[Anonymous]

I’ve been studying for FAR for about 4 months now. I just cannot seem to get comfortable with all of the material at once.

With AUD and BEC there was a point I would reach where I would average 90%+ on all of the homework questions, and that just doesn’t seem to be happening with FAR.

There is so much material that when I take the time to really learn the concepts well for a few sections, when I go back to other sections that I previously felt comfortable with, I am just forgetting things and wind up averaging in the 60’s on MC questions.

It’s really starting to get discouraging and I’m not sure what to do differently. My exam is on Nov 2.

Can anyone please share some wisdom/advice? I was on such a high being half way done with CPA, now I’ve lost that good feeling.

[lauriemarie5]

I studied like crazy for 3 months for FAR and I can agree with the fact that that was too long. I was forgetting things and becoming increasingly more frustrated as the days went by. It was a horrific experience and I ended up not passing. I know I can pass the exam, I was just too overwhelmed the first time as this was also my first exam as well.

I decided that after I test for AUD next week I will take the wknd off and jump back into FAR. I purchased the NINJA Notes and Audio for FAR because I am willing to do whatever I have to to pass this exam on the 2nd time around.

Don't be discouraged! Trust me I was devastated throughout the process and after I found out I didn't pass but I picked myself up by the boot straps and decided to give it another go!

If all else fails, start to youtube topics you are weak on, they may help clarify things better.

Best of luck!

REG: 80 (11/13/15)
FAR: APR 2016
BEC
AUD

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." - Winston Churchill

[tough_kitty]

Have you been taking notes?? I also started to forget some topics which I went back to after a week or two (for example, bonds), so I can relate….but I did take notes for all the topics and they were easier to review before I practiced the MCQs over and over again.

I used Wiley Test Bank and did each topic separately several times, but I got really tired with SE questions, so gave up on them with 72% and also got 76-77% on a few minor topics so just left it at that. On most other topics I got 80-100% so I felt well prepared. Obviously, I didn't get the best score, but it is good enough.

NOTES are important and re-writing journal entries, to make sure you memorize them FOR SURE!

Also, if I had time, I tried to go through the MCQs for specific topics in WTB 2 times in a row (for ALL of them) – that helped me memorize the concepts and 2nd time around I tried to learn those concepts I got wrong the first time – even if you did memorize the answer, it does help to look at the problem again and understand why the specific answer is correct.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Have you been taking notes?? I also started to forget some topics which I went back to after a week or two (for example, bonds), so I can relate….but I did take notes for all the topics and they were easier to review before I practiced the MCQs over and over again.

I used Wiley Test Bank and did each topic separately several times, but I got really tired with SE questions, so gave up on them with 72% and also got 76-77% on a few minor topics so just left it at that. On most other topics I got 80-100% so I felt well prepared. Obviously, I didn't get the best score, but it is good enough.

NOTES are important and re-writing journal entries, to make sure you memorize them FOR SURE!

Also, if I had time, I tried to go through the MCQs for specific topics in WTB 2 times in a row (for ALL of them) – that helped me memorize the concepts and 2nd time around I tried to learn those concepts I got wrong the first time – even if you did memorize the answer, it does help to look at the problem again and understand why the specific answer is correct.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[wowurrcool]

Someone in another thread compared FAR to something along the lines of, “an ocean of material that's only one foot deep.”

Using that example, I went through each chapter and did the corresponding MCQ (skipped optional) with the intent to expose myself to all of the material. I wanted to be aware of the topics and understand the major themes, but saved perfecting them for final review.

After getting through all 10 chapters of Becker (BLECH!) I then went back and did MCQ and sims over and over during the week before my exam. Without getting into detail, some chapters were heavily tested, while other chapters had only 1 or 2 MCQ on my exam… so it looks like that ocean example was true for me!

FAR - 87 (7/19/13)
BEC - 82 (8/29/13)
REG - 86 (10/18/13)
AUD - 91 (12/06/13)

Becker. Licensed VA CPA 12/31/13

[wowurrcool]

Someone in another thread compared FAR to something along the lines of, “an ocean of material that's only one foot deep.”

Using that example, I went through each chapter and did the corresponding MCQ (skipped optional) with the intent to expose myself to all of the material. I wanted to be aware of the topics and understand the major themes, but saved perfecting them for final review.

After getting through all 10 chapters of Becker (BLECH!) I then went back and did MCQ and sims over and over during the week before my exam. Without getting into detail, some chapters were heavily tested, while other chapters had only 1 or 2 MCQ on my exam… so it looks like that ocean example was true for me!

FAR - 87 (7/19/13)
BEC - 82 (8/29/13)
REG - 86 (10/18/13)
AUD - 91 (12/06/13)

Becker. Licensed VA CPA 12/31/13

[LT-P]

Progress tests are your friends for FAR.

And this guy was a lifesaver – youtube: Allen Mursau .. teaches almost every topic in FAR, step-by-step.

- passed all 4 exams on my first try using Becker!

Ethics: TBD

[LT-P]

Progress tests are your friends for FAR.

And this guy was a lifesaver – youtube: Allen Mursau .. teaches almost every topic in FAR, step-by-step.

- passed all 4 exams on my first try using Becker!

