[Anonymous]

I want to know what are your thoughts on studying for the FAR retake and REG (1st time) together? I just found out that I missed FAR by 2 points =( and want to know if it is a good idea to study to retake FAR and REG together? I will be starting at a Big4 firm in January and feel I won’t have enough time to study after I start. My last day at my PT job is at the end of November. My FT job in December will be to study for the exam.

I am able to put in 30 hours a week to study in Nov and 60 in Dec.

Any comments are greatly appreciated! Any tips on what to do? (Study plan for both at once?)

[Mamabear]

I don't recommend studying for 2 at one time, especially those 2. I would suggest studying for REG and take at the end of November. Then study during December for a FAR retake in early January, That would give you about 90 hours for REG and 120 for FAR if you can stick to your study plan over the holidays.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree more with mamabear

[taxgeek83]

I'm with Mamabear as well. If you don't have a solid tax background, a lot of that material can be hard to learn while you're also trying to learn everything for your FAR retake. Because, as we all know, even if you only miss an exam by a point or two, you still have to study like you've never taken it before. That thing is a totally different beast the second time around.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all!!

My confidence is still at an all time low and I don't think I would like to take REG yet (feeling as crappy as I do…)

How about FAR in early January and then REG sometime in February? Does this sound doable?

I have no background in tax…enjoyed it and did well in my tax classes though (I don't think that counts as much)

Here comes the venting (sorry in advance) I was always a straight A student and seeing that 73 tore me apart. I know studying for this exam and exams for classes is completely different, but still *sigh* I am very disappointed in myself 🙁

I don't know how to study for this 🙁 my normal studying tactics are not working!!

[Anonymous]

Study separate, too much info to cram together…I just took FAR myself am waiting on the grade, bombed one sim and the research sim, felt strong on mc, hoping I passed…how did you do on the mc and sims which gave you the 73?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your input cpanj22 and good luck, I hope you passed! The report NASBA sends out said I did comparable on mcqs and was weaker on the simulations. Being honest, I guessed on ALL of the simulations but one which was about selling goods. I am sure I even got the research one incorrect. I felt that the mcqs did not get any harder as they went along

[Anonymous]

I was weaker on Specific Transactions/Events, Comparable on Framework, and Standards and Stronger on the rest.

[Mamabear]

I agree with your plan for a FAR retake at the beginning of January and REG at the end of February. This is a different kind of studying. Regular classes are typically learn enough to pass the test (maybe 3 or 4 chapters) then learn some more to pass another test (3 or 4 more chapters), etc. Each of these tests are the equivalent of 4 or 5 classes themselves and the amount of information makes regular class studying unacceptable. There is a great deal of information on these tests that I am sure I never learned in any accounting class. I have taught myself a significant portion of this material and it is a matter of beating it into my head over and over and over to absorb enough to pass. It is not an hour or two each week. It is an hour or two or 6 every day, 20-30 hours per week for 6-8 weeks (at least for me). I have never put as much effort into a college course as I have for any one of these tests. You'll have to switch things up a bit and find what works best for you, but you need to approach it like a job and not a class. Change your frame of mind.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

@ Mamabear – THANK YOU! You knocked some sense into me lol You are right, I will think of this as a job opposed to a class. You made me feel a lot better 🙂 You're the best! Going to retake FAR in January and then REG sometime FEB.

Thank you to everyone else that responded 🙂

[Anonymous]

@ Mamabear – THANK YOU! You knocked some sense into me lol You are right, I will think of this as a job opposed to a class. You made me feel a lot better 🙂 You're the best! Going to retake FAR in January and then REG sometime FEB.

Thank you to everyone else that responded 🙂

[Author]

Replies