathroom. I thought I was relatively a strong person but this job kind of made me wonder if I had a tofu mentality after all haha.

But thankfully things are a lot better now. I think I’ve learned many lessons along the way. I am actually seriously thinking about studying for another certification because I find myself getting lazy and just watching TV when I have downtime (not that this is a bad thing!) but I’m not sure what to study for yet. Thinking about maybe CMA (or something general like CPA) but I’m not too sure as I don’t know what I exactly want to do with my career yet.

I’m also thankful for another 71, it was such a good support group and I found a lot of comfort here when I was studying. Wish all of you good luck!

[Dro]

@studylikegranger thank you for the update and glad to see you passed all the exams after all! I think it's important to remember that Life is a journey. The CPA Exam is one challenge but after that, there are many more big and small challenges ahead of us.

REG: 69, 73, 80!
FAR: 62
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD

[Wannafree]

Try this as it worked for me ( it may work for you too ) in last 3 sections and I am trying for FAR.Based on my last three sections I am optimistic.Try to solve the Becker's home work without reading chapters and read or view the relevant topic wherever you feel you need to clear the concept.You may try Gliem MCQ and SIM at the end of each chapter too.You may try Ninja MCQ too and read the answers .
You just graduated form college hence do you feel you need to study what is Percentage completion method , Equity method , amortization of Bond premium ,JE for AR and Equity ,Financial Statement Disclosure ,Cash and Investments,Receivables,Inventories,Property, Plant, Equipment, and Depletable Resources,Intangible Assets and Other Capitalization Issues,Payable and Taxes,Employee Benefits,Non current Liabilities .Don't you? It's just tiring to read what you already know.What you need to study IFRS vs GAAP ,Govt and NFP ,Derivatives, Hedging, and Other Topics . That's all.You can do it in next 3 weeks.
Becker's FAR review materials are too wide and it is very common complain from candidates that by the end of 3rd chapter one forget the 1st chapter.It takes lot of time to really read FAR review materials.Once I used to study Becker's materials and normally after 3 minutes used to go to various news sites.Now with this approach after 2-3 hours I feel accomplished.
Try this approach for 2 days and see the difference.

[rlarivee01]

Hey OP, if it makes you feel better, after starting off in the 40s for correct answer percentage, I am down to high 20s.

This is after watching all of the Ninja Plus lectures. I'm not stupid, but I was not an amazing student either.

I am familiar with all the concepts, but a master of none yet. I'm blazing through the MCQ just to separate the things I know and the things I don't. After I'm through everything once, I'll have an idea about what I really need to focus on.

Like I got through not for profit accounting as far as concepts are concerned. I'm solid. But in sims with journal entries I'll probably mess up a lot. Specific transactions are hell for me, so that should probably be my first stop once I'm through the MCQ.

[Author]

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