Ethics: TBD

[Anonymous]

You all are providing incredible feedback and support and I really appreciate it. I was having a bit of a meltdown yesterday, as I am just so tired of this exam and want my normal life back. That being said, I need to keep pushing, rewrite my notes, reread the material, and just keep banging out questions.

Good luck to all of you with whatever section you're struggling with now. We will all reach the mountaintop eventually!

Cheers.

[Anonymous]

You all are providing incredible feedback and support and I really appreciate it. I was having a bit of a meltdown yesterday, as I am just so tired of this exam and want my normal life back. That being said, I need to keep pushing, rewrite my notes, reread the material, and just keep banging out questions.

Good luck to all of you with whatever section you're struggling with now. We will all reach the mountaintop eventually!

Cheers.

[LT-P]

FAR was my 3rd exam too and “burnt out” was an understatement. I even bought a whole new NTS because I needed 2 more weeks to study, then I took a 2-week break to clear my head before my final review. It was tough, but that's FAR. But, the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when it's over is 100% worth all of the meltdowns.

- passed all 4 exams on my first try using Becker!

Ethics: TBD

[LT-P]

FAR was my 3rd exam too and “burnt out” was an understatement. I even bought a whole new NTS because I needed 2 more weeks to study, then I took a 2-week break to clear my head before my final review. It was tough, but that's FAR. But, the sense of accomplishment you'll feel when it's over is 100% worth all of the meltdowns.

- passed all 4 exams on my first try using Becker!

Ethics: TBD

[Keely]

I didn't read through all the responses, so forgive me if I repeat. I don't think anyone ever feels really comfortable with FAR. I also think four months is too long to study for an exam. I know you want to be comfortable with the material, but by the time you're comfortable with one thing, you'll have forgotten another. Although I passed, part of my problem with FAR is that I stretched out the studying much too long. There does come a point of diminishing returns with studying. Just put in the effort between now and Nov. 2 in review, and roll the dice. That will have been over five months, and that's definitely time to pull the trigger, then if you don't pass, at least you can see where your weaknesses lie. Good luck!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

I didn't read through all the responses, so forgive me if I repeat. I don't think anyone ever feels really comfortable with FAR. I also think four months is too long to study for an exam. I know you want to be comfortable with the material, but by the time you're comfortable with one thing, you'll have forgotten another. Although I passed, part of my problem with FAR is that I stretched out the studying much too long. There does come a point of diminishing returns with studying. Just put in the effort between now and Nov. 2 in review, and roll the dice. That will have been over five months, and that's definitely time to pull the trigger, then if you don't pass, at least you can see where your weaknesses lie. Good luck!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

FAR is quite the beast; and as mentioned earlier, you will not feel comfortable with all of the material.

FAR was the first test I took and my method was to watch the lectures, go through the book with pen and legal pad and write notes. I condensed most chapters down to 10-15 pages front and back and broke each major topic out on a new page (or several pages if it was lengthy). I also color coded (sorry Jeff, colors help me remember) — for example, blue was for standard notes, everything IFRS was in green, “Exceptions to the Rule” were in Red, then on my personal reviews I would go through and write mnemonics or my own notes in purple, or another color.

Color coding has been my MO since grade school – not only in school/college, but on the CPA exam there were several questions where I went “this was written in X color, about this topic, etc” and I can visualize my notes better (albeit writing them helps a lot!!!)

After taking Notes, I would do the MCQ – mark or print any questions I got wrong and continue through.

After doing the next section and repeating the above process, I would then go through those questions I got wrong, identify why I got them wrong, make notes on how to do them on the print outs. Then make a priority study guide for that chapter on my weak areas.

All of these notes, printouts, priority study guides were put into a binder and went everywhere I did for the 2 weeks I studied for FAR.

Along with the notes I made separate study guides for formulas for a chapter and then journal entries for a chapter. KNOW THE JOURNAL ENTRIES, they will save you so much trouble if you just understand how they are set up.

I also reviewed flash cards like a mo fo everywhere I went.

[Anonymous]

FAR is quite the beast; and as mentioned earlier, you will not feel comfortable with all of the material.

FAR was the first test I took and my method was to watch the lectures, go through the book with pen and legal pad and write notes. I condensed most chapters down to 10-15 pages front and back and broke each major topic out on a new page (or several pages if it was lengthy). I also color coded (sorry Jeff, colors help me remember) — for example, blue was for standard notes, everything IFRS was in green, “Exceptions to the Rule” were in Red, then on my personal reviews I would go through and write mnemonics or my own notes in purple, or another color.

Color coding has been my MO since grade school – not only in school/college, but on the CPA exam there were several questions where I went “this was written in X color, about this topic, etc” and I can visualize my notes better (albeit writing them helps a lot!!!)

After taking Notes, I would do the MCQ – mark or print any questions I got wrong and continue through.

After doing the next section and repeating the above process, I would then go through those questions I got wrong, identify why I got them wrong, make notes on how to do them on the print outs. Then make a priority study guide for that chapter on my weak areas.

All of these notes, printouts, priority study guides were put into a binder and went everywhere I did for the 2 weeks I studied for FAR.

Along with the notes I made separate study guides for formulas for a chapter and then journal entries for a chapter. KNOW THE JOURNAL ENTRIES, they will save you so much trouble if you just understand how they are set up.

I also reviewed flash cards like a mo fo everywhere I went.

[Author]

Replies