[jeff]

Welcome to the Q4 2017 CPA Exam Study Group for FAR. 🙂

Introduce yourselves and let your fellow NINJAs know when you plan to take your FAR exam.

The Five Steps (NINJA Framework): https://www.another71.com/pass-the-cpa-exam/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[CPYAYYY]

Hello all,

Anyone from California? I submitted my payment and application on Aug 8th and have yet to get a notice to schedule…How long did it take for you guys>?

[CPYAYYY]

Also anyone else as stressed as I am? I don't think I'll be able to remember everything 🙁

[PVMLP]

@Kiran89

I'm from California as well. I received the NTS from NASBA on Aug 2. That was after having submitted my paperwork and paying the fees around Jul 13 or so. Sometimes what happens is NASBA doesn't actually email you the NTS (assuming you chose email notifications) if so you can go to their website and type in your information to get the NTS on the spot. Here is the link:
https://ncd.nasba.org/gwprdv2/servlet/hgwcnr01

[Ana]

Got 73 for the third time on FAR. Now lost BEC because of it. I'm in shock and surely felt I'd done enough to pass with a 75 at the very least. I scheduled it for Nov 3rd. I studied for 5 months the first time, 5 weeks the second time, and 5 months with no work for the 3rd time. Doesn't make sense how i didn't even have a 1 point increase in my score. All i know is that the SIMS were brutal. I am an Assistant Controller with a background in Audit and it was still tough and exhausting. There was so much material to go through on their little screens and switching back and forth and scrolling up and down is enough to lose a few points. I got strong on MCQ and weak on Sims. Last time got weak on MCQ and strong on SIMS. I just need to do everything I can to pass because I'm coming on the two year mark and going crazy.

[crystalblack22]

This is will be my second time taking FAR and hopefully my last time. I just praying for the best.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@PVMLP: ‘

When I was using Roger's IPQs, I only went through about 10-20 per chapter after completing them. I was really focused on getting through all the material while taking detailed notes. All in all, that took me about four weeks to do. Once I was done getting through the book and taking notes, I went to town on the Ninja MCQs.

On average, I did about 100 per day for three weeks, while taking additional notes for each question (besides the questions where I already understood the concept). During my last week of review, I re-did about 10 IPQs per section of Roger, but only the ones I previously got wrong. I did new Ninja MCQs, since their test bank was a little more in depth than the Roger test bank.

If you're only going to use Roger IPQs, I would suggest doing maybe 10-20 per section once you're done with each section. Then, I would say after you get through five more sections, do a “cumulative” test where you select IPQs from every sections you've studied since the beginning (maybe 5 per section). Don't be afraid to use your notes while doing these cumulative tests. I thought by doing these kinds of tests, I was able to refresh my memory on a lot of areas, and take down additional notes, I may have missed from the lectures.

[cottonkandi]

@Ana – Don't get yourself down – you can do it. I failed with a 63 last time. Sometimes it's just luck. Try to work on the problems where you have weakness and I'm sure you're going to pass the next time!

[ellejay]

Anyone else feeling like they are on a confidence rollercoaster? Some days I feel like I'm going to be able to pass this test, then other days I feel so low like I'm definitely gonna fail. On my low days I have a very hard time focusing and studying.

[PVMLP]

@TurboSandwichCPA

Thanks, I will try that out going forward. I know that I will definitely need a supplemental test bank. Do you happen to know how Wiley test bank compares to NINJA's? Wiley's is a little less expensive right now.

[Anonymous]

I made FAR my b****. I was worried going into it, but I knew I was wrecking through the test, and my score only confirmed how well i did. I felt iffy on the other three exams I have taken, and was sure I had failed REG.

For FAR, I had 3 DRS sims, 2 enhanced Sims, a research, and 2 normal sims. My first simulation testlet had 2 DRS sims, and those were making me re-question life. It took me almost 45 minutes to knock those out. Now I was behind…

luckily I got the research question in less than 5 minutes (MAJOR KEY ALERT), and was able to get by the next DRS without any trouble (my third DRS). I got a simulation on a topic that is usually not likely to appear on exams, so I was caught a bit off guard. I went through the supporting docs one by one, finding the relevant information, and filling in the boxes. One of my simulations was almost like conducting an audit of a common balance sheet account almost EVERY company has (if you need another hint, it wasn't inventory).

I have a strong background in financial accounting, so the exam seemed easy. The DRS material was not tricky, but it was tough to find where to look and how to decipher what I needed.

I definitely overstudied leases and hedge accounting. I also got incredibly easy questions related to fund accounting and NFP. I think you need to just know the basics of each of the GRASP funds and the different in the restrictions and unrestricted funds for NFP.

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Ugh, this section is such a B**CH. Part of me wanna quit knowing I may have to retake BEC. But at the same time Im really close. Thought studying wouldn't be too hard but it sucks!! Hoping for a good testlet in November. The sims I had was terrible.. So many documents to go through. Is that the norm for the new exams now?

[kdcpa]

Please suggest how to prepare for governmental accounting section. Somehow I find the information challenging to understand.

[PVMLP]

@benjamin17

What review course/study strategy did you use while preparing? I have FAR coming up in December.

[Ana]

@ellejay Definitely! Lots of confident moments, tears, doubt, persistence, determination…a roller coaster. I think it's just human. We're all stressed, overwhelmed, and IMO treated like cattle by NASBA and CBA.

[Ana]

@kdcpa Know the types of funds and what differentiates them from each other. also the journal entries when it comes it budget, ordering, and paying. compared to other portions of far this was easier for me. but it does take making the effort to memorize the content since it's a new concept for most accountants.

[Author]

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